How & Where to Search for a Newspaper Ad

Check the newspapers in the personal and people search columns to see if an ad has been placed by someone looking for you. In particular, check adoptee’s birth date, Christmas Day, Valentines Day and Mothers Day. The ad may appear any time after the child turns 18 years old.

Old newspapers are usually stored on microfilm. Go to your local library for copies on microfilm of the newspapers. If the newspapers are not available then ask your librarian for the closest Reference library to you. An excellent source is the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library.

Wardship Notices

Perhaps the CAS had trouble locating your parents. Look for ads like these in the newspapers. Check old newspapers, especially one to three months before your adoption was finalized, for ads like "Notice of Temporary Wardship to…" or "Anyone knowing the present whereabouts of…" This may apply to you. Note: Ads from the 50's or earlier did not always give the reason why the person was being sought.