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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: melba_schmelba on Friday 24 March 23 12:55 GMT (UK)

Title: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 24 March 23 12:55 GMT (UK)
"After the legislated 92 years in the vault, the highly anticipated 1931 Census of Canada will be made available to the public. Collected during the Great Depression and at a time of significant immigration, the census provides a snapshot of the more than 10 million people living in Canada in 1931. On June 1, 2023, Canadians can expect to browse the digitized census images by geographic district and sub-district on the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) website. Following the initial release, LAC will work collaboratively with Ancestry® and FamilySearch International to create an advanced searchable database for Canadians and those with Canadian heritage who wish to look for their ancestors.

In this collaborative effort to increase access to the 1931 Census of Canada, LAC has digitized all 234,687 pages of the census, and Ancestry will apply its state-of-the-art handwriting recognition technology to the digital images to create a full index of the entire census. FamilySearch will then review the computer-generated index to ensure a complete and accurate index of all fields at a level never achieved before. The images and indexes will be available and searchable online for free through Census Search, Library and Archives Canada’s new one-stop shop for national census records. The images and indexes will also be available on Ancestry.ca and FamilySearch.org."


https://www.canada.ca/en/library-archives/news/2023/03/1931-census-of-canada-to-be-released-on-june-1-2023.html
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: polarbear on Saturday 25 March 23 16:09 GMT (UK)
This is great news for anyone who might be researching Canadian families.

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Treetotal on Saturday 25 March 23 16:43 GMT (UK)
That's great news, I have a 10 year gap to fill.
Thanks for sharing.
Carol
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 25 March 23 17:09 GMT (UK)
Glad to share :). As with the 1950 US Census release, although the images will be available immediately it might take a year or so for the index to be completed, although perhaps if Ancestry's 'state of the art handwriting recognition technology' is as good as they say, and Familysearch does a quick job checking it they might get it done sooner. This page shows the progress of the project and will show some behind the scenes info:

https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/corporate/website-updates/pages/census-1931.aspx
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: dbree on Saturday 25 March 23 17:41 GMT (UK)
With bated breath  ;D

Thanks for sharing MS.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Biggles50 on Saturday 25 March 23 18:01 GMT (UK)
Excellent News
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: DianaCanada on Sunday 26 March 23 00:31 GMT (UK)
Recently able to see my father as an infant, his parents and siblings on the 1921 England census, soon I will be able to see them ten years later in Canada.  In that span they went to Canada for a couple of years, returned to England and then decided to go back to Canada for good.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: EdCan on Sunday 26 March 23 00:39 GMT (UK)
When the 1950 U S census was released I found a number of 4th and 5th cousins that I did not know about. Maybe I will have similar luck with the 1931.

Ed
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: rosie17 on Sunday 26 March 23 12:42 BST (UK)
Thanks for the update great news  :D

Rosie
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: RunKitty on Monday 27 March 23 05:21 BST (UK)
Fantastic!   Thanks for letting everyone know :).   

RK
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Monday 01 May 23 14:57 BST (UK)
Not sure where we had got to before, but the latest milestone reached is:

"Sort images by place
Match the digitized images to the census’s geographic districts and sub-districts. Create the metadata structure needed to enable online access."

https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/corporate/website-updates/pages/census-1931.aspx

1 month to go!
Title: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: susano on Thursday 01 June 23 06:58 BST (UK)
The 1931 Canada Census is being released June 1, 2023 on the Library and Archives Canada website.  https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng

Happy hunting!!
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: carol8353 on Thursday 01 June 23 10:43 BST (UK)
Thanks for the heads up.

I can't work out how to use it though?

Or hasn't it come on-line yet?
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: rosie17 on Thursday 01 June 23 10:43 BST (UK)
Thanks for the update  :D

Rosie
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: polarbear on Thursday 01 June 23 14:06 BST (UK)
carol8353, I don’t believe the census will be indexed yet. I don’t think this starts until 01 June? So it will be browse only to start. More info here…

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=871493.0

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: carol8353 on Thursday 01 June 23 14:17 BST (UK)
carol8353, I don’t believe the census will be indexed yet. I don’t think this starts until 01 June? So it will be browse only to start. More info here…

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=871493.0

PB

But it IS the 1st June!
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: polarbear on Thursday 01 June 23 14:44 BST (UK)
The census is apparently being released today to the public and I expect Ancestry in its digitized form. It is my understanding that Ancestry will now index it and the public can browse it. I’m guessing one would need to know where folks were living to have much chance of finding them at the moment.

Added: don’t see it on the LAC website yet.

PB


Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: polarbear on Thursday 01 June 23 17:37 BST (UK)
Here is a seperate link….still not on the LAC website itself. Very very slow!

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: carol8353 on Thursday 01 June 23 18:23 BST (UK)
Here is a seperate link….still not on the LAC website itself. Very very slow!

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

PB

Thanks for that. Will try later when hopefully,it's not too busy,or slow ;D
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: genealogyem on Thursday 01 June 23 21:57 BST (UK)
Here is a seperate link….still not on the LAC website itself. Very very slow!

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

PB

Thanks for that. Will try later when hopefully,it's not too busy,or slow ;D

Around 5pm eastern time and its very slow for me. I have managed to reach the search screen but I get an error before I can actually see a census return.
Im not sure if "Error Loading Image" means that the census page is not uploaded yet or if its due to the site speed.
If your interested in visiting it today Id recommend doing at a time where you feel very patient!

Em

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: susano on Thursday 01 June 23 22:02 BST (UK)
I'm going to wait until it's completely indexed and digitized and available on Ancestry or Family Search. 
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: carol8353 on Thursday 01 June 23 22:10 BST (UK)
I'm going to wait until it's completely indexed and digitized and available on Ancestry or Family Search.

Me too,as I've no idea where half of my lot lived.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: fhtess1165 on Friday 02 June 23 05:06 BST (UK)
It's definitely there now, but slow as proverbial molasses...I gave up for right now. We're all too eager!!

Here's the link: https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

It's browse only right now, so you need to know where the people you're looking for lived.

The census is apparently being released today to the public and I expect Ancestry in its digitized form. It is my understanding that Ancestry will now index it and the public can browse it. I’m guessing one would need to know where folks were living to have much chance of finding them at the moment.

Added: don’t see it on the LAC website yet.

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: carol80 on Friday 02 June 23 05:21 BST (UK)
Gave up after I got to Vancouver because after that I am lost. May have to wait until there is an index.
I will join the already growing queue.

Carol
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: fhtess1165 on Friday 02 June 23 05:50 BST (UK)
Do you have an address? If so, let me know ... I might be able to help narrow down a browsing area...

Gave up after I got to Vancouver because after that I am lost. May have to wait until there is an index.
I will join the already growing queue.

Carol
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: carol80 on Friday 02 June 23 06:15 BST (UK)
All I have is Vancouver B.C. Canada. John Flecther died in 1966 at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and was buried at  White Rock. His wife Maggie died in 1967 at Peace Arch District Hospital, White Rock, B.C., Canada, and was buried at Victory Memorial Park, Surrey, B.C., Canada. They married in Vancouver.
A big guess is they lived in the area.
Any help is much appreciated
 Carol
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: rosie17 on Friday 02 June 23 06:17 BST (UK)
I'm going to wait until it's completely indexed and digitized and available on Ancestry or Family Search.

Me too,as I've no idea where half of my lot lived.

Same here  :D
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 02 June 23 09:51 BST (UK)
All I have is Vancouver B.C. Canada. John Flecther died in 1966 at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and was buried at  White Rock. His wife Maggie died in 1967 at Peace Arch District Hospital, White Rock, B.C., Canada, and was buried at Victory Memorial Park, Surrey, B.C., Canada. They married in Vancouver.
A big guess is they lived in the area.
Any help is much appreciated
 Carol

Just in case you haven't seen it and it may be useful - obit John Fletcher

The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sat, 10 Dec 1966 Page 38

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province/125722607/

obit Meggy Fletcher

Surrey Leader
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada 
Thu, 12 Oct 1967 Page 6

https://www.newspapers.com/article/surrey-leader/125722624/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: aghadowey on Friday 02 June 23 10:41 BST (UK)
I know exactly where most of my close Canadian relatives lived so had a look in 1931 census. Selected Province, district and sub-district then clicked on search button but got error message. Tried again looking for other side of the family in another area with same results  ??? Will try again after a while ...
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 02 June 23 11:06 BST (UK)
Well, it's so supposedly released, but I can't get any images to load, anyone else have any success :-\? I navigate to the Province, district, click on a sub district, then click browse, but I just get a 'Unable to open [object Object] error?

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 02 June 23 11:13 BST (UK)
hmm, oh dear, hopefully it's just an initial blip with everyone trying to access at once, but no one seems to be able to access anything, and I am not sure how anyone is going to help index it, if they can't see it ::)

https://twitter.com/LibraryArchives/status/1664249237213724672

https://twitter.com/LibraryArchives/status/1664273553108389890?cxt=HHwWhMDS4dL-15guAAAA

https://twitter.com/LibraryArchives/status/1664267673050423296?cxt=HHwWgICx9bCo1ZguAAAA
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: genealogyem on Friday 02 June 23 14:27 BST (UK)
I know exactly where most of my close Canadian relatives lived so had a look in 1931 census. Selected Province, district and sub-district then clicked on search button but got error message. Tried again looking for other side of the family in another area with same results  ??? Will try again after a while ...

I have had the same thing happen to me every time that I try to search records for the city of Toronto. Do we know if all pages are currently available online or if they only started to upload them yesterday?

Em
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: polarbear on Friday 02 June 23 15:23 BST (UK)
It is my understanding that all pages should now be available to browse but there seems to be an issue with the downloading.

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: fhtess1165 on Friday 02 June 23 16:13 BST (UK)
This is most people's experience at this point  :(

I know exactly where most of my close Canadian relatives lived so had a look in 1931 census. Selected Province, district and sub-district then clicked on search button but got error message. Tried again looking for other side of the family in another area with same results  ??? Will try again after a while ...
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: fhtess1165 on Friday 02 June 23 16:24 BST (UK)
If buried in White Rock, they likely lived in that area, which is south of Vancouver in the city of Surrey. That would be in Division 4 (Lower Fraser Valley), Subdivision A, according to the info from the official Stats Canada report on the Census. Sadly, LAC doesn't seem to have set up their Browsing parameters to match *sigh*. I checked the Fraser Valley Division, but there's nothing for Surrey.

See this post here from Ken McKinlay, a genealogy blogger who has found a way to get in the back door to view images, but it's still a frustrating experience: https://familytreeknots.blogspot.com/2023/06/1931-census-of-canada-release-fiasco.html.

If I can glean anything more for you, I'll let you know...

All I have is Vancouver B.C. Canada. John Flecther died in 1966 at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and was buried at  White Rock. His wife Maggie died in 1967 at Peace Arch District Hospital, White Rock, B.C., Canada, and was buried at Victory Memorial Park, Surrey, B.C., Canada. They married in Vancouver.
A big guess is they lived in the area.
Any help is much appreciated
 Carol
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 02 June 23 18:47 BST (UK)
Seems to be working now :), about a 10 second wait for images to load. You can browse by province - town/city/district, but you will likely need to browse 10s of images, 50+ for large city districts assuming you know where you looking for.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: susano on Friday 02 June 23 21:25 BST (UK)
I am having no success getting the 1931 Census on Ancestry.  Has anyone had luck?

ETA:  got it!!

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: aghadowey on Friday 02 June 23 21:39 BST (UK)
Not sure if Ancestry have it but I finally got images here-
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

Found large number of related in village (19 pages) and it does help explain things I thought I remembered. Copied about 50 households but I know some if not most of the others were connected somehow.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: melba_schmelba on Wednesday 07 June 23 18:37 BST (UK)
Couple of tips:

1. You can use this pdf to try and find the district you need to look in, comparing to the where the address shows on a modern digital map like Google Maps
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf002/31-80_5744023_1931Census_MAPS_DivisionsLinkedTo1924RedistributionMaps_open.pdf

2. Here, under finding aids
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=5744023

are pdf files with street indexes for the major cities of Canada. The first number corresponds to a district number, which you should be able to guess from the maps in the first link, the numbers then refer to the sub district numbers where that street occurs, as you can find in the link below

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

When you select a province, then district and a sub-district, it will confirm what that district's number is in the details recorded underneath 'Record Information – Details'
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: RunKitty on Wednesday 07 June 23 22:04 BST (UK)
Melba,

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...you are an absolute genius!!!!!!
So happy - this is exactly the sort of information I had been looking for, but couldn't find. 

Just found my lovely Grandma :) :).   

I followed your steps.   Under Finding Aid 31-80.  I found the street name (in Toronto) and got the 1931 district number and the subdistrict numbers that cover that street.   

Then, I went to the list of districts for Ontario and found the name of the district that corresponded to the number from step 1.

From there, it was just paging through the subdistricts until I found her.   

 :) :) :) :) :)

I will use this technique to find the rest of my City relatives.   

Thanks again!! 
RK

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: fhtess1165 on Thursday 08 June 23 15:39 BST (UK)
Melba - thanks for the tip re the Finding Aids. One would think LAC would make them a little more obvious - as in put this information on the Search page...

I will spread the word about this :)

Couple of tips:

2. Here, under finding aids
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=5744023

are pdf files with street indexes for the major cities of Canada. The first number corresponds to a district number, which you should be able to guess from the maps in the first link, the numbers then refer to the sub district numbers where that street occurs, as you can find in the link below

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

When you select a province, then district and a sub-district, it will confirm what that district's number is in the details recorded underneath 'Record Information – Details'
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 09 June 23 12:43 BST (UK)
Melba,

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...you are an absolute genius!!!!!!
So happy - this is exactly the sort of information I had been looking for, but couldn't find. 

Just found my lovely Grandma :) :).   

I followed your steps.   Under Finding Aid 31-80.  I found the street name (in Toronto) and got the 1931 district number and the subdistrict numbers that cover that street.   

Then, I went to the list of districts for Ontario and found the name of the district that corresponded to the number from step 1.

From there, it was just paging through the subdistricts until I found her.   

 :) :) :) :) :)

I will use this technique to find the rest of my City relatives.   

Thanks again!! 
RK
I'm glad you found your grandma :)! They also worked for me, although sometimes the street names aren't exact, probably because they sometimes only say the first part and miss Street, Avenue etc. so the indexer guesses what it is, sometimes incorrectly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 09 June 23 12:44 BST (UK)
Melba - thanks for the tip re the Finding Aids. One would think LAC would make them a little more obvious - as in put this information on the Search page...

I will spread the word about this :)

You're welcome :), they were posted in a thread on one of the blogs by the Archives, but you are right there probably should be a link on the main search page.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: fhtess1165 on Friday 09 June 23 15:59 BST (UK)
Melba - thanks for the tip re the Finding Aids. One would think LAC would make them a little more obvious - as in put this information on the Search page...

I will spread the word about this :)

You're welcome :), they were posted in a thread on one of the blogs by the Archives, but you are right there probably should be a link on the main search page.

I didn't think to check the blog post - had assumed it would be in a more sensible place. As a librarian, I'm used to thinking about what's easiest for the patron to find, and many, many patrons won't think of reading a blog post.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: polarbear on Friday 09 June 23 18:27 BST (UK)
News flash!

I don’t know how much indexing has been completed by ancestry but some of my searches have been indexed and are searchable by name with images.

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: dbree on Friday 09 June 23 23:25 BST (UK)
Oh my  :o PB, a definite NEWS FLASH. :) 8)

Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: dbree on Friday 09 June 23 23:30 BST (UK)
Ancestry now says,

"Thanks to our proprietary handwriting recognition technology, the 1931 Census of Canada records are now searchable. Please keep in mind that diacritical and accent marks may not appear and are not required to search names. Transcription accuracy is dependent upon the quality of the document being scanned. For best results, view the census image."

That was quick. ???

DB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: RunKitty on Saturday 10 June 23 00:13 BST (UK)
Hi,

I received an email from Ancestry today saying that the 1931 census is now searchable by name.    That certainly was fast!  :o  I found a few people by name, but it is a bit hit and miss at the moment. 

I am still extremely happy about the finding aids posted by Melba...I have bookmarked those and will be using them to find the "hard to find" people.   Unclear handwriting, mistranscriptions etc happen!!   Nobody's fault.   Wonderful to have tools to help!   Thanks again Melba :)

RK
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 10 June 23 15:04 BST (UK)
News flash!

I don’t know how much indexing has been completed by ancestry but some of my searches have been indexed and are searchable by name with images.

PB
Well spotted :D, here's the links

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62640/
https://www.ancestry.ca/search/collections/62640/
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 10 June 23 15:06 BST (UK)
Ancestry now says,

"Thanks to our proprietary handwriting recognition technology, the 1931 Census of Canada records are now searchable. Please keep in mind that diacritical and accent marks may not appear and are not required to search names. Transcription accuracy is dependent upon the quality of the document being scanned. For best results, view the census image."

That was quick. ???

DB
Yes, they first announced using this on the 1950 US census I think. It seems to work pretty well. Unfortunately I think they are also using on much older handwritten records, but they haven't in any way optimized it for the fact old lettering can be very different, so much poorer transcriptions for pre 1800s records ::).
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: fhtess1165 on Saturday 10 June 23 17:49 BST (UK)
Yep - it went live on Ancestry at 10pm on Thursday night... The AI didn't do a half-bad job! Most entries will need at least a little tweaking, but that's normal, even after humans have indexed.

News flash!

I don’t know how much indexing has been completed by ancestry but some of my searches have been indexed and are searchable by name with images.

PB
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: susano on Saturday 10 June 23 20:46 BST (UK)
I don't think it's complete.  I can find my maternal grandparents but none of my paternal family.  Will keep checking.

Susan
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Saturday 10 June 23 20:50 BST (UK)
News flash!

I don’t know how much indexing has been completed by ancestry but some of my searches have been indexed and are searchable by name with images.

PB

Coming along nicely. Thanks for the update, sorry News Flash..........  :) :)

Cheers
Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: fhtess1165 on Saturday 10 June 23 21:24 BST (UK)
If the indexing is way off, you might have to continue to browse...or search without surname or using wildcards... Hopefully FamilySearch will have it soon as well.

I don't think it's complete.  I can find my maternal grandparents but none of my paternal family.  Will keep checking.

Susan
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Lisa in California on Saturday 10 June 23 21:27 BST (UK)
I don't think it's complete.  I can find my maternal grandparents but none of my paternal family.  Will keep checking.

Susan

I can’t find my mum’s uncle (he was like a grandfather to me). [One grandparent passed away prior to my birth, three passed away shortly after.]  Using the 1931 Toronto Directory, I can’t find any of his neighbours so it appears those pages have not yet been added.

I’m very pleased with relatives I have found, though.  :)
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: EdCan on Saturday 10 June 23 21:58 BST (UK)
Of the names that I have looked for I am having about 50% success
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: melba_schmelba on Sunday 11 June 23 12:14 BST (UK)
Hi,

I received an email from Ancestry today saying that the 1931 census is now searchable by name.    That certainly was fast!  :o  I found a few people by name, but it is a bit hit and miss at the moment. 

I am still extremely happy about the finding aids posted by Melba...I have bookmarked those and will be using them to find the "hard to find" people.   Unclear handwriting, mistranscriptions etc happen!!   Nobody's fault.   Wonderful to have tools to help!   Thanks again Melba :)

RK
You're welcome ;). Judging by the above comments, it looks like they might still be useful :).
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census
Post by: genealogyem on Sunday 11 June 23 18:18 BST (UK)
Couple of tips:

1. You can use this pdf to try and find the district you need to look in, comparing to the where the address shows on a modern digital map like Google Maps
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf002/31-80_5744023_1931Census_MAPS_DivisionsLinkedTo1924RedistributionMaps_open.pdf

2. Here, under finding aids
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=5744023

are pdf files with street indexes for the major cities of Canada. The first number corresponds to a district number, which you should be able to guess from the maps in the first link, the numbers then refer to the sub district numbers where that street occurs, as you can find in the link below

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census2/index1931

When you select a province, then district and a sub-district, it will confirm what that district's number is in the details recorded underneath 'Record Information – Details'

In addition to these tips I have found that when searching major cities, such as Toronto, it helps to have a map from a similar era to cross reference. Toronto had very dense sub districts which usually only spanned a block or two. I found that using the following strategies helped me to find people when I knew their potential address:

1. Reference the streets section of a city directory to get the ward number. This allows you to instantly know if your in the right area of the census or not.

2. For each subdistrict that I skimmed, I would record the street names and reference them against a map. This would tell me if I was in the right area or not and allowed me to get a better idea of how the subdistricts were arranged.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: dbree on Saturday 17 June 23 01:10 BST (UK)
Hi,

In 1931 the population of Canada was 10,300,000 some odd, today according to our real time population clock we have reached just over 40,000,000.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: eileenwilson on Saturday 17 June 23 23:37 BST (UK)
Ancestry now has the index online for the 1931 Census.  Not sure if it's on the Library & Archives' site yet, but it should be soon.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Romilly on Monday 26 June 23 18:46 BST (UK)
I don’t have Ancestry Worldwide, just UK.

Is the 1931 Canadian Census available on Family Search, does anyone know?

Romilly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 18:57 BST (UK)

https://www.familysearch.org/en/info/1931-census-of-canada

Found your James John and Ada Glass on the 1931 on this link from 2018

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=803622.msg7456848

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: eileenwilson on Monday 26 June 23 19:02 BST (UK)
I don’t have Ancestry Worldwide, just UK.

Is the 1931 Canadian Census available on Family Search, does anyone know?

Romilly.

Not yet.  Browseable on Libraary & Archives Canada site:

https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/corporate/website-updates/Pages/census-1931.aspx

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Romilly on Monday 26 June 23 19:52 BST (UK)
Many thanks Sandra and Eileen.

I’m trying to find Thomas Francis (Frank) Kean, Born February 1916, Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario Canada. Married Marguerite Ella Walker Born 1921.
He Died March 1987, Woodstock, Ontario Canada.

I’d expect them to be in Woodstock on the 1931, but I’m not sure.

Any help welcomed, Romilly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 20:12 BST (UK)

Anc tree says Mary Dennett/Kean remarried after the death of Joseph Frederick Kean Snr to William Alonzo Johnson.
Move to Michigan with her husband Alonzo Johnson and sons Joseph and Frank.


Detroit border crossing - 11 Sep 1923  Detroit, Michigan for Mary Johnson. Unaccompanied as far as I see at the moment ?

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: eileenwilson on Monday 26 June 23 20:25 BST (UK)
Alonzo had crossed later in September giving his wife Mary of Ingersoll as his next of kin so it looks like he went back and forth.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Romilly on Monday 26 June 23 20:27 BST (UK)
Many thanks for looking Sandra.

It's that couple's son Thomas Francis (Frank) Kean that I'm trying to find.

As he Died in Woodstock, he must have returned there before his Marriage to Marguerite Ella Walker.

I'm just not sure where he was in 1931.

Romilly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: eileenwilson on Monday 26 June 23 20:30 BST (UK)
Alonzo is deceased in 1927 (death record in Dearborn Michigan) suggesting that perhaps Mary moved back to Canada.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Romilly on Monday 26 June 23 20:34 BST (UK)
Thanks Eileen.

I think that they must have all returned to Canada.

Romilly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 20:43 BST (UK)
Thomas or Frank -Married 13 July 1940 Ingersoll - lived with the Walker family.

Not that it helps. Perhaps this might be the district they would have lived in before marriage when they returned from Detroit.

Marguerite on the 1931 census -  lines 14/19 Walker family.

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931?DataSource=Genealogy%7CCensus1931&ProvinceCode=ON&DistrictCode=2001&SubDistrictCode=46557&

brother Joseph Kean also married Ingerson 11 October 1943 to Jean Isabel Waterhouse.

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 20:47 BST (UK)
Second husband William Alonzo Johnston passed away in Michigan 1927

Alonzo Johnson - 1863 Ingersoll Ontario
Death Date 8 Oct 1927 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan  - Meningitis
Father   Wm Johnson - Mother   Caroline Watlin
Informant Mary Johnson.

Sandra

So far no sign of them  in Ingersoll 1930 - 1944

oops didn't see Eileen reply on the death  :-\
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Romilly on Monday 26 June 23 20:57 BST (UK)
Thanks so much for looking Sandra.

Romilly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 21:08 BST (UK)

The Walker home - 229 Wonham Street Ingersoll.  Nice to put a face to a name but also an idea of where they lived.

https://www.facebook.com/TheLoriGoldhawkTeam/posts/1039549542841792/

Sandra

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 21:18 BST (UK)
Joseph Frederick Kean 25 September 1913  crossed the border. Going to step-brother Nelson Johnson - 9 May 1934
Was in Detroit 1923 - 1927 -

mother was living in Ingersoll at this date. (1934)

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Romilly on Monday 26 June 23 21:23 BST (UK)
And so quite possibly they weren't in Canada in 1931!
Thanks for filling in the gaps!

Many thanks, Romilly.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Monday 26 June 23 21:28 BST (UK)

Gone thru Oxford South 137  enumeration sub dist 34  but didn't see any of those three.
We know know Mary was there in 1934.

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 16:12 BST (UK)
Any help much appreciated:

Does anyone know whether the Enumeration Districts for this 1931 census bear any resemblance to the 1921 details?

I have 1921 -

Province - Ontario
District Number - York E 142
Enumeration Sub District 32
Toronto

Address is 152 Woodbine Avenue - surname is Archbell.  Another Archbell at 97 Woodbine Avenue.

1940 they have moved to 113 Woodbine Avenue.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 16:34 BST (UK)
Is that Kenneth Archbell with Marjorie and Gordon ?

Province:   Ontario
District name:   Toronto-Scarborough
District number:   160
Sub-district name:   Ward 8, No. 26
Sub-district number:   26

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931?DataSource=Genealogy%7CCensus1931&ProvinceCode=ON&DistrictCode=2026&SubDistrictCode=47945&

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 16:37 BST (UK)

The son Gordon Ross Archbell passed 29 March  2021  (with photograph)

https://necrocanada.com/deces-2021/gordon-ross-archbell-monday-march-29th-2021/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 16:40 BST (UK)

June - spouse of Gordon - June 29, 1932 - July 11, 2021  (with photograph)

https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thespec/name/june-archbell-obituary?id=40346766

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 16:44 BST (UK)


Father of June Ingram/Archbell - Frederick James Ingram -

The Province
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 
Wed, Mar 22, 1989 Page 57

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province/127359511/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 16:53 BST (UK)
Once again - Sandra you are wonderful!  You've helped me in the past with my Archbell family in Canada.   :-* :-*

BUT I'd still like to locate George Thomas Archbell, born 1868 and his wife, Mary Elizabeth born 1865.  Both died in the 1940's and are buried at Resthaven.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:01 BST (UK)


1931 Province:   Ontario
District name:   Toronto-Scarborough
District number:   160
Sub-district name:   Ward 8, No. 3
Sub-district number:   3

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931?DataSource=Genealogy%7CCensus1931&ProvinceCode=ON&DistrictCode=2026&SubDistrictCode=47949&

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:05 BST (UK)


The Expositor
Brantford, Ontario, Canada 
Wed, Feb 18, 1959 Page 28

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-expositor/127360607/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 17:08 BST (UK)
Thank you so much again  :-* :-*
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:10 BST (UK)

Partial death cert Mary Elizabeth Archbell - 1943

Sandra

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 17:14 BST (UK)
I think you must have found that for me in the past, as I have the full document.

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:15 BST (UK)
That's good - you probably have George as well - 1946



Just noticed the thread

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=851480.0

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 17:21 BST (UK)
No I don't have his death certificate - I do have baptism, marriage, memorial at Resthaven but not his death certificate.

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:24 BST (UK)
No I don't have his death certificate - I do have baptism, marriage, memorial at Resthaven but not his death certificate.

Its in the post above.  :)

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 17:26 BST (UK)
Downloaded it now  ;D
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:31 BST (UK)

Excellent - full folder on Archbell   :)

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 17:35 BST (UK)
Absolutely and most of it down to your excellent efforts.

(I'd better be careful, or you won't be able to get your head through the door  :o )
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 17:57 BST (UK)

No, not at all, quite modest  :)

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Friday 30 June 23 18:12 BST (UK)

Possibility this is your Gordon R Archbell - can't see another of that name.

National Post
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sat, Apr 7, 1979 Page 18

https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post/127364030/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Friday 30 June 23 21:13 BST (UK)
Yes, that's him. 
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Sunday 02 July 23 10:53 BST (UK)
Sorry, it's cheeky me again  :-[ :-[

Just wondering if there is any sign of another Archbell family - son of George Thomas -

Harold Archbell - born 1893
Lilian - 1898 plus children (all are now deceased)  Harold and Lilian Jones married in 1919 in Toronto.

Dorothy Lilian - born 1920
Ronald George - born 1922
Lilian Irene - born 1926 and her twin brother
Harold Gordon - born 1926

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 11:09 BST (UK)

The son Harold (Archie) Gordon Archbell -

The Kingston Whig-Standard
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Thu, Mar 8, 1990 Page 22

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kingston-whig-standard/127464240/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 11:15 BST (UK)

Son Ronald ArchBell - 1922 - 1986

FIND A GRAVE

Little Lake Cemetery
Peterborough, Peterborough County, Ontario.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01sfx/

spouse Norma - 1922 - 1992

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146966188/norma-archbell

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 11:17 BST (UK)

Dorothy Billinghurst in 2013

https://www.birchcliffnews.com/photo-of-the-day-march-1-2013/

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Sunday 02 July 23 11:19 BST (UK)
Thanks Sandra.  I think either you, and/or perhaps RunKitty, have already done a lot of work on the Archbell families.  Hopefully I just need this census entry to complete the story.  You found George Thomas (father) and also Kenneth (brother) and so Harold would complete the family for me.  :)

Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 11:21 BST (UK)
Might help RK finding an obituary for either or both of them.

Canada Voters List 1965 - 55 Lynndale Road. Danforth. Ontario.  - Harold (retired Archbell and Lillian.

In 1972 Harold is living with Ronald and Norma (presumable Lillian has passed) - 672 Coldstream Avenue. York South. Toronto. (also a John Archbell - Maintainance)

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 11:23 BST (UK)

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=851480.0

Aaaah just the 1931 census - sadly, nothing so far  :-\

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Sunday 02 July 23 11:28 BST (UK)
Yes, sorry for that - I was only looking for the 1931 census entries.  I've had loads of other items related to the family, all the memorial stones in Resthaven, and lots of newspaper entries.
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Lisa in California on Sunday 02 July 23 13:06 BST (UK)
Sorry, it's cheeky me again  :-[ :-[

Just wondering if there is any sign of another Archbell family - son of George Thomas -

Harold Archbell - born 1893
Lilian - 1898 plus children (all are now deceased)  Harold and Lilian Jones married in 1919 in Toronto.

Dorothy Lilian - born 1920
Ronald George - born 1922
Lilian Irene - born 1926 and her twin brother
Harold Gordon - born 1926

Do you have access to Anc*try?  If so, the family is recorded as Schbell.
Enumeration District:   Toronto-Scarborough (Ontario)
Harold
Lillian
Dorothy
Ronald
Lillian
Harold
Address looks like it could be 113 Woodbine.  There was a family, recorded as “roomers” living with them, surname Black.

Added: maybe your Schbells knew my Sbotsons (should be Ibbotson).   ;D ;D
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 13:16 BST (UK)


1931 Province:   Ontario
District name:   Toronto-Scarborough
District number:   160
Sub-district name:   Ward 8, No. 3
Sub-district number:   3

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931?DataSource=Genealogy%7CCensus1931&ProvinceCode=ON&DistrictCode=2026&SubDistrictCode=47949&

Sandra

Just noticed I missed the page number off - George Thomas and Mary Elizabeth on page 5
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: *Sandra* on Sunday 02 July 23 13:19 BST (UK)

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=851480.0

Aaaah just the 1931 census - sadly, nothing so far  :-\

Sandra

Here they are Province:      Ontario  - page 8
District name:   Toronto-Scarborough
District number:   160
Sub-district name:   Ward 8, No. 3
Sub-district number:   3

https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Census/Index1931?DataSource=Genealogy%7CCensus1931&ProvinceCode=ON&DistrictCode=2026&SubDistrictCode=47949

Sandra
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: BumbleB on Sunday 02 July 23 13:51 BST (UK)
Thank you both so, so much.  You've made my day - all three Archbell families  8) :-* :-*
Title: Re: 1931 Canada Census - released on 1st June
Post by: Lisa in California on Sunday 02 July 23 14:18 BST (UK)
Thank you both so, so much.  You've made my day - all three Archbell families  8) :-* :-*

You are very welcome.  :)