Generation Definition

Question

A researcher would like more details concerning the definition of "generation status". Here is the definition in the census dictionary:

Generation status of the respondent, i.e. "1st", "2nd" or "3rd" + generation, refers to whether the respondent or the respondent's parents were born in or outside Canada.

I'm probably missing something but how do they know if they are the 3rd generation living in Canada?

I'm assuming they use answers on grand-children (3rd generation), children (2nd generation) and parents (1st generation).

Is this answer derived from other questions?

Answer

Census questions on birthplace of parents and birthplace of respondent are used to define the first, second and third-plus generations in Canada. Data on generational status refers to the population aged 15 and over, as the 2001 parental birthplace question is asked only of this population.

First generation refers to people aged 15 years and over who were born outside Canada, that is the foreign-born. For the most part, these are people who are now, or once were immigrants to Canada. Included in the foreign-born are a small number of people born outside Canada to parents who are Canadian citizens by birth. In addition, non-permanent residents are included in the foreign-born in this study for the 2001 Census. (Non-permanent residents were not
enumerated in the 1971 Census.) Non-permanent residents are defined as people from another country in Canada at the time of the Census on employment and student authorizations, Minister’s permits and refugee claimants, as well as any family member living with these temporary residents.

Second generation refers to people aged 15 years and over who were born in Canada and had at least one parent born outside Canada. These are the adult children of immigrants. The definition of second generation does not distinguish whether it was the mother or father who was foreign-born.

Third-plus generation refers to people aged 15 years and over who were born in Canada and their parents were born in Canada. As such this group can be described as the third and subsequent generations.

Place of birth (including Canada) is based on current national boundary.