Publications
Geography Catalogue
Census year 2011
3. Spatial information products
Boundary Files
Road Network File
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Spatial information products provide the shape and location of geographic features. Geographic boundaries and road networks are available for mapping and geographic information system applications.
Boundary Files
There are two types of boundary files: cartographic and digital. Cartographic boundary files portray the geographic areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. Digital boundary files portray the full extent of the geographic areas, including the coastal water area. Figure 3.1 illustrates an example of cartographic and digital boundary files.
New for the 2011 Census, within each boundary file the unique identifiers, names and types of all higher level geographic areas (where applicable) within the geographic hierarchy are included, where available at the time of release. See Table 3.1 for boundary file content.
Separate hydrographic reference files for inland rivers (line), inland lakes and rivers (polygon), and coastal waters are also available. These files can be used for additional reference purposes when mapping or displaying the boundaries using either the cartographic or digital boundary files.
Cartographic and digital boundary files are available for the following 2011 Census standard geographic areas:
- Province and Territory
- Census Division
- Census Consolidated Subdivision
- Census Subdivision
- Economic Region
- Census Metropolitan Area and Census Agglomeration
- Federal Electoral District
- Census Tract
- Designated Place
- Population Centre
- Dissemination Area
- Dissemination Block
- Census Forward Sortation Area
- Census Agricultural Region
Cartographic and digital boundary files are portrayed in latitude and longitude coordinates. North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83); see figure 3.2.
Figure 3.2 Example of a map projection and unprojected coordinates
To learn more details about these products, please consult the Boundary Files, Reference Guide, available on the Statistics Canada website.
Province and Territory Boundary Files
The Province and Territory Boundary Files portray the boundaries of the 10 provinces and 3 territories for which census data are disseminated. Provinces and territories are the major political (legislated) areas of Canada. The files contain the boundaries of all provinces and territories which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-160-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-160-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Census Division Boundary Files
The Census Division Boundary Files portray the census division boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A census division is a unit of regional government (such as a county or regional district) or an area treated as equivalent for statistical purposes. A census division is usually made up of a number of adjacent census subdivisions (municipalities). The files contain the boundaries of all census divisions which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-160-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-160-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Census Consolidated Subdivision Boundary Files
The Census Consolidated Subdivision Boundary Files portray the census consolidated subdivision boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A census consolidated subdivision is a grouping of adjacent census subdivisions (municipalities) used primarily for disseminating Census of Agriculture data. The files contain the boundaries of all census consolidated subdivisions which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-160-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-160-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Census Subdivision Boundary Files
The Census Subdivision Boundary Files portray the census subdivision boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A census subdivision is a municipality or an area treated as equivalent to a municipality for statistical purposes (for example, Indian reserves and unorganized territories). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada. The files contain the boundaries of all census subdivisions which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-160-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-160-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Economic Region Boundary Files
The Economic Region Boundary Files portray the economic region boundaries for which census data are disseminated. An economic region is a grouping of complete census divisions (with an exception in Ontario) created as a standard geographic area for analysis of regional economic activity. The files contain the boundaries of all economic regions which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-160-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-160-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Census Metropolitan Area and Census Agglomeration Boundary Files
The Census Metropolitan Area and Census Agglomeration Boundary Files portray the boundaries of the census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations for which census data are disseminated. Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations consist of one or more adjacent municipalities (census subdivisions) around a core . To form a census metropolitan area, the core must have a population of at least 50,000 and the entire census metropolitan area must have a total population of at least 100,000. To form a census agglomeration, the core must have a population of at least 10,000. The files contain the boundaries of all census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations defined for the census. Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations crossing provincial boundaries appear in the boundary files in provincial parts.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-160-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-160-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Federal Electoral District Boundary Files
The Federal Electoral District Boundary Files portray the federal electoral district boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A federal electoral district is an area represented by a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. The federal electoral district boundaries used for the 2011 Census are based on the 2003 Representation Order. The files contain the boundaries of all federal electoral districts which combined cover all of Canada. The Federal Electoral District boundary file portrays the federal electoral districts in effect on January 1, 2011.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-171-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-171-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Census Tract Boundary Files
The Census Tract Boundary Files portray the census tract boundaries for which census data are disseminated. Census tracts are small, relatively stable geographic areas that usually have a population between 2,500 and 8,000. They are located in census metropolitan areas and in census agglomerations with a core population of 50,000 or more in the previous census. The files contain the boundaries of all census tracts located within the census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations for which census tracts are delineated.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-168-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-168-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 |
Designated Place Boundary Files
The Designated Place Boundary Files portray the designated place boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A designated place is normally a small community or settlement that does not meet the criteria established by Statistics Canada to be a census subdivision or a population centre. Designated places are created by provinces and territories, in cooperation with Statistics Canada, to provide data for submunicipal areas. The files contain the boundaries of all designated places defined for the census.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-165-XWE | English | February 8, 2012 |
| 92-165-XWF | French | February 8, 2012 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001 |
Population Centre Boundary Files
The Population Centre Boundary Files portray the population centre boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A population centre has a minimum population of 1,000 persons and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. The files contain the boundaries of all population centres defined for the census. Population centres crossing provincial boundaries appear in the boundary files in provincial parts.
Effective February 3, 2011, the term 'population centre' replaced the term 'urban area.' Population centres are classified into one of three groups based on the size of their population. For more information, see the note entitled From urban areas to population centres.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-166-XWE | English | February 8, 2012 |
| 92-166-XWF | French | February 8, 2012 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Census |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011 |
Dissemination Area Boundary Files
The Dissemination Area Boundary Files portray the dissemination area boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A dissemination area is a small area composed of one or more neighbouring blocks. The files contain the boundaries of all dissemination areas which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-169-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-169-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001 |
Dissemination Block Boundary Files
The Dissemination Block Boundary Files portray the dissemination block boundaries for which census data are disseminated. A dissemination block is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of standard geographic areas. The files contain the boundaries of all dissemination blocks which combined cover all of Canada.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-163-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-163-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006 |
Census Forward Sortation Area Boundary Files
The Census Forward Sortation Area Boundary Files portray the census forward sortation area boundaries for which census data are disseminated. They depict forward sortation area boundaries used for census dissemination, which are derived from postal codes obtained from census questionnaires. The census-based forward sortation area boundaries are not necessarily equivalent to forward sortation area boundaries in use by Canada Post Corporation, they are representations created by aggregating dissemination blocks.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-170-XWE | English | To be determined |
| 92-170-XWF | French | To be determined |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006 |
See Table 3.1 for boundary file content for the 2011 Census.
Table 3.1 Content of Boundary files
Census Agricultural Region Boundary Files
The Census Agricultural Region Boundary Files portray the census agricultural region boundaries for which Census of Agriculture data are disseminated. A census agricultural region is formed with one or several adjacent census division(s), with the exception of Saskatchewan, where it is a grouping of adjacent census consolidated subdivisions. Census agricultural regions are used primarily for disseminating Census of Agriculture data. The files contain the boundaries of all census agricultural regions which, when combined, cover all ten provinces of Canada.
To learn more details about this product, please consult the Census Agricultural Region Boundary File Reference Guide, available on the Statistics Canada website.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 95-637-XWE | English | May 10, 2012 |
| 95-637-XWF | French | May 10, 2012 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 |
Population Ecumene Census Division Cartographic Boundary File
The Population Ecumene Census Division Cartographic Boundary File contains a generalised population ecumene based on census population density data with at least one ecumene polygon appearing within every census division. This file can be used to produce small-scale thematic maps of statistical data.
To learn more details about this product, please consult the Population Ecumene Census Division Cartographic Boundary File, Reference Guide, available on the Statistics Canada website.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-159-XWE | English | February 8, 2012 |
| 92-159-XWF | French | February 8, 2012 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006 |
Agricultural Ecumene Census Division Cartographic Boundary File
The Agricultural Ecumene Census Division Cartographic Boundary File contains a generalised agricultural ecumene displaying areas of significant agricultural activity, with polygons split by census division. This file can be used to produce small-scale thematic maps of agricultural statistical data.
To learn more details about this product, please consult the Agricultural Ecumene Census Division Cartographic Boundary File Reference Guide, available on the Statistics Canada website.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 95-639-XWE | English | May 10, 2012 |
| 95-639-XWF | French | May 10, 2012 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006, 2001 |
Road Network File
The 2011 Road Network File is a digital representation of Canada's national road network. It contains information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges.
Streets are ranked according to five levels of detail, suitable for mapping at small to medium scales. User applications of this file may include mapping, geocoding, geographic searching, area delineation, and database maintenance as a source for street names and locations. Since statistical activities do not require absolute positional accuracy, relative positional accuracy takes precedence in the Road Network File. As a result, this file is not suitable for engineering applications, emergency dispatching services, surveying or legal applications. The Road Network File is portrayed in latitude and longitude coordinates (NAD83).
The 2011 Census Road Network File contains additional attributes that are not found in the intercensal road network files. New for 2011, the unique identifier, name and type for each side of a street arc (where applicable) are included for the following geographic levels: provinces and territories, census subdivisions (CSDs), census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations (CMAs and CAs).
To learn more details about this product, please consult the Road Network File, Reference Guide, available on the Statistics Canada website.
| Catalogue number | Language | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 92-500-XWE | English | November 29, 2011 |
| 92-500-XWF | French | November 29, 2011 |
| 2011 formats | Number of files | Censuses |
| ArcGIS® (.SHP), Geography Markup Language (.GML), and MapInfo® (.TAB) | 1 English 1 French |
2011, 2006 |
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