is a JP authorized to notarize???

when my grandma got her birth cert and marriage cert notarized for me she didn't go to a notary public. she went to a JP (Justice of the Peace). does anyone know if a JP is authorized to notarize such things for a visa application??? i asked the British Consulate in vancouver and they didn't know and then i phones a few notaries and they didn't know either. i can't get ahold of anyone at the Consulate in Ottawa. (well, that' because they're only open during my first break from work mon-fri (minus wed.) and i only get 15 min. and the waiting time is always longer than that!!!)
if anyone knows at all please let me know asap!!!
thanks so much

My bank manager (JP) signed mine and I'm here in Wales, so..