2. Overview

Introduction
Purpose of the product

Introduction

Census data are disseminated for a variety of geographic areas ranging from the national level down to the highly detailed dissemination block level. Appendix B shows the hierarchy of geographic areas and indicates whether they are administrative or statistical. The administrative hierarchy includes census subdivisions, census divisions, and provinces and territories. Statistics Canada established the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) to organize these three types of geographic areas using a hierarchy of geographic codes. Reference maps depict the boundaries of these geographic areas and help users put census data in a spatial context.

The Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions Reference Maps present census divisions and census subdivisions for all provinces and territories and also display census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations.

The Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions Reference Maps are available separately in portable document format (PDF) or as a 'print-on-demand' paper product.

In the 10 provinces and three territories that make up Canada, there are 288 census divisions and 5,418 census subdivisions defined as well as 33 census metropolitan areas and 111 census agglomerations for the 2006 Census.

As well, the national maps are available in PDF for census divisions, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, Statistical Area Classification and census divisions and economic regions. There are 76 economic regions defined for the 2006 Census. All maps are available through catalogue number 12-572-XWE.

All 28 of these reference maps are packaged for sale as a publication entitled 2006 Census Dictionary publication includes an index map, a census division map, census divisions and economic region map, a census metropolitan area and census agglomeration map, a Statistical Area Classification map and 23 maps covering the provinces and territories. This publication will be available in January 2007.

Purpose of the product

The National, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions Reference Maps are published to provide a high level spatial reference for census data, enabling users to locate boundaries and relate census data to actual physical locations.