Census of Canada, 1986

Census of Canada, 1986

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Note: Data files accessible through these WWW pages are restricted to access by University of Toronto, Ryerson University, and York University IP addresses. Other users should contact Statistics Canada or their DLI contact as appropriate. Documentation files listed on these WWW pages are unrestricted.

Documentation
General documentation	Products and services. Final edition (99-103E) [selected pages] Census dictionary (99-101E/F) [print only] Comparative table of Canadian census questions since Confederation
Census geography	Outline of census geography for 1986 Commonly used geographic codes Glossary of census geographic terms, English-French
Aggregate statistics
Search aggregate data tables
Population and dwelling counts	The count of persons and dwellings, at large and small levels of geography, including i.e. Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census enumeration areas, federal electoral districts, and full postal codes. Note: These products are available in print format only for 1986.
Nation series	Tables containing one or more characteristics (e.g. age by sex), at very large levels of geography, i.e. Canada, provinces and territories (I.E. aggregate, multi-variate distributions.) Note: These products are available in print format only for 1986.
Dimensions series	This series provides information on selected topics for which there has been considerable interest expressed. Publications focus on geographic areas (e.g., census metropolitan areas CMAs), subpopulations (e.g., immigrants) or a subject (e.g., occupational trends). Data presentation varies from basic summary data to detailed breakdowns and cross-tabulations. Geographic levels also vary, e.g., Canada only, Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas. Note: These products are available in print format only for 1986.
Profile series	Contain aggregate statistics in the form of the number of responses (i.e., univariate frequencies) for all variables collected on the two census questionnaires (short form or 2A, and long form or 2B), for small geographic areas (census tracts and enumeration areas.
Basic summary tabulations	Approximately 60 cross-tabulations of two or more variables (i.e., multivariate distributions), for small levels of geography, enumeration area (EA) and census tract (CT).
Focus series	Aggregate statistics (multi-variate cross-tabulations) at census subdivison, census tract, and enumeration area levels. These 7 tables do not correspond to the print Focus series print publications. At present, EA-level tables are available on CD-ROM only.
Microdata
Public use microdata files	Microdata files contain anonymized samples of long-form (2B) responses. Geographic identification of very high levels of geography (provinces and selected CMAs) only.
Geospatial Files
Spatial Data Files	Vector files, that allow mapping of census geographic areas.
Geographic Reference Files	Files that provide the standard geographic coding and other references to allow appropriate use of aggregate files.
Reference maps	Maps that allow identification of geographic areas identified by standard census geographic codes.
Other
Census of agriculture

General documentation [English language]

The 1986 Census was the first mid-decade census to undertake detailed enumeration. Data on demographic, social and economic characteristics, as well as on dwellings, were collected from Canadians. The information is recorded on two data bases, the 100% data base and the 20% sample data base.

The 100% data bases includes general demographic, dwelling and household data (for example: age, sex, marital status, mother tongue and structural type of dwelling) collected from the entire population.

The 20% sample data base includes the general demographic data, detailed socio-economic data (for example: ethnic origin, labour force activity, schooling, income and dwellings information) collected from one-fifth of the population.

The range of the 1986 Census products and services differs somewhat from the 1981 Census. The major changes are:
-a 40% reduction in the number of publications;
-the replacement of the 1981 Census Summary Tapes program by the Basic Summary Cross-Tabulations;
-improvements in the Custom Tabulations Service;
-the implementation of a new Semi-Custom product line.

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Population and Dwelling Counts

The following print products should be available in any Depository Library collection in Canada.

STC cat. no.	Title
	Population Series
92-101	Census Divisions and Subdivisions
92-102	Federal Electoral Districts
92-103	Federal Electoral Districts and Census Enumeration Areas
92-104	Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations
92-105	Unincorporated Places
	Provinces and Territories
92-109	Newfoundland
92-110	Prince Edward Island
92-111	Nova Scotia
92-112	New Brunswick
92-113	Quebec
92-114	Ontario
92-115	Manitoba
92-116	Saskatchewan
92-117	Alberta
92-118	British Columbia
92-119	Yukon
92-120	Northwest Territories

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Nation Series

The series provides national converage. Most tables include provincial and territorial data, but no subprovincial data. Some tables include comparisons to the 1981 Census data, and a few show data from earlier censuses.

Some computer-readable tables in the 1996 Nation and Dimensions series also contain 1986 data for comparison purposes. Search the census aggregate statistics for tables containing 1986 data.

The following print products should be available in any Depository Library collection in Canada.

STC cat no.	Title
93-101	Age, Sex and Marital Status (100% Data)
93-102	Language: Part 1 (100% Data)
93-103	Language: Part 2 (20% Sample Data)
93-104	Dwellings and Households: Part 1 (100% Data)
93-105	Dwellings and Households: Part 2 (20% Sample Data)
93-106	Families: Part 1 (100% Data)
93-107	Families: Part 2 (20% Sample Data)
93-108	Mobility Status and Interprovincial Migration
93-109	Ethnicity, Immigration and Citizenship
93-110	Schooling and Major Field of Study
93-111	Labour Force Activity
93-112	Occuption
93-113	Industry
93-114	Total Income: Individuals
93-115	Employment Income: Individuals
93-116	Employment Income by Occupation
93-117	Family Income: Census Families
93-118	Family Income: Economic Families
93-119	Household Income: Private Households

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Dimension Series

This series provides information on selected topics for which there has been considerable interest expressed. Publications focus on geographic areas (e.g., census metropolitan areas CMAs), subpopulations (e.g., immigrants) or a subject (e.g., occupational trends). Data presentation varies from basic summary data to detailed breakdowns and cross-tabulations. Geographic levels also vary, e.g., Canada only, Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas.

The computer-readable tables in the 1996 Nation and Dimensions series also contain 1986 data for comparison purposes. Search the 1996 aggregate statistics for tables containing 1986 data.

The following print products should be available in any Depository Library collection in Canada.

STC cat. no.	Table
93-151	Occupational Trends, 1961-1986
93-152	Industry Trends, 1951-1986
93-153	Language Retention and Transfer
93-154	Profile of Ethnic Groups
93-155	Profile of the Immigrant Population
93-156	Census Metropolitan Areas
93-157	Canadians and Their Occupations: A Profile

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Profile series

Content:

The profile files provide univariate frequencies for all census variables, in two files, one containing the questions asked of 100% of the population in the 2A or short form questionnaire, and the other containing the questions asked of 20% of the population, in the 2B or long form census questionnaire and weighted up to 100% population estimates. The variables are as follows:

Availability:

Profile data are available from a variety of sources, including print. The availability of data at specific geographic levels in computer-readable form is as follows:

Quickstat (17 census profile items; 568 municipal areas (SMAs))
Print: 94-101 to 94-124

Geographic level:	Source product
	Census 1986 profile cd-rom Available in Data Library	Remote access	Flat character files (Contact UT/DLS for access to data.)
Province		Short form (2A), Long form (2B) Estat: 1986 census profile	Can be generated
Census metropolitan area (CMA)/census agglomeration (CA)	X	SABAL (340 census profile items; 152 CMAs/CAs) Print: 94-127, 94-128	Can be generated
Census division (CD)/census subdivision (CSD)	X	Estat: 1986 census profile	X
Census consolidated subdivision (CCS)			Can be generated
Urban/rural areas			Can be generated
Federal electoral district (FED)			Can be generated
Census tract (CT)	X	CHASS census analyzer	X
Enumeration area (EA)	X	CHASS census analyzer	X
Postal Urban Forward Sortation Area (FSA)	prof86fsa.csv

Documentation:

The following documentation files are specific to the flat character version of the profile files disseminated by the CARL/ABRC 1986 Census Consortium and Statistics Canada's Data Liberation Initiative.

Information and Data Format	Census Tract Level	Enumeration Area Level	Census Subdivision
Codebook introduction
Appendices
Record Layout	Short Form (TRP86A10) Long Form (TRP86B10)	Short Form Long Form	Short Form (SDP86A10) Long Form (SDP86B10)
SPSS Control Commands	Short Form Long Form	Short Form Long Form	Short Form Long Form
SAS Control Commands	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Frequencies/Descriptives	Short Form Long Form	Short Form Long Form	Short Form Long Form

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By C. Kaukinen, Rev. by Laine G.M. Ruus, Data Library Service, University of Toronto.
Last updated: 2010-04-29