Geosuite 2006 Variables


Variable(s) Description
Adjusted Population Flag
(CMAadj, CTadj, CCSadj, CDadj, CSDadj, DPLadj, ERadj, FEDadj, PRadj)
T = adjusted figure due to boundary change.

'Adjusted counts' refer to previous census population and dwelling counts that were adjusted (i.e., recompiled) to reflect current census boundaries, when a boundary change occurs between the two censuses.

Users wishing to compare 2006 Census data with those of other censuses should then take into account that the boundaries of geographic areas may change from one census to another. In order to facilitate comparison, the 2001 Census population counts are adjusted as needed to take into account boundary changes between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses.

On the GeoSuite screen called 2001 Census Info, the 2001 population counts that were adjusted are identified by a "Yes" . If the 2001 population counts were not adjusted, the Adj. 2001 Pop Flag will be "No".

In the GeoSuite tables, the 2001 population counts that were adjusted are identified by "1" and those that were not by "0".
2001 Census Population by 2006 Census Boundaries
(CMApop2001a, CTpop2001a, CCSpop2001a, CDpop2001a, CSDpop2001a, DPLpop2001a, ERpop2001a, FED2001a, PRpop2001a)
In order to facilitate comparison between 2006 Census data and 2001 Census data, the 2001 Census population counts are adjusted as needed to take into account boundary changes between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses. The 2001 population counts that were adjusted are identified by the adjusted population flag.

Note: Care should be exercised in comparing the Northwest Territories 2006 Census population counts with counts from the 2001 Census. In 2001, the net undercount for the Northwest Territories was estimated at 8.11%, substantially higher than the national level of 2.99%, and almost double its 1996 level. The increase in the population between 2001 and 2006 is likely overstated due to improvements in coverage of the Northwest Territories in 2006.
Amendment Flag
(A_FLAG)
After the 2001 Census release of the population and dwelling counts, errors are occasionally uncovered in the data. It is not possible to make changes to the 2001 Census data presented in this product for these areas. Therefore the 2001 data should be used with caution.

For further information, please refer to the reference material accompanying this product.
2006 Census Land Area
(CMAarea, CTarea, CCSarea, CDarea, CSDarea, DAarea, DPLarea, ERarea, FEDarea, PRarea, UARAarea, DAarea)
Land area is the area in square kilometres of the land-based portions of standard geographic areas.

The land area measurements are provided for the sole purpose of calculating population density.

Land area data for the standard geographic areas reflect the boundaries in effect on January 1, 2006 (the geographic reference date for the 2006 Census of Canada). The data are derived from the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), including selected water polygon layers. The Lambert conformal conic projection is transformed to the Albers equal-area conic projection, since the property of equal area is indispensable for calculating land area. The same projection parameters (two standard parallels, central meridian and latitude of projection origin) are used for each province or territory. Land area is calculated using ArcGIS® software. There is a two-stage aggregation procedure. First, the data are calculated and stored in square kilometres at the basic block (BB) level to eight decimal places, and then aggregated to the dissemination block (DB) level and rounded to four decimal places. Second, the DB data are individually aggregated to each higher level standard geographic area.

Users should note that even when the boundaries of standard geographic areas did not change between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses, the land areas may differ due to geometry shifts. The shifts are caused by a change in the underlying database architecture and by improvements in the absolute positional accuracy of some of the roads.
DBlock A dissemination block is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of standard geographic areas. Dissemination blocks cover all the territory of Canada. The dissemination block is the smallest geographic area for which population and dwelling counts are disseminated.

The dissemination block (DB) is a new term for the 2006 Census. It was called ‘block’ in 2001.
2006 Census Indian Reserve Refusal Flag
(DBLOCK_ir2006, CMA_ir2006, CT_ir2006, CCS_ir2006, CD_ir2006, CSD_ir2006, DA_ir2006, DPL_ir2006, FED_ir2006, DA_ir2006, ER_ir2006, PR_ir2006, UARA_ir2006)
T = excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

On some Indian reserves and Indian settlements in the 2006 Census, enumeration was not permitted or was interrupted before it could be completed. Moreover, for some Indian reserves and Indian settlements, the quality of the enumeration was considered inadequate.

Data for 2006 are therefore not available for the incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements, and are not included in tabulations. Data for geographic areas containing one or more of these reserves and settlements are therefore noted accordingly. Because of the missing data, users are cautioned that for the affected geographic areas, comparisons (e.g. percentage change) between 2001 and 2006 are not exact. While for higher-level geographic areas (Canada, provinces, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations) the impact of the missing data is very small, the impact can be significant for smaller areas, where the affected reserves and settlements account for a higher proportion of the population.

For the 2001 Census, there were a total of 30 incompletely enumerated Indian reserves and settlements. Data for the list of enumeration areas in incompletely enumerated Indian reserves and Indian settlements were suppressed. The higher level geographic areas with a component enumeration area on this list were also given an incompletely enumerated Indian reserve flag; these geographic areas were determined by the linkage between enumeration areas and higher-level geographic areas. The Indian reserve refusal flag indicates whether population and dwelling count data were suppressed for that geographic area (or part of it) for the 2001 Census.
DBlock Code / Unique Identifier Each dissemination block is assigned a two-digit code that is not unique. The two-digit province code, the two-digit census division code and the four-digit dissemination area code must precede the dissemination block code in order to identify each dissemination block uniquely in Canada.

For example:

PR CodeCD CodeDA CodeDBlock CodeUnique Identifier
10010001011001000101

2006 Census Total Private Dwellings
(DBLOCKtdwell2006, CMAtdwell2006, CTtdwell2006, CCStdwell2006, CDtdwell2006, CSDtdwell2006, DPLtdwell2006, ERtdwell2006, FEDtdwell2006, DAtdwell2006, PRtdwell2006, UARAtdwell2006)
For the 2006 Census, a private dwelling is defined as:

A set of living quarters designed for or converted for human habitation in which a person or group of persons reside or could reside. In addition, a private dwelling must have a source of heat or power and must be an enclosed space that provides shelter from the elements, as evidenced by complete and enclosed walls and roof and by doors and windows that provide protection from wind, rain and snow.

Regular private dwellings are further classified into three major groups: occupied dwellings (occupied by usual residents), dwellings occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents and unoccupied dwellings.

On some Indian reserves and Indian settlements in the 2006 Census, enumeration was not permitted or was interrupted before it could be completed. Moreover, for some Indian reserves and Indian settlements, the quality of the enumeration was considered inadequate. These areas are called 'incompletely enumerated' and are identified by the Indian Reserve Refusal Flag (DBlock_ir2006) in GeoSuite tables and by the term 'IR Refusal' on the GeoSuite screens. This flag is applied to higher level geographic areas if they contain one or more of these incompletely enumerated dissemination blocks.

Please Note:

  1. Dwelling counts for incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements at the DA and CSD level have been suppressed, i.e., will have a null value, and these are flagged as Indian Reserve Refusals with IR Refusal Flag being "Yes" or the table value for DBlock_ir2006 or CSD_ir2006 = 1. Where these areas coincide with CT or CCS limits, these data are also given a "0" value.


  2. When IR Refusal Flag is yes, or has a value of "1" in the table, for higher level geographic areas, it identifies that area as containing at least one refusal Indian Reserve.


The dwelling counts refer to total private dwellings and private dwellings occupied by usual residents in Canada. The census dwelling counts do not include collective dwellings, which are dwellings of a commercial, institutional or communal nature. The usual residents in collective dwellings are, however, included in the population counts.
2006 Census Private Dwellings Occupied by Usual Residents
(DBLOCKurdwell2006, CMAurdwell2006, CTurdwell2006, CCSurdwell2006, CDurdwell2006, CSDurdwell2006, DPLurdwell2006, ERurdwell2006, FEDurdwell2006, DAurdwell2006, PRurdwell2006, UARAurdwell2006)
For the 2006 Census, a private dwelling is defined as:

A set of living quarters designed for or converted for human habitation in which a person or group of persons reside or could reside. In addition, a private dwelling must have a source of heat or power and must be an enclosed space that provides shelter from the elements, as evidenced by complete and enclosed walls and roof and by doors and windows that provide protection from wind, rain and snow.

Regular private dwellings are further classified into three major groups: occupied dwellings (occupied by usual residents), dwellings occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents and unoccupied dwellings.

On some Indian reserves and Indian settlements in the 2006 Census, enumeration was not permitted or was interrupted before it could be completed. Moreover, for some Indian reserves and Indian settlements, the quality of the enumeration was considered inadequate. These areas are called 'incompletely enumerated' and are identified by the Indian Reserve Refusal Flag (DBlock_ir2006) in GeoSuite tables and by the term 'IR Refusal' on the GeoSuite screens. This flag is applied to higher level geographic areas if they contain one or more of these incompletely enumerated dissemination blocks.

Please Note:

  1. Dwelling counts for incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements at the DA and CSD level have been suppressed, i.e., will have a null value, and these are flagged as Indian Reserve Refusals with IR Refusal Flag being "Yes" or the table value for DBlock_ir2006 or CSD_ir2006 = 1. Where these areas coincide with CT or CCS limits, these data are also given a "0" value.

  2. When IR Refusal Flag is yes, or has a value of "1" in the table, for higher level geographic areas, it identifies that area as containing at least one refusal Indian Reserve.


The dwelling counts refer to total private dwellings and private dwellings occupied by usual residents in Canada. The census dwelling counts do not include collective dwellings, which are dwellings of a commercial, institutional or communal nature. The usual residents in collective dwellings are, however, included in the population counts.
2006 Census Population
(DBLOCKpop2006, CMApop2006, CTpop2006, CCSpop2006, CDpop2006, CSDpop2006, DApop2006, DPLpop2006, FEDpop2006, ERpop2006, PRpop2006, UARApop2006)
The population counts for a particular area represent the number of Canadians whose usual place of residence is in that area, regardless of where they happened to be on Census Day. Also included are any Canadians staying in a dwelling in that area on Census Day and having no usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada, as well as those considered "non-permanent residents". In most areas, there is little difference between the number of usual residents and the number of people staying in the area on Census Day. For certain places, however, such as tourist or vacation areas, or those including large work camps, the number of people staying in the area at any particular time could significantly exceed the number of usual residents shown here. The population counts include Canadians living in other countries, but do not include foreign residents living in Canada (the "foreign residents" category does not include "non-permanent residents"). Given these differences, users are advised not to interpret population counts as being the number of people living in the reported dwellings.

Statistics Canada is taking additional measures to protect the privacy of all Canadians and the confidentiality of the data they provide to us. Starting with the 2006 Census, some population counts are adjusted in order to ensure confidentiality.

Counts of the total population are rounded to a base of 5 for any dissemination block having a population of less than 15. Population counts for all standard geographic areas above the dissemination block are derived by summing the adjusted dissemination block counts. The adjustment of dissemination block counts is controlled to ensure that the population counts for dissemination areas will always be within 5 of the actual values. The adjustment has no impact on the population counts of census divisions and large census subdivisions. Dwelling counts are unadjusted.

On some Indian reserves and Indian settlements in the 2006 Census, enumeration was not permitted or was interrupted before it could be completed. Moreover, for some Indian reserves and Indian settlements, the quality of the enumeration was considered inadequate. These areas are called 'incompletely enumerated' and are identified by the Indian Reserve Refusal Flag (DBlock_ir2006) in GeoSuite tables and by the term 'IR Refusal' on the GeoSuite screens. This flag is applied to higher level geographic areas if they contain one or more of these incompletely enumerated dissemination blocks.

Please Note:

  1. Dwelling counts for incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements at the DA and CSD level have been suppressed, i.e., will have a null value, and these are flagged as Indian Reserve Refusals with IR Refusal Flag being "Yes" or the table value for DBlock_ir2006 or CSD_ir2006 = 1. Where these areas coincide with CT or CCS limits, these data are also given a "0" value.


  2. When IR Refusal Flag is yes, or has a value of "1" in the table, for higher level geographic areas, it identifies that area as containing at least one refusal Indian Reserve.
Note: Care should be exercised in comparing the Northwest Territories 2006 Census population counts with counts from the 2001 Census. In 2001, the net undercount for the Northwest Territories was estimated at 8.11%, substantially higher than the national level of 2.99%, and almost double its 1996 level. The increase in the population between 2001 and 2006 is likely overstated due to improvements in coverage of the Northwest Territories in 2006.
Canada (CAN) Canada is selected in the Name Search and Code Search screens in order to get data for lower level geographic areas for all of Canada.
Census Metropolitan Area and Census Agglomeration Influenced Zone (MIZ) The census metropolitan area and census agglomeration influenced zone (MIZ) is a concept that geographically differentiates the area of Canada outside census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs). Census subdivisions outside CMAs and CAs are assigned to one of four categories according to the degree of influence (strong, moderate, weak or no influence) that the CMAs and/or CAs have on them.

Census subdivisions (CSDs) are assigned to a MIZ category based on the percentage of their resident employed labour force that has a place of work in the urban core(s) of CMAs or CAs. CSDs with the same degree of influence tend to be clustered. They form zones around CMAs and CAs that progress through the categories from “strong” to “no” influence as distance from the CMAs and CAs increases.
Census Consolidated Subdivision (CCS) A census consolidated subdivision (CCS) is a grouping of census subdivisions. Generally the smaller, more urban census subdivisions (towns, villages, etc.) are combined with the surrounding, larger, more rural census subdivision, in order to create a geographic level between the census subdivision and the census division.
2001 Census Indian Reserve Refusal Flag
(CMA_ir2001, CCS_ir2001, CD_ir2001, CSD_ir2001, CT_ir2001, DPL_ir2001, FED_ir2001, ER_ir2001, PR_ir2001, UARA_ir2001)
This field identifies if the 2001 Census geographical area includes an Indian Reserve refusal dissemination block within its 2001 boundaries.
Census Consolidated Subdivision Code (CCS (code))/Census Consolidated Subdivision Unique Identifier (CCSuid) The code assigned to the census consolidated subdivision (CCS) is the seven-digit Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) code of one of its component CSDs, usually the one with the largest land area. This assignment process also makes the CCS code unique across Canada and is called the census consolidated subdivision unique identifier (CCSuid).

For example:

PR-CD-CCS Code

CCSuidCCS Name
12 06 001Lunenburg (N.S.)
35 06 008Ottawa (Ont.)

The CCS code used in GeoSuite is the last three digits of the CCSuid.
Census Consolidated Subdivision Name (CCSname) Census consolidated subdivision (CCS) names usually reflect the name of the largest (in terms of land area) census subdivision component.
2001 Census Population by 2006 Census Boundaries
(CMApop2001a, CTpop2001a, CCSpop2001a, CDpop2001a, CSDpop2001a, DPLpop2001a, ERpop2001a, FED2001a, PRpop2001a)
In order to facilitate comparison between 2006 Census data and 2001 Census data, the 2001 Census population counts are adjusted as needed to take into account boundary changes between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses. The 2001 population counts that were adjusted are identified by the adjusted population flag.

Note: Care should be exercised in comparing the Northwest Territories 2006 Census population counts with counts from the 2001 Census. In 2001, the net undercount for the Northwest Territories was estimated at 8.11%, substantially higher than the national level of 2.99%, and almost double its 1996 level. The increase in the population between 2001 and 2006 is likely overstated due to improvements in coverage of the Northwest Territories in 2006.
2001 Census Population by 2001 Census Boundaries
(CMApop2001u, CTpop2001u, CCSpop2001u, CDpop2001u, CSDpop2001u, DPLpop2001u, FEDpop2001u, ERpop2001u, PRpop2001u, UARApop2001u)
This field contains the 2001 Census population counts based on the 2001 boundaries for the particular geographic area chosen. For clarity the term 2001 unadjusted population counts is used. In all such fields the "u" refers to unadjusted.

Note: Care should be exercised in comparing the Northwest Territories 2006 Census population counts with counts from the 2001 Census. In 2001, the net undercount for the Northwest Territories was estimated at 8.11%, substantially higher than the national level of 2.99%, and almost double its 1996 level. The increase in the population between 2001 and 2006 is likely overstated due to improvements in coverage of the Northwest Territories in 2006.
Census Division (CD) Census division (CD) is the general term for provincially legislated areas (such as county, municipalité régionale de comté and regional district) or their equivalents. Census divisions are intermediate geographic areas between the province level and the municipality (census subdivision).

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, provincial/territorial law does not provide for these administrative geographic areas. Therefore, Statistics Canada in cooperation with these provinces and territories has created equivalent areas called census divisions for disseminating statistical data. In the Yukon Territory, the census division is equivalent to the entire territory.
Census Division Type (CDtype) The type indicates the legal status of the census division according to official designations adopted by provincial authorities. The exception is the CD type “census division”, which describes those units created as equivalents by Statistics Canada in cooperation with the provinces.

Type Definition
CDR Census division / Division de recensemet
CT County / Comté
CTY County
DIS District
DM District Municipality
MB Management board
MRC Municipalité régionale de comté
RD Regional District
REG Region
RM Regional Municipality
Territoire équivalent
TER Territory
UC United Counties

Census Division Code (CD (code))/Census Division Unique Identifier (CDuid) Each census division (CD) is assigned a two-digit code that is not unique between provinces, and is based on the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) code. In order to uniquely identify each CD in Canada, the two-digit province code must precede the two-digit census division (CD) code.

This concatenated code (PR + CD) is called the census division unique identifier (CDuid) and is equivalent to the SGC for CDs.

For example:

PR-CDcode

CDuid CD Name
13 01 Saint John County (N.B.)
24 01 Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Que.)

Census Metropolitan Area/Census Agglomeration Name (CMAname) and Non Census Metropolitan Area/Census Agglomeration Name Census metropolitan area (CMA) and census agglomeration (CA) names are usually based on the principal urban area or census subdivision within the CMA or CA.

Non census metropolitan area (Non-CMA) and non census agglomeration (Non-CA) names are a concatenation of the province or territory name plus the MIZ (hyper-link to MIZ definition) category under which the area outside of a CMA or CA falls.

In the three territories the MIZ categories do not apply. The resulting Non CMA/CA name is the name of the territory.

Example:

Non CMA/CA Name Description
P.E.I. - Moderately Influenced (zone) The Non CMA/CA portion of P.E.I. which is moderately influenced by a CMA or CA

Census Metropolitan Area/Census Agglomeration Part Flag (CMApart) Some Census metropolitan areas/census agglomerations cross provincial boundaries. In these cases the CMApart flag is set to "1".
Census Subdivision (CSD) Census subdivision (CSD) is the general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial legislation) or their equivalents (for example, Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories).

Census subdivisions (CSDs) are classified into 55 types according to official designations adopted by provincial or federal authorities. Two exceptions are Subdivision of Unorganized in Newfoundland and Labrador and Subdivision of County Municipality in Nova Scotia which are geographic areas created as equivalents for municipalities by Statistics Canada in cooperation with those provinces for the purpose of disseminating statistical data.
Lambert Coordinates (CSDlamx, CSDlamy, DAlamx, DAlamy, DPLlamx, DPLlamy, LOClamx, LOClamy) The Lambert Conformal Conic projection is widely used for general maps of Canada at small scales. It provides good directional and shape relationships for mid-latitude regions having a mainly east-to-west extent. Standard parallels at 49 degrees North and 77 degrees North are most commonly used. Scale is correct along the standard parallels only.
Latitude (CSDlat, DAlat, DPLlat,LOClat) This field contains the latitude (in degrees and decimals north of the equator) of the geographic area representative point.

Latitude is the angle, measured north or south from the equator, that identifies a particular parallel. It ranges from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.
Longitude (CSDlong, DAlong, DPLlong,LOClong) This field contains the longitude (in degrees and decimals west of the prime meridian) of the geographic area representative point.

Longitude is the angle that identifies a meridian. It ranges from 0° at the prime meridian (anchored by international agreement through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England) to 180° at the approximate location of the International Date Line.
Census Subdivision Name (CSDname) For the most part, census subdivision (CSD) names are official names passed by provincial or territorial legislation for municipalities. These names can only be changed through the provincial legislative process.
Census Subdivision Type (CSDtype) Census subdivisions (CSDs) are classified into 55 types, according to official designations adopted by provincial or federal authorities. Two exceptions are Subdivision of Unorganized in Newfoundland and Subdivision of County Municipality in Nova Scotia which are geographic areas created as equivalents for municipalities by Statistics Canada in cooperation with those provinces for the purpose of disseminating statistical data.

The census subdivision type accompanies the census subdivision name in order to distinguish CSDs from each other, for example, Granby, V (for the ville of Granby) and Granby, CT (for the municipalité de canton of Granby).

Type Definition
C City - Cité
CC Chartered Community
Cité
CG Community government
CM County (Municipality)
CN Crown colony / Colonie de la couronne
COM Community
CT Canton (Municipalité de)
CU Cantons unis (Municipalité de)
CY City
DM District Municipality
HAM Hamlet
ID Improvement District
IGD Indian Government District
IM Island Municipality
IRI Indian reserve / Réserve indienne
LGD Local Government District
LOT Township and Royalty
M Municipality / Municipalité
MD Municipal District
Municipalité
MU Municipality
NH Northern Hamlet
NL Nisga’a Land
NO Unorganized / Non organisé
NV Northern Village
NVL Nisga’a Village
P Parish / Paroisse (municipalité de)
PE Paroisse (municipalité de)
RCR Rural Community
RDA Regional District Electoral Area
RG Region
RGM Regional Municipality
RM Rural Municipality
RV Resort Village
S-É Indian Settlement / Établissement indien
SA Special Area
SC Subdivision of county municipality / Subdivision municipalité de comté
Settlement / Établissement
SET Settlement
SM Specialized municipality
SNO Subdivision of unorganized / Subdivision non organisée
SV Summer Village
T Town
TC Terres réservées aux Cris
TI Terre inuite
TK Terres réservées aux Naskapis
TL Teslin Land
TP Township
TV Town / Ville
V Ville
VC Village cri
VK Village naskapi
VL Village
VN Village nordique
Census Tract (CT) Census tracts (CTs) are small, relatively stable geographic areas in census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations (with an urban core population of 50,000 or more at the previous census).

A committee of local specialists (for example, planners, health and social workers, educators) initially delineates CTs in conjunction with Statistics Canada. Once a census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA) has been subdivided into census tracts, the census tracts are maintained even if the urban core population subsequently declines below 50,000.
Census Tract Name (CTname)/Census Tract Unique Identifier (CTuid)/Census Tract Code (CT (code)) Census Tract Name (CTname)/Census Tract Unique Identifier (CTuid) Every census tract (CT) is assigned a seven-character numeric "name" (including leading zeros, the decimal point and trailing zeros). To identify each CT uniquely within its corresponding metropolitan area, the three-digit CMA/CA code must precede the CT name. This concatenated code (CMA + CTname) is called the CTuid. For example:

CMA/CA Code / CT Name CMA/CA Name
568 0007.00 Barrie CA (Ont.)
933 0007.01 Vancouver CMA (B.C.)

When a CMA or CA enters the census tract program, the census subdivision (CSD) that gives the CMA or CA its name is assigned the first CT names starting at 0001.00. When all of the CTs within the first CSD are named, then the CTs of the adjoining CSDs are named and finally those on the periphery are named.

If a CT is split into two or more parts due to a population increase, the number after the decimal point identifies the splits. For example, CT 0042.00 becomes CT 0042.01 and CT 0042.02. If CT 0042.01 is subsequently split it becomes CT 0042.03 and CT 0042.04. Similarly if CT 0042.02 is split after CT 0042.01, it becomes CT 0042.05 and CT 0042.06. Any splits occurring after this would be numbered in a similar fashion with the next sequential number. This allows users to re-aggregate the splits to the original census tract.

Census Tract Code (CT (code))

Each census tract (CT) is assigned a four-digit code.
Dissemination Area The dissemination area (DA) is a small, relatively stable geographic unit composed of one or more dissemination blocks. It is the smallest standard geographic area for which all census data are disseminated. DAs cover all the territory of Canada.
Dissemination Area Code / Unique Identifier Each dissemination area (DA) is assigned a four-digit code that is unique within a census division (CD). In order to uniquely identify each DA in Canada, the four-digit DA code must be preceded by the two-digit province code and the two-digit CD code.

For example:

PR-CD-DA Code Description
12 09 0411 Province 12: Nova Scotia
CD 09: Halifax County
DA: 0411
59 09 0411 Province 59: British Columbia
CD 09: Fraser Valley Regional District
DA: 0411
Dissolved Geographic Area (Dissolved_GA) This variable flags localities that are dissolved census subdivision (CSDs), desginated places (DPLs), urban area (UAs) and unincorporated places (UPs).

Dissolved_GA Description
1 Dissolved CSD
2 Dissolved DPL
3 Dissolved UA
4 Not a dissolved CSD, DPL or UA
5 Dissolved UP
Designated Place (DPL) A designated place is normally a small community or settlement that does not meet the criteria established by Statistics Canada to be a census subdivision (an area with municipal status) or an urban area.

Designated places are created by provinces and territories in cooperation with Statistics Canada to provide data for submunicipal areas.
Designated Place Code (DPL (code))/Designated Place Unique Identifier (DPLuid) Each designated place is assigned a four-digit code that is not unique between provinces. The two-digit province code must precede the DPL code in order to identify each DPL uniquely in Canada, creating the DPLuid.

For example:

PR Code DPL Code DPL Name
12 0011 Coldbrook
13 0011 Bayside
35 0011 Nestor Falls

Designated Place Name (DPLname) Designated place names (DPLnames) are those names provided by provincial authorities.
Designated Place Type (DPLtype) Types of designated places (DPLs) by province are as follows:

DPL type Province
DPL Designated Place Newfoundland and Labrador
LSD Local Service District New Brunswick
CFA Class IV Area Nova Scotia
MDI Municipalité dissoute Quebec
DMU Dissolved Municipality Ontario
LSB Local Service Board Ontario
NCM Northern Community Manitoba
OHM Organized Hamlet Saskatchewan
UNP Unincorporated Place Alberta, British Columbia
MET Métis Settlement Alberta
IST Island Trust British Columbia
SE Aboriginal Settlement Yukon

*There are no designated places for Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut for the 2006 Census.
Economic Region (ER) An economic region (ER) is a grouping of complete census divisions (with one exception in Ontario) created as a standard geographic unit for analysis of regional economic activity.

Prince Edward Island and the three territories each consist of one economic region.
Economic Region Code (ER (code))/Economic Region Unique Identifier (ERuid) Each economic region (ER) is assigned a two-digit code that is not unique between provinces. In order to uniquely identify each ER in Canada, the two-digit province code must precede the economic region code. This concatenated code (PR + ER) is called the ERuid.

For example:

PR-ER Code

ERuid ER Name
10 10 Avalon Peninsula (Nfld.)
35 10 Ottawa (Ont.)

Economic Region Name (ERname) This field contains the official name for the economic region (ERname). When you running the system in English, the English name will be displayed; when you are running the system in French, the French name will be displayed.
Federal Electoral District (FED) A federal electoral district is an area represented by a member of the House of Commons. (source: Canada Elections Act, 1990). There are 308 FEDs in Canada according to the 2003 Representation Order which was used for the 2006 Census of Population and is featured in GeoSuite.
Federal Electoral District Code (FED (code))/Federal Electoral District Unique Identifier (FEDuid) Each federal electoral district (FED) is assigned a three-digit code that is not unique between provinces. In order to uniquely identify each FED in Canada, the two-digit province code must precede the FED code.

This concatenated code (PR + FED) is called the FEDuid.

For example:

PR-FED Code

FEDuid FED Name
46 009 Winnipeg North Centre (Man.)
59 009 Kootenay-Columbia (B.C.)

Federal Electoral District Name (FEDname) Federal electoral district (FED) names are official names as created by the Chief Electoral Officer and passed into law through an act of Parliament.
Locality (LOC) Locality refers to the historical place names of former census subdivisions (municipalities), former designated places and former urban areas, as well as to the names of other entities, such as neighbourhoods, post offices, communities and unincorporated places.
Locality Code (LOC (code)) ll localities are assigned a unique 6 digit code.
Locator Source (LOCsource) The locator source describes the origin of the representative point.

Locator Source Description
1 Verified Elections Canada locator
2 Non-verified GNDB locator (degrees, minutes, seconds)
3 Non-verified GNDB locator (degrees, minutes)
4 Generated CSD, DPL, UA, UP representative points
5 Residual Place Name

Reference Maps (DAMaps) Reference maps in GeoSuite refer to the 2006 dissemination area (DA) reference maps which cover all of Canada. For each DA, the title (number or name) of the map is provided in GeoSuite as well as the type of map (Census Tracts, Non-tracted Census Agglomerations, or Census Divisions ), the map scale and the dissemination area unique identifier associated with each map.
Map Size (Size) This field contains the paper size (in inches) for each dissemination area reference map (MapsDA).
Map Title (Title) This field indicates the "title" of the dissemination area (DA) reference map on which the particular DA (designated in the MapsDAuid field) is located.
Map type (Map_type) This field contains the series to which the dissemination area (DA) reference map belongs:

  1. Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Census Tract, for Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census

    These DA reference maps cover all 33 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and the 15 census agglomerations (CAs) that are in the census tract program.


  2. Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Non-tracted Census Agglomeration, 2006 Census

    The set of Dissemination Area Reference Maps by Non-tracted Census Agglomeration covers the smaller census agglomerations that are not in the census tract program. There are approximately 100 maps in this set—generally one map per census agglomeration.


  3. Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Census Subdivision, for Areas Outside Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census

    The set of Dissemination Area Reference Maps by Census Subdivision covers areas outside census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs). There are approximately 4,500 maps in this set.
Province Name (PRname) This field contains the official name for the province/territory (PRname). When you running the system in English, the English name will be displayed; when you are running the system in French, the French name will be displayed.
Province Code (PR (code)) Statistics Canada uses standard codes to represent provinces and territories. The two-digit code that uniquely identifies each province/territory is based on the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC). The code is assigned from east to west. The first digit represents the region of Canada in which the province/territory is located and the second digit denotes one of the ten provinces and three territories.

PR Name
10 Newfoundland and Labrador
11 Prince Edward Island
12 Nova Scotia
13 New Brunswick
24 Quebec
35 Ontario
46 Manitoba
47 Saskatchewan
48 Alberta
59 British Columbia
60 Yukon Territory
61 Northwest Territories
62 Nunavut

Province Name (PRname) This field contains the official name for the province/territory (PRname). When you running the system in English, the English name will be displayed; when you are running the system in French, the French name will be displayed.
Statistical Area Classification (SAC) The Statistical Area Classification (SAC) groups census subdivisions according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area, a census agglomeration, a census metropolitan area and census agglomeration influenced zone (strong MIZ, moderate MIZ, weak MIZ or no MIZ), or the territories (Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory and Nunavut). The SAC is used for data dissemination purposes.

A SAC code is assigned to each CSD.

SACtype Codes

(1) CMA
(2) Tracted CA
(3) Non-tracted CA
(4) Strongly Influenced (zone)
(5) Moderately Influenced (zone)
(6) Weakly Influenced (zone)
(7) Not Influenced (zone)
(8) Territories
Secondary Province Code (XPR) The secondary province (XPR) field is used to indicate which census metropolitan areas/census agglomerations (CMA/CAs), and urban areas (UAs) cross provincial boundaries. XPR is read in conjunction with the PR (code) field to obtain the names of these provinces. The PR (code) field gives the name of the province which corresponds to the province code specified in the CMA/CA (code).
Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) The Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) is Statistics Canada’s official classification for three types of geographic areas: provinces and territories, census divisions (CDs) and census subdivisions (CSDs). The SGC provides unique numeric identification (codes) for these hierarchically related geographic areas.
Urban Area (UA) and Rural Area (RA) An urban area has a minimum population concentration of 1,000 and a population density of at least 400 per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All territory outside urban areas is classified rural. Taken together, urban and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Urban population includes all population living in the urban cores, secondary urban cores and urban fringes of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) as well as population living in urban areas outside of CMAs and CAs.

Rural areas include all territory lying outside urban areas. Taken together, urban and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Rural population includes all population living in the rural fringes of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs), as well as population living in rural areas outside CMAs and CAs.

Note: In 2006, five UAs straddled provincial boundaries: Campbellton (New Brunswick-Quebec), Hawkesbury (Ontario-Quebec), Ottawa - Gatineau (Ontario-Quebec), Flin Flon (Manitoba-Saskatchewan) and Lloydminster (Alberta-Saskatchewan). When the geographic level selected is all of Canada, the totals include the UA on both sides of the provincial border. If a province has been selected, only the part of the UA in the province chosen is included in the totals.

Note: One of the 2006 urban areas, Attawapiskat 91A (UA 35 1275), is an area that has been identified as being an incompletely enumerated Indian reserve.  Data for 2006 are not available for the incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements, and are not included in tabulations. Because of the missing data, users are cautioned that for the affected geographic area, comparisons (e.g., percentage change) between 2001 and 2006 are not exact.
Urban Area / Rural Area Code (UARA (code)) Urban area (UA) codes are unique four-digit codes that are assigned sequentially upon the UA creation, preceded by the two-digit province/territory code. These codes remain constant between censuses. If an urban area is retired due to amalgamation or failure to meet the population or density thresholds, then its code is retired.

Rural area codes are unique four-digit codes which are a concatenation of 99 plus the two-digit province/territory code, preceded by the two-digit province/territory code.
Urban/Rural Area Name (UARAname) The name of the urban area (UA) is the name of the principal census subdivision (CSD) when the CSD is a city, town or village, and at least 75% of the CSD population is within the urban area. If an urban area spans two or more principal CSDs, it may be given a compound name.

Rural Area names are a concatenation of the name of the Province or Territory with the term “Rural Area”.

Example:

Rural Area Name Description
Ontario Rural Area The portion of the province of Ontario which is outside of an urban area

Urban Area / Rural Area Type (UARAtype) For urban areas (UAs) the type code indicates the relationship of the UA to the census metropolitan area/census agglomeration (CMA/CA) structure. The values are:

Code Definition
0 Rural Area
1 Urban core
2 Urban fringe
4 Urban outside metropolitan area
6 Secondary urban core



Created: January 13, 2010; Last updated: 2010-01-13