Census Records - Saskatchewan
General
Census returns are a very useful resource for family historians. You can learn a variety of information about your family, where they were born and where they live, what they did for a living, their religion, and much more.
Online
When searching, remember that Saskatchewan joined Confederation in 1905; prior to that it was part of the Northwest Territories. The first Canadian census covering the area that is now Saskatchewan was taken in 1881. Of note, the most recent census is 1921 for national census and 1926 for the Prairie Census. Below is a list of websites where you can find Canadian Census records.
- FamilySearch: (The 1921 Census is not available on this site.)
- Ancestry Library Edition available at all branches of Surrey Libraries
- Automated Genealogy:
1901, 1906, 1911 and partial 1851 census available - Library & Archives Canada:
- Information center for all Canadian censuses (1640-1926) and links to searchable databases.
- 1666-1891 Census:
There are several copies of a Finding Aid called Catalogue of Census Returns on Microfilm 1666-1891. This book is organized by province, and then town or county with the matching microfilm numbers noted for each location. (Note only some of these are available online; some earlier censuses are only available on microfilm.) - Prairie Census 1906, 1916, 1926
These census records are mostly available online. They are special census records released for the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. There is a binder marked “1916 Census,” located on the census book shelves near the print directories, which summarizes the census districts and sub-districts by name. To find the corresponding microfilm number for a certain location, see the list in the binder of film numbers and areas covered on each reel. - 1901-1921 Census:
These Census records are mostly available online, but the Cloverdale Family History Branch does hold some extracts in print. Please ask a Family History staff person for assistance.
Census Indexes:
Our Family History department has a collection of census indexes filed on the shelves adjacent to the census finding aids for the 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses, including Saskatchewan/Northwest Territories. You can find a list of these indexes in our Family History department by doing a general keyword search of the library catalogue using the words “provincial CENSUS.” Some examples:
Alberta Genealogical Society, 2002. Index to the 1901 Census: District of Saskatchewan. Library call number GEN 929.371242 IND 2002
Kalmakoff, Jonathan J. Regina, SK: J. Kalmakoff, 2002. 1918 Census of Independent Doukhobors: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta & British Columbia. Library call number: GEN CIN 929.3712 KAL 2002 (Filed with other census indexes next to the census finding aids)
Saskatchewan Genealogical Society, 1992. Index to the 1891 Census: District of Saskatchewan. Library call number: GEN 929.371242 IND
Saskatchewan Genealogical Society, 1988. Index to the 1891 Census: Assiniboia West. Library call number GEN 929.71243 IND
Microfilm
Our Family History department has some items in print which can help you identify the correct microfilm for your ancestor. When using microfilms for census searching, you need to know the location – town, county, province to your best knowledge. Generally, most census records are available online, but the department has a large collection of Canadian Census Microfilms.