Government Records Office
Government Records Office
130-200 Vaughan St.
Winnipeg, MB
Email: GRO@gov.mb.ca
More Contact Info
About Government Records in the Archives
| The preservation of records of archival value is a unique and priceless gift of one generation of Manitobans to another.
The Archives and Recordkeeping Act |
Since Manitoba became a province in 1870, public officials have created and received records in the course of carrying out their duties. Some of these records have permanent value and are preserved in the Archives of Manitoba as part of the archival heritage of the province. While access to some records may be restricted by law, others are available to the public seeking to learn about themselves, their provincial government and other public institutions, and Manitoba society.
Access to Government records is available in the Archives of Manitoba Research Room. Search Keystone descriptions of a growing number of government records. Additional information is available in the Archives Research Room. Reproductions of government records are available. Copyright and other restrictions may apply. See: Copy and Reproduction Services
For employees of the Manitoba government, municipalities and school divisions who need to view records of their department or agency which are in the Archives of Manitoba, please visit the Services to Government page.
- Legislative Assembly Records
- Court Records
- Records of Government Departments
- Records of Government Agencies and Crown Corporations
- Commissions of Inquiry Records
- Municipal Records
- Schools and School Division Records
Legislative Assembly Records
The Archives of Manitoba preserves records of the Manitoba Legislature and its officers which have been designated as archival. The current officers of the Legislative Assembly are the Speaker, the Clerk, the Chief Electoral Officer, the Ombudsman, the Children's Advocate and the Auditor General.
The business and activities of the Legislature are recorded in the Sessional Papers. These include reports tabled in the Assembly, Ministers' statements, petitions, and Returns to Orders of the House. Other Legislative Assembly records include original bills, committee records and audio recordings of the proceedings of the Assembly and its committees.
Court Records
The Archives of Manitoba preserves records of the Manitoba Courts which have been determined to be of archival value. Currently, there are three levels of court in Manitoba: two trial courts - the Provincial Court and the Court of Queen's Bench and one appellate court - the Manitoba Court of Appeal.
Court records are documents created or received by the court, relating to proceedings in the court. Estate files record the settlement of an estate of a deceased person. Other court records document criminal, civil and divorce proceedings.
Consult the Guide to Probate Records at the Archives of Manitoba for information on how to find probate records, including wills and estate files, that have been filed in the Province of Manitoba.
Records Of Government Departments
The Archives of Manitoba preserves records of the Executive Council (commonly known as the Cabinet), Ministers' offices and government departments. Records include office files of some officials and various kinds of program files which are determined to be of permanent value.
Records of Government Agencies and Crown Corporations
The Archives of Manitoba preserves records of government agencies, including Crown corporations, which have been identified as having archival value. These records typically include minutes of the board of directors, office files of the chief executive officer, certain financial records, legal files and some program files.
Commissions of Inquiry Records
The Archives of Manitoba preserves records of various royal commissions, task forces, and other inquiries established by the Manitoba government or by individual ministers. Hearing records, written submissions and research files are often included in these records.
Municipal Records
Municipal records designated as archival under The Municipal Act may be transferred to the custody of the Archives of Manitoba. Various towns, rural municipalities and local government districts have chosen to protect their records and make them available to the public in this manner. The most common municipal records in the Archives are council minutes, bylaws and assessment rolls.
Schools and School Division Records
School records which are designated as archival in the guidelines developed jointly by the Archives and Manitoba Department of Education and Youth may be transferred to the custody of the Archives of Manitoba. Various school divisions and private individuals who hold records of the former school districts have chosen to protect the records and make them available to the public in this manner. The most common school records in the Archives are minutes of boards of trustees, designated financial records, and pre-1967 daily attendance registers.
For information about how to consult these and other records in the Archives of Manitoba, as well as our services available to the public, please visit the Archives of Manitoba main page.
