About the Census

The Census of Population and Housing collects data on every person in Canada based on where he/she lives on a set date or specific point in time. The 1996 Census was conducted on May 14, 1996. The basic unit of measurement is the dwelling. In other words, the census begins by locating all places of residence in Canada. For each "private occupied dwelling", there is one household which consists of the sum of one or more persons residing in a dwelling.

The 1996 Census population counts for a particular area represent the number of Canadians whose usual place of residence is in that area, regardless of where they happened to be on Census Day. Also included are any Canadians staying in a dwelling in that area on Census Day and having no usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada, as well as those considered "non-permanent residents".

In the 1996 Census, 80% of the population received a short questionnaire containing seven questions and 20% of the population were given the 55-question long form. The information collected from individuals and their households are the characteristics that describe any given population group. The short form collects primarily demographic characteristics such as age, sex and marital status. The long form collects detailed information reflecting 20% or a sample of the Canadian population. The characteristics collected for this sample include education, income, work activity, household, family and dwelling characteristics.

The dwelling counts refer to all private dwellings in Canada occupied by their usual residents, as well as temporary or foreign residents. The dwelling counts do not include collective dwellings, which are dwellings of a commercial, institutional or communal nature. The population in collective dwellings is, however, included in the total population counts.