Immigration
Searching for Encyclopedias or Reference Books?
Canadian Encyclopedia Online: You will find articles by searching on your 
topic. Sample searches are“Immigration”, “Immigration Policy”, or “War Brides” . To find the history of a specific group of peoples in Canada, type in the name of that group (ex. “Albanians” or type in “Ethnic Groups” to see a complete list of all the articles related to people of different ethnic backgrounds in Canada.
Encyclopedia of Canada’s Peoples
An online encyclopedia maintained by a group of universities and libararies in Canada with detailed information about every ethnic group in Canada, including arrival and settlement.
Historical Statistics of Canada, 1965 edition
Historical Statistics of Canada, 1983 edition
Searching for Books?
For books about specific ethnic groups, try a Keyword search with the words “Portuguese and Canada” or “Poles and Canada”, etc.
Books and videos about the history of immigration to Canada
Books and videos about immigrant experiences: in history and modern times
Books about Barnardo children
Books about War Brides
Other titles
Pier 21: an illustrated history of Canada’s gateway
Grosse Ile: gateway to Canada, 1832 - 1937
The Role of Transportation in Canadian Immigration 1900-2000
Searching for Audiovisual material?
CBC News in Review, May 2008
A Scattering of Seeds: the creation of Canada a 13 vol. DVD series covering the following groups: Russians, Irish, Chinese, Mennonites, Blacks, Acadians, Italians, Japanese, Germans, East Indians, Ukrainians, French, Scottish
Walk a mile: the immigrant experience in Canada a 4 vol. DVD series
Nobody’s child: Canada’s home children
Strong hearts, steady hands: the Portuguese destiny in Canada
Searching for historical statistics and maps?
Statistics Canada is the government departments that collects, analyzes and creates reports based on statistics gathered from the census, surveys and other methods. Find information at the following,
Statistics Canada: Ethnic Diversity and Immigration
Canadian Social Trends: Immigration, diversity and language.
Canadian Social Trends are excellent articles with statistics and maps. Some focus on a specific group, ex. “Blacks in Canada: A long history”.
Longitudinal survey of immigrants to Canada: a portrait of early settlement experiences 2005
Searching for Magazine, Journal and Newspaper Articles?
Using Information Databases, you will find articles published in magazines, newspapers and academic journals that you can’t find using the Internet. All our databases are listed on our website but we recommend you try the ones below first.
*If you are using a computer that isn’t in the library, you’ll be asked to type in your library card number.
Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA)
- Select the advanced tab
- Type in Canada, Immigration, History in each of the search boxes and select "subject" from each drop down beside each search box you have entered these into.
- Click on "Search".
Recommended Websites
A Hundred Years of Immigration to Canada: a Chronology Focusing on Refugees and Discrimination
This website by the Canadian Council for Refugees consists of : Part 1 (1900-1949) and Part 2 (1950-1999) .
Canada’s Immigration Museum
As well as being a museum site, there is also a brief history of Pier 21 as an important landing place for ships coming to Canada.
