Many people are uncertain even where to begin to remove a criminal record and the procedure that goes along with it.
It really depends on the outcome in court to understand when your eligibility date is for a pardon or record suspension or file destruction. If you were charged but not convicted, then you will have to be out of trouble for one or three years depending on the offence and the sentence. If absolute discharge, stayed, or peace bond you have to be out of trouble for 1 year to remove your criminal record. If conditional discharge then you have to be out of trouble for three years.
If you were convicted of a summary offence then your eligibility date will be five years from the end of your punishment. Its OK to start the pardon or record suspension process early as the process can take quite some time to complete in gathering the court, police and rcmp files for the application. You will have to be out of trouble for 10 years from the end of your punishment if your conviction was an indictable offence.
Whether you live in Ontario or any other province across the country, it will be easy for Pardons Canada to help. Here is a recent thank you letter from a person we helped from Hamilton, Ontario to remove a criminal record. As you can see in the letter, it was a huge emotional and mental relief once she found out that the pardon was granted:
