Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Recommendation 17 Reclamation of Indigenous Names

As a residential school survivor or their family member, or an individual impacted by the Sixties Scoop, you may be eligible to receive a legal change of name through the Vital Statistics Agency, including a waiver of legislated fees.

Fees that may be waived include the application fee, witnessing fees (if your signature and documents are certified at a Service BC location or the Vancouver Vital Statistics office (located at 250–605 Robson Street)), and British Columbia birth or marriage certificate replacement fees after your name has been updated.

Note: Fingerprinting fees cannot be waived by the Vital Statistics Agency as these are charged by an external organization. Please check with the Fingerprinting Service Agency to determine if they are able to waive their fees.  Fingerprints are a legislated requirement for a legal change of name in B.C.

When completing this form, please ensure the new name includes a first name and a last name/family name. An applicant’s new name must not be a single name/mononym.

To be eligible for the waiver of fees, applicants are required to provide a written statement in the form of a statutory declaration confirming they are a residential school survivor, or their family member, or an individual impacted by the Sixties Scoop. A sample of the statutory declaration is available for reference.

If you were born and/or married in B.C. and are requesting a legal change of name, please also request a new birth certificate and/or marriage certificate. These certificates will be issued free of charge upon request and completion of your legal change of name application.

Once your change of name application has been processed, you will receive a new change of name certificate along with a letter of introduction to be used in conjunction with your name change certificate when dealing with Provincial identity providers.

Change of Name – Indigenous language characters

The provincial government passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) into law in November 2019. Action 3.15 of the Declaration Act Action Plan commits the Province to adopt an inclusive digital font that allows for Indigenous languages to be included in communication, signage, services and official records. The Ministry of Citizens Services is engaged in consultation with Indigenous Peoples and organizations on this work.

While this work is ongoing, B.C. Vital Statistics Agency (Vital Statistics) has begun processing applications from Indigenous Peoples for a legal change of name that contains Indigenous language characters.

The use of Indigenous language characters in provincial naming documentation is new in British Columbia. During this transition, you may experience delays or difficulties when accessing services with your new legal name. Other provincial and federal agencies may have different requirements for names with Indigenous language characters.

We recommend that you investigate the unique requirements for any services that are important to you prior to applying for your legal change of name.

After you receive a legal change of name certificate from Vital Statistics that contains Indigenous language characters, and you were not born in British Columbia, you should contact the province in which you were born to update your naming records. Other provinces may have different requirements for names with Indigenous language characters.

Further information on the Province’s action plan for including Indigenous languages in government records, systems and services can be found online: Including Indigenous languages in government records, systems and services - Province of British Columbia. If you have any questions about this action plan, please contact Citizens’ Services via email at Eowynn.Bosomworth@gov.bc.ca.

For information on how to apply for a legal change of name to one which includes Indigenous Language Characters, please contact the Vital Statistics Agency’s general inquiries line at 1-888-876-1633 (toll free in B.C.) or 250-952-2681 or email us at HLTH.VSAdmin@gov.bc.ca.

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please email HLTH.VSCONA@gov.bc.ca