2011 Census geographic products

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Available today are four geographic products from the 2011 Census: Boundary Files, Road Network File, Correspondence Files and the Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names. These products represent the first suite of geographic products released from the 2011 Census.

Boundary Files provide geographic limits used for census dissemination and a framework for mapping and spatial analysis. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographic areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographic areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands.

These files contain boundaries of standard geographic areas in effect on January 1, 2011. Digital and cartographic boundary files, portrayed in latitude and longitude coordinates, are available for provinces and territories, census divisions, economic regions, federal electoral districts (2003 Representation Order), census consolidated subdivisions, census subdivisions, census metropolitan areas / census agglomerations, census tracts, dissemination areas and dissemination blocks.

The Road Network File is a digital representation of Canada's national road network, containing information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges. In addition, on each side of every street arc there are unique identifiers and names for the following levels of geography: province/territory, census metropolitan area / census agglomeration, census subdivision.

Roads are ranked according to five levels of detail, suitable for mapping at small to medium scales. Applications may include mapping, geocoding, geographic searching, area delineation, and database maintenance as a source for street names and locations.

Three Correspondence Files provide tabular data showing the correspondence between two vintages of geographic areas. Each correspondence file contains a unique identifier for the 2011 Census geographic area and the corresponding unique identifier for the 2006 Census geographic area. In addition, a relationship flag indicates the degree of correspondence between the geographic areas, facilitating a comparison between 2011 and 2006 census years.

The Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names summarizes changes to municipal boundaries, status and names that occurred between January 2, 2006, and January 1, 2011. Municipal changes are based on information received through provincial and territorial gazettes, letters patent and orders-in-council.

Boundary files are available in three formats: ArcInfo^®, Geography Markup Language and MapInfo^®. The 2011 Census Boundary Files (92-160-X, 92-163-X, 92-168-X, 92-169-X, 92-171-X), and Boundary Files, Reference Guide (92-160-G) are now available at no cost from the Key resource module of our website, under Publications.

The Road Network File is available in three formats: ArcInfo^®, Geography Markup Language and MapInfo^®. The 2011 Census Road Network File (92-500-X, free), and Road Network File, Reference Guide (92-500-G, free) are now available.

Correspondence files are available in two formats: Excel^® (.xlsx) and Text (.txt). The 2011 Census Correspondence Files (92-156-X, free), and Correspondence Files, Reference Guide (92-156-G, free) are now available.

The Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names, January 2, 2006 to January 1, 2011 (92F0009X, free), is now available in HTML and PDF formats.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (613-951-8116 or toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca), Communications Division.