Archived - How to read the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) concordance tables (SGC 2001 and SGC 1996)

Archived information

Archived information 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.

Archived Content

The relationship between the 1996 SGC and the 2001 SGC is shown using two concordance tables. The first table shows the relationship of the 2001 SGC to the 1996 SGC. The second table shows the relationship in the other sequence, that is, the 1996 SGC to the 2001 SGC. The two tables, taken together, provide a cross-reference of the relationships between the two classifications.

The concordance tables are shown at the lowest level of both classifications, namely the census subdivisions (municipalities). These tables highlight the differences between the census subdivisions (CSDs) of the two classifications, information that is useful when converting data from one classification to the other. (Note that to make the tables simpler the concordance tables are partial. Most of the CSDs have been omitted from these tables whether there was not any change affecting those CSDs or whether the change did not have a direct impact upon the SGC, for example, a partial annexation, and a boundary or population revision of CSDs).

The changes affecting CSDs have been grouped into three categories under the remark column. The first category: Changed to indicates that the name, status, and/or code of a CSD have been changed. The second category: Part of relates one CSD on the left side of the table to only part of a CSD on the right. The third category Equivalent to shows (1) a "one to one" relationship where the CSD on the left is equivalent to one full CSD on the right, (2) a "one to many" relationship: a CSD on the left is equivalent to two or more CSDs (full CSDs and/or part of CSDs) on the right. When one 1996 CSD relates to parts of one or more 2001 CSDs, and vice versa, an asterisk is used to indicate that only a part of the CSD relates to the one against which it is shown.

The concordance is presented in the form of tables arranged in the sequence of each classification:

  • The table 2001 SGC – 1996 SGC presents the concordance in the order of the 2001 SGC, with the 2001 SGC code shown on the left side of the table;
  • The table 1996 SGC – 2001 SGC presents the concordance in the order of the 1996 SGC, with the 1996 SGC code shown on the left side of the table.

The illustrative examples below were taken from these two tables, respectively.

Example 1:
the CSDs in both classifications are identical, only the name, status and/or code have changed.

Example 1-a, the Census Subdivisions in both classifications are identical, only the name, status and/or code have changed.
2001 SGCRemark1996 SGC
1004021Port au Port East [Town]Changed to1004021Port au Port East [Community]
1310035St. Mary's 24 [Indian reserve]Changed to1310035Saint Mary's 24 [Indian reserve]
2442078Ulverton [Municipalité]Changed to2449010Ulverton [Municipalité]
4811046Spring Lake [Village]Changed to4811046Edmonton Beach [Summer village]
Example 1-b, the Census Subdivisions in both classifications are identical, only the name, status and/or code have changed.
1996 SGCRemark2001 SGC
1004021Port au Port East [Community]Changed to1004021Port au Port East [Town]
1310035Saint Mary's 24 [Indian reserve]Changed to1310035St. Mary's 24 [Indian reserve]
2449010Ulverton [Municipalité]Changed to2442078Ulverton [Municipalité]
4811046Edmonton Beach [Summer village]Changed to4811046Spring Lake [Village]

Example 2:
A CSD in one classification is equivalent to part of a CSD in the other classification.

When the concordance relates one CSD on the left to only part of a CSD on the right, this partial relationship is denoted by an asterisk against the code on the right. (Note that the asterisk marked CSD will reappear, against all the CSDs, to which it partially relates.)

Example 2-a: A Census Subdivision in one classification is equivalent to part of a Census Subdivision in the other classification.
2001 SGCRemark1996 SGC
4716872Muskeg Lake 102B [Indian reserve]Part of4716038 *Meeting Lake No. 466 [Rural municipality]
Example 2-b: A Census Subdivision in one classification is equivalent to part of a Census Subdivision in the other classification.
1996 SGCRemark2001 SGC
3537004Mersea [Township]Part of3537003 *Leamington [Town]

A CSD in one classification is linked to only one CSD in the other classification.

Example 3-a: A Census Subdivision in one classification is linked to only one CSD in the other classification.
2001 SGCRemark1996 SGC
5909064Fraser Valley H [Regional district electoral area]Equivalent to5909054Fraser Valley, Subd. D [Subdivision of regional district]
Example 3-b: A Census Subdivision in one classification is linked to only one CSD in the other classification.
1996 SGCRemark2001 SGC
3556097Moosonee Development Area Board [Township]Equivalent to3556106Moosonee [Town]

A CSD in one classification is linked to more than one CSD in the other classification.

Example 4-a: A Census Subdivision in one classification is linked to more than one Census Subdivision in the other classification.
2001 SGCRemark1996 SGC
2444071Compton [Municipalité]Equivalent to244067Compton [Municipalité]
22444075Compton Station [Municipalité]
Example 4-b: A Census Subdivision in one classification is linked to more than one Census Subdivision in the other classification.
1996 SGCRemark2001 SGC
5919014Cowichan Valley, Subd. B [Subdivision of regional district]Equivalent to5919013 *Cowichan Valley D [Regional district electoral area]
5919015Cowichan Valley G [Regional district electoral area
5919017Cowichan Valley H [Regional district electoral area

Users are cautioned that data coded to one classification cannot automatically be converted to the other with the help of these concordance tables.

In addition to the contents of these tables, the other changes such as partial annexations, and boundary and population revisions which are not shown here should be considered by users interested in the exact boundaries and population counts of CSDs. This information is available in the "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names" prepared by Geography Division.