T1 Family File, Final Estimates, 2015
Section 4 - Geography

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Table of contents

The data are available for the following geographic areas. See “Statistical Tables - Footnotes and Historical Availability” for further details. The mailing address at the time of filing is the basis for the geographic information in the tables.

Standard areas:

* These postal geography levels were available in the past but are no longer available for this data.

User-defined areas:

For cost recovery tabulations, users may select specific areas of interest which do not correspond to standard areas. To obtain aggregated data for such areas, users can provide a list of lower level postal or census geography (Postal Codes, forward sortation areas, census tracts, census subdivisions, etc.) grouped according to their defined areas. These areas must satisfy our confidentiality requirements. See the "Special Geography" section for further information.

Geographic Levels – Census Geography

Data are also available for the following levels of the Census geography; the following table shows the coded designators for these geographies, as well as a brief description of each.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 12
Area: Canada
Description:
This level of data is an aggregation of the provincial/territorial totals (code 11). The national total is identified by the region code Z99099.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 11
Area: Province or Territory Total
Description:
These totals are identified by a provincial/territorial postal letter, then a "990" followed by the province/territory code, as follows:

Newfoundland and Labrador = A99010
Nova Scotia = B99012
Prince Edward Island = C99011
New Brunswick = E99013
Quebec = J99024
Ontario = P99035
Manitoba = R99046
Saskatchewan = S99047
Alberta = T99048
British Columbia = V99059
Northwest Territories = X99061
Nunavut = X99062
Yukon Territory = Y99060

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 61
Area: Census Tract
Description:

Census tracts (CTs) are small geographic units representing urban or rural neighbourhood-like communities in census metropolitan areas (see definition below) or census agglomerations with an urban core population of 50,000 or more at time of 1996 Census. CTs were initially delineated by a committee of local specialists (such as planners, health and social workers and educators) in conjunction with Statistics Canada.

The 2015 data tables contain 5,367 areas coded as level of geography 61, based on 2011 Census.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 51
Area: Economic Region
Description:

An economic region is a grouping of complete census divisions (see definition below) with one exception in Ontario. Economic regions (ERs) are used to analyse regional economic activity. Within the province of Quebec, ERs are designated by law. In all other provinces, they are created by agreement between Statistics Canada and the provinces concerned. Prince Edward Island and the territories each consist of one economic region.

The 2015 data tables contain 76 areas coded as level of geography 51, based on 2011 Census.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 42
Area: Census Agglomeration
Description:

The general concept of a census agglomeration (CA) is one of a very large urban area, together with adjacent urban and rural areas that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that urban area. CAs have an urban core population of at least 10,000, based on the previous census.

The 2015 data tables contain 133 area codes as level of geography 42, based on the 2011 Census: 114 CAs, 6 provincial parts for the 3 CAs which cross provincial boundaries and 13 residual geographies called Non CMA-CA, one for each province and territory.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 41
Area: Census Metropolitan Area
Description:

The general concept of a census metropolitan area (CMA) is one of a very large urban area, together with adjacent urban and rural areas that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that urban area. CMAs have an urban core population of at least 100,000, based on the previous census.

The 2015 data tables contain 35 areas coded as level of geography 41, based on 2011 Census:

001, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
205, Halifax, Nova Scotia
305, Moncton, New Brunswick
310, Saint John, New Brunswick
408, Saguenay, Quebec
421, Québec, Quebec
433, Sherbrooke, Quebec
442, Trois-Rivières, Quebec
462, Montréal, Quebec
505, Ottawa-Gatineau (3 items: combined, Quebec part and Ontario part)
521, Kingston, Ontario
529, Peterborough, Ontario
532, Oshawa, Ontario
535, Toronto, Ontario
537, Hamilton, Ontario
539, St-Catharines-Niagara, Ontario
541, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, Ontario
543, Brantford, Ontario
550, Guelph, Ontario
555, London, Ontario
559, Windsor, Ontario
568, Barrie, Ontario
580, Greater Sudbury, Ontario
595, Thunder Bay, Ontario
602, Winnipeg, Manitoba
705, Regina, Saskatchewan
725, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
825, Calgary, Alberta
835, Edmonton, Alberta
915, Kelowna, British Columbia
932, Abbotsford-Mission, British Columbia
933, Vancouver, British Columbia
935, Victoria, British Columbia

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 31
Area: Federal Electoral District
Description:

A federal electoral district (FED) refers to any place or territorial area represented by a Member of Parliament elected to the House of Commons. There are 338 FEDs in Canada according to the 2013 Representation Order. The Representation Order is prepared by the Chief Electoral Officer describing, naming and specifying the population of each electoral district established by the Electoral Boundaries Commission and sent to the Governor in Council.

The 2015 data tables contain 338 areas coded as level of geography 31.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 21
Area: Census Division
Description:

A census division (CD) is a group of neighbouring municipalities joined together for the purposes of regional planning and managing common services (such as police or ambulance services). A CD might correspond to a county, a regional municipality or a regional district.

CDs are established under laws in effect in certain provinces and territories of Canada. In other provinces and territories where laws do not provide for such areas (Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta), Statistics Canada defines equivalent areas for statistical reporting purposes in cooperation with these provinces and territories.

The 2011 Census contain 293 areas coded as level of geography 21; however, the 2015 data tables contain 295 areas since the CD of Halton (Ont.) straddles 2 Economic Regions.

Starting in 2007, Census divisions are identified in the tables by a six digits code:

2 first digits = Province
2 next digits = Economic Region
2 last digits = Census Division

Changes in Census Geography – 2011 boundaries as compared to 2006 boundaries

When comparing data between the 2011 and 2012 reference years, users should consider that some of the changes in the data can be due to Census boundary changes. The data for the 2011 reference year is produced according to the 2006 Census boundaries, while the data for the 2012 reference year is based on the 2011 Census boundaries.

Changes to Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA)

There were a few boundary changes which impact the total area covered by specific CMAs. Census subdivisions (CSD) previously considered to be outside CMA areas were added in five CMAs (Table K). Census subdivision is the general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial/territorial legislation) or areas treated as municipal equivalents for statistical purposes (e.g., Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories).

Table K
Changes to Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Changes to Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). The information is grouped by Code (appearing as row headers), Census metropolitain area, Code and Census subdivision (appearing as column headers).
Code Census metropolitain area Code Census subdivision
433 Sherbrooke 2442095 Val-Joli
2445115 Orford
505 Ottawa-Gatineau 2480145 Bowman
2480140 Val-des-Bois
2482010 Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette
2480065 Mayo
421 Québec 2434007 Neuville
408 Saguenay 2494245 Saint-David-de-Falardeau
2494230 Sainte-Rose-du-Nord
2494225 Saint-Félix-d'Otis
2494260 Saint-Charles-de-Bourget
442 Trois-Rivières 2437225 Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes
2451020 Yamachiche
550 Guelph 3523001 Puslinch

There was also a slight change in the area covered by the Montreal CMA due to a minor modification of the boundary of the CSD of L'Assomption (CSD code 2442095).

Changes to Census Agglomerations (CA)

Two CAs were retired since they no longer met the appropriate population criteria (CA 446 - La Tuque and CA 960 - Kitimat), while five new CAs were introduced (CA 605 - Steinbach, CA 826 - Strathmore, CA 821 - High River, CA 831 - Sylvan Lake and CA 832 - Lacombe). Forty five CAs, which exist on both the 2006 and 2001 Census boundaries, had boundary changes which altered the area they covered (Table L). For more information on specific boundary changes, please refer to the section “How to obtain more information” at the end of this document.

Table L
Changes to Census Agglomerations (CAs)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Changes to Census Agglomerations (CAs). The information is grouped by Code (appearing as row headers), Census agglomeration (appearing as column headers).
Code Census agglomeration
015 Corner Brook
105 Charlottetown
320 Fredericton
328 Bathurst
329 Miramichi
330 Campbellton (New Brunswick part)
335 Edmundston
403 Matane
404 Rimouski
405 Rivière-du-Loup
406 Baie-Comeau
410 Alma
411 Dolbeau-Mistassini
428 Saint-Georges
430 Thetford Mines
437 Cowansville
440 Victoriaville
444 Shawinigan
447 Drummondville
450 Granby
452 Saint-Hyacinthe
454 Sorel-Tracy
456 Joliette
481 Amos
485 Rouyn-Noranda
544 Woodstock
553 Stratford
571 Midland
584 Temiskaming Shores
607 Portage la Prairie
735 North Battleford
750 Estevan
820 Okotoks
830 Red Deer
833 Camrose
850 Grande Prairie
865 Wetaskiwin
913 Penticton
925 Kamloops
930 Chilliwack
940 Port Alberni
943 Courtenay
944 Campbell River
952 Quesnel
965 Terrace

Changes to Census Divisions (CD)

Four CDs changed name in the province of Quebec. There was also a reorganization of CSDs within specific CDs in British Columbia and in the Northwest Territories (Table M). For more information on specific boundary changes, please refer to the section “How to obtain more information” at the end of this document.

Table M
Changes to Census Divisions (CDs)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Changes to Census Divisions (CDs). The information is grouped by Province (appearing as row headers), Code, Census division, 2011 , Census division, 2006 and Comments (appearing as column headers).
Province Code Census division, 2011 Code Census division, 2006 Comments
Que. 242531 Les Appalaches 242531 L'Amiante Name Change
Que. 243040 Les Sources 243040 Asbestos Name Change
Que. 243553 Pierre-de Saurel 243553 Le Bas-Richelieu Name Change
Que. 248098 Minganie--Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent 248098 Minganie--Basse-Côte-Nord Name Change
B.C. 591024 Strathcona   2006 CD split
B.C.   591025 Comox-Strathcona 2006 CD split
B.C. 591026 Comox Valley   2006 CD split
N.W.T. 611001 Region 1   Restructured CD
N.W.T. 611002 Region 2   Restructured CD
N.W.T. 611003 Region 3   Restructured CD
N.W.T. 611004 Region 4   Restructured CD
N.W.T. 611005 Region 5   Restructured CD
N.W.T. 611006 Region 6   Restructured CD
N.W.T.   611006 Fort Smith Restructured CD
N.W.T.   611007 Inuvik Restructured CD

Geographic Levels – Postal Geography

The various data compiled from the taxfile are available for different levels of the postal geography. Coded geographic indicators appearing on the data tables are shown below with a brief description.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 12
Postal Area: Canada
Description:
This level of data is an aggregation of the provincial/territorial totals (code 11). The national total is identified by the region code Z99099.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 11
Postal Area: Province or Territory Total
Description:
This level of data is an aggregation of the following geographies within a province:

City Totals = Code 08
Rural Communities = Code 09
Other Provincial Totals = Code 10

These totals are identified by a provincial/territorial postal letter, then a "990" followed by the province/territory code, as follows:

Newfoundland and Labrador = A99010
Nova Scotia = B99012
Prince Edward Island = C99011
New Brunswick = E99013
Quebec = J99024
Ontario = P99035
Manitoba = R99046
Saskatchewan = S99047
Alberta = T99048
British Columbia = V99059
Northwest Territories = X99061
Nunavut = X99062
Yukon Territory = Y99060

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 10
Postal Area: Other Provincial Total ("P" Pot)
Description:

This level of data is an aggregation of small communities in the province that had less than 100 taxfilers, where these communities are combined into a "pot". Before 1992, it was identified by the same codes as the provincial/territorial totals, and only the "Delivery Mode" codes 2 and 3 distinguished between the two. To avoid this problem, starting with the 1992 data, an "8" appears after the provincial/territorial letter instead of a "9". The "9" will be reserved for the provincial/territorial total, as explained in 11 above. These "pot" codes are as follows:

Newfoundland and Labrador = A89010
Nova Scotia = B89012
Prince Edward Island = C89011
New Brunswick = E89013
Quebec = J89024
Ontario = P89035
Manitoba = R89046
Saskatchewan = S89047
Alberta = T89048
British Columbia = V89059
Northwest Territories = X89061
Nunavut = X89062
Yukon Territory = Y89060

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 09
Postal Area: Rural Communities (Not in City)
Description:
For data obtained prior to reference year 2011, this level of geography was called “Rural Postal Codes (Not in a City)”.

This level of geography pertains to rural communities that have one and only one rural Postal Code. These rural communities are based on areas serviced by Canada Post. These areas are often very close to the official boundaries of rural communities. Rural Postal Codes can be identified by a "zero" in the second position of the Postal Code.

The 2015 data tables contain 3,951 areas coded as level of geography 09.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 08
Postal Area: City Total (Postal city)
Description:

In postal geography, this city concept is often linked to older city boundaries or to neighbourhoods. Most often, this geography does not exactly correspond to official municipal limits.

This level of data is an aggregation of the following geographies for unique place names within a province/territory:

Urban FSA (Residential) = Code 03
Rural Route= Code 04
Suburban Services = Code 05
Rural Postal Code Areas (within city) = Code 06
Other Urban Area = Code 07

As of 2011, data for L.O.G. 04 and 05 are suppressed but included in the city totals.

They have the following format: e.g., Edmonton = T95479; Regina = S94876. The pattern is the postal letter of the city plus "9" in the second position (indicating a total), followed by a 4 digit numeric code for the community (often called "CityID").

Data based on the true municipal limits (census subdivisions) is only available through cost recovery data tabulations.

The 2015 data tables contain 1,722 areas coded as level of geography 08.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 07
Postal Area: Other Urban Area (Non-residential within city - "E" Pot)
Description:

This aggregation of data (or "pot") covers non-residential addresses within an urban centre and all other data not otherwise displayed. Commercial addresses, post office boxes and general delivery are included, as are residential addresses with too few taxfilers to report separately. They can be recognized by codes that are similar to the city totals, with a distinguishing difference: an "8" will follow the city postal letter rather than the "9" of the city total (e.g., Edmonton = T85479; Regina = S84876).

The 2015 data tables contain 436 areas coded as level of geography 07.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 06
Postal Area: Rural Postal Code Areas (Within City)
Description:

For data obtained prior to reference year 2011, this level of geography was called “Rural Postal Codes (Within a City)”.

These data pertain to rural Postal Codes that belong to communities with more than one rural Postal Code. These occur in areas that were formerly serviced by rural delivery service and changed by Canada Post to urban delivery service or in communities served by more than one rural Postal Code. Rural Postal Codes can be identified by a "zero" in the second position of the Postal Code. Although data is disseminated individually for each rural Postal Code associated with a community, only the community name appears with the disseminated data. The actual rural Postal Codes are not displayed with the disseminated data. Therefore, for this level of geography, community names will appear more than once.

The 2015 data tables contain 619 areas coded as level of geography 06.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 05
Postal Area: Suburban Service
Description:

No longer available.

Sparsely populated fringe areas of urban centres may receive their postal service from an urban post office by delivery designated as "suburban service". Their region code retains all six characters of the Postal Code. Suburban Services are usually near or on the perimeters of urban areas, and mail is delivered by a contractor to group mail boxes, community mail boxes and/or external delivery sites (e.g., kiosks, miniparks).

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 04
Postal Area: Rural Route
Description:

No longer available.

Reasonably well-settled rural areas may receive their postal service from an urban post office by delivery designated as "rural route". Mail is delivered by a contractor to customers living along or near well-defined roads. Their region code retains all six characters of the Postal Code.

Level of Geography (L.O.G.): 03
Postal Area: Urban FSA (Partial FSA in Residential Area)
Description:

Forward Sortation Areas (FSA) are identified by the first three characters of the Postal Code. This version of urban FSA only includes Postal Codes associated with regular residential mail delivery in an urban areas. They exclude the geography levels 04, 05 and 07) and therefore are often just a subset of the true complete urban FSA.

An Urban FSA of this type can be identified by the FSAA followed by three blanks. One FSA can be split in different parts if it is associated with more than one city.

Data based on the true FSA delivery limits (without any FSA splits) is only available through cost recovery data tabulations for both urban and rural areas.

The 2015 data tables contain 2,513 areas coded as level of geography 03.

Adding postal areas without duplication

Data files according to the postal geography will often contain subtotals and totals. Many data users need to add certain geographies in order to come up with a total for their particular area of interest. However, including subtotals during this process results in double-counting some populations, and this leads to an erroneous total. The following is a summary of which postal areas are aggregations in the standard postal geography.

Urban FSAs (LOG 3), Rural Routes (LOG 4), Suburban Services (LOG 5), Rural Postal Code areas within a city (LOG 6) and Other Urban Areas (LOG 7) add up to City Totals (LOG 8).

City Totals (LOG 8), Rural Communities not in a city (LOG 9) and Other Provincial Totals (LOG 10) add up to provincial/territorial totals (LOG 11).

Provincial/territorial totals (LOG 11) add up to the Canada total (LOG 12).

Thus, using the Level of geography codes:
3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 8
8 + 9 + 10 = 11

City identification number (CityID)

The CityID is created for postal cities. This concept of cities does not correspond to the official boundaries of municipalities.

As of 2007, CityID has been modified.

Previous to 2007:

Starting with 2007 data:
To create more possibilities without changing the CityID length in our systems:

Table N
City identification number (CityID) - Postal Code
Table summary
This table displays the results of City identification number (CityID) - Postal Code. The information is grouped by Postal Code (appearing as row headers), Postal City name, 2006 and Prior and 2007 and Follow (appearing as column headers).
Postal Code Postal City name 2006 and Prior 2007 and Follow
K1A xxx Ottawa 2434 K2434
G3C xxx Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury n/a G2
Table O
City identification number (CityID) - Province
Table summary
This table displays the results of City identification number (CityID) - Province. The information is grouped by Province (appearing as row headers), Letter file and Range of number (appearing as column headers).
Province Letter file Range of number
Newfoundland and Labrador A 1 – 9999
Prince Edward Island C 1 – 9999
Nova Scotia B 1 – 9999
New Brunswick E 1 – 9999
Quebec G 1 – 9999
Quebec H 1 – 9999
Quebec J 1 – 9999
Ontario K 1 – 9999
Ontario L 1 – 9999
Ontario M 1 – 9999
Ontario N 1 – 9999
Ontario P 1 – 9999
Manitoba R 1 – 9999
Saskatchewan S 1 – 9999
Alberta T 1 – 9999
British Columbia V 1 – 9999
Yukon Y 1 – 9999
Northwest Territories X 1 – 9999
Nunavut X 1 – 9999

Therefore, it is now essential to identify a postal city by adding the Postal Code 1st letter to the number in order to get the proper postal city in the proper province (Table P):

Table P
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table P. The information is grouped by Letter (appearing as row headers), Number, Postal City name and Province (appearing as column headers).
Letter Number Postal City name Province
A 2 Avondale NL
B 2 Bible Hill NS
T 2 Rocky View AB
G 2 Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury QC

Hierarchy of postal geography

Description for Figure 1

Hierarchy of postal geography. The various data compiled from the taxfile are available for different levels of the postal geography. Canada (12) is divided into Provinces and Territories (11), which are subsequently divided into City Totals (08), Rural Communities (09) and Other Provincial Totals (10). City Totals (08) is then broken down into Urban Forward Sortation Areas (03), Rural Routes (04), Sub-urban Services (05), Rural Postal Code Areas (06) and Other Urban Areas (07).

Geographic Levels - Special Geography

Clients may select geographical areas of their own definition; areas that are not part of the standard areas listed here (for example, bank service areas, retail store catchment areas). For this, clients must submit a list of lower level geographies such as Postal Codes or census tracts that make up their user defined areas. We will then aggregate the micro data to correspond to that area of interest. If there is more than one level of geography within the areas submitted by the client, this must be clearly indicated. A list of low level geographies which rollup into user defined areas is commonly referred to as a conversion file and is usually supplied to us in an Excel format.


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