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The
first census of Canada. A complete nominal return that provides
detailed information about each member of the family - giving
name, age, sex, place of origin, etc. April 2, 1871 was the official enumeration date of this census, but the actual enumeration of the population took several weeks. Enumerators were instructed to record the information on the census returns as it existed on the official enumeration date.
Enumeration was conducted by door-to-door interview,
with enumerators individually visiting each house and asking the
questions of the "head" of the household.
The 1871 Census was the first such undertaking after
Confederation, and was part of the provisions of the British North
America Act. The primary purpose of the 1871 Census was to
determine parliamentary representation based on population. The
new constitution called for this assessment to occur every 10
years. The 1871 Census also differed from pre-Confederation
censuses in the greater number of questions asked (211) and the
detail of information collected; for example, for the first time
people were asked their "ancestral origins." However, it
should be noted that not every individual was required to answer
every question.
This census is available on microfilm,
and could be purchased to be viewed at your local
libraries' microfilm reader or arranged to be transferred to be
viewed through a LDS Family History Centre (FHC) near you. This
microfilm is found at the Nova Scotia Archives and Records
Management [NSARM] or could
also be borrowed through your local library if it participates
with the Library and Archives of Canada's
"Interlibrary Loan," (ILL) program.
Additional
Source Material:
Library and Archives Canada
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