Survey Methodology
A conversation with Geoffrey Hole

by Christian GenestNote 1

  • Release date: June 30, 2025
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Abstract

Geoffrey J.C. Hole (or Geoff, as he likes to be called) was born on January 24, 1940 at Shardeloes, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, to Charles William Hole and Sybil Winifred Hole, formerly Morge. He completed a BSc Honours in Mathematics in 1961, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics at Manchester University the following year. He started his career as a mathematical statistician in London, England, working successively for the National Coal Board (1962-63), the Central Electricity Generating Board (1963-66), and the Electricity Council (1966-67), where his title was Economist. He moved to Canada in 1967 to join the Dominion Bureau of Statistics (DBS) as a survey methodologist. In 1971-72, he was Chief of Census Operations, Methodology and Quality Control Section, and Assistant Coordinator, Socio-Economic Survey Methods Section. He then took a one-year leave of absence to complete an MSc (Econ) in Statistics at the London School of Economics. In 1973, Geoff returned to the DBS, which had become Statistics Canada, as Chief, Methodology Group V, Business Survey Methods Division. In 1974, he was appointed Director, Institutions and Agriculture Survey Methods Division, and, as of 1986, Director, Business Survey Methods Division. His career culminated when he became Director, Social Survey Methods Division, in 1987. He held that position until his retirement, on September 29, 2004. In addition to his long-term involvement at Statistics Canada, including as a member of the Editorial Board of Survey Methodology between 1983 and 1987, Geoff was very active in the Statistical Society of Canada (SSC), serving among others as Chair of the Program Committee for the 1986 Annual Meeting at the Banff Centre, in Alberta, and President of the SSC in 1989-90. He was also Program Chair for a joint conference of the International Association of Survey Statisticians and the International Association for Official Statistics which was held in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in 1998.

Key Words:    Geoff Hole; Statistical Society of Canada; Statistics Canada; Survey Methodology.

Table of contents

How to cite

Genest, C. (2025). A conversation with Geoffrey Hole. Survey Methodology, 51(1), 319-333. Paper available at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-001-x/2025001/article/00001-eng.pdf.

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ISSN : 1492-0921

Editorial policy

Survey Methodology publishes articles dealing with various aspects of statistical development relevant to a statistical agency, such as design issues in the context of practical constraints, use of different data sources and collection techniques, total survey error, survey evaluation, research in Survey Methodology, time series analysis, seasonal adjustment, demographic studies, data integration, estimation and data analysis methods, and general survey systems development. The emphasis is placed on the development and evaluation of specific methodologies as applied to data collection or the data themselves. All papers will be refereed. However, the authors retain full responsibility for the contents of their papers and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or of Statistics Canada.

Submission of Manuscripts

Survey Methodology is published twice a year in electronic format. Authors are invited to submit their articles in English or French in electronic form, preferably in Word to the Editor, (statcan.smj-rte.statcan@canada.ca, Statistics Canada, 150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0T6). For formatting instructions, please see the guidelines provided in the journal and on the web site (www.statcan.gc.ca/SurveyMethodology).

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2025

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue No. 12-001-X

Frequency: Semi-annual

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