No skeletons here: 6 spooky myths about what a criminal record check shows
Halloween is the one night of the year when skeletons in the closet count as decor. The rest of the year, if you're starting a seasonal job or signing up to volunteer, someone usually wants proof there aren't any. That proof is a criminal record check, which raises a spooky question: what does a criminal record check show?
Psst. A treat is hiding somewhere on this page.
For something so routine, it has collected a lot of campfire stories: the endless wait, the dim police station lobby, the speeding ticket that rises from the grave.
So grab a flashlight. We're walking through the haunted house to unmask 6 of the most common myths. Then we'll show you how to get your criminal record check online before your next start date.
Why fall is criminal record check season
Something creeps up every October, and it isn't just the jack-o'-lanterns. Seasonal hiring across Canada ramps up in October and November as retailers, warehouses, delivery services, and event companies staff up for Halloween and the holidays. Many ask new hires for a criminal record check before the first shift.
Volunteer season comes alive too. Food drives, holiday markets, school events, and winter sports leagues all need extra hands, and most organizations screen their volunteers.
Here's the real horror story: a seasonal role can start within days of the offer. If your check takes weeks, the job can vanish into the night and go to someone who's ready. Getting yours done early keeps that ghost away.
Who's in costume this season
Roles where a check often comes up between Halloween and the holidays:
Haunted house actors, event staff, performers, and entertainers
Costume shop, retail, and warehouse staff for the holiday rush
Delivery drivers and couriers hauling everyone's treats
Volunteers at community events, food banks, and charities
Students starting winter placements
Meet the monsters: 6 criminal record check myths, debunked
Every haunted house has its regulars. Here are the 6 that haunt criminal record checks, and the truth that sends each one back to its crypt.
Shine your flashlight into the dark on either side. Something is lurking.
Myth 1The ghost of the police station lobby
The myth"You have to go to the police station and wait for weeks."
The truthThis ghost is stuck in the past. You can now order a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal record check online with MyCheck, from anywhere in Canada. Most checks complete in minutes, and the rest usually come back within 4 hours.
The one time it still lingers: if your name and date of birth aren't enough to confirm who you are, police may ask for your fingerprints (RCMP). That step happens in person and takes longer. Our guide to how long a criminal record check takes compares the wait times.
Myth 2The zombie speeding ticket
The myth"My old speeding ticket will crawl back out of the ground."
The truthIt stays buried. What does a criminal record check show? Criminal convictions, such as those under the Criminal Code. Speeding tickets, parking tickets, and most other provincial offences aren't criminal, so they don't appear.
Some things do come back to life, though. Impaired driving and dangerous driving are Criminal Code offences, and a conviction can show up on a criminal record check.
Myth 3The restless pardon
The myth"A pardon still shows up on every check."
The truthConsider this spirit laid to rest. Level 1 and Level 2 checks cover convictions where no record suspension (the current name for a pardon) has been granted. In other words, a suspended record won't show on a standard criminal record check. Vulnerable sector checks follow different rules.
One note: MyCheck can't process record suspension applications. Those go through the Parole Board of Canada.
Myth 4The costume mix-up
The myth"Any criminal record check works for volunteering with kids."
The truthChecks can look alike, like 2 trick-or-treaters in the same store-bought costume. But roles that put you in a position of trust with children or vulnerable people often require a vulnerable sector check. Think coaching a youth team or helping at a school Halloween party.
A vulnerable sector check is a separate check. Only local police services (or, in BC, the Criminal Records Review Program) can run it, and you'll need to go in person. MyCheck doesn't offer it, but our vulnerable sector check guide explains how to get one.
If you're looking for a police check for volunteering, ask the organization which level it needs before you order. If it's a Level 1 or Level 2 check, MyCheck can handle it.
Myth 5The vanishing act
The myth"If I wasn't convicted, there's nothing to find."
The truthWhat's invisible at one level can appear at the next. A Level 1 check covers convictions only. A Level 2 check, also called a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, shines a brighter flashlight. It can include outstanding charges and warrants, absolute and conditional discharges within their disclosure windows, certain Youth Criminal Justice Act findings, and court orders.
What a criminal record check will show depends on the level you order. Not sure which one you need? Ask the employer or organization before you order, or read our Level 1 vs Level 2 guide.
Myth 6The phantom in the inbox
The myth"My results go straight to my employer."
The truthNo phantom is reading your mail. Whatever your criminal record check may show, your dated, police-issued certificate is emailed to you, and you decide who sees it and when.
Nothing happens behind your back, either. You verify your identity with your own government ID and a live selfie, and you sign the declaration yourself.
Open me
Treat! You found it.
Use this code at checkout for 10% off a Level 1 or Level 2 check.
NOSKELETONS
Ends November 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Start my check
Pick the right costume: what does a criminal record check show at each level?
Showing up to a party in the wrong costume is awkward. Showing up to a new job with the wrong check is worse. Here's what each criminal record check will show, and where to get it.
Check
What it covers
Often asked for by
Where to get it
Level 1: Criminal Record Check
Criminal convictions where no record suspension has been granted
Most job applications and many volunteer roles
Online with MyCheck
Level 2: Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
Everything in Level 1, plus outstanding charges and warrants, discharges within their disclosure windows, certain youth findings, and court orders
Employers, programs, and licensing bodies that ask for a "judicial matters" check
Online with MyCheck
Vulnerable sector check
More detailed screening for roles with children or vulnerable people
Youth coaching, school volunteering, caregiving, and healthcare
Your local police service, in person (in BC, the Criminal Records Review Program)
Still not sure? The organization asking for the check can tell you which level it accepts.
How to get your criminal record check online: no tricks, 5 steps
No cauldron, no candlelit lobby, no line around the block. Here's the whole recipe.
Gather your ingredients. You'll need your most recent Canadian address, an original unexpired government ID (passport, driver's licence, ID card, or residence permit), and a payment card.
Pick your level. Choose Level 1 or Level 2 and check out. If an employer or agency gave you a promo code, enter it under "Add promotion code."
Show your face. Open the link in your email, photograph your ID, take a quick live selfie, and sign the declaration. Masks off for this part.
Questions from the crypt: criminal record check FAQs
Can I get a criminal record check online in Canada, or do I have to brave the police station?
You can stay home in your pyjamas. MyCheck offers Level 1 and Level 2 checks fully online, anywhere in Canada. You'll need a recent Canadian address and an original, unexpired government ID.
How long does a criminal record check take? Longer than a trick-or-treat route?
Usually not. Most MyCheck checks complete in minutes, and the rest typically come back within 4 hours. If fingerprint confirmation is needed, it takes longer. Our timing guide compares police wait times.
Do I need a criminal record check for a seasonal job, like a haunted house or holiday retail gig?
Many employers ask for one, especially in retail, warehousing, delivery, and events. Check the job posting or ask the hiring manager which level they accept before your first shift.
Can I use MyCheck to volunteer at a Halloween event?
Yes, if the organizer accepts a Level 1 or Level 2 check. If the event involves kids and the organizer needs a vulnerable sector check, you'll need to apply in person through your local police service.
Can I take my selfie in costume?
Save the mask for the party. Your live selfie is checked against the photo on your ID, so skip the face paint and fake fangs for this one.
How long is a criminal record check valid? Does it turn into a pumpkin at midnight?
Not at midnight, but it doesn't last forever either. A certificate reflects your record on the date it was issued. There's no fixed expiry, but many employers and organizations only accept checks issued within a set period, so ask before you order. Our guide on how long a criminal record check is good for has the details.
Will anyone be peeking at my results?
No lurkers here. The certificate is emailed to you, and you decide who to share it with.
Is my information safe from things that go bump in the night?
Your data isn't wandering any dark hallways. Credibled is a Canadian company, and our servers are in Canada. Credibled is PIPEDA compliant and meets the requirements of Quebec's Law 25.
Leave the scares for the haunted houses
A criminal record check shouldn't be the scariest thing you face this fall. Order it online, get it back fast, and walk into your next job or volunteer shift with your paperwork already done.
And if there's a skeleton in your closet, nothing is scarier than a surprise. Checking your own record first means you know exactly what your criminal record check will show before an employer does, so you can get ahead of the conversation.
