I have a death record for a child who died aged 1 and a half in Toronto Childrens Hospital of pneumonia and emphysema in 1914. The informant is given as a clerk at a city hall. Which seems a bit official for a natural causes death. While other death records I have seen for Canadians give parents etc as informants.

The hospital say I am not a close enough next of kin to be allowed information from her records which is very frustrating as the possible info in the records could knock down a huge brickwall for me.

Does anyone have any ideas why a clerk at city hall would be an informant. Would this occur if a child was abandoned or up for adoption?

Also does anyone know when official adoption started in Canada?

George