Every so often you find yourself searching contact information for living people. A good Canadian resource to know about is likely online through your local public library.
In Ottawa the OPL provides the ReferenceCanada database from ReferenceGroup. Search 11 million Canadian households by name. phone number, address and more. It claims to be the largest such database available. Records are 100% publicly sourced to comply with Canadian privacy laws.
There's also a directory of 1.5 million Canadian companies compiled from telephone directories, annual reports, government data, chamber of commerce information, business magazines, newspapers, specialty directories, and postal services information. Non-profits like BIFHSGO and OGS are also included although the information is not up to date.
http://www.thereferencegroup.com.ezproxy.biblioottawalibrary.ca/Home/Home and logon to your account.
An interesting database as long as the person you're searching has a landline.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I don't have a cell phone. I WANT to be found, and I am not willing to pay for phone service twice. Too much Scot in me, I guess. Cheers, BT
ReplyDeleteThe older city directories are rife with error, though. As one who had to deal with them as a professional librarian, and now one who writes local history using them, I know the comppanies like Vernon's in the Ontario area, and Hendersons in the West relied on not just landlines, but all sorts of information, like tattling neighbours. And the street addresses and even names of streets changed in the early 20th century.
ReplyDeleteBuyer/reader beware.
Gail B