| 1921 Canadian census | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| General information | ||||
| Country | Canada | |||
| Results | ||||
| Total population | 8,788,483 ( 22%) | |||
TheCanada 1921 census was a detailed enumeration of theCanadian population. Thecensus count was taken as at June 1, 1921. The total population count was 8,788,483 representing a 22% increase over the1911 census population count of 7,206,643.[1][2] The 1921 census was the sixth comprehensive decennial census sinceCanadian Confederation on July 1, 1867.[2][3] The previous census was the Northwest Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba1916 census and the following census was the Northwest Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba1926 census.
Information was collected on the following five subjects, with separate schedules or questionnaires for each subject:[3][4]
The five schedules contained a total of 565 questions. The population questionnaire contained 35 questions with those on insanity and fertility having been dropped and a new question recording the birthplaces of the father and mother of each individual.[3][4][5]
| Province | 1921 census[1][2] | 1911 census[1] | % change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island | 88,615 | 93,728 | -5.5 |
| Nova Scotia | 523,837 | 492,338 | 6.4 |
| New Brunswick | 387,876 | 351,889 | 10.2 |
| Quebec | 2,361,199 | 2,005,776 | 17.7 |
| Ontario | 2,933,622 | 2,527,292 | 16.1 |
| Manitoba | 610,118 | 461,394 | 32.2 |
| Saskatchewan | 757,510 | 492,432 | 53.8 |
| Alberta | 588,454 | 374,295 | 57.2 |
| British Columbia | 524,582 | 392,480 | 33.7 |
| Yukon Territory | 4,157 | 8,512 | -51.2 |
| Northwest Territories | 7,988 | 6,507 | 22.8 |
| Royal Canadian Navy | 485 | 0 | N/A |
| Total | 8,788,483 | 7,206,643 | 22.0 |
The most significant population growth took place in thePrairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, where the population count increased by 47%.[1][2]
The census was conducted by theDominion Bureau of Statistics formed in 1918 by theStatistics Act. Census fieldwork was carried out by 241 commissioners and 11,425 enumerators responsible for the corresponding numbers of census districts and subdistricts structured to correspond closely to federalelectoral constituencies and polling subdivisions respectively.[2][3] A special staff of up to 350 inOttawa compiled the census results using mechanical tabulation methods.[3][4] In 1955, the paper census schedules were destroyed after the population schedules weremicrofilmed.[2]
In accordance with the Statistics Act, the 1921 census returns were in the custody ofStatistics Canada and the records were closed until 92 years after the taking of the census.[6][7] In 2013, the records were opened for public use and transferred toLibrary and Archives Canada (LAC).[2][8] In early July 2013, a spokesperson for LAC advised that the data comprises 197,529 images, and "Once assembled and fully indexed, it will constitute the largest on-line record of Canadian genealogical information."[9][10] On August 8, 2013, raw digital images of the population schedules were made available to browse for free with a geographic index of districts and sub-districts on the privateAncestry.ca website.[11][12] Ancestry.ca transcribed and indexed the data to facilitate advanced searches by individual Ancestry.ca subscribers, and in person at LAC and subscribing libraries, from late in 2013. The census data was scheduled to be made available on the LAC website three years after being made available on the Ancestry.ca website.[13][14][15][16][17] The fully indexed online census data was launched by Ancestry.ca on October 29, 2013. The data is free to search, subject to registration on the Ancestry.ca website.[18] On August 30, 2017, the results of the 1921 census were made available on the Library and Archives Canada website.[19]
18. (1) The information contained in the returns of each census of population taken between 1910 and 2005 is no longer subject to sections 17 and 18 ninety-two years after the census is taken. (3) When sections 17 and 18 cease to apply to information referred to in subsection (1) or (2), the information shall be placed under the care and control of the Library and Archives of Canada.
Library and Archives Canada took custody of the Census of the Canadian population, 1921 from Statistics Canada and is beginning work to make it discoverable for Canadians.
LAC to responds to questions asked by our readers: 'After 3 years, the census and the nominal index goes back to LAC's free site. Access to the census will always be free, whether on Ancestry or LAC.'
