r Canadian censuses are online and searchable from 1825 to 1926. Before 1871, census enumerations were conducted in different areas in various years. Many of those early records have not survived; you will have to check carefully for the area and time you are researching to see what censuses are available. Canada has taken a nationwide census every ten years since 1871. The latest national census available is 1921.
The Canadian censuses are very similar to American censuses with some exceptions. Before 1851 only heads of households were listed. In 1851 every person in the household was named. The 1901 census is especially valuable because it includes the full birthdate of everyone enumerated. Canadian censuses also include a person’s religion, which opens more research avenues. Remember, in the French-speaking areas, the censuses are recorded in French, so have a French dictionary handy.
In 1871, there are two indexed databases of Ontario, one done by the historical society and one by a partner of the Canadian Library and Archives. It might be wise to check both, but remember that the index done by the historical society is not linked to images.
The Plains provinces, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, had enumerations in 1906, 1916, and every 10 years since with 1926 being the latest census available online.rOnline censuses are also available at Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and http://automatedgenealogy.com/.
Year and provinces coveredr1825 Lower Canada; Quebecr1831 Lower Canada; Quebecr1842 Canada West; Ontarior1842 Canada East; Quebecr1851 Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario (Canada West), Quebec (Canada East)r1861 Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario (Canada West), Quebec (Canada East)r1870 Manitobar1871 New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebecr1871 Ontarior1881 Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewanr1891 Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territoryr1901 Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territoryr1906 Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewanr1911 Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territoryr1916 Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewanr1921 Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territoryr1926 Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
