Ancestry.ca Clarifies Access to 1921 Canada Census

Jeri Brown, Senior Consultant with Ancestry.ca, has written to me to make sure that everyone understands that -

“Under the terms of the partnership with Library and Archives Canada, Canadians will be able to access the 1921 Census of Canada images free of charge through the Ancestry.ca website. If you currently do not have an account or registered login with Ancestry.ca, you will be prompted to register (for free) to access the images. Registration requires the entry of a name and email address only. As the images are free for Canadians only, those attempting to access the 1921 Census via the other sites (ie: Ancestry.com, Ancestry.co.uk, etc…), will be prompted to sign up for a 14-day free trial”.

Meanwhile, how is everyone finding the census? Is it easy to work with? Any problems?  

I have heard from some people that the census itself is rather “marked up” and some writing is difficult to read, and that the names are difficult to decipher.  

Other people have said that they have had no problems, everything has gone as planned, and that they found the people they were looking for, without delay.

Remember, the "every name index" will be available in 2 -3 months on Ancestry.ca

Canadian Week in Review 12 August 2013 Special Edition: The 1921 Census

Websites

The 1921 Census Remember that this census is in “browser mode only” at the current time, not an “every name index” Go to http://www.ancestry.ca

Blogs

This week the OGS came out questioning the partnership between the Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry. Read the full blog at www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog

The 1921 Canadian Census is now Available Online http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2013/08/the-1921-canadian-census-is-now-available-online.html There are some helpful hints on Eastman’s blog, in the comments section, for finding your ancestor.

1921 Canada Census - Browsable at Ancestry.com  

http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2013/08/1921-canada-census-browsable-at.html

Dear Myrt has a question about why Ancestry would put on “browsable images” when, according to her; they usually wait until the index is finished before they put it online. (I think the answer is in the agreement between Ancestry and the LAC). 

John D. Reid has all sorts of census information on his site at www.anglo-celtic-connections.blogspot.com,  and Lorine McGinnis Schulze in her Olive Tree Genealogy Blog at http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/08/loving-1921-canadian-census-images.html.

There is a statement on the Library and Archives Canada site at http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news/Pages/2013/08-1921-census.aspx

Facebook, Videos, You Tube

The Library and Archives Canada Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LibraryArchives The conversation continues....

Newspapers Articles of the Week

1921Canadian Census data released online, to genealogists’ delight 

http:// www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/08/09/1921_canadian_census_data_released_online_to_genealogists_delight.html

Story of the Week

Release of the 1921 Census

It’s been quite a week.

Wednesday morning, there were rumors swirling around Ottawa about the immediate release of the census, either on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.

And then later on Wednesday, the word was that it would be released on Thursday at around 2 pm. And the census was released by Ancestry – which have upset some people. Some people are upset because it isn't an “every name index” – it is only available by district and sub districts, at the present time.

So the fallout (good and not so good), has followed on the weekend. There have been statements made on the pro and con side of the argument of the partnership between the Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry which will go on for years to come, I suspect. And the basic partnership arrangement was made some years ago when the LAC was starting to feel the budget crunch, and realized they couldn't sustain such a large undertaking as indexing the census or the passenger list – but it has raised its ugly head once again.

And that brings up all sorts of questions. For instance, should there be one genealogy society in Canada to speak for genealogists in such matter as to who handles such delicate data as that found in the country’s census? Questions like this one were asked back when the 1911 Census was being delayed, but nothing came from it, except a few scattered meetings.

So that leaves the census in a limbo of browsing by districts and sub districts until the “every name index” is put online by Ancestry, 2-3 months from now. It is a   subscription site, although you can view for free if you take advantage of their 14 day or 30 day offer, or have a subscription with Ancestry.ca, or Ancestry.ca is included in your package, or you can go to a library which has access to Ancestry - the library edition.

So it’s onto our next census challenge – the 1926 Prairie Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta) census which will be released in 2018.

Reminder: Check out Canadian Week in Review every Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! The next post will be 19 August, 2013

Canadian Week in Review - SPECIAL EDITION

Reminder: Check out Canadian Week in Review every Monday for the latest in Genealogy, Heritage, and History news in Canada. It’s the ONLY news blog of its kind in country! 

A special edition of the events which surrounded the release of the 1921 Census will be covered.

The Canadian Week in Review will be posted at midnight tonight.

What is the partnership between the LAC and Ancestry?

Yesterday, the president of the Ontario Genealogical Society, Shirley Sturdevant offered the opinion of the society on the release of the 1921 census.  This was done by releasing a statement on their blog, entitled Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry Partnership Results in Release of 1921 Canadian Population Census.

In part, the statement says -

“Although The Society is very pleased that these images are finally available to the public, we are concerned about its release through a subscription site. The lack of consultation with Canadian heritage organizations ignored their skills, experience and offers of assistance. Details of the arrangement are still unfolding and we hope that answers to our questions will be forthcoming regarding the arrangement between Library and Archives Canada and Ancestry.

• Was there no Canadian organization that could handle this?
• Is this deal exclusive to Ancestry?
• Has LAC given away its rights to use the digitized images later on their own web page, indexed or not?
• Might other organizations have access to the images and produce their own indexes as has been done successfully in the past, perhaps then making the information free to all?
• For how long will there be free access to the raw images or indexed information on the Ancestry.ca site?
• Is there a limit to the number of years Ancestry will have the sole rights before the census might appear elsewhere or is this material solely in their hands?
• What of access to the other census schedules?
• Why have the microfilms or images not been available at Library and Archives Canada until now?

There are many unanswered questions being asked by our members and others in the heritage community. We look forward to more details”.

To read the full statement, go to the web site at www.ogs.on.ca/ogsblog

So what is the nature of the partnership between the LAC and Ancestry? Does it give such societies, as the OGS, any room to have their say? Or are they looked upon as outsiders? Interesting questions, to say the least.

The waters on releasing the census issue is starting to get muddy. Let us hope that the OGS receives answers to their questions.

Disclaimer: Although I am employed by the OGS as editor of their journal Families, the views expressed in this statement are strictly by the OGS.   

Newfoundland is NOT in the 1921 Census

I have had a number of people ask what has happened to Newfoundland. It’s not in the 1921 Canada census on Ancestry.ca.

No, it isn’t there because it didn’t become a province until 1949.

However, they did have a 1921 census of Newfoundland and Labrador, and it has been opened for a number of years. 

You can access it at the Library and Archives Canada on microfilm , and the transcript is at the Newfoundland Grand Banks website at http://ngb.chebucto.org/C1921/121-dist-idx.shtml

The districts of Bay de Verde, Bonavista, Fogo, and Labrador have not survived.

1921Census updates

There have been a number of questions on the 1921 Census  -

First of all, please be reminded that it is FREE, either as a fourteen day or a month trial period at Ancestry. It is free to Ancestry subscribers (if they have a subscription to Ancestry.ca in their package), and is free to people who go to a library - if the library subscribes to Ancestry services. 

On http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news, you can read the press release at Library and Archives Canada, and that should answer some of your questions. 

The National Registration File of 1940

Here is something else that could help you to fill in your family history during the 1940s from the Library and Archives Canada -

"Are you looking for a Canadian ancestor or someone who was living in Canada during the Second World War?

Since most sources for that time period are still subject to access or privacy restrictions under Canadian legislation. However, it is a  census records that can provide you with some answers. This very valuable source for genealogists and family historians is the result of the compulsory registration of all persons, 16 years of age or older, between 1940 and 1946.

If the person has been dead for more than 20 years, and you can provide proof of death, you can order a search of these Statistics Canada records. Please note that research fees, based on an hourly rate, apply.

If you cannot provide a copy of a death certificate, other types of documents indicating the date of death are accepted, such as obituary notices published in newspapers.

The registration included all persons who were 16 years of age or older, except for members of the armed forces and religious orders, or those confined to an institution. If a person died between 1940 and 1946, their questionnaire might have been destroyed. A different form was used for men than was used for women.

The questionnaires provide particulars such as address, age, date and place of birth, general health, and occupation. For immigrants, key details such as the year of arrival in Canada and their parents’ country of birth are given.

A similar national registration was undertaken during the First World War, in June 1918; however, those records have not survived".

Information is at http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?lang=eng&catno=93C0006

The hourly rate is $72.68!