The National Archives of Canada has posted the 1901 census online at <www.archives.ca/02/020122_e.html>. Here you can access scanned images of the entire enumeration for free. This site is a prototype of the permanent database, which the archives expected to launch last fall. The prototype is best viewed with Windows and Internet Explorer; the archives is working to allow use with other systems and browsers.

An introduction provides you with background on how to search and interpret the records. You'll learn the questions census takers asked and the abbreviations they used. Take time to read the Search Screens and Syntax sections: Unfortunately, you can search the database only by location — not by name. The list of district and subdistrict names, linked to in the Database section, will help, too.