Browse the pages in this section for details of reports, websites, projects and publications created by other organizations and data programs across Canada and internationally. These external resources are organized geographically, with each resource “tagged” with keywords related to a theme or topic.

The data initiatives and publications profiled here include formal reports, web-based mapping tools, training programs, presentations, and innovative platforms related to community data.

Canadian Data Platforms, Tools & Publications

Urban Logiq: How to Write an Effective Data Acquisition Strategy: An In-Depth Guide

UrbanLogiq was founded in 2016, united by a mission to break down data silos in government. UrbanLogiq seeks to provide a unified view of a region’s urban environment, universally accessible regardless of agency or level of government, and made even more powerful and actionable with analytical tools designed specifically for government workflows.

Publication:

How to Write an Effective Data Acquisition Strategy: An In-Depth Guide

Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI)

Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) is a non-profit focused on catalyzing collective action to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Canada. As of fall 2019, WGSI is working on a pilot project to spur investment in a localized data ecosystem, support capacity within each community to use the data effectively, and create Canada’s first Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) to report on local progress toward achieving the SDGs.

Publication:

Generation SDG Blueprint (EN/FR) http://www.wgsi.org/generation-sdg-g-n-ration-odd#blueprint

British Columbia Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC)

BCCIC engages its members and others to share knowledge, build relationships, and develop their capacity towards achieving sustainable global development. (Tags: sustainability; sustainable development; quality of life; international)

Publications

Where Canada Stands: A Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report (pdf)

British Columbia First Nations’ Data Governance Initiative (Archived)

Under the British Columbia First Nations' Data Governance Initiative, First Nations will collect, manage, report on, and own their community’s data. (Please note, the website contains archived content and is not currently being updated)

C anadian Deprivation Index (Alberta Open Government)

The Canadian Deprivation Index is an individual measure of material deprivation based 3 factors: home ownership, education, and food security.

(Tags: open data; health; housing; education; food security)

Canadian Index of Wellbeing (University of Waterloo)

The CIW regularly reports on the quality of life of Canadians – nationally, provincially, and locally – and advocates for social change that reflects our values and places wellbeing at the heart of policy. (Tags: social sector; wellbeing; quality of life; health; poverty; Canada; Ontario)

Publications

Resources

The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium

Our data are provided by CANUE members or developed by our specialists in collaboration with the data teams. Data are freely available to academic researchers who agree to the conditions and distribution restrictions imposed by the Data Liberation Initiative and the data developers. If you are not an academic researcher, you can partner with one or more of our members based at Canadian universities. To work with CANUE data in conjunction with individual health data, you must apply directly to the cohort or health database of interest. Some of these may charge fees to access the health data. We are also happy to provide any data processing tools we have developed, in case you wish to duplicate or build on our metrics yourself.

Publications

CANUE Health Data Holders Survey

Centre for Community Mapping (University of Waterloo)

The Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP – comap.ca) is a not-for- profit with a mission to: research, develop, supply and sustain information technology and communications services (ITC) to strengthen civil society and; to spin-off for-profit enterprises that have beneficial socio-economic impact. (Tags: big data; social sector; cartography; maps; Indigenous; Canada; Ontario)

Tools

Publications

Community Vital Signs

First started by Toronto Foundation in 2001, Vital Signs is now a global program that has engaged more than 85 communities in Canada and around the world to mobilize the power of community knowledge for greater local impact. (Tags: demographics; economy; poverty; wellbeing; community)

Tools

Vital Conversation toolkit

Publications

Vital Signs reports. Browse by year and community.

Emsi: Labor Market Analytics

With a presence in Canada, the US, UK and Australia, Emsi uses labour market data to connect and inform people, education and business. Emsi offers consulting services for higher education and economic development. (Tags: big data; higher education; employment; Canada; international)

Tools

Emsi labs: Interactive prototypes that showcase unique labor market insights.

Publications

First Nations Information Governance Centre

FNIGC envisions that every First Nation will achieve data sovereignty in alignment with their distinct worldview. (Tags: Indigenous; First Nations)

Resources

Measuring Rural Community Vitality (Rural Ontario Institute)

The Measuring Rural Community Vitality initiative wrapped up in 2017. Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) engaged a number of organizations and municipalities and produced a variety of resources that are now available in the Knowledge Centre section of their website. The initiative was conducted with support of a Ministry of Municipal Affairs Research and Analysis Grant.

The Mowat Centre

The Mowat Centre is an independent public policy think tank located at the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto and Ontario’s non-partisan, evidence-based voice on public policy. Their policy areas of expertise are intergovernmental economic and social policy, state transformation, energy policy and not-for-profit policy. (Tags: policy; economic; social; energy; nonprofit)

Publications

Collaborating for Greater Impact: Building an Integrated Data Ecosystem

Municipal Benchmarking Network Canada

MBNCanada’s Board consists of the CAO or City Manager from each partner municipality. Municipal Leads, Expert Panel members and Financial Advisory Panel members are staff from partner municipalities who provide leadership, determine measures, and offer expertise on service areas. The program office oversees the program infrastructure and coordinates all program activities.

Neighbourhood Financial Health Index

An mapping tool by CCSD in partnership with Prosper Canada comprised of a series of indicators on income, debt, savings and assets rolled-up into a single metric that can be presented in visually compelling and readily accessible ways. (Tags: economic; social; map)

Tools

Neighbourhood Financial Health Index

Open Data (Government of Canada)

Search open data that is relevant to Canadians, learn how to work with datasets, and see what people have done with open data across the country. (Tags: open data)

OpenNorth (Montreal)

OpenNorth is a Canadian not-for-profit organization specialized in open data, open government, community engagement, open smart cities and civic technology. (Tags: open data; smart cities; open government)

Tools

Do-it-Yourself Open Data Toolkit

Publications

Resources

Pathways to Education

The Community Mapping Tool is a new resource that is helping Pathways to Education Canada better understand children and youth and the places where they live. It allows users to compare communities across Canada, pinpointing where young people live and the tremendous diversity of Canadian communities. (Tags: education; youth; community)

Tools

Community Mapping Tool

Powered by Data (Montreal)

Powered by Data works with non-profits, funders and governments to help them better use, share and learn from data. (Keywords: administrative data; big data; social sector)

Publications

Unlocking Administrative Data: Maximizing The Impact for the Social Sector

Saskatchewan Index of Wellbeing

The SIW measures eight inter-connected domains that allow us to monitor changes in quality of life and wellbeing for our citizens, and provides community based organizations, all levels of government, businesses and citizens with the evidence required to inform policies, decisions and actions at the provincial, regional, and/or local level. (Tags: health; quality of life; wellbeing; healthcare; environment; policy)

The first SIW report will be released in fall 2018.

Statistics Canada Health Fact Sheets

Health fact sheets will include short, focused, single-theme analysis documents. Over the course of the series, analysis will include topics on: Health conditions, lifestyle, well-being, disability, prevention and detection of disease, deaths, pregnancy and birth, health care services and environmental factors. (Tags: health; quality of life; wellbeing; healthcare; environment)

Resources

Vibrant Communities (Tamarack Institute)

Vibrantcanada.ca is a learning community of members, from diverse sectors, multi-sector roundtables, who share a common interest in reducing poverty, community engagement and collaboration. It is made up of individuals who are united in our desire to see one million people move beyond poverty all across Canada. (Tags: poverty; community; innovation)

Publications

Shared measurement: the why is clear, the how continues to develop (pdf)

Resources

Cities Reducing Poverty: An Introduction to our Common Evaluation Method

Wellbeing Toronto Neighbourhood Mapping Tool

The Wellbeing Toronto Composite Index shows the highest, middling and lowest neighbourhoods for whatever combination of indicators you have selected. (Tags: tool; indicators; demographics; housing; health; environment)

Statistics Canada Data Literacy Training Initiative

The Data Literacy Training Initiative provides learners with information on the basic concepts and skills with regard to a range of data literacy topics. The training is aimed at those who are new to data or those who have some experience with data but may need a refresher or want to expand their knowledge.

Resources

Learning catalogue (videos available under "All" tab)

International Data Initiatives

	Data Evolution (UK) The Data Evolution project was conducted between March 2016 and January 2017 with the objective of creating a framework and tool for measuring data maturity in the social sector. (Tags: nonprofit; social sector) Tools The Data Maturity Framework
	Data-Pop Alliance A global coalition on big data and development from core members Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, MIT Media Lab, Overseas Development Institute and Flowminder Foundation. (Tags: big data; development; international; climate; sustainability) Publications How to use Big Data? Leading experts’ roadmap to data-driven innovation projects (pdf) Big Data – Predicting and preventing climate-related shocks (pdf) Beyond Data Literacy: Reinventing Community Engagement and Empowerment in the Age of Data (pdf) All publications Resources Webinar series: Big data for Sustainable Development Key terms glossary Multimedia
	Digital Impact Tool The Digital Impact Tool is designed to help nonprofit organizations and foundations use digital data ethically, safely, and effectively. (Tags: nonprofit; big data) Resources Four Principles to Guide Civil Society’s Use of Digital Data
	Esri Nonprofit Organization Program From the makers of ArcGIS, Esri NPO provides qualified non-profit organizations with affordable access to Esri software. (Tags: non-profits; ArcGIS; tech)
	Nesta (UK) Nesta is a global innovation foundation. (Tags: innovation; open data; big data; health; education; creative economy; arts; culture; policy) Tools DIY Toolkit Publications Data for Good: How Big and Open Data can be used for the Common Good (pdf)
	New Philanthropy Capital (UK) NPC is a charity think tank and consultancy. In this short practical guide, they outline how charities can turn their raw data into wisdom and informed action. Publications Data with Destiny Shared measurement: Greater than the sum of its parts
	OECD Better Life Index The Better Life Index is designed to let you visualise and compare some of the key factors – like education, housing, environment, and so on – that contribute to well-being in OECD countries. It’s an interactive tool that allows you to see how countries perform according to the importance you give to each of 11 topics that make for a better life. (Tags: quality of life; wellbeing; international)
	O pen Data Institute (UK) The Open Data Institute works with companies and governments to build an open, trustworthy data ecosystem, where people can make better decisions using data and manage its harmful impacts. (Tags: open data; big data; policy) Resources Open Data Skills Framework
	Open Knowledge International Open Knowledge International is a global non-profit organisation focused on realising open data’s value to society by helping civil society groups access and use data to take action on social problems. (Tags: open data; international; nonprofit) Resources International Network
	SDG Index & Dashboards The SDG Index and Dashboards Report provides a report card for country performance on the historic Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Tags: quality of life; sustainable development) Publications SDG Index and Dashboards Report Resources Country Profiles Data
	Social Progress Index The SPI is an aggregate index of social and environmental indicators that capture three dimensions of social progress: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. The 2017 Social Progress Index includes data from 128 countries on 50 indicators. (Tags: wellbeing; international; social; environmental) Publications 2017 Social Progress Index Report (pdf) Canada scorecard (pdf) Tools Download data
	Stanford Social Innovation Review (Tags: nonprofit; innovation; big data; administrative data) Publications Using Data for Action and for Impact Big Data for Social Innovation Making Better Use of Big Data
	UK Data Service Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the UK Data Service collection includes major UK government-sponsored surveys, cross-national surveys, longitudinal studies, UK census data, international aggregate, business data, and qualitative data. (Tags: big data; international; guides; UK) Resources UK Data Service Annual Report 2016-2017 Discover topic guides Discover guides to exploring online
	Urban Institute A nonprofit research organization informs consequential choices about the well-being of people and places in the United States. (Tags: social policy; economic policy; policy; USA; wellbeing) Resources Data/Viz Key stats, graphs, and maps on economic and social policy Data & Methods Interactive Maps
	What Counts: Harnessing Data for America’s Communities What Counts: Harnessing Data for America’s Communities, from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Urban Institute, outlines opportunities and challenges for the strategic use of data to reduce poverty, improve health, expand access to quality education, and build stronger communities. (Tags: big data; social sector; poverty; health; education) Publications What we talk about when we talk about data