2016 Census geographic products
Archived Content
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Released: 2016-11-16
In preparation for the release of the 2016 Census results and coinciding with Geographic Information Systems Day, the first suite of geographic products released from the 2016 Census is available.
The products include maps and boundary files for the newly created aggregate dissemination areas, Boundary Files, Road Network File, Correspondence Files and the Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names. All are accessible from the Census webpage and are free to use.
Boundary Files are based on standard geographic areas in effect on January 1, 2016, and provide geographic limits used for census dissemination and a framework for mapping and spatial analysis. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographic areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographic areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its islands.
Digital and cartographic boundary files, in Lambert projection, are available for provinces and territories, aggregate dissemination areas, census divisions, economic regions, federal electoral districts (2013 Representation Order), census consolidated subdivisions, census subdivisions, census metropolitan areas/census agglomerations, census tracts, dissemination areas and dissemination blocks.
The Road Network File is a digital representation of Canada's national road network. Applications may include mapping, geocoding, geographic searching and area delineation. The file contains information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges. In addition, on each side of every street arc there are unique identifiers and names for the following levels of geography: province/territory, census metropolitan area/census agglomeration and census subdivision. Roads are ranked according to five levels of detail, suitable for mapping at various scales.
Correspondence Files (three in total) provide tabular data showing the correspondence between two vintages of geographic areas. Each correspondence file contains a unique identifier for the 2016 Census geographic area and the corresponding unique identifier for the 2011 Census geographic area. In addition, a relationship flag indicates the degree of correspondence between the geographic areas, facilitating a comparison between 2016 and 2011 census years.
The Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names summarizes changes to municipal boundaries, status and names that occurred between January 2, 2011, and January 1, 2016. Municipal changes are based on information received through provincial and territorial gazettes, letters patent and orders-in-council.
Products
Boundary Files are available in three formats: ArcGIS® Shapefile (.shp), Geography Markup Language (.gml) and MapInfo® (.tab). The 2016 Census Boundary Files (92-160-X, 92-163-X, 92-168-X, 92-169-X, 92-171-X), and Boundary Files, Reference Guide (92-160-G) are now available.
The Road Network File is available in three formats: ArcGIS® Shapefile (.shp), Geography Markup Language (.gml) and MapInfo® (.tab). The 2016 Census Road Network File (92-500-X), and Road Network File, Reference Guide (92-500-G) are now available.
The Aggregate Dissemination Area Reference Maps (92-640-X) are now available in HTML format. The Reference Maps and Thematic Maps, Reference Guide (92-143-G) is now available in HTML and PDF format.|
Correspondence Files are available in two formats: Comma Separated Variable (.csv) and text (.txt). The 2016 Census Correspondence Files (92-156-X), and Correspondence Files, Reference Guide (92-156-G) are now available.
The geography universe of the Census Dictionary (98-301-X) is now available in HTML format.|
The Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names, 2011-2016 (92F0009X) is now available in HTML format.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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