New Brunswick archives are facing an unprecedented rise in requests for historical records, with monthly inquiries jumping from around 100 to 400. The increase comes after changes to Canada’s citizenship rules, making millions of Americans eligible to claim citizenship through ancestry.
Most requests are from American applicants seeking birth, marriage, and death records, as well as land and school files. Many are pursuing a Canadian passport as a precaution, reflecting growing interest in dual citizenship.
The spike has put pressure on archival resources, slowing processing times. Archivists describe the demand as steadily increasing, showing no signs of slowing. Historical migrations continue to drive the search for records, as Americans trace their ancestral connections to Canada.
