Series consists of records created or maintained for census-related activities by Statistics Canada and its precursors. The records date from 1825 onwards, and pertain to the Census of Canada, the census of parts of Canada (e.g., Census of the Prairie Provinces), as well as records related to the Pre-Confederation census of Lower Canada/Canada East, Upper Canada/Canada West and New Brunswick.
At Confederation, the British North America Act, 1867 (later named the Constitution Act, 1867) mandated that a decennial census be conducted in 1871 and every tenth year thereafter. The population counts in the previous decennial census are used to adjust representation in Canada's House of Commons and affect provincial subsidies and other federal activities.
In the early 1900s, mid-decade censuses in years ending in "6" were also taken of the increasingly populated Prairie provinces. A census of all Canada every five years has been conducted since 1951, and, since 1971, has been mandated by the Statistics Act.
Prior to 1971, most information was collected by enumerators who would speak with individuals in a circumscribed area and record observations on forms and in registers. Self-enumeration through the completion of mail-in forms began with the 1971 census.
CENSUS RETURNS Series consists of census returns from 1825 to 1931. In addition to various Pre-Confederation census returns from Lower Canada/Canada East, Upper Canada/Canada West and New Brunswick censuses, the series features returns from the: 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921, and 1931 Canadian censuses; 1906 Census of the NorthWest Provinces; the 1916 and 1926 Census of Prairie Provinces.
The series' census returns from 1871 and prior may include many schedules, addressing households, agriculture, industry, among other topics. The series' census returns from 1881 to 1926 are for the census of population only, with the exception of some returns for a 1906 Census of Manufacturers.
Series also includes a sample of direct responses and refusals received by Statistics Canada for the 1986 census.
CENSUS GEOGRAPHY Series consists of maps and descriptions of areas used or created for various census activities, including enumeration. The vast majority of maps in the series were compiled by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics or its successor, Statistics Canada, for activities related to the censuses of 1941 to 1996; but a few additional maps dating from 1865 and 2001 are also included. The majority of maps in the series are reference maps, however series also includes some collection (field/enumeration) maps and thematic (statistical) maps. Also included are textual listings or descriptions of the enumeration districts/sub-districts used in censuses dating from 1871 to 1971.
CENSUS FORMS AND ADMINISTRATION Series also consists of various census : forms, questionnaires, instructions, manuals, job descriptions, administration and meeting files, registers and indexes, correspondence, and more.
CENSUS PROMOTION Series also consists of promotional material and public relations material created for the 1986 census of population and agriculture, and the 2006 census of population. Posters, pamphlets, and flyers were developed in many languages. Audio-visual material comprises moving images and sound recordings, such as television commercials and instructional material, related to 1986 Census public relations.
