Census 2016 Map Instructions

This map is designed to give you a complete overview of data from the 2016 Census.

You can navigate on the map itself by using the +/- zoom buttons in the upper right corner, or by clicking and dragging/scrolling with a mouse, or on mobile by swiping with your finger and pinch-zooming.

In the top right corner of the map, you will see a geolocation symbol (small compass-like circle with a dot in the centre). Clicking on this will automatically zoom the map to your current location. You may see a message indicating your browser wants to use location services, and you will need to accept when prompted to use this feature.

Use the “Pick a city” drop down to select an area to view. You can type the name of a location in the command window at the top of the drop-down list, or select by scrolling through the drop-down list.

The upper left buttons allow you to select how data is displayed in the map. You can choose “Population,” “Population Growth” and Percentile.”

• Population – displays raw numbers on a logarithmic scale (0, 10, 10-100, 100-1000, etc.)
• Population Growth – displays the straight percentage of population growth
• Percentile – displays the data in percentile groupings of 0-25, 25-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-75, 75-80, 80-85, 85-90, 90-95, 95-100. Each percentile will be displayed in a difference colour to show the differences between large and small zones.

All numbers will be displayed in the blue “legend” box on the right side of the map.

On the middle-right, you will see a blue “legend” box. This box contains an option to change the base map. Clicking on “Change base map” takes you to a page with descriptions of the various choices. You can select by clicking on the name of your chosen base map. Clicking on “Instructions” takes you to this instruction page. On mobile, this blue “legend” box will not be immediately visible – instead, you will see a blue question mark (?) in a circle in the top menu bar next to the main Population buttons. Clicking on the (?) will load the blue “legend” box and toggles it on or off.

Pick which base map you would like the data to appear over:

Census metropolitan area/census agglomeration

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.

There are four census metropolitan areas/census agglomerations that cross provincial boundaries. In each of these cases, the census metropolitan area/census agglomeration is divided by the provincial limit and is represented as two polygon records in the boundary file.

The four census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations that cross provincial limits are:

• Census Agglomeration of Campbellton, CMAUID 330, crosses the New Brunswick/Quebec provincial boundary

• Census Agglomeration of Hawkesbury, CMAUID 502, crosses the Quebec/Ontario provincial boundary

• Census Metropolitan Area of Ottawa - Gatineau, CMAUID 505, crosses the Quebec/Ontario provincial boundary

• Census Agglomeration of Lloydminster, CMAUID 840, crosses the Saskatchewan/Alberta provincial boundary

Province and Territory

The Province and Territory Boundary Files portray the boundaries of the 10 provinces and three 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.

Aggregate Dissemination Area

The Aggregate Dissemination Area Boundary Files portray the aggregate dissemination area boundaries for which census data are disseminated. An aggregate dissemination area is a grouping of census tracts or census subdivisions or dissemination areas.

Census division

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.

Census subdivision

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.

Census tract

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 less than 10,000 as per the previous census. 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.

Economic region

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 unit for analysis of regional economic activity. The files contain the boundaries of all economic regions which combined cover all of Canada.