SS Empress of Canada Passenger Lists 1930-1951

All Digitized Passenger Lists For the SS Empress of Canada that are Available at the GG Archives. Listing Includes the Date the Voyage Began, Steamship Line, Vessel, Passenger Class, and Route.

The GG Archives collection contains passenger lists, which represent the souvenir lists provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years, but our collection contains a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.

Recap and Summary of the SS Empress of Canada Passenger Lists (1930-1951)

The GG Archives houses a unique collection of digitized passenger lists from the SS Empress of Canada, a prestigious liner operated by the Canadian Pacific Line (CPR-CPOS). These passenger lists, spanning from 1930 to 1951, offer a glimpse into the golden era of transoceanic travel, covering various classes of passengers and remarkable routes across the Pacific and the Atlantic.

Each list includes details such as departure date, steamship line, vessel name, class of passengers, route, and commander, making them valuable records for genealogists, maritime historians, and ocean liner enthusiasts.

 

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Highlighting the Most Interesting Passenger Lists

1. The 12 June 1930 Voyage – A Grand Transpacific Journey

• Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First and Second Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage represents a luxurious transpacific journey through key Asian and Pacific port cities. Departing from Canada’s west coast, passengers would experience the vibrancy of Honolulu, the rich cultural heritage of Japan, and the bustling port of Shanghai before reaching Manila. The inclusion of First and Second Class passengers highlights an era of elite ocean travel, catering to business professionals, diplomats, and wealthy tourists.

 

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2. The 5 August 1932 Voyage – The Return from Manila

• Route: Manila to Victoria and Vancouver via Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe, Yokohama, and Honolulu
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First Class and Tourist Third Cabin

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage provides an interesting contrast between luxury and economy travel. While First-Class passengers likely enjoyed lavish accommodations, the presence of Tourist Third Cabin suggests the inclusion of missionaries, laborers, and immigrants making their way to North America. The Pacific trade routes at this time were vital for commerce and migration, making this an important historical record.

 

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3. The 22 October 1932 Voyage – Another Transpacific Route

• Route: Vancouver and Victoria to Manila via Honolulu, Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, and Hong Kong
• Commander: Captain A. J. Hailey, R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First and Tourist Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage mirrors the June 1930 journey, but with a Tourist Class addition, reflecting a broader accessibility to long-haul sea travel. By the early 1930s, the rise of international tourism was shaping ocean liner accommodations, bridging the gap between exclusivity and affordability.

 

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4. The 31 July 1951 Voyage – Post-War Atlantic Travel

• Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal
• Commander: Captain C. E. Duggan, R.D., R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First and Tourist Class

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This voyage represents a post-World War II transatlantic crossing, linking Europe and North America during a period of rapid migration and reconstruction. Many passengers on this route were likely displaced persons, emigrants, and business travelers, heading to Canada for new opportunities. The change from transpacific to transatlantic routes reflects the shifting global priorities of the post-war period.

 

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5. The 21 August 1951 Voyage – An Exclusive First-Class Experience

• Route: Liverpool to Québec and Montréal
• Commander: Captain J. P. Dobson, D.S.C., R.D., R.N.R.
• Passenger Class: First Class Only

🔹 Why It Stands Out:
This was a purely First-Class voyage, suggesting an elite passenger list consisting of dignitaries, business tycoons, and wealthy individuals traveling in unparalleled luxury. The post-war economic boom saw a revival in luxury sea travel, and this voyage is a prime example of that trend.

 

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The Value of These Passenger Lists

The SS Empress of Canada passenger lists preserved by the GG Archives are souvenirs from a bygone era—a time when transoceanic travel was both an adventure and a necessity. Many such records have been lost to history, making this collection a rare and important resource for researchers, family historians, and maritime enthusiasts.

What These Lists Reveal:

✔ Migration Patterns – The inclusion of Tourist Class and Third Cabin passengers gives insight into global migration trends from Asia and Europe to North America.
✔ Luxury Travel – The emphasis on First-Class voyages reflects the golden age of ocean liners, catering to elite passengers with lavish accommodations.
✔ Key Trade Routes – The routes reflect the importance of maritime commerce, connecting North America with Asia and Europe over crucial decades of the 20th century.
✔ Impact of War and Reconstruction – The transition from Pacific voyages in the 1930s to transatlantic travel in the 1950s shows the historical shift in global priorities, influenced by World War II and post-war economic expansion.

 

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Final Thoughts

The SS Empress of Canada played a pivotal role in connecting continents, fostering trade, and facilitating migration over two decades. The voyages from Vancouver to Manila and Liverpool to Québec encapsulate an era of grand ocean travel, where steamships were the lifelines of international connectivity.

For those interested in historical ocean travel, genealogy, or maritime history, the GG Archives’ digitized passenger lists offer a window into the past, preserving the names, journeys, and experiences of travelers who once crossed the world’s oceans aboard this legendary vessel.