1940 Registration File Questions

From 1940 to 1946 all persons in Canada, 16 years of age or older, were required to register. This is another way to find an ancestor in that time period. This is a Census Substitute, not a naturalization record but I include it here for those who may find it useful. You may view a list of the questions asked on the National Registration forms for Men and for Women, as well as a full-size graphic of the blank forms. 

The National Registration File includes the following information on an individual: Name, address, age, date of birth, conjugal status, dependents, country of birth (persons registered and parents only), nationality, racial origin, languages, education, general health, class of occupation, occupation or craft, employment status, work experience by type, mechanical or other abilities, latent skills, wartime circumstances, previous military service.

Questions on the National Registration Form for Men

1. Surname + Given Names
2. Permanent Postal Address (Street, Town, Province)
3. Age Last Birthday + Date of Birth (Year, month, day)
4. Conjugal Condition (Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced)
5. Of what dependants (if any) are you the sole support: Father, Mother, Wife, # of children under 16, # of other dependants, Do you contribute partial support to anyone?
6. Country of birth of Yourself (place for name) + Place, Your father (place for name) + Place, Your mother (place for name) + Place
7. Nationality or country of allegiance – British subject a) by birth? b) by naturalization? c) Foreign citizen? d) If naturalized, in what year? e) in what place? f) if not British subject to what country do you owe allegiance? g) if an immigrant, what year did you enter Canada?
8. Racial origin
9. Language or Languages a) Do you speak English? b) French? c) What other languages can you speak, read and write?
10. Education. a) Primary only b) Primary and Secondary c) Vocation Training (Business College, Technical High School) d) College or Universtity Degree?
11. Is your general health a) good b) fair c) bad
12. If blind, deaf, dumb, crippled, or otherwise physically disabled, state nature of the disability. If permanently disabled are you in receipt of a pension? In respect of War Service? Workmen’s Compensation? Old age or blind? Other? (Specify)
13. Class of Occupation a) Are you an employer of labour other than domestic? If so, state business. b) Are you working on own account, but not employing labour? If so, state business. c) Are you an employee i) working at usual occupation ii) working at other than usual occupation iii) unemployed (d) Not working because pensioner, dependent, retired, independent means
14. Occupation or Craft and Years of Experience in: a) Present Occupation? b) What is your regular occupation? c) What other work can you do well? d) If an employee, who is your present employer? (Name, address, nature of business where employed – state precisely) e) If experienced in a skilled industrial occupation or profession, describe specifically the type or types of work in which you are specially equiped by training or experience
15. Unemployment a) How many weeks did you work in the past 12 months? b) If out of work now, state number of weeks since last employed in any occupation other than work performed in return for direct relife c) Are you totally incapacitated for employment?
16. (a1) Were you brought up on a farm? (a2) until what age? (b1) Have you worked on a farm? (b2) How long? (b3) In what province or country? (c1) Can you handle horses? (c2) Drive a tractor? (c3) use farm machinery? (c4) Can you milk? (c5) Are you able to do other farm work?
17. Is there any particular occupation in which you would like to be specially trained?
18. Defence Services: (1) Have you previously served in any Naval, Military or Air Froces? If so, state (a) Forces of what country (b) Approximate dates between which services performed (c) Unit (d) Rank held (2) If retired or discharged, give reasons therefor (3) Have you been rejected for military service in the present war? (a) Why? (b) Where?

1940 National Registration Certificate Issued to George S. Kalmakoff in British Columbia 19 August 1940

Questions on the National Registration Form for Women

1. Surname + Given Names
2. Permanent Postal Address (Street, Town, Province)
3. Age Last Birthday + Date of Birth (Year, month, day)
4. Conjugal Condition (Single, Married, Widowed, Divorced)
5. Of what dependants (if any) are you the sole support: Father, Mother, Husband, # of children under 16, # of other dependants, Do you contribute partial support to anyone?
6. Country of birth of Yourself (place for name) + Place, Your father (place for name) + Place, Your mother (place for name) + Place
7. Nationality or country of allegiance – British subject a) by birth? b) by naturalization? c) Foreign citizen? d) If naturalized, in what year? e) in what place? f) if not British subject to what country do you owe allegiance? g) if an immigrant, what year did you enter Canada?
8. Racial origin
9. Language or Languages a) Do you speak English? b) French? c) What other languages can you speak, read and write?
10. Education. a) Primary only b) Primary and Secondary c) Vocational Training (Business College, Technical High School) d) College or Universtity Degree?
11. Is your general health a) good b) fair c) bad
12. If blind, deaf, dumb, crippled, or otherwise physically disabled, state nature of the disability. If permanently disabled are you in receipt of a pension? In respect of War Service? Workmen’s Compensation? Old age or blind? Other? (Specify)
13. Class of Occupation a) Are you an employer of labour other than domestic? If so, state business. b) Are you working on own account, but not employing labour? If so, state business. c) Are you an employee i) working at usual occupation ii) working at other than usual occupation iii) unemployed (d) Not working because pensioner, dependent, retired, independent means
14. Occupation or Craft and Years of Experience in: a) Present Occupation? b) What is your regular occupation? c) What other work can you do well? d) If an employee, who is your present employer? (Name, address, nature of business where employed – state precisely) e) If experienced in a skilled industrial occupation or profession, describe specifically the type or types of work in which you are specially equiped by training or experience
15. Unemployment a) How many weeks did you work in the past 12 months? b) If out of work now, state number of weeks since last employed in any occupation other than work performed in return for direct relife c) Are you totally incapacitated for employment?
16. State length of experience (in years) if any in: (a) General farming? (b) Truck farming? (c) Fruit farming? (d) Poulty farming? (e) Dairy farming? (f) Business establishments?
17. Can you (a) handle horses? (b) drive motor trucks? (c) drive an automoblie? (d) Drive a tractor? (e) use farm machinery? (f) milk cows? (g) do plain cooking?
18. Indicate here any qualifications or practical experience which you possess, not already described
19. Is there any particular occupation in which you would like to be specially trained?
20. Do your circumstances permit you to serve in the present national crisis, by changing your present occupation to some other for which you are qualified? (a) Where you can return home daily? (b) Away from home?

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