Ancestry.ca
Family
history website offers free access to more than 40 million historical
records that trace the development of the nation over the last 145 years
June 27, 2012 (TORONTO) – In honour of Canada Day, Ancestry.ca, Canada’s
favourite family history website, is offering free access to 40 million
historical records that outline just how far the country has come as a
nation in the past 145 years.
Available
free from June 27 through July 2, the records cover the years leading
up to and following Confederation and include censuses, birth, marriage
and death records, passenger lists, military records and many more.
“Many Canadians
today celebrate the diversity of our nation but that multi-culturalism
only came following a period of incredible growth and development in the
years immediately before and after nationhood,” said Ancestry.ca’s
Julie Wingate. “These records really paint a picture of how much we’ve
changed as a country and give us a real reason to celebrate Canada Day.”
In 1871, just four short years after Confederation, Canada
conducted its first Census as a nation and the results showed it was a
country made up of British and French immigrants and a stark lack of
diversity.
In fact, according to the 1871 Census of Canada:
- Just 101 people are listed as being of Russian origin, compared to 500,000 in 2006
- Nearly 900 people are listed as being Italian, compared to 1.4 million in 2006
- Only one man is listed as being of Chinese descent in the 1871 Census, compared to 1.3 million in 2006
Between June 27 and July 2, millions of records will be accessible to Canadians for free on Ancestry.ca. The records are from some of the largest collections on Ancestry.ca, including:
· Canadian Passenger Lists and Ocean Arrivals
- outlining the masses of people who arrived by ship -- the only form
of international travel available to people at the time -- at port
cities across Canada
· The 1871 Census of Canada - the first Census Canada
conducted as a nation, which gives a snapshot of the life of the people
living at the time, including who they lived with, their ages, their
jobs, the birthplaces of their parents, their neighbours and more
· Vital records (i.e. birth, marriage and death records)
from British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia - outlining the
significant moments in the people’s lives like children born, marriages
and deaths.
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Ancestry.ca for your family.
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