Are Canada's Future Historical Censuses In Jeopardy?

Will Canada's family historians, genealogists, academic and independent historians, and even perhaps her statisticians, again have to take time away from their personal, academic and other research to defend Canada's historical censuses?

Many will remember the successful efforts of Canadians to ensure that Canada's 1901 and 1911 censuses were accessible to all, and that post-1911 censuses would be available to future researchers. Compromises were made, and not everyone was quite happy, but in the end, agreement was reached that later censuses would be available to researchers after 92 years had passed successively, and that in 2006, and likely 2011, the census would include a consent clause for future access.

Today, however, there is news about very quiet changes to the census process which would affect historical and genealogical research far into the future. In a CanWest News Service article, today, Shannon Proudfoot's article "Genealogists slam new restrictions on census information" says that Canada's 'long form' census will no longer include the usual broader questions which give a snapshot of the lives of Canadians. Instead, these questions will be included in a "new, voluntary National Household Survey" for selected households which will never be accessible to historical researchers. Presumably the bare statistics will be available, but Statistics Canada's effectiveness will surely be immediately affected by these changes, as data collected from voluntary Household Surveys could never replace that broad collection of data from the national, mandatory census.

Erik Waddell, a spokesman for Canada's Industry Minister Tony Clement, apparently said that this was a government decision, not a Statistics Canada one, and that this was prompted by privacy concerns.

It does not appear, however, that there was any consultation about these changes, nor does there appear to be evidence of any privacy complaints concerning the census.

On the contrary, thousands of Canadians - more than 75,000, petitioned the federal government to guarantee that Canada's historical census information would be available in the future. And as Gordon A. Watts, co-chairman of the Canada Census Committee, the grassroots campaign for census access, is quoted as saying in this article: "The census is the single most important documented information available to the historical and genealogical community."

Almost on the eve of Canada Day, and at a time when many genealogists and family historians are considering how to best celebrate and document Canada's upcoming 150th anniversary in 2017, this is sad and sobering news. Without access to historical census information, Canada's future history would be poor indeed.

"Genealogists slam new restrictions on census information" by Shannon Proudfoot, Canwest News Service. Posted 29 June, 2010 7:02 PM, Canada.com:
http://www.blogger.com/www.canada.com/technology/Genealogists+slam+restrictions+census+information/3217316/story.html

Some Canadian research sources - Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy

“Marriage of Elisabeth Schäffer and Benjamin Dick, 1907. Showing Russian-German dress” - See note 1

Credit: Schaffer, Jacob / Library and Archives Canada / C-014489

Location unknown. Private source. No restrictions on use. Copyright expired.

I am still learning about research on Central and Eastern European genealogy for my Canadian family connections and since this edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy is a 'carnival', I thought I'd blog about a couple of sources I've been looking at.

Both are available through Statistics Canada's website, which is not a government department that most might think to look to first for genealogy information. Statistics Canada is responsible for Canada's national censuses - a central source for 1850-1911 Canadian genealogical research - but the historical censuses have to be transferred to Library and Archives Canada before they are made available to researchers.

Canada Year Book Collection

Censuses were never meant primarily for genealogy, however much we might wish it had been so. Information gathered from each census is intended usually for government, or nowadays, perhaps for certain commercial uses. From each census, statistics are compiled on various topics. Much of this data is now very useful to historical and genealogical researchers. Recently, Statistics Canada put on-line free its Canada Year Book Collection, covering 100 years from Canada's confederation in 1867 to 1967.

I have been 'collecting' some information from these on immigration to the province of Manitoba, Canada where my mother was born. Just as an example, this is from the 1907 Canada Year Book.

Population – Manitoba

1881 62,260
1891 152, 506
1901 255,211

Population By birthplace (my selections)

Austria-Hungary
1881 -
1891 -
1901 11,570

Germany
1881 208
1891 857
1901 2,285

Russia
1881 5,335
1891 6,251
1901 8,854

At Sea
1881 7
1891 7
1901 23

Statistics by province are also given by race or origin and by religion. Always check the notes - under religion in 1891, for instance, Manitoba Mennonites are 'lumped in' with Baptists.

1907 Canada Yearbook, p. 5, Table 1
Canada Year Book Collection, Statistics Canada (1867 to 1967):
http://www65.statcan.gc.ca/acyb_r000-eng.htm


1940 National Registration, Canada

The Canadian 1940 National Registration process included anyone in Canada from 1940-1946 who was 16 years of age or older, unless in the armed forces, religious orders, or confined to an institution. These records are still in the care of Statistics Canada; some of the records for those who died during that period were destroyed.

These records may include the place and country of birth of individual and his or her parents,the individual's nationality, their year of entry into Canada, if an immigrant, their racial origin, and their languages. All very important information for genealogists.

Although there is a “soundex-format index”, to request a record you must supply the full name, place of residence in 1940, and some identifying details, such as country of birth, date of birth, approximate age and occupation - as well as proof of death at least 20 years ago, in most cases. Requesting a 1950 National Registration record is not free for genealogical/historical requests, the charge is $47.25 Canadian for each search. This is refunded for unsuccessful searches.

1940 Canadian National Registration: Details, mailing address: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/genealogy/022-911.007-e.html

Statistics Canada, Request form: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=93C0006&lang=eng

Genealogists and historians are asking to have these 1940 National Registration records transferred to Library and Archives Canada. I will keep you posted on this.

Genealogical Societies and Conferences

During Scanfest today, genealogical conferences were one of the topics discussed. I always look forward to going to a 'big' conference and know there are at least two coming up in North America this year. I thought I'd post the links here too. I'll be attending the AHSGR conference in Medicine Hat, as that's the closest to me this year.

American Historical Society of Germans From Russia: http://www.ahsgr.org/

Conference in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada 15-21 June 2009


Joint Conference - the Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe and the Federation of East European Family History Societies: http://www.sggee.org/conventions/ConventionNews.html

Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, July 24-25th, 2009



***********
Note 1 - This photograph is not related to my family (as far as I know). For a thoughful comment on the LAC caption for this photograph, see Framing Canada: A Photographic Memory, The Canadian Mosaic: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/framingcanada/026020-3527-e.html