2. Overview

The Postal Code^OM Conversion File (PCCF) is a digital file which provides a correspondence between the Canada Post Corporation (CPC) six-character postal code^OM and Statistics Canada's standard geographic areas for which census data and other statistics are produced. Through the link between postal codes^OM and standard geographic areas, the PCCF permits the integration of data from various sources.

The geographic coordinates, which represent the standard geostatistical areas linked to each postal code^OM on the PCCF, are commonly used to map the distribution of data for spatial analysis (e.g., clients, activities). The location information is a powerful tool for marketing, planning, or research purposes.

In April 1983, the Geography Division released the first version of the PCCF, which linked postal codes^OM to 1981 Census geographic areas and included geographic coordinates. Since then, the file has been updated on a regular basis to reflect changes.

For this release of the PCCF, the vast majority of the postal codes^OM are directly geocoded to 2011 Census geography. This improves precision of the file over the previous conversion process used to align postal code^OM linkages to new geographic areas after each census.

About 94% of the postal codes^OM were linked to geographic areas using the new automated process. A quality indicator for the confidence of this linkage is available in the PCCF.

How to cite this guide

Postal Code^OM Conversion File (PCCF), Reference Guide, 2013. Statistics Canada Catalogue
no. 92-154-G.

How to cite this product

Postal Code^OM Conversion File (PCCF), 2013. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-154-X.

Acknowledgements

© This data includes information copied with permission from Canada Post Corporation.