On June 1, the Government of Canada released the digitized 1931 Census of Canada, This is the first time that online access to census content has been provided on the first day permitted.
Canadian law directs that census records remain private for 92 years, so following this historic release of census data, nearly 235,000 images are now available to browse on the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) website.
The first census of Canada was enumerated in 1871 and was conducted every ten years thereafter. The original purpose of the census was to help determine parliamentary representation based on population.
On June 1 1931 approximately 15,000 enumerators went to work conducting Canada’s 7th census.
In isolated parts of Northern Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police were enlisted to carry out the work.
The census included questions with more than 40 fields of personal information and five additional schedules.
The schedules gathered information about agriculture; livestock; merchandising and service establishments; the blind, deaf and mute; and institutions which included penal institutions, hospitals, mental health hospitals and sanitoriums.
While most citizens gave enumerators their full cooperation, some farmers were rumoured to have hidden from enumerators complaining that there were too many questions that took too long to answer.
The release of the 1931 Census records is an excellent opportunity to learn more about us as a country and the over 10 million people living in Canada at that time.
The census returns give us hints about who lived at an address, information about their circumstances, if they spoke English or French, could read and write, or went to school. They even tell us if the household had a radio, a new question on the 1931 questionnaire at a time when Canada was witnessing the arrival of telecommunications.
Census returns are tools for genealogists, historians, scholars and all Canadians who want to explore the past. These documents provide information about the makeup of Canada, the history of Canadian families and societal changes that were happening at the time.
The 1931 Census data delves into where people lived, but also how they lived; it captures people and their relationships — whether with extended families, within their immigrant communities or in institutions and rooming houses.
Even if you have not been bitten by the genealogy bug, the 1931 Census can still be of interest. You can learn more by visiting these resources:
Click here to search the 1931 Census by location
Click here to read Census 1931, a peek into digitization
Top Photo: Government of Canada
Hello, I would like to find out about my Grandmother Janet Cochrane from Fisher Bay, Mb. She is Indigenous originally from Norway House, MB. She married Arthur Cochrane from Fisher River, MB. Can you help?
Hi Sue
Here are two links that may offer more information:
Click here to search the 1931 Census by location
Click here to read Census 1931, a peek into digitization