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Postal code conversion file

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The Daily


Wednesday, January 30, 2008
September 2007

The September 2007 update of the Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) is now available. This file links the six-character postal codes to the standard 2006 Census geographic areas (such as dissemination areas, census tracts and census subdivisions). By linking postal codes to the Statistics Canada geographic areas, the file facilitates the extraction and subsequent aggregation of data for selected geographic areas. The PCCF also associates each postal code with a longitude and latitude coordinate to support mapping applications. The file also indicates the source, quality and type of linkage made between the postal code and the geographic area.

The September 2007 update of the Postal Codes by Federal Ridings File (2003 Representation Order) is also available. This product, a subset of the PCCF, provides a link between the six-character postal code and Canada's federal electoral districts (commonly known as federal ridings). The "unique link" variable indicates if the postal code is linked to one or more federal electoral districts (FEDs). The Postal Codes by Federal Ridings File now includes the variable "weight." When the postal code is linked to more than one FED, the "weight" estimates the proportion of the population of the postal code that resides within each FED.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3901.

The Postal Code Conversion File (92-153-XCB, $10,000; update 92-153-UCB, $1,670) and the Postal Codes by Federal Riding File (92F0193XCB, $2,500; update 92F0193UCB, $500) are available in ASCII format on diskette or CD-ROM. The reference guides for the Postal Code Conversion File (92-153-GWE, free) and the Postal Codes by Federal Ridings File (92F0193GWE, free) are also available in electronic format.

For more information, contact GeoHelp (613-951-3889; geohelp@statcan.gc.ca), Geography Division.