This reference guide is intended for users of the 2021 Reference Maps and Thematic Maps. This guide describes the content, general methodology used to create them and data quality.
This reference guide provides an overview of the maps, describes specific map content, explains the general methodology used to create the maps, details information about data quality and, contains information related to the 2021 Census standard geographic areas. It was prepared to accompany the 2021 Reference Maps and Thematic Maps.
This data product is provided 'as-is,' and Statistics Canada makes no warranty, either express or implied, including but not limited to, warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Statistics Canada be liable for any direct, special, indirect, consequential or other damages, however caused.
The maps are designed to provide spatial reference for census statistical data, enabling users to locate boundaries and relate data to physical locations.
Reference maps illustrate the location of the census standard geographic areas for which census statistical data are tabulated and disseminated. (See Figure 1.1, “Hierarchy of standard geographic areas for dissemination, 2021 Census” from the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021.)
The maps display the boundaries, names and unique identifiers (UIDs) of census standard geographic areas, as well as selected roads, railroads, rivers and lakes. Reference maps include the following series:
Thematic maps show the spatial distribution of one or more specific data themes for standard geographic areas. The maps may be qualitative in nature ( e.g. , predominant mother tongue) or quantitative ( e.g. , percentage population change).
The purpose of reference maps is to provide spatial reference for census statistical data, enabling users to locate boundaries and relate data in a spatial context.
A thematic map focuses on the spatial variability of a specific distribution or theme (such as population density or average annual income. Thematic maps normally include some location or reference information to help users familiarize themselves with the geographic area covered on the map.
Geographic terms and concepts are briefly defined in the Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021.
Census Divisions
This national map shows census division (CD) boundaries and UIDs within each province and territory, on a background of selected lakes and rivers. The map also lists CD names alphabetically and in order of CD code, by province and territory in the legend.
Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations
This national map shows the general location of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) within each province and territory, with larger dots designating CMAs and smaller dots designating CAs . The map also lists CMA / CA names alphabetically and in order of UIDs , by province and territory in the legend.
Census metropolitan influenced zones (MIZs), census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) Statistical Area Classification
This national map shows census subdivisions (CSDs) classified by colour according to the category of the Statistical Area Classification (SAC) to which they are assigned. The categories include: component of a CMA / CA , component of a MIZ (strongly influenced, moderately influenced, weakly influenced or not influenced), or component of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut).
Economic Regions and Census Divisions
This national map shows economic region (ER) and CD boundaries and UIDs within each province and territory. The map also lists ER names and component CDs by order of economic region unique identifier (ERUID), by province and territory in the legend.
Index of Census Division and Census Subdivision Reference Maps
An index to the series of 23 CD and CSD maps shows the areas covered by each map. The index may be used as a reference to identify individual maps of interest within the series of 23 maps described below.
Census Division and Census Subdivision Reference Maps
The series of 23 CD and CSD reference maps covers all of Canada, by province and territory. The maps show the boundaries, names and UIDs of CDs and CSDs. The maps also show the boundaries of CMA / CAs and list the CD , CMA / CA names and UIDs by province and territory in the legend.
This map series covers all CMA / CAs in the census tract (CT) program. The maps show the boundaries and names of CTs , and CSDs . As well population centres (POPCTRs) and rural areas (RAs) within the CMA or CA are shown. Inset maps show detail for congested areas. The maps also display street network and other features such as railroads, rivers and lakes.
There are 140 maps in this series. The maps vary in scale and size. The maximum map dimensions are approximately 86 cm by 61 cm.
The Federal Electoral District Reference Maps cover all of Canada. The maps show the boundaries, names and codes of federal electoral districts (FEDs) on a background of major lakes and rivers. Insets show more detail for congested areas on the map. The Federal Electoral District Reference Maps were produced by Elections Canada.
The 2021 Thematic Maps are available to provide a visual overview of census statistical data. They are available to accompany the following 2021 Census releases:
| 2021 Census theme | Release date |
|---|---|
| Population and dwelling counts | February 9, 2022 |
| Age | April 27, 2022 |
| Income | July 13, 2022 |
| Language at work | November 30, 2022 |
| Instruction in the official minority language | November 30, 2022 |
The National Geographic Database (NGD) is a joint Statistics Canada-Elections Canada initiative to develop and maintain a spatial database which serves the needs of both organizations. The focus of the NGD is the continual improvement of quality and currency of spatial coverage using updates from provinces, territories and local sources. The source files used for the creation of maps resides on Statistics Canada's Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) and are derived directly from data stored in the NGD .
The maps were created by retrieving geographic boundaries, selected roads and railways from Statistics Canada's SDI . River and lake features were taken from the CanVec Series (Topographic Data of Canada – Natural Resources Canada). Names of geographic entities having 'pan-Canadian' significance, established by the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC) ( i.e. , names of provinces, territories, major islands and major bodies of water) are shown in both official languages.
The 2021 SGC National, CD and CSD Reference Maps were generated from digital geographic files using ArcGIS® Version 10.6.1.
The 2021 CT Reference Maps, by CMA / CA series was generated from digital geographic files using a generalized mapping system. This generalized mapping system utilized ArcGIS® Version 10.5.
For the 2021 SGC National, CD and CSD Reference Maps as well as the 2021 CT Reference Maps, by CMA / CA , initial text placement of labels was automated. Interactive editing was then performed to improve label placement.
The 2021 Thematic Maps were generated from digital geographic files using ArcGIS® Pro Version 2.8.1.
Maps permit users to identify the location and boundaries of census standard geographic areas. They should not be used for digitizing purposes or to determine the precise location of boundaries. They are not intended to serve as a detailed legal or cadastral representation of census standard geographic areas.
The positional accuracy of information displayed on the map does not support cadastral, surveying, digitizing or engineering applications.
To be compliant with Common Look and Feel guidelines 2.0, accessible data is available as an alternative to viewing PDF maps.
The reference maps contain geographic boundaries, UIDs and names applicable to the census and are consistent with those used in other standard geographic products.
Information displayed on census reference maps such as boundaries, names and UIDs of standard geographic areas, roads, rivers and lakes are similar to those found in other census geography products.
The population count data used to create some of the 2021 Thematic Maps refer to the 2021 Census of Population which was conducted on May 11, 2021.
The geographic reference date is a date determined by Statistics Canada to finalize the geographic framework for which statistical data are collected, tabulated and reported. The reference date for 2021 Census standard geographic areas is January 1, 2021.
The maps are available as portable document format (PDF) files.
The map projection is Lambert Conformal Conic utilizing specific provincial parameters. CMA / CAs cross provincial boundaries use the projection parameters associated with the provincial part which is larger in terms of land area.
The reference maps follow a standard naming convention.
The file names for the 2021 SGC National Reference Maps include: geographic reference date, catalogue number, map type, and geography level, separated by a hyphen. All maps have the extension .pdf.
First four numbers: geographic reference date
Next five numbers: catalogue number
Next two numbers: map type
Final character: geography level
For example the national reference map of CDs for the 2021 Census is: 2021-12572-01-A.pdf.
The file names for the 2021 SGC CD and CSD Reference Maps include: geographic reference date, catalogue number, map type and map number, separated by a hyphen. All maps have the extension .pdf.
First four numbers: geographic reference date
Next five numbers: catalogue number
Next two numbers: map type
Final two numbers: map numbers range from 01 to 23
For example, the Newfoundland and Labrador CD and CSD reference map for the 2021 Census is: 2021-12572-02-01.pdf.
The file names for the 2021 CT Reference Maps, by CMA / CA include: geographic reference date, catalogue number, CMA / CA UID and map number, separated by a hyphen. All maps have the extension .pdf.
First four numbers: geographic reference date
Next five numbers: catalogue number
Next three numbers: CMA / CA UIDs
Final two numbers: map number
For example the CT reference map, by CMA / CA showing Abbotsford – Mission for the 2021 Census is: 2021-92146-932-00.pdf.
The file names for the 2021 Thematic Maps include: census year, catalogue number, issue, geographic coverage, geographic level, sequence number, map number and language, separated by a hyphen. Map numbers are only used for inset maps. All maps have the extension .pdf.
First four numbers: geographic reference date
Next five numbers: catalogue number
Next three numbers: issue number
Next three numbers: geographic coverage or CMAUID (used for thematic maps by CT for a CMA )
Next three numbers: geographic level
Next two numbers: sequence numbers range from 01 to 07
Next two numbers: map number
Final three characters: language
For example the English national thematic map showing population change at the census division level for the 2021 Census is: 2021-92173-001-001-003-01-eng.pdf.
Data quality elements provide information on the fitness-for-use of data by describing why, when and how the data are created, and how accurate the data are. The quality elements include information on lineage, positional accuracy, attribute accuracy, logical consistency, consistency with other products and completeness. This information is provided to users for all data products disseminated for the census.
Lineage describes the history of the data, including descriptions of the source material from which the data were derived. It also contains the dates of the source material, and all transformations involved in producing the final map products.
All spatial data in the 2021 Reference Maps and Thematic Maps were originally extracted from Statistics Canada's SDI .
The sources of the official names of the PRs are the statutes of the respective provinces and territories.
The source of the geographic names of FEDs is the 2013 Representation Order, Elections Canada.
For the CDs and CSDs , the sources of the names and types are the provincial and territorial governments.
Positional accuracy refers to the absolute and relative accuracy of the positions of geographic features. Absolute accuracy is the closeness of the coordinate values in a dataset to values accepted as being true. Relative accuracy is the closeness of the relative positions of features to their respective relative positions accepted as being true. Descriptions of positional accuracy include the quality of the final file or product after all transformations.
The NGD is not fully Global Positioning Systems (GPS)-compliant. However, every possible attempt is made to ensure that the standard geographic area boundaries maintained in the NGD respect the limits of the administrative entities that they represent (e.g. , CD and CSD ) or on which they are based ( e.g. , CMA or CA ). The positional accuracy of these limits is dependent upon source materials used by Statistics Canada to identify the location of limits. In addition, due to the importance placed on relative positional accuracy, the positional accuracy of other geographic data ( e.g. , road network data) that are stored within the NGD is considered when positioning the limits of the standard geographic areas.
The national map showing the location of the CMA / CAs was produced using point symbols that were positioned to portray the areas' proximity to major hydrographic features and the Trans-Canada Highway.
Attribute accuracy refers to the accuracy of the quantitative and qualitative information attached to each feature ( e.g. , CSD name, UID ).
As noted under the Lineage section, the attributes (names, types and UIDs ) for all census standard geographic areas are sourced from Statistics Canada's SDI . The names and types of standard geographic areas have been updated using source materials from provincial, territorial and federal authorities.
Logical consistency describes the fidelity of relationships encoded in the data structure of the digital spatial data.
On each map, all census standard geographic areas have been verified to have a UID that is valid for the 2021 Census.
The information displayed on maps such as boundaries, names and UIDs of census standard geographic areas, roads, rivers and lakes are consistent with those disseminated within other census products.
Completeness refers to the degree to which geographic features, their attributes and their relationships are included or omitted in a dataset. It also includes information on selection criteria, definitions used, and other relevant mapping rules.
The 2021 SGC National, CD and CSD Reference Maps cover all of Canada.
The base map features selected for display on the national maps include only selected rivers and lakes and the Trans-Canada Highway.
The 2021 CT Reference Maps, by CMA / CA contain all 41 CMAs and 9 CAs that are part of the CT program. For each CMA / CA , all CTs are named.
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© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2022
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