Question 1

I am in Sioux Lookout, not Thunder Bay itself — does an Ontario video appointment still work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The commissioner is a Notary Public for the whole Province of Ontario, and O. Reg. 431/20 does not care which Ontario community you join from — a declaration sworn by video from Sioux Lookout, Kenora or Marathon carries the same seal as one sworn in Toronto. What matters is a connection that holds for a few minutes and photo ID you can show on camera. The one thing distance does not change is the in-person list: certified true copies, wills and powers of attorney still need a physical appointment, and for those a notary or lawyer local to you is the practical choice.

Question 2

I work a two-weeks-in, two-weeks-out rotation at a mine — can I swear a document from camp?

Accepted Answer

If the camp has a connection that holds a video call, yes: employment declarations, benefits affidavits and sworn statements for a rotation or housing allowance are all eligible for remote commissioning, and the appointment takes a few minutes. Book a slot for a break in your shift — video appointments run every day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern, so mind the time-zone difference if your site runs on Central time. Bring the document filled in but unsigned and your photo ID.

Question 3

My Lakehead application needs a statutory declaration and I have no local notary open evenings — what are my options?

Accepted Answer

A video appointment in the evening. Slots run until 8:00 PM Eastern, seven days a week, and a student declaration — for OSAP, residency, a name discrepancy or a guarantor — is exactly the kind of document that can be commissioned remotely. Complete the university’s form, leave the signature blank, and join with your passport or Ontario Photo Card. The sealed PDF is emailed the same day for upload; if the university wants a certified true copy of a transcript or diploma instead, that is not available online.

Question 4

Can I have documents commissioned online in Thunder Bay?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Residents of Thunder Bay can have many documents commissioned by an Ontario Notary Public over a secure video appointment under Ontario law (O. Reg. 431/20). This includes affidavits, statutory declarations, and travel consent letters prepared as statutory declarations. Certified true copies and witnessed signatures are NOT available online — those are in-person acts. The notary verifies your identity, administers the oath or declaration while you sign on camera, and applies the notarial seal during the call. You do not need to live in Thunder Bay: you can join from anywhere, in Ontario, elsewhere in Canada or abroad.

Question 5

Which documents cannot be completed online?

Accepted Answer

Some documents are completed in person only — certified true copies of paper originals (the notary must inspect the original), and by our practice powers of attorney, wills, real estate documents, and documents headed for Apostille or authentication abroad. We are online-only in Thunder Bay, so for those you would need our Orléans office or mobile service near Ottawa if you can make the trip, or a notary or commissioner local to you.

Question 6

What do I need for my online appointment?

Accepted Answer

You will need valid government-issued photo identification, the unsigned document, a device with a camera and microphone, and a stable internet connection. The notary will guide you through identity verification and signing during the call.

Question 7

Can I get a same-day notary appointment from Thunder Bay?

Accepted Answer

Usually, yes. We are open every day from 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM, so same-day online appointments are generally available, including evenings and weekends. Booking online guarantees your time slot; if your document is urgent, call (613) 434-5555 and we will find the earliest opening.

Question 8

Which documents do people in Thunder Bay most often need notarized or commissioned?

Accepted Answer

Most often: statutory declaration, affidavit, child travel consent letter. Most of these can be completed over a secure video appointment from Thunder Bay under Ontario law (O. Reg. 431/20).

Online Notary & Commissioning in Thunder Bay

You can have it commissioned online, without leaving Thunder Bay.

Have these ready and the appointment takes minutes

What can be done online — and what needs an in-person visit

Documents you can notarize online

Documents that need an in-person visit

Thunder Bay: Lakehead, the port and a region measured in hours, not kilometres

Commonly requested in Thunder Bay

Common questions

Documents Thunder Bay clients commonly get commissioned

Serving Thunder Bay and the Northwestern Ontario

Notary help near Thunder Bay

What our clients say.

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