The University of British Columbia

Census variables or characteristics are essentially topics (for example Age and Sex) to which numerical data are assigned. Data for these variables are presented according to a standardized, hierarchical system of geographic areas, or census geography. Definitions of variables are available via 2001 Census Dictionary A-Z list. Census years for which variables appear are listed, and related variables are given.

Census variables are grouped into the following categories:

• counts and demographic data
• ethnic origin
• population group
• religion
• place of birth, place of birth of parents, citizenship and immigration
• language
• Aboriginal peoples
• Schooling
• Unpaid work
• Labour market activities
• Income
• Families and households
• Housing
• Institutions and other collectives
• Disability

You will notice that many files are available for downloading into Beyond 20/20. Beyond 20/20 is a very useful data analysis package which permits users to create "customized" multidimensional tables. This software is available on Library workstations, or can be downloaded from the "Beyond 20/20 Software" link on the Data Services Census webpage.

The Census files present data for a wide range of Census geographical areas, from federal level to Census Tract level.

In addition to Canada and the Provinces and Territories, here are some geographic areas Census researchers need to know:

• Census Agglomeration (CA): represents small urban centres with populations between 50,000 and 100,000.
• Census Division (CD): represents counties, regional districts, regional municipalities and other types of provincially legislated areas.
• Census Metropolitan Area (CMA): represents large urban centres with population of 100,000 or more as of the last census. Data are also available for "urban cores", ie City of Vancouver within Vancouver CMA.
• Census Subdivision (CSD): is the general term for incorporated municipalities.
• Dissemination Area (DA): is a small area of one or more neighbouring blocks, with a population of 400 to 700 persons.
• Federal Electoral District (FED): is an area represented by a federal member of Parliament.
• Forward Sortation Area (FSA): represents the first three characters of the postal code (roughly equivalent to 4 to 6 census tracts).
• Census Tract (CT): is a stable area of 2500 to 8000 people in CMAs and CAs. Maps of census tracts for Vancouver are available at Koerner Gov Pubs Census.

If, however, you require data for Dissemination Areas or Forward Sortation Areas, you must use Profile and Topic-Based Tabulation files available on the Data Services Census webpage. http://data.library.ubc.ca/datalib/survey/statscan/census/2001/2001Census.html

• Location: http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/standard/themes/DataProducts.cfm?S=1
• Access restrictions: none
• Ease of use: very good
• Coverage: 100% and 20% sample data various levels of geography.
• Search: by selecting a broad topic area. Both Profile and Topic-Based Tabulation tables are available.
• Output format: tables display in .html format. Scroll to the bottom of the page (in most cases), for downloading options, including .csv (for spreadsheets) and Beyond 20/20.

• Location: http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/standard/themes/DataProducts.cfm?S=2
• Access restrictions: none
• Ease of use: very good
• Coverage: 100% and 20% sample data for various levels of geography.
• Search: by geography (place name). Data are available as Highlight Tables (selected statistics for geography down to Census Subdivision), and by Profiles and Topic-Based Tabulations.
• Output format: Highlight Table data display only as .html tables. Profiles and Topic-Based Tabulations offer tables in .csv format and Beyond 20/20.

• Access restrictions: UBC users only
• Ease of use: moderately complex
• Coverage: Contains 100% and 20% sample data. Detailed census characteristics for Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Divisions (districts or counties), Census Subdivisions (municipalities), Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, Census Tracts, and Federal Electoral Districts.
• Search: for census characteristics (subjects) by place.

  There are two ways to view data:

  Option 1: "View This Product"
  Scroll down to select geography. Place names display from east to west.
  Output format: html tables, .csv for spreadsheets, Beyond 20/20

  Option 2: Download to Beyond 20/20

• Access restrictions: UBC users only
• Ease of use: moderately complex
• Coverage: Includes 100% and 20% data. Provides multi-dimensional, subject-related tables for the following levels of census geography: Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, Census Metropolitan areas, Census Tracts. Replaces the former series The Nation, Dimensions and Basic Summary Tables.

  Population and Dwelling Counts and Age and Sex tabulations are available for every level of geography down to Dissemination areas. For data by Dissemination Areas or Forward Sortation Areas for all other Census characteristics, use the Topic Tabulations files on the Data Services Census webpage.

• Search: for census geography (places) by subject.
  Viewing and downloading options are the same as Profiles above.

This product from the University of Toronto contains current and historical Census data, which is useful for creating comparative tables. Go to Data Services Census webpage.

• Location: http://data.library.ubc.ca/datalib/survey/statscan/census/2001/2001Census.html
• Access restrictions: UBC users.
• Output formats: .html tables, text. Spreadsheet, SAS and SPSS