What's new?

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

  • The postal code reference date for this Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) is May 2011.
  • With this release, some geocoding linkages within the PCCF were improved. A total of 33 records were updated and 46 were deleted from the postal code database used to generate the PCCF.
  • A file is available that indicates all of the postal codes corrected in the May 2011 PCCF.
  • New record level metadata are included indicating the source, quality and type of linkage made between the postal code and the geographic area.
  • The term 'population centre' replaces the term 'urban area'. A population centre is defined as an area with a population of at least 1,000 and a density of 400 or more people per square kilometre. All areas outside population centres will continue to be defined as rural area. This new terminology will be implemented consistently across the Agency.
  • The terms 'core', 'fringe' and 'rural area' replace the terms 'urban core', 'urban fringe' and 'rural fringe'.
  • Population centres are divided into three groups based on the size of their population to reflect the existence of an urban-rural continuum:
    • small population centres, with a population of between 1,000 and 29,999
    • medium population centres, with a population of between 30,000 and 99,999
    • large urban population centres, consisting of a population of 100,000 and over.
  • Population centre and rural area classification has been added to the file.