Work with a genealogist
Canadian citizenship by
descent genealogists
We each researched our own multi-generation Canadian Citizenship by Descent line. We help you find your Canadian-born ancestor, locate the records that prove your line of descent, and walk you through ordering them.
Work with a genealogist
Experienced researchers who've been through this.
We're genealogists focused on Canadian Citizenship by Descent. We've each researched our own multi-generation line, so we know the records, the gaps, and what it takes to prove descent. Choose the one who fits your situation — you'll work directly with her.
Accepting clients
Ellery Wren
Canadian Citizenship by Descent Genealogist
I find your Canadian-born ancestor and the records that prove your line — at a fixed price you know before we start, then a screen-share call to walk you through ordering what you need.
Services
Canadian ancestor search · Find and order Canadian records
· Problem solving
Fixed pricing & details below
Accepting clients
Lesley Henderson
Canadian Citizenship by Descent Genealogist
A fully documented research engagement, delivered in writing — a verified family tree with every record sourced and cited, no calls required.
Services
Eligibility assessment · Documented genealogical research Hourly, against a retainer — details below
Work with Ellery
Ellery Wren, Canadian Citizenship by Descent Genealogist
Accepting clients
Ellery Wren
Canadian Citizenship by Descent Genealogist
I help you find your Canadian ancestor and the records that prove your line of descent — then walk you through ordering them. For over a decade, I've traced ownership and lineage through historical records.
My background is in chain-of-title and provenance research — tracing ownership and family connections back through public archives, vital records, and land records across multiple jurisdictions.
I built this site after submitting my own family application, tracing my LeDuc line through Quebec parish records in the 1850s through seven generations to myself and my kids.
Genealogy Services
Start with the free call — I'll tell you which service fits your situation.
Free intro call
A conversation to understand your family history — what you know about your Canadian ancestor, what's still unknown, and how far you've gotten in your own research. This helps me guide you toward the best service for your situation, and I'll let you know if I don't think there's a viable path forward.
Free
Find & Order Records
You can identify your Canadian ancestor with confidence — name, approximate dates, and where they were born or lived. I find exactly which records exist and where, then guide you through ordering on a screen-share call.
$500
Ancestor Search
You have a name and a family story, but the details are thin or uncertain. I do the detective work to confirm who your Canadian ancestor was, locate the records that document your line, and guide you through ordering them.
$1,500
Something else
An unusual or complex case that doesn't fit the above. Tell me about it on the free call and I'll let you know if I can help and what it would involve.
Inquire
Memberships
Member · Association of Professional Genealogists · Ontario Ancestors (Ontario Genealogical Society)
About the research
Genealogical research is exploratory. Some records were never created, did not survive, or are not accessible — and not every ancestor can be confirmed. If records can't be located, you'll receive a written report of what was searched and where the research reached its limits. The fee covers the search and that report, not a guaranteed document.
How I work
I'm a genealogical researcher, not an attorney or a licensed immigration consultant. I research and locate records and guide you through ordering them — I don't complete or submit your application or provide legal advice on your case.
Get in touch
Start with a conversation
Every engagement begins with a free intro call. Tell me a little about your family line — what you know about your Canadian ancestor and where you've gotten so far — and I'll get back to you within a day or two to set up a time.
There's no cost and no obligation. If I don't think there's a workable path forward, I'll tell you that honestly before you spend anything.
Send Ellery a Message
Work with Lesley
Lesley Henderson, Canadian Citizenship by Descent Genealogist
Accepting clients
Lesley Henderson
Canadian Citizenship by Descent Genealogist
I'm the founder of Canadian by Surprise LLC, a research service helping Americans discover and document their eligibility for Canadian citizenship by descent.
Before founding Canadian by Surprise, I worked as a federal contractor for the U.S. Army, analyzing historical records dating back to the Civil War. My work included helping maintain the Army's official Medal of Honor Roll, answering Congressional inquiries, and conducting fraud investigations — building actionable cases for prosecutors and translating obscure government records and regulations into language any jury could understand. That institutional background — knowing how to find, interpret, and cite complex historical documentation — is the foundation of every research engagement I take on.
I believe millions of Americans have a legitimate claim to Canadian citizenship they don't know about. My mission is to find the evidence that proves it.
Services & Fees
Reach out and describe your situation — Lesley will help you find the right fit.
Eligibility Assessment
Not sure if you qualify? Start here. You'll complete a short intake questionnaire, and I'll review your family information and deliver a written assessment of your likely eligibility, the complexity of your research, and recommended next steps. If you proceed to full research, the $150 is credited toward your first invoice.
$150
Genealogical Research
A fully documented research engagement, delivered entirely in writing — no calls or meetings required. I build a verified Ancestry family tree with sourced records and citations, transferred to you at completion. Research is billed hourly against a retainer, with a minimum retainer of $1,000 (10 hours) required to begin. As research progresses, you'll be invoiced to replenish the retainer in $500 increments as needed. Clients are asked to share any existing family tree or records before work begins — this reduces duplicate effort and keeps your costs down.
$100per hour
Application Assembly & Submission
Not offered. Canadian by Surprise does not offer application assembly or submission services. Clients whose research is complete can request referral to a vetted Canadian immigration attorney, a certified immigration consultant, or resources to DIY their own application.
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How billing works
Most clients start with the $150 Eligibility Assessment, then move to hourly research against a $1,000 minimum retainer (10 hours), replenished in $500 increments as the work continues.
About the research
Genealogical research is exploratory. Some records were never created, did not survive, or are not accessible — and not every ancestor can be confirmed. If records can't be located, you'll receive a written report of what was searched. The fee covers the search and that report, not a guaranteed document.
How I work
I'm a genealogical researcher, not an attorney or a licensed immigration consultant. I trace lines and document descent — I don't complete or submit your application or provide legal advice on your case.
Independent provider
Lesley is an independent contractor. Scheduling, rates, and payment are arranged directly with her, not through Citizenship by Descent LLC. She typically replies within a day or two.
Get in touch
Reach out to Lesley
Send a note describing your situation — what you know about your Canadian-born ancestor and how far your research has gotten. As an independent provider, Lesley will reply directly, usually within a day or two, to talk through which service fits.
There's no cost to ask, and no obligation to continue.
Send Lesley a Message
Frequently Asked questions
Working with a Canadian citizenship by descent genealogist.
Questions people commonly ask about working with a genealogist. For broader questions about the application process itself, see the main FAQ.
Will you definitely find my records?
No — and anyone who promises that isn't being straight with you. Genealogical research is exploratory. Some records were never created, did not survive fires or floods, or are not publicly accessible. Some lines reach a genuine dead end.
What you're paying for is the expert search and a written report of what was found and what was tried — not a guaranteed document. If a record can't be located, you'll still receive that report, and it has real value: it shows what has already been ruled out and sometimes points to another path.
How long does this take?
The research itself is usually a few weeks. The larger variable is the repositories. Some archives and vital-records offices respond in days; others take months, and that timeline is outside anyone's control.
Your genealogist will tell you upfront which repositories your line is likely to depend on and what their typical turnaround looks like, so you can plan around it.
Do you order the records for me?
You order and pay for your own records, directly from the issuing authority. That keeps you in control of your documents and avoids any markup.
What your genealogist does is the hard part: determining exactly which records you need, locating them, and walking you through the ordering process step by step — often on a screen-share call — so you're not guessing at forms, fees, or which office to contact.
What if the records needed can't be found?
You receive a written report documenting every repository and record set searched, what was found, and where the trail ended. The fee covers that search and report, not a guaranteed result.
A documented dead end still has value — it tells you and any future researcher what has already been ruled out, and it sometimes reveals an alternative line of descent worth pursuing.
Is this legal advice?
No. Ellery and Lesley are genealogical researchers, not attorneys or licensed immigration consultants, and this site is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. What they offer is genealogical research and document organization — tracing your line of descent and locating the records that support it.
They do not complete or submit your application and do not provide legal advice on your case. Much about this process is undocumented, inconsistently applied, or subject to change. Nothing on this site should be treated as legal advice.
How is this different from hiring an immigration lawyer?
An attorney or licensed immigration consultant can represent you, advise you on legal questions, and submit applications on your behalf. A genealogist cannot. What a genealogist provides is the evidence work — tracing your line and locating the records that prove it — at project-based fixed prices rather than hourly legal rates.
A genealogist may be a good fit if you want the research and records handled but plan to submit your own application. An immigration attorney or consultant is the right fit if your situation involves legal ambiguity, contested parentage, adoption, or a need for formal representation before IRCC.
What if I'm not sure which service I need?
Reach out and describe your situation, or book the free intro call. Your genealogist will talk through what you know, what's still unknown, and which service fits — and will tell you honestly if there isn't a viable path forward. The decision is always yours.
What happens after I submit the contact form?
The genealogist you contacted typically responds within a day or two. They'll ask a few questions about your situation, then describe the services that fit. Payment is arranged directly with that genealogist.
Do you work with clients outside the United States?
Bill C-3 applies to descendants of Canadian citizens regardless of where they live. Work is conducted by video call, and documents are shared electronically through a secure file-sharing service, so location isn't a barrier.
Can you guarantee my application will be approved?
No. IRCC makes the final decision on every application, and no one outside IRCC can guarantee an outcome — not genealogists, not attorneys, not consultants.
What a genealogist provides is the research and documentary evidence to support your line of descent. How IRCC interprets any particular case cannot be predicted, because requirements and processes can change without notice and much about them is not publicly documented.
Is Lesley connected to AlreadyCanadian.com or Citizenship by Descent LLC?
Lesley Henderson is an independent service provider. She is not employed, supervised, or otherwise engaged by Citizenship by Descent LLC or AlreadyCanadian.com.
This website is informational and provides her contact information as a courtesy to readers. Any agreement between you and Lesley Henderson is made directly with her. Citizenship by Descent LLC does not set her rates, direct her work, manage her client relationships, or bear responsibility for the services she provides.
Memberships
Your research is conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the genealogy profession.
