The 1940 National Registration resulted from the compulsory registration of

all adults in Canada from 1940 to 1946. This information was originally

obtained under the authority of the National Resources Mobilization Act and

the War Measures Act to permit the mobilization of all the human and

material resources of the nation for the purpose of the defence and security

of Canada. The records are in the custody of Statistics Canada.

 

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, it might

be possible that their questionnaire was destroyed.

 

Sample of questionnaire for men. Courtesy of Statistics Canada.

 

Sample of questionnaire for women. Courtesy of Statistics Canada.

 

The questionnaires include the following details:

 

name;

address;

age;

date of birth;

marital status;

number of dependents;

place and country of birth of individual and his or her parents;

nationality;

year of entry into Canada (if an immigrant);

racial origin;

languages;

education;

general health;

occupation, employment status, farming or mechanical skills; and

previous military service.

 

There was a different form for males and females regarding questions about

occupation, work history and military service. The records are arranged by

electoral district; however, a soundex-format index exists.  Inquiries about the records and requests for searches should be directed to:

 

Census Pension Searches Unit

Census Operations Division

Statistics Canada

B1E-34 Jean Talon Building

Tunney's Pasture

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0T6

Tel.: 613-951-9483

Fax: 613-951-4574

 

Please note that requests must include the full name, place of residence in 1940, and

identifying details, such as country of birth, date of birth or approximate

age, and occupation.  The request must be accompanied by proof that the individual has been deceased 20 years. Proof of death can be a copy of a death record or a

newspaper obituary. The only exceptions are when an individual is requesting

information from his or her own record, for the executor of a Will or when

the person would be over 110 years of age.

 

Prepayment of $45 (plus $2.25 GST) per search, payable in advance by credit

card or by cheque or money order to Statistics Canada is required. The fee

will be refunded if the search is not successful. There is no charge for

individuals who require their own record or for an executor of a Will.

 

Important Note:

 

Library and Archives Canada does not hold copies of the 1940 National

Registration records. All requests and inquiries must be addressed to

Statistics Canada at the above address.

 

First World War

A similar national registration was undertaken during the First World War in

June 1918; however, those records have not survived.

 

Submitted by

Jelora

Manager