Census 2016
#16
Slob
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Ottineau
Posts: 6,342
Re: Census 2016
We got the short form. Took no time. It seemed to be interested only in sexuality and language.
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1,497
Re: Census 2016
Can you speak any other language than English? No
But do you speak any other language than English at home?? No
But really though do you speak another language than English at work? Oh yeah I forgot I actually speak fluent Swahili..
Oh and where it gives you the opportunity to stop and come back later - they mean within 20 minutes or start again, so if your kid is having a tanty and you've done 90% of it just ignore them!
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: Qc, Canada
Posts: 3,787
Re: Census 2016
I haven't received any notification of this at all.
Should I be bothered? Or should I just laze around & wait for the PTB to catch up & contact me?
Should I be bothered? Or should I just laze around & wait for the PTB to catch up & contact me?
#19
Re: Census 2016
So you do speak another language then.
The notice that turns up has a reference number that you need for an online response.
The notice that turns up has a reference number that you need for an online response.
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: Qc, Canada
Posts: 3,787
Re: Census 2016
& hope I don't get the long form &/or phone follow-up I got the last couple of times around.
Last edited by Shirtback; May 3rd 2016 at 4:49 pm. Reason: Tried to fix quote
#22
Re: Census 2016
I suppose that statistically a 1 in 4 response will provide sufficient detail to be representative. That being said, why include any questions on the short form other than names and dates of birth?
What I did find, and I think this inexcusable as a family history freak, is that the short form asks no questions as to nationality and place of birth. Now I realise that birth date could enable people tracing if you knew birthdates beforehand but I think such detail, along with ethnicity, far more important than knowing whether I spoke punjabi.
Looking back, the lack of detail in the 1841 UK census can be crippling and should be a lesson to those who organise these events. What a waste of an opportunity this time around.
I pity canadian family history researchers in 2108 and later... if there is still a canada in 2108.
What I did find, and I think this inexcusable as a family history freak, is that the short form asks no questions as to nationality and place of birth. Now I realise that birth date could enable people tracing if you knew birthdates beforehand but I think such detail, along with ethnicity, far more important than knowing whether I spoke punjabi.
Looking back, the lack of detail in the 1841 UK census can be crippling and should be a lesson to those who organise these events. What a waste of an opportunity this time around.
I pity canadian family history researchers in 2108 and later... if there is still a canada in 2108.
#23
Re: Census 2016
absolutely obsessed with language!
Can you speak any other language than English? No
But do you speak any other language than English at home?? No
But really though do you speak another language than English at work? Oh yeah I forgot I actually speak fluent Swahili..
Oh and where it gives you the opportunity to stop and come back later - they mean within 20 minutes or start again, so if your kid is having a tanty and you've done 90% of it just ignore them!
Can you speak any other language than English? No
But do you speak any other language than English at home?? No
But really though do you speak another language than English at work? Oh yeah I forgot I actually speak fluent Swahili..
Oh and where it gives you the opportunity to stop and come back later - they mean within 20 minutes or start again, so if your kid is having a tanty and you've done 90% of it just ignore them!
The ethnicity question is a real can of worms. I put down English and Irish, my wife (Canadian born in Quebec with NB parents) I put down as English, Scottish and German and then our two kids the combination of those.
Then what languages we can conduct a conversation in (that is a very open ended question, AFAIK) For me basically english, ditto for wife, son english and french with daughter english, french and spanish.
Then all the questions to see if you have any native blood.
Not sure about the relevance of questions about how far you travel to your workplace.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 516
Re: Census 2016
Totally obsessed with language - so tempting to list the various UK accents just because we can
and as for wanting a description of what you do at work every day
and as for wanting a description of what you do at work every day
#28
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Census 2016
I was surprised as well about the lack of asking where one was born and such.
If one went by this census in the future, it would appear I was Canadian, but I suppose by then immigration records should also be available to future researchers?
But honestly, I cannot imagine anyone wanting to know anything about me in 92 years.....
They were super obsessed with language, we went with English, wife doesn't use much German anymore, so can't honestly says its ever spoken on a regular basis unless she is arguing with her mom, then they flip to German so I can't understand....
If one went by this census in the future, it would appear I was Canadian, but I suppose by then immigration records should also be available to future researchers?
But honestly, I cannot imagine anyone wanting to know anything about me in 92 years.....
They were super obsessed with language, we went with English, wife doesn't use much German anymore, so can't honestly says its ever spoken on a regular basis unless she is arguing with her mom, then they flip to German so I can't understand....
I suppose that statistically a 1 in 4 response will provide sufficient detail to be representative. That being said, why include any questions on the short form other than names and dates of birth?
What I did find, and I think this inexcusable as a family history freak, is that the short form asks no questions as to nationality and place of birth. Now I realise that birth date could enable people tracing if you knew birthdates beforehand but I think such detail, along with ethnicity, far more important than knowing whether I spoke punjabi.
Looking back, the lack of detail in the 1841 UK census can be crippling and should be a lesson to those who organise these events. What a waste of an opportunity this time around.
I pity canadian family history researchers in 2108 and later... if there is still a canada in 2108.
What I did find, and I think this inexcusable as a family history freak, is that the short form asks no questions as to nationality and place of birth. Now I realise that birth date could enable people tracing if you knew birthdates beforehand but I think such detail, along with ethnicity, far more important than knowing whether I spoke punjabi.
Looking back, the lack of detail in the 1841 UK census can be crippling and should be a lesson to those who organise these events. What a waste of an opportunity this time around.
I pity canadian family history researchers in 2108 and later... if there is still a canada in 2108.
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Nova Scotia (from Scotland)
Posts: 1,032
Re: Census 2016
It appears we've lucked in to being a 1 in 4 with the long form... but we have a bit of a problem in that we got the form this afternoon and in 1hr we leave for the airport to go back to the UK for a one week trip, we're back on May 11 which is after the (very short!) deadline. We have no time to complete it now as we still have to pack.... do we *really* have to take it with us on our trip and find time to do it online while we're there?? I'm all for censuses (censi? ) but 7 days to complete? That's really not a lot of time!
#30
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Census 2016
It appears we've lucked in to being a 1 in 4 with the long form... but we have a bit of a problem in that we got the form this afternoon and in 1hr we leave for the airport to go back to the UK for a one week trip, we're back on May 11 which is after the (very short!) deadline. We have no time to complete it now as we still have to pack.... do we *really* have to take it with us on our trip and find time to do it online while we're there?? I'm all for censuses (censi? ) but 7 days to complete? That's really not a lot of time!
Should have given people at least 30 days.