Publications
Reference Maps and Thematic Maps, Reference Guide
3. About this product
-
Purpose of the product
-
Definitions and concepts
-
Content
-
General methodology
-
Limitations
-
Comparison to other products/versions
-
Using with other products
- Reference date
Purpose of the product
The purpose of the reference maps is to provide spatial reference for 2011 Census statistical data, enabling users to locate boundaries and relate 2011 Census statistical data in a spatial context.
Definitions and concepts
Geographic terms used on the maps are briefly defined in the glossary (Appendix A). More details can be found in the 2011 Census Dictionary (Catalogue no. 98-301-X) and the 2011 Illustrated Glossary (Catalogue no. 92-195-X).
Content
National, Census Division and Census Subdivision Reference Maps (Standard Geographical Classification [SGC]. Volume II. Reference Maps; Catalogue no. 12-572-X)
For the 2011 Census, four national maps are available, showing: 1) census divisions; 2) census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations; 3) census metropolitan influenced zones (MIZs), census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations Statistical Area Classification; and 4) economic regions and census divisions.
Census Divisions
This national map shows census division boundaries and unique identifiers within each province and territory, on a background of major lakes and rivers. The map also lists census division names in order of census division unique identifier by province and territory.
Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations
This national map shows the general location of census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations within each province and territory, with larger dots designating census metropolitan areas and smaller dots designating census agglomerations. The map also lists census metropolitan area and census agglomeration names in order of unique identifier by province and territory.
This map contains embedded links. Census metropolitan areas link to their respective census tract by census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations map which subsequently link to respective dissemination area by census tract maps.
Census metropolitan influenced zones (MIZs), census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) Statistical Area Classification
This national map shows census subdivisions classified by colour according to the category of the Statistical Area Classification to which they are assigned. The categories include: component of a census metropolitan area and census agglomeration, component of a census metropolitan area and census agglomeration influenced zone (strongly influenced, moderately influenced, weakly influenced or not influenced), or component of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut).
Economic Regions and Census Divisions
This national map shows economic region and census division boundaries and unique identifiers within each province and territory. The map also lists, by province and territory, economic region names by order of economic region unique identifier, within which are listed (numerically) the component census division unique identifiers and names.
Census Division and Census Subdivision Reference Maps
The set of 23 census division and census subdivision reference maps cover all of Canada, by province and territory. The maps show the boundaries, names and unique identifiers of census divisions (e.g., counties and regional districts) and census subdivisions (e.g., cities, towns, villages, other local municipal entities, townships and Indian reserves). The maps also show the boundaries of census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations. A list of the census division, census metropolitan area and census agglomeration names and unique identifiers (in numerical and alphabetical order) are displayed in the legend.
Index of Census Division and Census Subdivision Reference Maps
An index to the set of 23 census division and census subdivision maps shows the areas covered by each map. The index may be used as a reference to identify individual maps of interest within the set of 23 maps described above.
Census Tract Reference Maps, by Census Metropolitan Areas or Census Agglomerations (Catalogue no. 92-146-X).
The Census Tract Reference Maps, by Census Metropolitan Areas or Census Agglomerations cover all census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations in the census tract program. The maps show the boundaries and names of census tracts and census subdivisions, designated places names, as well as core, secondary core, fringe and rural areas within the census metropolitan area or census agglomeration. Inset maps are available to show detail for the more concentrated areas. The maps also display a street network and other visible features such as railroads, rivers and lakes. Embedded links enable users to link to respective dissemination area by census tract maps when viewing the maps on the Internet. Maps for census agglomerations that are not part of the census tract program can be found in Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Non-tracted Census Agglomerations (Catalogue no. 92-148-X).
Every census tract (CT) is assigned a seven-character numeric 'name' (including leading zeros, the decimal point and trailing zeros). In order to uniquely identify each census tract within its corresponding census metropolitan area or census agglomeration, the census tract name must be preceded by the three-digit census metropolitan area and census agglomeration unique identifier. For example:
- CT 0007.00 in the Census Metropolitan Area of Kingston (Ont.): 5210007.00
- CT 0007.00 in the Census Metropolitan Area of Vancouver (C.-B.): 9330007.00
There are 120 maps in this series. The maps vary in scale and size; the maximum map dimensions are approximately 86 cm by 61 cm (34 inches by 24 inches). All maps in this series are oriented to the north.
Dissemination Area Reference Maps Series
A dissemination area is a small area composed of one or more neighbouring blocks and is the smallest standard geographic area for which all 2011 Census statistical data are available. The dissemination area reference maps cover three distinct types of areas: census tracts; non-tracted census agglomerations; and census subdivisions outside of census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations. All depict the dissemination area as their smallest reference unit. Combined, the three dissemination area map series listed below represent all dissemination areas.
Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Census Tracts, for Census Metropolitan Areas or Census Agglomerations (Catalogue no. 92-147-X).
The Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Census Tracts, for Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations cover all census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations that are part of the census tract program. Each map in the series covers one census tract and displays the boundaries and unique identifiers1 of dissemination areas within the census tract. Inset maps are available to show detail in the more concentrated areas. The maps also display census tract, census subdivision, and census metropolitan area or census agglomeration boundaries and names along with street network and other visible features such as railroads, rivers and lakes.
There are 5,799 maps in this series. The dimensions of each map are approximately 27 cm by 43 cm (11 inches by 17 inches). Map scales vary according to the size of the census tract; thus the maps cannot be cut and pasted together. All maps in this series are oriented to the north.
Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Non-tracted Census Agglomerations (Catalogue no. 92-148-X).
The Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Non-tracted Census Agglomerations cover census agglomerations that are not part of the census tract program. Each map in the series covers one census agglomeration and displays the boundaries and unique identifiers1 of dissemination areas, designated places names, core, secondary core, fringe and rural areas. Inset maps are available to show detail in the more concentrated areas. The maps also display census subdivision names and boundaries with street network and other visible features such as railroads, rivers and lakes.
There are 251 maps in this series. The maps vary in scale and size; the maximum map dimensions are approximately 86 cm by 61 cm (34 inches by 24 inches). All maps in this series are oriented to the north.
Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Census Subdivisions, for areas outside Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations (Catalogue no. 92-145-X).
The Dissemination Area Reference Maps, by Census Subdivisions, cover areas outside Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations. Each map in this series covers one census subdivision and displays the boundaries and unique identifiers1 of dissemination areas, designated places names, as well as small population centres and rural areas within a census subdivision. The maps also display a street network and other visible features such as railroads, rivers and lakes.
There are 4,324 maps in this series. The maps vary in scale and size; the maximum dimensions are approximately 86 cm by 61 cm (34 inches by 24 inches). All maps in this series are oriented to the north.
Thematic Maps
A thematic map focuses on the spatial variability of a specific distribution or theme (such as population density or average annual income), whereas a reference map focuses on the location and names of features. Thematic maps normally include some location or reference information to help users familiarize themselves with the geographic area covered on the map.
Thematic maps are available to provide a visual overview of 2011 Census statistical data presented in the analytical paper.
Thematic maps are available to accompany the following 2011 Census releases:
2011 Census theme | Release date |
---|---|
Population and dwelling counts | February 8, 2012 |
Age and Sex | May 29, 2012 |
Families, households and marital status; Structural type of dwelling and collectives | September 19, 2012 |
Language | October 24, 2012 |
General methodology
The National Geographic Database (NGD) is a joint Statistics Canada-Elections Canada initiative to develop and maintain a spatial database which serves the needs of both organizations. The focus of the NGD is the continual improvement of quality and currency of spatial coverage using updates from provinces, territories and local sources. The native file used for the creation of maps resides on Statistics Canada's Spatial Data Infrastructure and is derived directly from data stored in the NGD environment.
To create maps, geographic boundaries, selected roads, railways and hydrographic features were retrieved from Statistics Canada's Spatial Data Infrastructure.
For all maps, initial text placement of labels was automated. Interactive editing was then performed to improve label placement.
Method of derivation
The National, Census Division and Census Subdivision Reference Maps were generated from digital geographic files using ArcGIS® Version 9.2, a geographic information system (GIS) software produced by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).
The Census Tract and the three Dissemination Area reference maps series were generated from digital geographic files using a generalized mapping system. This generalized mapping system was developed with ArcGIS® Version 9.2.
Limitations
Maps permit users to identify the general location and boundaries of 2011 Census standard geographic areas. They should not be used for digitizing purposes or to determine the precise location of boundaries. They are not intended to serve as a detailed legal or cadastral representation of 2011 Census standard geographic areas. The positional accuracy of information displayed on the map does not support cadastral, surveying, digitizing or engineering applications.
To be compliant with Common Look and Feel guidelines 2.0, accessible data is available as an alternative to viewing PDF maps.
Comparison to other products/versions
The purpose of the reference maps is to provide spatial reference for 2011 Census statistical data, enabling users to locate boundaries and relate 2011 Census statistical data to physical locations.
The reference maps contain geographic boundaries, unique identifiers and names applicable to the 2011 Census and are consistent with those used in other 2011 standard geographic products. The format of these maps is similar to the 2006 Census reference maps.
Using with other products
Information displayed on 2011 Census reference maps such as boundaries, names and unique identifiers of 2011 Census standard geographic areas, roads, rivers and lakes are similar to those found in other 2011 Census geography products, except in the three dissemination area (DA) map series, where the DAUID shown on the maps is a six-digit UID, not eight digits, due to space limitations on the map. The first two digits of the DAUID, representing the province/territory code, do not appear. The remaining six digits represent the census division (CD) and DA.
Reference date
The geographic reference date is a date determined by Statistics Canada to finalize the geographic framework for which 2011 Census statistical data are collected, tabulated and reported. The reference date for 2011 Census standard geographic areas is January 1, 2011. More specifically, the census reports data according to the geographic areas (e.g., municipalities and equivalents referred to as census subdivisions) that are in effect on January 1, 2011, provided that Statistics Canada receives the information on the changes by March 1, 2011 (see 2011 Census Dictionary – Geographic reference date for more details).
Note:
- Note that in the three dissemination area (DA) map series, the DAUID is shown as a six-digit UID, not eight digits, due to space limitations on the map. The first two digits of the DAUID, representing the province/territory code, do not appear on the map. The remaining six digits represent the census division (CD) and DA.
- Date modified: