Census Map of Maple
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2011 Census Teacher’s Kit Teacher’s Guide Teacher’s Guide Introduction Enrichment This guide contains useful information for In addition to the enrichment exercises in each both teachers and students. The first few pages activity, here are some additional ideas: contain information specific to the teacher. The • Quick census facts can be reproduced and guide also includes background information on sent home with students to help spread the the Census of Population, a census vocabulary census message. and Quick census facts. For detailed information on the Census of Agriculture, please see • Motivate students to actively participate Activity 5. in the census by having them generate community awareness projects. Ask them for Teacher-ready activities have been divided their ideas on what they can do to make area into three suggested grade levels: elementary, residents aware of the upcoming census. intermediate, and senior. Some activities have classroom extensions to enrich students’ • A variety of school communications vehicles comprehension. could be used to generate awareness among the student body: announcements Overall objectives on the public address system, posters in • Encourage teachers and students to complete gymnasiums and school buses, messages the census questionnaire; ensure that they on the school’s cable TV or radio station, pass on this message to friends and families. displays on classroom bulletin boards, census stories in the school newspaper, and • Create awareness and understanding about announcements on the school’s website. the importance of the census and the information it will provide. Take a look at the 1911 Census of • Increase awareness among teachers and Canada (elementary level) students about census information as Students can examine a few pages from the a valuable tool for student and teacher 1911 Census of Canada. (Print downloadable research projects. pages available at www.collectionscanada. gc.ca/databases/census-1911.) Students could When should I use the Teacher’s Kit? be led in a class discussion about the type of The best time to conduct these activities is in information found and what that information early May 2011. This will coincide with Statistics may tell them about the people who are listed. Canada’s national, provincial and local census For example, students can take a look at the awareness campaigns, and with the census size of families, the age of parents when they information that will arrive at households across had their first child, the occupations that people Canada. had, the number and ages of children who were working or going to school, the number of people who could read and write, etc. 2 2011 Census Teacher’s Guide Teacher’s Guide Research the changes in population in Research family history (senior level) your community (intermediate/senior Working in groups, students can research levels) various ancestors of members of the class. Only Students can research a street in their ancestors who were living in Canada in 1911 community using the 1911 Census of Canada should be chosen. Each group should select and compare it with what they would find several names to search, as some names may not on the same street today. If the community be found in the census records. Those without did not exist in 1911, students can select a ancestors living in Canada in 1911 can “adopt” nearby community that is listed in the 1911 a classmate’s ancestor to research. Census. (Students can print the relevant pages To search the 1911 Census of Canada, available from www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/ online at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/ census-1911.) databases/census-1911, students will need to By examining the data contained in the census know where in Canada (town, city, etc.) an pages, students can create a snapshot of the way ancestor was living in 1911. Once students life was in 1911. What were the characteristics have located an ancestor, they will be able to of the people who lived in the students’ chosen check the census record to find such interesting area? How are the people listed similar to the information as: other family members and their people who live there today? How do they ages, occupations, employers, religion, place of differ? (Students can compare a wide range birth, whether they could read and write, etc. of interesting factors, such as the number of Each group could compile this information in households, the number and ages of the people a brief report for a family history. Students may who live there, their occupations and employers, wish to find additional information by checking where they were born, the language they spoke, other genealogical sources such as ship etc.) passenger lists, military records, immigration records, cemetery records, etc. A good place to continue the search is the Canadian Genealogy Centre (www.lac-bac.ca/genealogy). 3 2011 Census Teacher’s Guide The Census of Canada The Census of Population No fewer than 36 censuses were conducted during the French regime. Each one brought new Statistics Canada takes a Census of Population questions on topics such as the production of every five years. The last census was in May various crops, the number of public buildings, 2006; the next one will be in May 2011. The churches, grist mills and sawmills, and the 2011 Census will ask people questions about number of firearms and swords. their age, sex, marital status, relationship to others in the household and mother tongue. The first census under the British regime was taken in 1765 and contained much the same Census history information as the censuses in the latter part Census taking is not a new idea. During the of the French regime. As time progressed, new third and fourth centuries B.C., the Babylonians, topics appeared such as race, ethnicity, religion, Chinese, and Egyptians enumerated their and place of birth. populations to collect taxes and to fight foreign During the 1800s, separate censuses were held wars. The Romans were avid census takers and at various times in the Atlantic colonies, Upper regularly held censuses to learn about areas in and Lower Canada, and in Manitoba. In 1867, their far-reaching empire. the British North America Act (now called the In contrast to early censuses, later censuses Constitution Act) brought about Confederation became more than just a way to levy taxes or to and called for a Census of Canada to be taken muster men for fighting. They were seen as an every 10 years, starting in 1871. Census results inquiry into the social and economic state of the would be used to determine the number of nation. members in the House of Commons. A mid-decade agricultural census was first held The first modern census in Manitoba in 1896. Intendant Jean Talon is generally regarded as When the provinces of Saskatchewan the first in the world to put a modern census and Alberta were created in 1905, the into practice. Sent by Louis XIV to administer increasingly rapid settlement of the west made the colony of New France, Talon recognized the quinquennial census a constitutional the importance of having reliable information requirement. A new Census and Statistics Act on which to organize the colony and further called for additional censuses of population its development. This first census in 1666 and agriculture to be taken in the provinces of enumerated 3,215 inhabitants and collected Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1906 information on age, sex, marital status, locality, and every 10 years after that until the population and occupation. A supplementary inquiry of each of the three provinces reached 1.25 in 1667 asked about the area of land under million. These censuses continued until 1956, cultivation and the number of cattle and sheep. when Canada began taking national censuses of population and agriculture every five years. 4 2011 Census Teacher’s Guide The Census of Canada A census every five years Methodology: In 80% of the country, Statistics In 1956, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics Canada will contact people by mail. Most of began taking national censuses every five years these households will receive a letter requesting to provide up-to-date information on the nation’s they fill their census forms using the online rapidly changing population. The mid-decade option, while the remaining will receive the census was made mandatory in the Statistics Act paper questionnaire itself. of 1971. In rural and less populated parts of the country, households will receive a visit from How is the census taken? an interviewer who will deliver a census During May 2011, every household in questionnaire. These forms will contain a secure Canada will be asked to complete a census access code that respondents can use if they questionnaire – either online or on paper. Over want to complete the questionnaire online. 13.4 million households are expected to take Since there are fewer people living in northern part. and remote areas, and on Indian reserves, all Questionnaire: In 2011, Statistics Canada respondents living in these areas will complete will be encouraging households to complete a census questionnaire with the help of an the census questionnaire online. Benefits of interviewer. completing a questionnaire online include improved data quality, time savings for What questions are asked? respondents and less paper. Paper questionnaires The information collected must be clearly will still be available for those respondents who in the public interest needed at the small prefer to fill out the census form by hand. geographic level (for example a community or neighbourhood) and not obtainable from other In addition, the 2011 Census will again include sources. The questions are approved by Order in a question asking respondents to consent to have Council and published in the Canada Gazette.