Data and Mapping Notes

The maps in this series showing 2001 Census variables are published in collaboration with Statistics Canada. The Atlas of Canada with Statistics Canada, have worked jointly to produce a series of maps about Canada, which utilize the mapping and geographic expertise domain to the Atlas of Canada and the subject matter expertise of Statistics Canada scientists.

Map Visualization

The Atlas of Canada uses a dynamic mapping interface to show geographic information. By using the tools provided, users can zoom in and out, and query the map for more information on specific areas of interest (using Get Info from Map located above the map), and read about the maps in the associated text.

The majority of maps in this series use the following scales to show information, which are associated to the four levels of zooming in onto the map. Two levels of data aggregation are presented, census division data and census subdivision data, which usually require different class intervals, mapped at appropriate zoom levels as shown below in Table 1.

Table 1. Map Scales

The population ecumene is used to show in most of the maps in this series areas within the census divisions and census subdivisions, which have population densities greater than and equal to 0.4 persons per square kilometre (1 person per square mile). The non-ecumene or sparsely populated areas appear as white patches within the census divisions and census subdivisions for which no thematic data are shown.

Geography

Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from the Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at: www.statcan.ca, and its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136.

The geographical areas to which the data have been georeferenced, are based on one or more of the following Statistics Canada’s geostatistical areas. In most cases, the population census division ecumene and the population census subdivision ecumene are used in the same map, for viewing at different map zoom levels.

Census Division (CD)

Census division is the general term for provincially legislated areas (such as county, regional municipality and regional district) or their equivalents. Census divisions are intermediate geographic areas between the province level and the municipality (census subdivision). Census divisions have been established in provincial law to facilitate regional planning, as well as the provision of services that can be more effectively delivered on a scale larger than a municipality. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, provincial/territorial law does not provide for these administrative geographic areas. Therefore, Statistics Canada, in co-operation with these provinces and territories, has created equivalent areas called census divisions for disseminating statistical data.

Census Subdivision (CSD)

A census subdivision is an area that is a municipality or an area that is deemed to be equivalent to a municipality for statistical reporting purposes (for example, as an Indian reserve or an unorganized territory). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada. Census subdivisions are classified into 46 types according to official designations adopted by provincial or federal authorities.

Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) / Census Agglomeration (CA)

A census metropolitan area (or a census agglomeration is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a large urban area (known as the urban core). The census population count of the urban core is at least 10 000 to form a census agglomeration and at least 100 000 to form a census metropolitan area. To be included in the CMA or CA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the central urban area, as measured by commuting flows derived from census place of work data.

Population Ecumene

Ecumene is a term used by geographers to mean inhabited land. The population ecumene is based on blocks with a minimum population density of 0.4 persons per square kilometre. Blocks are the smallest unit of geography to which census data is associated. Two ecumenes are utilized in this project: population census division ecumene and population census subdivision ecumene.

The population census division ecumene is derived from the Statistics Canada Population Ecumene Census Division Boundary File (Catalogue number 92F0159GIE) and from their Census Division Boundary File (Catalogue number 92F0159XIE). Using these two boundary files, The Atlas of Canada census division ecumene is derived using census divisions with a population density of 0.4 persons per square kilometre, matched to the population ecumene census division boundary file (from Statistic Canada) to remove known areas of sparse population within census divisions in southern areas of Canada, or where the topography and climate inhibits settlement.

The population census subdivision ecumene has been produced jointly with Statistics Canada and the Atlas of Canada.

Map Notes

Population Distribution, 2001

This map is based on the population of census subdivisions (and should not be confused with the population of populated places). Zoom 0 (or initial map view) shows a simple distribution of the population, indicating the general distribution of Canada’s population. Symbols in the legend are not drawn to scale and only the centroids of the census subdivision ecumene are mapped at the initial view. All point symbols are located in the centre of the census subdivision. It is interesting to note that in the National Atlas of Canada, Fourth Edition the population distribution maps, define a census subdivision with a population of less than 1000 as rural.

On subsequent zoom levels, a more detailed distribution is provided. The classification is the same used for the population intervals for populated places, usually found on all maps in the Atlas of Canada. Twenty-nine Indian reserves and one Indian settlement were incompletely enumerated, and therefore have no classification.

Population Density, 2001

Both census division and census subdivision data are shown on this map, each requiring different class intervals. Due to the small area of many of the census subdivisions, circles are used to represent (using the same census subdivision class intervals) census subdivisions with an area less than 3.79 kilometres square (approximately the size of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan).

Population Change, 1996 to 2001

The map used both the population census division ecumene and the population census subdivision ecumene to show significant areas of population change.

Marital Status, 2001

Marital status refers to a person's conjugal status. This includes persons who are:

• married – persons currently married whose husband or wife is living, unless the couple is separated or divorced
• separated, but still legally married – persons currently married, but who are no longer living with their spouse (for any reason other than illness or work) and have not obtained a divorce
• divorced – persons who have obtained a legal divorce and who have not remarried
• widowed – persons who have lost their spouse through death and who have not remarried and persons who are widowed but who live with a common-law partner are not included in this category
• never legally married (single) – persons who have never married (including all persons less than 15 years of age) and persons whose marriage has been annulled and who have not remarried

Foreign-born Population

The foreign-born population (also known as the immigrant population) represented in this map are defined in the 2001 Census as persons who are now, or who once were, landed immigrants in Canada. The foreign-born population does not include non-permanent residents, who are persons in Canada on employment or student authorizations, Minister's permits, or are refugee claimants. The foreign-born population also excludes persons born outside Canada who are Canadian citizens by birth. The latter are considered part of the Canadian-born or non-immigrant population.

Please refer to the Reference and Links page for more information on map sources, census terminology and data.

Aboriginal Population, 2001

Aboriginal Identity

There are many ways of defining the Aboriginal population, which can result in different estimates of its size. There is no single or "correct" definition of the Aboriginal population and the choice of a definition depends on the purpose for which it is to be used. Different definitions/counts are used depending on the focus and requirements of the user.

The 2001 Census provides data that are based on the definitions of ethnic origin (ancestry), Aboriginal Identity, Registered Indian, and Band membership. The January 21, 2003 release uses mostly the Aboriginal Identity concept to provide a demographic profile of the Aboriginal population. Subsequent releases will provide additional data on the Aboriginal peoples of Canada and their socio-economic characteristics.

Aboriginal Ancestry/Origin refers to those persons who reported at least one Aboriginal origin (North American Indian, Métis or Inuit) on the ethnic origin question in the Census. The question asks about the ethnic or cultural group(s) to which the respondent's ancestors belong.

Aboriginal Identity refers to those persons who reported identifying with at least one Aboriginal group, i.e. North American Indian, Métis or Inuit. Also included are individuals who did not report an Aboriginal identity, but did report themselves as a Registered or Treaty Indian, and/or Band or First Nation membership.

Undercoverage of the Aboriginal population

The objective of every Census is to provide detailed information at a single point in time on the demographic, social and economic conditions of the population. One of its goals is to enumerate the entire population on Census Day. Inevitably, however, some people are not counted, for example, if their household did not receive a Census questionnaire. Some individuals may be missed because they have no usual residence, or because they did not spend census night in any dwelling. This is termed undercoverage.

Undercoverage in the 2001 Census was considerably higher among Aboriginal people than among other segments of the population due to the fact that enumeration was not permitted, or was interrupted before it could be completed, on 30 Indian reserves and settlements. These geographic areas are called incompletely enumerated Indian reserves and settlements.

Data are not available for incompletely enumerated reserves and settlements, and these reserves and settlements are not included in tabulations. While the impact of the missing data tends to be small for national-level and most provincial-level statistics, it can be significant for some smaller areas.

In 2001, a preliminary estimate of 30 000 to 35 000 people were living on reserves and settlements that were incompletely enumerated. Most of these people were registered Indians. Consequently, the impact of incomplete enumeration will be greatest on data for North American Indians and for persons registered under the Indian Act.

Incomplete enumeration and undercoverage account for most of the difference between the 2001 Census count of persons registered under the Indian Act (about 558 000) and that produced by the Indian Register maintained by the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (about 681 000). Methodological differences, as well as differences in concepts and definitions between the two sources, also account for a smaller part of the difference. The two sources have very different purposes and, given the coverage and other differences, are not directly comparable.

Visible Minorities, 2001

The 2001 Census provides information on the characteristics of people in Canada who are members of a visible minority, as defined by the Employment Equity Act. The Act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour". Under this definition, regulations specify the following groups as visible minorities: Chinese, South Asians, Blacks, Arabs, West Asians, Filipinos, Southeast Asians, Latin Americans, Japanese, Koreans and other visible minority groups, such as Pacific Islanders.