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1921 census info helps fill in blanks for Victoria historians and genealogists

With the release last week of the 1921 Canadian census, historians and genealogists can begin filling in details of a socially disruptive time, says a Victoria historian.

With the release last week of the 1921 Canadian census, historians and genealogists can begin filling in details of a socially disruptive time, says a Victoria historian.

Leona Taylor, who has been eagerly awaiting the release of the 1921 census, said many men in Canada, especially those of British origin, returned to the United Kingdom to fight in the First World War, which spanned 1914 to 1918.

With the 1921 census, historians can now begin investigating whether those men returned, stayed in the U.K., or brought back wives from overseas.

“It comes at such a great time because next year is the Great War centennial,” Taylor said.

Images from the 1921 census are available online at ancestry.ca.

According to Library and Archives Canada, a national census occurred every 10 years starting in 1851. Under federal privacy laws, census data is not released publicly until 92 years after its collection.

Controversy erupted briefly this summer in Canadian historical and genealogical circles, most of it online, over the lateness of the release. Previously census details were released in June.

Also, the use of ancestry.ca, a branch of an American company, has caused concern, but federal sources said the information is as freely available as before.

The information is arranged on the website as it was originally compiled, by province or territory. Those areas are divided into districts normally corresponding to cities and towns and addresses.

Finding information about Victoria is somewhat difficult because information is arranged according to city wards, a system no longer used.

However, information about the historic geographic locations of the five wards in the city is available at Victoria City Archives and can be used to locate street addresses.

The official census links more than just names to addresses. It also provides details such as residents’ occupation, ethnic origin, religion and place of birth.

Patricia Eaton, manager of public services at the Greater Victoria Public Library, said these details allow historians to infer real pictures of streets and neighbourhoods.

The release of any census brings excitement, Eaton said.

“It’s like Christmas. It’s all part of the detective work. People are very interested these days in tracing their family history,” she said. “It’s a huge, burgeoning hobby.”

rwatts@timescolonist.com