Roots Cape Breton Genealogy Centre

Please note - 2008 hours are by appointment only.

Are you looking for your Cape Breton ancestors?
We can help. Roots Cape Breton is a computer-assisted research service for those in search of their Cape Breton roots. Through data extracted from census, cemetery, birth, marriage and death records, as well as other sources of information, the database will provide researchers with information which will assist them in their work.

Research may be carried on independently on site, with or without our assistance, or our experienced staff can be contracted to carry out the research you require. The Roots office is located in our Visitor Centre on the Highland Village site. To aid you in your research we have Frequently Asked Questions for Roots Cape Breton. Read the Q & A and then fill in the Research Form. Click on submit and the form comes to us. We will assess your request and get back to you. 

Holdings & Research Aids
Roots Cape Breton has many types of records available. A growing computer database contains census, birth, marriage and death records of Cape Breton Island. 

Microfilm records
- census records of 1811, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901
- birth and death records from 1864 - 1877
- marriage records from 1864 to1908
- Cape Breton Land Papers 1787 - 1843
- Land grants for Inverness, Richmond and Cape Breton Counties

Published genealogies and histories of communities and counties such as :
- MacDougall's History of Inverness County
- All Call Iona Home
- To the Hill of Boisdale
- Mabou Pioneer Book I and II
- History of Christmas Island Parish
- History of Middle River
- The Atlantic Canadians from 1600 -1900
- In the Morning - Veterans of Victoria County
- Our Mountains and Glens - River Denys and Area

Unpublished genealogies, family histories, research files and periodicals referring to Cape Breton history and culture.

Research Fees*
Initial consultation to outline a research procedure: $10.00 
Research done on site without assistance: $5.00/hr or $30/day
Research Contracted to Office Staff: $30.00/hr 
School Record Search: $10.00/search
Photocopies and computer printouts extra. 

Special group rates are available for research tours, special and family groups outside regular business hours. For more information, contact the office. 

Confirmation of research and pre-payment of fees is required before contracted research is started.

For Canadian customers only, 13% HST will be added to the above fees.
*Rates are subject to change.

Other Sources of Genealogical Information:

Other useful sources of genealogy information can be found at the Cape Breton Genealogy & Historical Association located in Sydney, Cape Breton. The Genealogy Association of Nova Scotia has its headquarters in Halifax, NS and lists researchers interested in all surmanes. The Nova Scotia Archives & Records Management (NSARM) (Formerly the Public Archives of Nova Scotia) has many databases of records for all Nova Scotia including Vital Statistics. The Beaton Institute of Cape Breton Studies at Cape Breton University has a rich archives of information about Cape Breton. For Scottish research try Bill Lawson Publications . Bill has been researching immigrants for many years. The Seallam Visitor Centre Home of Co Leis Thu? research in the Western Isles of Scotland houses Bill's papers. For other Scottish research try the General Register Office for Scotland. Based in Scotland, Your Scottish Descent offers a professional Scottish family history research service to anyone looking to find out about their Scottish ancestry.