The 1931 Census of Canada

According to The Library and Archives Canada website, census returns are official records that count a country’s population. Information collected about an individual includes: place of birth, marital status, residence, educational level, occupation, etc. The National Government of Canada has taken censuses every decade since 1871 and every five years since 1971. Censuses are valuable resources for those conducting genealogical research.

 

For further information, contact: https://library-archives.canada.ca

Censuses are made available to the public after 92 years. The 1931 Census of Canada was released on June 1, 2023. The seventh census of Canada, it was taken on June 1, 1931. Digitized records are available on The Library and Archives Canada website as well as Ancestry.ca and Familysearch.org.

 

 

My grandfather was born on October 27, 1891 in Casenove, Decollatura, Catanzaro Province, Region of Calabria, southern Italy. He departed Naples, Italy on March 25, 1910 and arrived at Ellis Island, New York City, New York State, USA on April 7, 1910. My grandfather died in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada on July 22, 1971. In my efforts to learn about my paternal grandfather’s life in North America, I searched the following census records online at ancestry.ca:

1. The 1910 United Stated Federal Census. The 13th census of the USA, it was taken on April 30, 1910. I discovered that my grandfather had worked as a laborer in the coal mines of Lackawanna, Pennsylvania after he had arrived in the USA.
2. The 1921 Census of Canada. The sixth census of Canada, it was taken on June 1, 1921. I discovered that my grandfather resided at 718 Shafer Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario with my grandmother, Catherine and their children.

1). Peter was 39. He was the head of the household. His wife, Catherine resided with him. She was 40. Peter and Catharine were born in Italy. Naturalized as of June 1, 1931, their nationality was indicated as Canadian. They resided with their children at 718 Shafer Avenue. Their children were born in Ontario and included:

2). Peter worked as a laborer at The Algoma Steel Corporation, Ltd. He had earned $900.00 in 1930. Employed on June 1, 1931, Peter had been unemployed for 14 weeks prior to that date.

3). Peter owned (versus rented) the family home. A single wood-constructed dwelling valued at $1,400.00, it had six rooms. There was no radio in the home.

4). Peter could read and write English but not French.

5). Peter, his wife and the children were of the Roman Catholic faith.