Dissemination Block Boundary Files, Canada, Census year 2006 - ARCHIVED

The Dissemination Block Boundary Files portray the dissemination block boundaries for which 2006 Census data are disseminated. A dissemination block is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of standard geographic areas and is the smallest geographic area for which population and dwelling count data are disseminated. The files contain the boundaries of more than 478,800 dissemination blocks which combined cover all of Canada.

There are two types of boundary files: digital and cartographic. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographical areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographical areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. The files provide a framework for mapping and spatial analysis using commercially available geographic information systems or other mapping software. They are positionally consistent with the 2006 Road Network File, which can provide additional geographic context for mapping applications.

The Dissemination Block Boundary Files are projected in latitude/longitude coordinates and are based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). A reference guide is available (92-160-GWE).