Manuscript vs. printed census

The first censuses came in two different forms: manuscript and print. The manuscript census contains detailed information about every individual in the country. This information was collected by official census takers, who are also called enumerators. Today, the manuscript census refers to the questionnaires that you fill out and send back to Statistics Canada. But before 1971, census information was actually collected by enumerators who went from door to door to interview everyone.

Once each enumerator had collected the information for everyone in their area, they would send these answers back to Statistics Canada (formerly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture). After the manuscript census was received, it was studied for several months or years. Once this was finished, the results would be shared publicly in an official report. This is what we call the printed census.

To do family history research, you should use the manuscript census. This is because the manuscript census collects information about individual people. In contrast, the printed census contains more general information and statistics.

Available censuses

There have been hundreds of censuses in this land that we now call Canada over the last 400 years. The first official census in Canadian history was taken by the governor of New France, Jean Talon, in 1666. From 1666 to 1870, different governments would take a census whenever they felt they needed to do so. That means that for some areas, there were censuses every year, while in other regions decades could go by between censuses. In this same period, 98 censuses were conducted.

Everything changed in 1871. This was the first national census, since it was the first census taken in Canada after confederation. The earliest national censuses were taken every ten years until 1951 (except for the prairie provinces censuses, which happened more frequently). As of 1951, the Census of Population is taken every five years.

Since the information collected by the census is private, manuscript censuses are kept confidential for 92 years. It is only after that point that they're accessible for research. The most recent manuscript census to be released is from 1926.

What you can learn from the census

We can learn many things from the census. Each census is different—the questions asked may change from census to census and so do the potential responses to each question. These fluctuations reflect not only how Canadian society has transformed but also what the government wants to learn about its population. For example, censuses of the 17th and 18th centuries were often concerned with taxation, so questions were focused on property. Others were concerned with assessing military strength, being focused on enumerating soldiers and officers. More recently, the funding of government programs has become more of a concern, so the census was focused on better understanding the characteristics of the Canadian population.

In general, you can expect that most (but not all) censuses after 1871 contain the following information:

• age
• sex
• marital status
• country or province of birth
• religious denomination (since 1951, questions about religion are asked only every 10 years)
• ethnic origin
• occupation
• education.

It is important to note that the earliest censuses might be missing data. In the past, hazardous weather and even natural disasters sometimes made it impossible for enumerators to gain access to the information they needed. For example, the 1861 Census was conducted in January, so poor weather prevented information from being collected in several areas. In other cases, original records were lost to fire or suffered water damage.

In our next post Using the census to research your family history—Part 2: tips and best practices, we will suggest tips and best practices for using the census to research your family history.

The 1871 Census

The national census was established as part of the Constitution Act of 1867, also known as the British North America Act. This is the legal document that created the Dominion of Canada. This act specified that a census would be taken in 1871 and every 10 years after that.

Although we refer to the 1871 Census as national, it included only New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Manitoba and the Northwest Territories joined Confederation in 1870, but they were not counted in this census. Neither was British Columbia, which joined Confederation in 1871. The primary purpose of the 1871 Census was to determine how many members of Parliament should be accorded to each district, with reference to population size. It was mandatory so all Canadians were legally obligated to complete it.

The 1871 Census consisted of 211 questions in nine different groups (also called schedules). These included the following:

• Schedule 1, Nominal return of the living
• Schedule 2, Nominal return of the deaths
• Schedule 3, Return of public institutions, real and personal estate
• Schedule 4, Return of cultivated land and products
• Schedule 5, Livestock, animal products, home-made fabrics and furs
• Schedule 6, Return of industrial establishments
• Schedule 7, Return of products of the forest
• Schedule 8, Return of shipping and fisheries
• Schedule 9, Return of mineral products.

Life as an enumerator

To conduct the census, the government had to hire staff called enumerators. We can learn about their lives by looking at the manual for enumerators from the 1871 Census.

This census required a total of 2,789 enumerators working across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Those hired to do the job were "honest, intelligent, well-instructed, and paid close attention to detail." Sometimes they were local to the community they surveyed, while others were not. An enumerator's most important duty was being discreet and protecting the confidentiality of personal information. As the manual explains, all enumerators were expected to "bring to the accomplishment of their task that discretion generally necessary on the part of all public servants, but especially so where duties of great trust and delicacy are to be performed." In other words, they were responsible for ensuring that all information collected remained private.

Each enumerator was given "moderate size sheets of paper, with only twenty lines to write on each page." This paper was designed to hold all the responses from one schedule on a single page, in order to reduce the amount of paper shuffling. These pages would be stored in a folder or portfolio to make them easier to carry. The portfolio doubled as a sturdy surface for the enumerator to write on. Each page had a list of headings for enumerators to enter information about the area they were surveying. All pages had to be numbered in order.

Enumerators were also required to date and sign at the end of the day and on the last line of Schedule 1.

Enumerators would go from door to door to interview members of each household and record the answers. Being accurate was extremely important. If any errors were made while the information was entered, they would be corrected with a line in faint ink. Enumerators were expected to be courteous yet firm if any individual refused to respond. In these cases, individuals were warned that refusing to answer census questions could result in a fine.

Once all interviews were complete, every official sheet of paper (even those that had not been written on) were sent to the Department of Agriculture (Census Branch). It was prohibited to make copies of survey answers.

Unusual questions and responses

One of the most unusual aspects of the 1871 Census was that it was the first to collect information on the national, racial or ethnic origins of all Canadians. Previous censuses asked only about birth country and religion, so the 1871 Census is particularly important for historians because it shows the diverse nature of the country as early as 1871. Enumerators were expected to enter the exact response given by each individual.

Enumerators were also given instructions for entering the profession, trade or occupation of certain individuals. For instance, if sons worked for their fathers, they were listed as being in the same trade. So if a man was a carpenter and his son worked for him, the son was also listed as a carpenter. But any young man who was studying, whether at school or as an apprentice, was listed as a student.

Women's occupations were listed only if their work was outside their regular duties in the home. In these cases, a woman's occupation was noted as a dash "—," which was the same mark entered for children.

In Schedule 6: Industrial establishments, the manual includes very specific examples. We often think of industrial establishments as factories or large-scale projects, but according to the census manual, they were locations where people worked to manufacture, alter, create or change materials from one shape into another, for sale or consumption, regardless of the amount of output. In this particular census, mills and potteries, as well as shoe, dress and tailor shops, all counted as industrial establishments.

Conclusion

We can learn so much about the 1871 Census, the work of enumerators, and the perspectives of late-19th century Canadians just by looking at the census manual. Today, the most important point hasn't changed: being an enumerator remains an important responsibility.

A census history timeline

• 1666

  The first census in North America

  The first ever census taken in what would eventually become Canada was taken in 1666, by the Intendant of New France, Jean Talon. Talon conducted most of the census himself, going from door to door, recording the names, genders, ages, and occupations of the population. This included seven butchers, eleven bakers, and three candlestick makers.

• 1871

  The first Canadian national census

  The 1867 Constitution Act required that a national census be undertaken every ten years. The first of these was held in 1871. While it was a "national" census, it only included the four original provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), even though both Manitoba and British Columbia were also part of confederation by this date.

• 1906

  The Prairie provinces census

  In 1906, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta began to take the censuses of population and agriculture every five years, in order to keep up with the economic growth in the West.

• 1941

  Sampling is introduced

  The first Canadian census to use sampling as a method of data collection was the 1941 Census. Previously, all households received the same census questionnaire. However, during the 1941 Census, 9 out of 10 households started receiving a shorter, more basic questionnaire, while 1 out of 10 received a longer, more detailed questionnaire. In 1951, these ratios were changed so that 20% of households received the long-form questionnaire.

• 1971

  The Statistics Act of 1971

  The first steps towards the modern census were taken in 1971. Not only was the agency responsible for the census renamed from Dominion Bureau of Statistics to Statistics Canada, but the census would now be taken every five years. The 1971 Census was also the first census to include self-enumeration, where each household (outside of Indigenous reserves and Northern communities) would complete their questionnaire themselves before sending it back to Statistics Canada. This year also marked the 100^th anniversary of the Canadian national census.

• 2016

  Reintroduction of the long-form census

  In 2010, the mandatory long-form census was replaced with a new voluntary National Household Survey. This switch was done to recognize the concerns of individuals who saw the long-form census as an invasion of privacy, while also taking into account the important role that this information plays in developing public policy. However, the mandatory long-form census was brought back for the 2016 Census.

• 2021

  The first pandemic census

  The 2021 Census is the first Canadian census to take place during a pandemic. A number of changes had to be made to the census in response to the realities of living during the COVID-19 pandemic, including physically-distanced enumeration and making the census questionnaire available for everyone to complete online.

Governments

Federal government

• Voting: The federal government uses population counts from certain census years to realign the boundaries of federal electoral districts and to ensure equal representation of the population in the House of Commons.
• Old Age Security and Canada Child Benefit: Government departments use demographic and household composition data from the census to plan social programs such as Old Age Security and the Canada Child Benefit.
• Planning for natural and other hazards: Federal research teams use census information to model risks from hazard events such as flooding, earthquakes, coastal hazards or man-made disasters. Understanding where populations are present helps model where people may be exposed to hazards.

Provincial and territorial governments

• Daycare, schools and retirement residences: Provincial and territorial governments use census data on age and population numbers to understand how an area is changing and to estimate program needs, including the need for new daycare centres, schools and retirement residences.
• Health services: By mapping census data, provincial and territorial governments can better provide community health services according to neighbourhood needs.
• Roads and public transport: Transportation planners for provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments use census information to analyze traffic flows, assess existing transportation services, and plan for changes to these services and to road networks.

Municipal governments

• Schools and emergency services: Municipalities use demographic and household composition data from the census to plan a variety of services, such as daycare centres, schools, police and fire protection services.
• Seniors services: Municipal governments use census data on seniors to plan the need for affordable seniors housing or portable housing benefits. Census data on seniors are also used to determine where paramedic services call volumes may increase in the future and if the appropriate resources are allocated properly.
• Translation needs: Municipal and provincial governments use census data on language to determine the need to translate documentation and signage.

Indigenous communities and organizations

• Community support: Indigenous communities use census data to evaluate existing health and social services and to determine the best ways they can support their community, whether it is through educational skills programs, employment and training services, health services, housing supports, or early childhood services.
• Economic development: First Nations use census information to assist with economic development to provide data for grants, programs, and services.
• Programs for the community: Organizations who provide services to First Nations people, Métis and Inuit use Indigenous identity and basic demographic data to plan and develop programs that respond to the needs of the population.
• Indigenous languages: Indigenous leadership uses census information on Indigenous languages to assess the need for services in traditional languages and to create programs that support the learning and growth of these languages in their communities.

Community organizations

• Employment: Managers of programs use census data to help the visible minority population and people with disabilities join the workforce and get better jobs. They also rely on the census for information about the job market.
• Services for people with disabilities: Census data are used to determine who should be included in the Canadian Survey on Disability, which collects information on the type and severity of disability, use of aids and assistive devices, help received or required, use of various therapies and social service supports, educational attainment, labour force participation details, requirements and unmet needs for accommodations at school or work, and the experience of being housebound. This information helps organizations and governments to evaluate and implement programs and services tailored to people with disabilities, and to eliminate the barriers that they may face.

Farm organizations

• Financial decisions: Farm organizations draw on census information to make production, marketing and investment decisions.
• Trends: Census data is used to identify trends and changes in farming practices, and provide factual information on emerging economic and social issues, as well as opportunities and challenges within the agricultural community.
• Impact of weather: Farm organizations use census data to evaluate the impact of natural disasters on agriculture (such as floods, drought and storms) and react appropriately.

Businesses

• Property decisions: Businesses determine new factory, store and office locations based largely on the size and distribution of the population in different areas, which are determined through census data.
• Market decisions: Business owners use census information on geography and median income to determine how much potential customers in an area can spend on a good or service.
• Life insurance: Life insurance companies base their premium tables on census age data.
• Product development: Manufacturers of household and farm equipment use census data in determining the best market locations for their products. They can also assess the benefits of developing specific products by knowing the characteristics of the population in particular areas.

Individuals

• Finding a new home: Families look at census data when they are choosing a new neighbourhood to make sure the surroundings are suited to their lifestyles.
• Salary negotiations: Workers use census data on occupations to identify average salaries by profession, which can help them make their case for a higher salary.
• Education choices: By looking at census data on occupations, students can determine which professions are most in-demand, which can help them make informed decisions on which education program to choose.

Security of the online questionnaire

Statistics Canada takes the protection of confidential information provided online seriously. A secure login process and strong encryption are key elements in helping to prevent anyone from obtaining access to census information.

To protect the security of personal information on the Internet, Statistics Canada incorporated the following safeguards:

• Strong encryption technologies to ensure security of data passing between respondents' computers and Statistics Canada's web servers.
• Encryption methods based on Transport Layer Security (TLS), which guarantee that access to data cannot be compromised.
• Encryption of data submitted to the web servers before being stored, as well as ongoing encryption until data are transferred to the high security internal network.
• Processing and storage of census data on a high-security internal network.
• Powerful firewalls, intrusion detection and stringent access control procedures to limit access to back-end systems and databases.

Confidentiality of completed questionnaires

Stringent instructions and procedures have been implemented to ensure that confidentiality of census data (including the completed questionnaires) is maintained at all times. This requirement extends to all secure locations, including the private residences of employees.

All employees are sworn to secrecy when they are hired. The Statistics Act states that employees are liable to fines of up to $1,000 and/or jail terms of up to six months if they reveal personal information.

Census of Population

The 2021 Census of Population was Canada's 23rd national census. It collected information on the demographic, social and economic situation of people across Canada, as well as on the dwellings they lived in.

The information you provided ensures that the Census of Population accurately reflects Canada's changing society. Your responses are vital to your community for planning services that support employment, schools, public transportation and hospitals.

Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture traces its roots back to 1871, the dawn of Canada's confederation. It will update the number of existing agricultural operations in Canada—in 2016, there were 193,650, and in 2011, there were 205,889.

The Census of Agriculture provides information on all aspects of the Canadian agriculture industry—from the township, rural or municipal level to the national level. Both public and private agricultural organizations use the data collected from the Census of Agriculture.

The 2021 Census in the context of COVID-19

The Census Program has adapted to the COVID-19 situation to ensure that the 2021 Census of Population is conducted throughout the country in the best possible way, using a safe and secure approach.

Whenever follow-up activities were required, Statistics Canada used practices aligned with the strictest health and safety directives from public health authorities. No enumeration activities took place inside the dwellings of respondents, and all interviews were physically distanced. In addition, personal safety equipment were provided to field employees to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public.

Statistics Canada is proud of its ability to rethink and rework all of the key aspects of this country's largest peacetime activity—while ensuring at all times the safety of Canadians, including our employees.

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