About the Canadian Census Data Discovery Partnership (CCDDP)

The Canadian Census Data Discovery Partnership (CCDDP) is a SSHRC-funded initiative designed to improve access to Canada’s most important historical and contemporary population data. Since the first census in 1665, census records have provided essential insights into the country’s economic, social, and cultural history. Today, these records exist in diverse formats—from archival volumes to digital datasets—but they remain difficult to find and use.

The project’s main objective is to create a comprehensive, bilingual inventory of census data and to design a proof-of-concept discovery portal that brings these materials together in a searchable, accessible, and user-friendly platform. This will allow researchers, educators, and the public to explore census content by subject, geography, and time period, and to access both original sources and supporting documentation.

Expected project outcomes

A bilingual census inventory covering Canada’s population censuses from the seventeenth century onward.
A user-driven portal prototype that enables discovery and download of census tables, datasets, and related documentation.
White papers and recommendations that lay the groundwork for a future national census data infrastructure.

By improving access to census data, this project aims to strengthen research capacity and make Canada’s rich demographic history more widely available, ensuring these valuable resources remain usable for generations to come.

More information

Canadian Census Data Discovery Partnership Website

Contact the project team for questions: census@scholarsportal.info

Canadian Census Data Discovery Partnership (CCDDP)

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