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Canadian Social Trends Number 87

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Going on vacation: Benefits sought from pleasure travel

by Susan Crompton with Leslie-Anne Keown

Release date: May 12, 2009

Several decades of tourism research generally conclude that the benefits people expect to derive from their travel experience are better predictors of their travel behaviour than their income or other socio-demographic characteristics. Using the 2006 Travel and Activity Motivation Survey, this article uses an eight-point index to quantify the value of the three most popular benefits of vacation or pleasure travel: rest and relaxation; nurturing family and friendship ties; and learning and discovery. We compare the value of a given benefit for different kinds of travellers, and compare the value of one benefit relative to another.

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First Nations people: Selected findings of the 2006 Census

by Linda Gionet

Release date: May 12, 2009

The article provides selected findings of the 2006 Census on the First Nations population. Overall, it highlights where First Nations people live, their demographic characteristics, their ability to speak an Aboriginal language, their postsecondary education, their employment situation, their income, and their housing conditions.

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Life in metropolitan areas
Are suburban residents really less physically active?

by Martin Turcotte

Release date: April 2, 2009

In this article, we quantify and discuss the difference between the levels of physical activity of residents of urban neighbourhoods compared to suburban neighbourhoods.

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Who participates in active leisure?

by Matt Hurst

Release date: February 17, 2009

This article is about Canadians' participation in active leisure. Active leisure helps keep us fit and healthy. It may also save health care costs. Using data from the 1992 and 2005 General Social Surveys on time use, this article looks at factors influencing active leisure participation of Canadians aged 20 and over. It will also examine which groups are more likely to participate in active leisure in 2005.

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Immigrants in Canada who work in a language other than English or French

by Derrick Thomas

Release date: January 20, 2009

This article uses data from the 2001 and 2006 Census to look at the use of non-official languages at work among immigrants. Owing to the growing contribution that immigrants are making to Canada’s labour force, languages other than English and French are being used more often in Canadian work places. The article examines which languages are used most often. It also looks at the impact of age, gender, year of immigration, education, official language ability and the presence of others who speak the mother tongue in the community where they work, on the likelihood that immigrants will use a non-official language on the job.

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The impact of working in a non-official language on the occupations and earnings of immigrants in Canada

by Derrick Thomas

Release date: January 20, 2009

This article explores the implications of working in a language other than English or French for immigrants in Canada. It looks at the occupations and industries in which immigrants who use non-official languages on the job are found. Holding other factors constant, it also looks at the impact on employment earnings and the financial returns to education for immigrants who work in languages other than English or French.

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Métis in Canada: Selected findings of the 2006 Census

by Linda Gionet

Release date: January 20, 2009

This article offers a brief demographic and socio-economic profile of the people who reported Métis as their Aboriginal identity in the 2006 Census of Population. It discusses the growth of the Métis population over the decade 1996-2006 as well as reports on their housing conditions, languages, education, labour force and earnings.

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