Now that you plan to visit the Archives, there are a few things you should do to prepare for your visit that will help you find what you need. The Archives of Ontario has assembled a number of tools, databases, links and catalogues of information that can help you conduct much of your research from home. You might wish to start there.
For a very general overview of our collections, click here.
For information of particular interest to university students and professors, click here.
Please see the links below for other essential information you’ll need to know before you visit!
Our Location - Where to find us and how to contact us.
Hours of Operation - Reading Room and Helen McClung Exhibit Area.
Ordering Materials in Advance - How to make sure your materials are here when you plan to be.
Services and Fees (Word, PDF) - An outline of the services we provide. What’s free and what we charge you for.
Rules of the Reading Room (Word, PDF) - What is and is not permissible in the Reading Room.
Our Copyright Policy - How to make sure you are abiding by the copyright policies of the Archives of Ontario.
The Archives of Ontario is located at the York University Station stop on subway Line 1 Yonge-University.
For more information on how to visit us using the TTC, please consult their website:
By Other Transit Agencies
We are also accessible by Go Transit, YRT (York Region Transit), Viva and Brampton Transit-Züm.
For more information on how to visit us by these transit agencies, please consult their websites:
From Highway 401
From Highway 407
From Highway 400 (southbound)
From Highway 400 (northbound)
Parking
Parking on campus is subject to York University Parking services and fees. For more information about the daily rates, consult the York University Parking Services website.
For parking updates, consult the York University Parking Services website.
For those using a GPS our coordinates are:
Latitude = 43.7749 - 43 degrees, 46.5 minutes North
Longitude = -79.5002 - 79 degrees, 30.0 minutes West
The Reading Room is open for in-person services by appointment only.
Our hours of service are Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. We are pleased to announce that to better serve our customers, the Archives of Ontario Reading Room will now remain open between 12-1pm with no closure.
We look forward to providing you with even more time to research!
How to book an appointment:
Our new online appointment booking tool will ensure your health and safety and will allow you to spend less time waiting and more time researching!
Send an email at reference@ontario.ca or call us at: 416-327-1600 or toll free: 1-800-668-9933 (Ontario only) to book an appointment to view materials in the Reading Room
Our onsite exhibit is open Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm for self guided tours.
Holiday | 2023 |
---|---|
New Year's Day | Monday, January 2* |
Family Day | Monday, February 20 |
Good Friday | Friday, April 7 |
Easter Monday | Monday, April 10 |
Victoria Day | Monday, May 22* |
Canada Day | Monday, July 3* |
Civic Holiday | Monday, August 7 |
Labour Day | Monday, September 4 |
Thanksgiving Day | Monday, October 9 |
Remembrance Day | Monday, November 13* |
Boxing Day | Tuesday, December 26 |
Christmas Holiday | Monday, December 25 |
You can request materials in advance:
Please give us the following information for each container or item:
If you submit your order by e-mail, we will notify you once the records have arrived. If you order by phone, please let us know if you would like to be notified, and how to notify you.
All records at the Archives of Ontario are covered by the Canadian Copyright Act. Customers who reproduce records are required to comply with the act. To find out more about the Copyright Act, different types of copyright and access restrictions on archival materials and the conditions that apply when copying archival materials held by the Archives of Ontario, please see the Archives of Ontario Public Policy on Copyright and Terms of Use for Archival Materials.
Our Building
The Archives of Ontario’s public facility is equipped with accessibility features and tools to make your visit easier. Our public facility is located a short distance from accessible parking and the York University subway station. Our entrances are wheelchair accessible with ramps and automatic door openers. All public services are located on the ground floor, including our accessible washrooms. We also welcome service animals.
Our Services
Our Reading Room includes wheelchair accessible tables, and magnifying glasses upon request. The computer terminals have accessibility tools, including Microsoft Narrator and Magnifier, and our microfilm/microfiche viewers are equipped with various features to improve the quality and magnification of the images.
Due to the historic nature of records in our collections many items in our collections may not be accessible for people with disabilities. If a person with a disability needs an accessible format, or help to communicate with us, we will work with the person to provide the format or support that will best meet their needs — at no additional cost. If we are not able to meet the person’s particular requirement in a reasonable timeframe, we will inform them and will work with them to determine an alternate method or will provide a summary of the information.
We aim to make our online content accessible for all. If you require assistance visiting us in person or accessing our website, online tools and resources, please contact us.