Standard Geographical Classification

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2011 (Previous release)

The Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 is available today. The SGC is a classification of geographic areas used to collect and disseminate statistics. The 2011 edition replaces the 2006 edition as the official classification for geographic areas for the 2011 Census and other Statistics Canada surveys.

The 2011 version of the SGC includes new structural changes to the classification. With this revision, the classification formally recognizes the geographical regions of Canada (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies, British Columbia and territories) that are commonly used in the publication of Statistics Canada data. The classification now includes three classification variants, two that describe the metropolitan geography of Canada and a third that describes economic regions. In the first two classification variants, every census subdivision (municipality) in Canada can now be classified as being part of a census metropolitan area, a census agglomeration or a census metropolitan influenced zone.

The SGC is organized in two volumes: Volume I, The Classification and Volume II, Reference Maps.

Volume I describes the classification and related standard geographic areas and place names. It provides names and codes for the geographical regions of Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions (counties, regional municipalities), census subdivisions (municipalities), census metropolitan areas, census agglomerations, census metropolitan influenced zones and economic regions. Volume I also explains the changes between the 2011 edition of the SGC and the 2006 edition that impact directly upon the classification, such as changes in name, type or code, and indicates how the new and old codes relate to one another. Volume I is available in HTML and PDF formats.

Volume II contains reference maps showing boundaries and locations of the geographic areas in the classification. Additional hyperlinks in the 2011 maps allow for enhanced navigation between maps. The maps in Volume II can be downloaded for free in PDF format from our website.

For more information on the Standard Geographical Classification 2011, Volume I, The Classification (12-571-X, free) or Standard Geographical Classification 2011, Volume II, Reference Maps (12-572-X, free), contact Richard Fortin (613-951-3445; standards@statcan.gc.ca), Standards Division.