Canada’s electoral encyclopedia
Base → People → From different angles → The generations → Definitions
Printable version

Social generations in PoliCan

by Maurice Y. Michaud (he/him)

GenXers
© Photo — pikisuperstar @ Freepik

PoliCan uses the timeline of social generations in the Western world according to the Pew Research Center. However, because the first generation in that timeline begins in 1883, PoliCan has created for its purposes four more generations before that:

  1. Confederation Generation (1867–1882).
    For those born since the Canadian Confederation.
     
  2. Post-Rebellions Generation (1841–1866).
    For those born after the Upper and Lower Canada Rebellions to Confederation.
     
  3. Canadas Generation (1791—1840).
    A large slice by Pew standards for all those born during the existence of Upper and Lower Canada.
     
  4. Colonial Generation (1748–1790).
    A final large slice for all those born before the creation of Upper and Lower Canada.
PoliCan is programmed to start showing the Alpha generation beginning in 2031 and the Beta generation in 2043, when the oldest of those cohorts will have reached the age of 18.

This is the generational breakdown of individuals with a full profile in PoliCan whose birth year is known.

Code Name Years Frequencies
♂ ♀ ⚥ ⊕ ∑
Z Zoomer (Z) Generation 1997 2012 11 5 0 16 16
Y Millennial (Y) Generation 1981 1996 190 106 4 297 300
X Generation X 1965 1980 611 288 2 884 901
BB Baby Boomer 1946 1964 1,834 548 1 2,070 2,383
S Silent Generation 1928 1945 2,013 268 0 945 2,281
G Greatest Generation 1901 1927 2,270 89 0 4 2,359
L Lost Generation 1883 1900 1,551 32 0 0 1,583
C Confederation Generation 1867 1882 1,716 14 0 0 1,730
PR Post-Rebellions Generation 1841 1866 2,322 3 0 0 2,325
CA Canadas Generation 1791 1840 1,983 0 0 0 1,983
CO Colonial Generation 1748 1790 94 0 0 0 94
∑ → 14,595 1,353 7 4,216 15,955

Now that we now know the numbers, wouldn’t it be interesting to know:


© 2005, 2026 :: PoliCan.ca (Maurice Y. Michaud)
Pub.:  5 Jul 2025 15:50 ET
Rev.:  3 Jun 2026 14:19 ET (data presented dynamically)

© 2005-2026 :: PoliCan.ca
Given that electoral results are by their very nature public information, such data presented in PoliCan are considered to be in the public domain. However, unless indicated otherwise, all other elements — the concept of consolidating these data into a single format, the detailed research on each election, legislature and candidate, the organization and searchability of the data, the programming allowing the entry and maintenance of the data, as well as the analyses, explanatory articles and opinions found in this website — are the intellectual property of Maurice Y. Michaud.