Adoption search and reunion support groups in Canada

These adoption search and reunion groups (listed by postal code) offer help in finding birthparents and adult adoptees. We have a separate list of support groups for those wishing to adopt.

Entries labelled "--ACOP, Spring 1997" came from the Directory of Adoption Search and Reunion Services in Ontario, by the Adoption Community Outreach Project (a joint project of the Adoption Council of Ontario and PFI Toronto Inc.). Also available from the Adoption Council of Ontario is Search Manual for Adoptees and Birth Relatives and Facilitators Manual for Leaders of Adoption Search and Reunion Groups.

List by postal code

A1V 1W6. Parent Finders   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Box 287, Gander, Nfld., 709-651-2769.

B3A 4S9. Parent Finders   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Box 23148, Dartmouth, N.S. 506-847-8098. (Mike Slayter, 902-435-0287, mslayter@adoption.ca)

Origins Canada, origins@originscanada.org, www.originscanada.org. Support group for people separated from family members by adoption, including natural parents, natural relatives and adoptees, but not adoptive parents. Chapters: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia. --Oct. 17, 2005

C1A 5A3. Parent Finders, 7 Longworth Ave., #9, Charlottetown PEI. (902) 892-4069. --30 Jan 2003

Our Darlings Counselling and Registry, www.geocities.com/pgpg_ca. Pearl Gillis, Prince Edward Island. Counselling for post-traumatic stress disorder and recovery for birth mothers. Free active online search registry to help those separated by adoption. --May 29, 2003

E7L 4K7. Parent Finders, New Brunswick, 506-375-6660, parentfindersnb@gmail.com, www.parentfindersnb.org. Marie Crouse, president, macrouse@nbnet.nb.ca. --Oct. 27, 2010

G1S 2T7. Adoption Quebec, Dominique Jeanneret, Quebec City, info@adoption-quebec.com. Formerly offered "Recherches en vue de retrouvailles," search and reunion help for Quebec births and placements. Web site was at www.adoption-quebec.com. Archived versions of the web site are at web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.adoption-quebec.com. --Jan. 3, 2007

Parent Finders Montreal, Pat Danielson, 190 Davignon, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. H9B 1Y5, fax 685-7384, pfmtl@primus.ca, was at home.primus.ca/~pfmtl/English. Guidance for searching in Quebec. Call (514) 683-0204 for meeting information only; does not carry out searches or answer telephone inquiries at this time. Membership $40; yearly renewal $20. Meetings, telephone buddy.
A non-profit, volunteer-run support group and private registry for adoptees, birth family members, and adoptive family members over 18 years of age. Not a search service; promotes the reunion of family members separated by adoption by providing information and guidance for searching in Quebec. Parent Finders Montreal maintains its own information database and shares this information with other Parent Finder groups and affiliates, such as the National Office (www.parentfinders.org) in Vancouver and CANADopt (www.canadopt.ca). All PFM members are also registered online with the Canadian Adoptees Registry (www.canadianadopteesregistry.org/index.html) (Rick and Alice MacDonald). PFM began in August 1995 to help fill the need of a support group within the English community. At that time the Mouvement Retrouvailles, which serves members of the French-speaking community, had been the region's main support organization. --May 16, 2002

Mouvement Retrouvailles

ONTARIO

K0M 1G0. Parent Finders Kawartha   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]

Sandi Scott, General Delivery, Cameron K0M 1G0, 703-359-1172, jowett66@sympatico.ca, was at www.lindsaycomp.on.ca/parfind.htm. Group includes Colburg/Lindsay/Peterborough/Haliburton/Port Perry and surrounding areas. Open to adopted persons, birth mothers, birth fathers, adoptive parents, and siblings. Focuses on search, support and advocacy for open medical records and open adoptions. --29 July 2003

Parent Finders of Canada / Parent Finders Ottawa / Canadian Adoption Reunion Register

Parent Finders is the central source for "searching" in Canada and will refer you to resources in your area of interest. --Nov. 2012

Parent Finders of Canada and Parent Finders Ottawa is a support group and private registry located in Ottawa and made up of people who believe in the importance of reuniting families separated by adoption. We feel that the option to seek one's biological origins at adulthood belongs solely with the individual.

Parent Finders of Canada maintains the Canadian Adoption Reunion Register (CARR), where birth information can be confidentially filed. Copies of each member's birth information are forwarded to CARR to be entered in the Reunion Register. When a match occurs the group leaders are advised so that they can assist their member to facilitate the most efficient reunion.

Parent Finders Ottawa maintains a database of over 12,000 records which is linked to the National Parent Finders database of over 60,000 entries. The Ottawa chapter has been associated with over 1,800 reunions over more than 35 years. It has helped thousands of Canadians to search and reunite with their birth families. --Nov. 14, 2012

Background. Parent Finders of Canada began as a volunteer-run organization in Vancouver, B.C. in August 1974, to help adopted persons and birth relatives seeking information from adoption files and assistance in search and reunion. Parent Finders chapters are active in most Canadian provinces providing search and reunion support for adult adoptees, birth relatives and adopting parents.

Parent Finders National Capital Region was formed in Ottawa in 1976 and incorporated in Ontario in 1987. It is part of the Canadian Parent Finders network, with contacts across Canada, the U.S. and internationally. All members are registered with the private Canadian Adoption Reunion Register (CARR) and the Canadian Adoptees Registry and Classifieds.

On July 1, 2010 the Parent Finders of Canada website, www.parentfinders.org, was redirected to www.parentfindersottawa.ca.

K2C 3H1. B and M Search and Support, 63 Holborn Ave., Nepean, 613-730-1039, e-mail reunion@istar.ca. Monica Byrne, Joan Marshall. --ACOP, Spring 1997

K6J xxx. Parent Finders NCR, Cornwall Satellite,   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012] Cornwall, 613-933-9282, cvilleneuvekisnics@cogeco.ca. Carol, Gail. --Sep. 6, 2011

K6V 6N4. Parent Finders Brockville  Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Box 2002, Brockville. 613-925-3383, e-mail parent.findersb@sympatico.ca. Arlene Hutchison, president; Louise Middlemiss, registrar. --Sept. 2000

K7K 2M9. Parent Finders NCR, Kingston Satellite   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   33 Barbara Ave., Kingston, 613-542-0892. Contact: Brian Mitchell, windsor@kos.net. Cathy Smith, aosterma@limestone.kosone.com. --H. Kramer, 21 Sep 1997 and Meghan Charters, 17 July 1999

K8V 6P7. Parent Finders - Quinte   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   29 Fleming Rd., Trenton, 613-965-6353, Christine Campbell and Barbara Kalil. --Nov. 20, 2006

K9J 2R2. Peterborough Adoption Disclosure Support Group, 203 - 815 Sherbrooke St., Peterborough, 705-740-0483. Cheryl Rubin. Founded 1995. --PFI Communique, Autumn 2000

K9J 7S2. Adoption Disclosure Support Group, Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society, Sue Van Yzendoorn or Kate Johnson, 1100 Chimong Rd., Peterborough K9J 7S2, 1-800-567-9136 , 705-324-3594. Monthly meetings, normally the third Wednesday at 7:30-10 p.m. Anyone in the adoption constellation is welcome. --Feb. 2003

L0B 1L0. Parent Finders, Durham Region   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   3841 Highway 7A, Nestleton, 905-986-0645, parentfind@oncomdis.on.ca, was at www.bconnex.net/~rickm. Rik and Linda Davie. Rik Davie acted as counsel for claimants in three adoption cases before the Human Rights Commission. --R. Davie, 13 Sept. 1997

L0x xxx. Durham Adoption Disclosure Support Group, Cheryl Rubin, 905-433-1551, ext. 2261. Search assistance and support. Meets the second Tuesday of the month, at Durham CAS in Oshawa. --PFI Communique, Autumn 2000

L2R 1R0. Parent Finders, Niagara   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Marsha Scott, Box 29047, St. Catharines, 905-937-1092, marshascott@sprint.ca. Focus on search, education, advocacy and support. Monthly me etings on the last Wednesday at St. Catharines Library, 7:30 p.m. One-time fee of $40 applies. --Feb. 2003

L2V 3H4. Parent Finders, St. Catharines   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   146 Richmond St., Thorold, Ont., 905-227-6251.

L3Y xxx. Parent Finders, Aurora/Newmarket   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Information sharing, search and reunion support in a confidential environment, for adult members of the adoption community. Meeting the third Wednesday of the month at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Newmarket, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Sharon Virtue, 905-895-1436. --7 Jan 2004

L4A 4T3. Parent Finders, Markham   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   75 Park Dr. N., Stouffville, 905-640-6230, e-mail jramer@compuserve.com. Joyce Ramer. --ACOP, Spring 1997

Canadian Adoptees Registry Inc.

L6J xxx. Halton Reunion Support Group is no longer meeting. There is now a Mississauga chapter of PFI to help those from the Oakville area. --ACOP, Spring 1997 + Lianne Sparling, liannes@globalserve.net, 21 Nov 1998

L9G 1J3. Parent Finders Hamilton-Burlington   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Christine, 146 Colleen Cr., Ancaster, 905-381-0198. For all in the adoption constellation. Meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at St. Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church, King Street West and Bond Street in Westdale, 7:30-9:30 p.m. --Feb. 2003

L9W 4L5. Orangeville Adoption Reunion Support Group, 20 Century Drive, #9, Orangeville, 519-942-2823. Sandy Little. --ACOP, Spring 1997

M4P 1N8. Birth Mothers for Each Other, 99 Tyndall Ave., #908, Toronto, 416-533-9828. Chantal Desgranges, Olive Leniston. --ACOP, Spring 1997

M4T 2H9. Canadian Adoption Reunion Registry (CARR), 63 Welland Ave., Toronto, Ont. Pat Richardson. Also, Toronto Adoptee Support Group.

M4Y 1N1. The Adoption Reunion Group, 30 Isabella St., Toronto, 416-924-4646 (ask for Adoption Disclosure department.) Support Group for birth family members, adopted adults or adoptive family members (not from the same reunion) who are at any stage of the reunion process. Facilitated by the Children's Aid Society of Toronto. --July 17, 2007

Parent Finders Inc. of Toronto. Was at Box 1008, Stn. F, 50 Charles St. E., Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2T7, 416-465-8434, parentfindersinc@yahoo.com. Web site was at www3.sympatico.ca/ivy.holly. President was Holly Kramer. Published a Manual for Searchers. The quarterly PFI Communiqué ceased publishing in 2003. --20 Jan 2004
PFI is disbanded. It was a volunteer non-profit corporation helping adult adoptees, birth parents and adopted parents in their search for biological family members. Since 1976 PFI had a registry in Toronto for all members of the adoption triangle. PFI was a sponsor of (with the Adoption Council of Ontario) the Adoption Community Outreach Project. ACOP published in Spring 1997 A Directory of Adoption Search and Reunion Services in Ontario. --Updated Nov. 5, 2006

M5A 1S4. Rejoining the Circle - Anishnawbe, Anishnawbe Health Centre, 225 Queen St. East, Toronto, 416-360-0486. Cyndy Doxtator. --ACOP, Spring 1997

Mxx xxx. ASK ... About Reunion (Adoption Support and Kinship), Toronto. Abbie Adelman, Vice President, 416-545-0912 (call from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. and leave a message), askto@rogers.com, www.askaboutreunion.org. A volunteer-run search and support group in Toronto providing non-judgmental, caring peer support to members of the adoption community including adult adoptees/fostered individuals (including those for whom reunion is not possible), first (birth) relatives, adoptive relatives and interested others. Affiliated with Parent Finders Canada. Meeting the first Wednesday of the month, 7:30 p.m. in the Music Room, Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. W. Membership $35/year (first meeting free). --May 5, 2008

Coalition for Open Adoption Records

Mxx xxx. Birth Parents and Adoptees, North York Support Group, North York, Rishy 416-226- 3015. --ACOP, Spring 1997

M4B 1H2. Bryan Prettie, Toronto, Ont., 416-710-0644. A reunited adoptee and educator. Facilitator for individuals and groups in the Beaches. --Dec. 15, 2005

N0L 1G0. Adoption Roots and Rights, Fay Rath, 187 Patricia Ave., Dorchester, 519-268-3674, fayrath@execulink.com, www.geocities.com/adoption_reunion2001. Group helping people separated by adoption to reconnect with birth family members. Search help; get informed of your rights. Search area: Middlesex, Elgin, Perth and Oxford Counties in Southern Ontario. Open to all in the adoption constellation. $20/yr. --Feb. 2003

N0N 1E0. Parent Finders of Sarnia-Lambton   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Jean Campbell, Box 58, Evergreen Lane, Camlachie, 519-869-6071, hamcamp@ebtech.net, was at www.sarnia.com/groups/parentfinders. Open to all in the adoption constellation, for search, education, advocacy and support. Meeting the third Monday of the month at St. Paul's United Church (Devine St. and Emma St.), 7-9 p.m. One time fee $25. --Feb. 2003

N0R 1B0. Parent Finders, Windsor   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Val Showers, 12 Hill St., Cottam N0R 1B0, 519-252-0890, pfinder@mnsi.net. Search and Support for all people in the adoption constellation. Meeting the third Monday of the month, 7 p.m., at 3719 Walker Road, Windsor. One-time fee $30. --Feb. 2003

N1G 1C6. Lost and Found, 24 Albert St., Guelph, 519-837-2830. Lisa Calzonette. --ACOP, Spring 1997

N3C 1P6. Parent Finders, Kitchener/ Waterloo/ Cambridge   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Albert Dikkes, 46 Bergey St., #A, Cambridge, 519-658-5590, parentfindersofkw@hotmail.com. Can call for searching help, support or advice. --Feb. 2003

N4K 4Y6. Parent Finders Inc., Grey-Bruce Satellite   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   2199 4th Ave. W. #1, Owen Sound, 519-371-6658, e-mail cathy@log.on.ca. Cathy Slack. --ACOP, Spring 1997; and H. Kramer, 21 Sep 1997

N5Y 4V8. Parent Finders, London   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Jim Bobier, 112 - 305 Briarhill St., London, 519-472-5017. Meeting the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Salvation Army Citadel, 536 Springbank Road at the corner Wonderland, 7:30 p.m. One-time fee $35. Jan. 2001

Origins Canada, origins@originscanada.org, www.originscanada.org. Support group for people separated from family members by adoption, including natural parents, natural relatives and adoptees, but not adoptive parents. Chapters: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia. --Oct. 17, 2005

P1A 3R5. Parent Finders, North Bay   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   122 Labreche Dr., North Bay. Laura Horton 705-476-9113; Marg Seguin 705-476-3643. --Holly Kramer, ivy.holly@sympatico.ca, 21 Sep 1997

P3C 2L4. Adoptees Helping Adoptees, 363 McKim St., Sudbury, 705-524-1951, e-mail brewmar@isys.ca. Marion Elrick, Tiffany Landry. --ACOP, Spring 1997

P4N 6W1. Sharing Post Adoption Issues, 600 Toke St. North, Timmins, 705-264-4475. Sharon, Lark and Lynne. --ACOP, Spring 1997

P6A 4C8. Parent Finders, Sault Ste. Marie   Group closed.   [Retained for reference, Nov. 2012]   Cindy Godson, 44 Parkdale, Sault Ste. Marie. --Holly Kramer, ivy.holly@sympatico.ca, 21 Sep 1997

P7C 5N6. Adoption Awareness Support System, 129 Loyola Place, Thunder Bay, 807-475-7843. Cheryl Chiarot. --ACOP, Spring 1997

R2M 2K8. LINKS Post-Legal Adoption Support Group (Manitoba), 89 St. Michael Road, Winnipeg R2M 2K8. 204-257-4742. Roy Kading, rkading@shaw.ca, http://members.shaw.ca/rkading. --18 Sept. 2001

Parent Finders, Saskatchewan, 306-887-2120.

T5J 3L2. Parent Finders, Edmonton, 403-466-3335, tapdev@planet.eon.net. Founded in 1972 to foster reunions. Computer database has over 17,000 entries. --17 Feb 1997

T5W 5E1. Birthparents/Relatives Group, Edmonton, 403-478-0197. Search and support group.

Parent Finders, Red Deer, 403-434-7712

Origins Canada, origins@originscanada.org, www.originscanada.org. Support group for people separated from family members by adoption, including natural parents, natural relatives and adoptees, but not adoptive parents. Chapters: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia. --Oct. 17, 2005

V1X 1L8. Adoptees and Birthparents, Kelowna, 604-860-5368. Search and support group.

V2G 3R2. Cariboo Adoption Support Group, 604-392-4782. Search and support group.

Forget Me Not Family Society

Origins Canada, origins@originscanada.org, www.originscanada.org. Support group for people separated from family members by adoption, including natural parents, natural relatives and adoptees, but not adoptive parents. Chapters: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia. --Oct. 17, 2005

Vxx xxx. Birth Mothers Branching Out. Pearl Neufeld 250-592-4126. Meets third Monday of every month. Sponsored by The TRIAD Society for Truth in Adoption. --Allison Metzger, President, TRIAD Canada (Canadopt #1050, www.geocities.com/Wellesley/7580, 84141@ampsc.com), 4 Nov 1998

Vxx xxx. Full Circle Birthparent Support Group, Nelson, B.C.: Merle, 604-352-6122. Castlegar, B.C.: Lyn, 365-0858.

Vxx xxx. Peninsula Community Assn. Post-Reunion Support Group. Arlene Nelson, 400 - 2341 Harbour Rd., Sidney, B.C., 604-656-8668.

http://www.ouareau.com/ferg: Invercauld Publications, Camp Ouareau, The Farm, The Auckland Islands (sub-Antarctic).