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Help shape your community's future

Canada's next census begins soon in select northern and remote communities.

Census invitation letters will be delivered to dwellings in select northern and remote communities in early February 2026, providing residents with the information they need to complete their census questionnaire.

Collection begins in February in certain communities to ensure that we can access areas that are easier to reach in winter and to count populations that typically migrate out of their communities in the spring. For the rest of Canada, collection will begin in May 2026.

To ensure an accurate and representative picture of each community, it's important for each household to participate. Households can choose to complete their questionnaire online or with a Statistics Canada employee.

The census questionnaire gathers economic, health and education data. Information collected through the census can help communities plan services such as childcare, schools, and healthcare.

The census questions will be translated into 15 Indigenous languages and dialects: Atikamekw, Inuktitut (South Baffin), East Cree (Northern and Southern), Nunavimmiutitut, Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree), Nehinawewin (Swampy Cree), Nihithawiwin (Woods Cree), Saulteaux (Western Ojibway), Innu (Montagnais), Naskapi, Oji-Cree, Blackfoot, Mi'kmaq, Inuinnaqtun and Tlicho (Dogrib).

Translations will allow respondents to read the census questions in their own language to assist them in completing their questionnaire in English or French. The translated questions will be available on the census website.

Statistics Canada ensures that census data are secure and kept strictly confidential.

To find out if census collection begins early in your community, please visit census.gc.ca/north.