Genealogy and archival research

Service files

The service files for all Members who joined prior to 1920 have been transferred to Library and Archives Canada (LAC). You can find more information on RCMP service files located at the LAC.

The service files for Members who served with the Force after 1920 are still in the possession of the RCMP and are subject to the Access to Information and Privacy Acts. Any Member can file a request under the Privacy Act in order to obtain a copy of their service file. In order to do so, they will need to complete a Privacy Act request, and submit it to the following address:

Please note that because of Privacy Act regulations, personal information from a service file is not available to the public until twenty years after the date of death. A redacted copy of a service file may be available through an Access to Information request. A request for information can also be sent to the RCMP Historical Section by e-mail.

Genealogy

If you are not sure if your relative was a Member of the Mounted Police, you may wish to contact Library and Archives Canada, the national archives, as they have a wealth of resources at their disposal. Their genealogical project may be found online.

Photos

The RCMP photo collection was transferred to the National Archives in 1996. For assistance with accessing and obtaining copies, please send an inquiry to Library and Archives Canada.

Archival research

For a detailed research project, you may wish to contact the Library and Archives of Canada as many RCMP files have been transferred to the LAC. You can contact the LAC through their website. The LAC does have a search engine online but please note that only a small percentage of the LAC's collections have been entered into their online databases. All other information will be found through a search of the finding aids for Record Group (RG) 18, which is the identifier for all RCMP files.

Annual reports

The RCMP Annual Reports were published on a yearly basis as a part of the Sessional Papers and are available at libraries across the country. These reports have detailed information on specific areas and divisions. Some sections also contain noted cases and patrols conducted by the Force.