Documents & Records

Central District Register of Chinese Out-Registration

Basics

This register documents Chinese residents of southern Ontario planning to travel in and out of Canada, including through other ports, such as Vancouver and Victoria. These individuals were required to register with the Controller of Chinese Immigration at Central District headquarters in Toronto.

Initially, both foreign and Canadian-born residents who applied for C.I.9 certificates were recorded in a consolidated set of records. Later, foreign-born and Canadian-born Chinese were recorded separately. The records span the years from 1923-1950.

There are approximately 1200 C.I.9 registration records, as well as about 460 C.I.9A registrations of seamen.

Each record contains the following information:

Number
Name
Residence in Canada

Last date of
Length of time
Occupation

Date of First Arrival in Canada
If Registered as Immigrant, No. of Certificate
Last Place of Residence Before Arriving in Canada
Place of Birth
Present Age
Height
Distinguishing Marks
Port or Place He Wished to visit
Intended Route
Date of

Departure
Return

By Whom Identified

For more detail see the archival inventory description of the Central District Register of Chinese Out-Registrations in the General Inventory on the Library and Archives Canada website.

Finding the Records

At Library and Archives Canada

The above records are available on microfilm reel C-13421, via inter-library loan, from Library and Archives Canada. The film is of poor quality and the images are difficult to read. (The first section of the film comprises an unrelated series of sample Chinese immigration certificates.)

Film notes:

Category	Pages	Date
Sample Chinese immigration certificates	--	--
List of C.I.9 applicants resident in Central District	1-24	December 1923 - February 1950 (includes Canadian-born to May 1940)
List of C.I.9 applicants resident in Central District (Canadian-born)	25-26	June 1940 - September 1952
List of C.I.9A registrations	192-201 Pages are filmed backwards (201-192) Pages 193-201 do not appear on reel	Undated; c1927 - 1949

Photo banner: Detail from VPL Historical Photograph 78362