[Update: Use the new 2006 Census metadata reference file to help you find the tables you're interested in from the 2006 Census.]
Finding Census data that you need from the Catalogue can be challenging for new users. If you're confused by names like Topic Based Tabulations and Community Profiles, this post explains some of the terminology that you're likely to encounter when dealing with Census data in the Community Data Program Catalogue -- with real examples from the Catalogue.
This post covers Community Profiles, Topic Based Tabulations, Target Group Profiles, and the Urban Poverty Project. I encourage you to play around with each of these types of datasets when you get the chance. Subsequent posts will cover taxfiler data [update: See Product Profile on taxfiler data]. Happy browsing!
Community Profile
Community profiles are standard Census tables at standard Census geographies. For example, the table titled,
94-581-XCB2006005 Community Profiles for Census Metropolitan Areas, Tracted Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts, 2006 Census
is a Community Profile for all of the Census Tracts in Canada. Community Profiles include every standard Census variable, but none are crosstabulated. The Catalogue contains 11 Community Profiles ranging from Dissemination Areas to Provinces. If you, "just want to find the Census!" you're probably looking for a Community Profile.
Topic Based Tabulation
Topic Based Tabulations are crosstabulations based on Census topics. For example, the table titled,
97-554-XCB2006051 Gross Rent as a Percentage of 2005 Household Income (10), Household Type (11) and Age Groups of Primary Household Maintainer (8) for the Private Households with Household Income Greater than Zero, in Tenant-occupied Private Non-farm, Non-reserve Dwellings of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data
is a Topic Based Tabulation where the following variables are crosstabulated:
Variable name |
Number of categories |
| Gross Rent as a Percentage of 2005 Household Income | 10 |
| Household Type | 11 |
| Age Groups of Primary Household Maintainer | 8 |
Using this dataset as an example (97-554-XCB2006051), it would be possible to uncover the number of households in any given Census Metropolitan Area or Census Agglomeration (these are roughly analogous to regional municpalities) that were simultaneously living in single family houses, paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent, and headed by those aged 65 and over.
Target Group Profiles
Target Group Profiles replicate Community Profiles for a custom target group, e.g. a specific ethnic or linguistic group. These always have the letters TGP in the title. For example, the table titled,
EO1213_2006_TGP_7A_CMA_CT Target Group Profile of the Population 65 Years and Over of Selected Census Metropolitan Areas, Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts, 2006 Census
is a Target Group Profile of seniors (aged 65 and over) for every Census Tract in Canada. That is to say, it includes more-or-less all of the same variables as the Community Profile described above (94-581-XCB2006005), except the responses are exclusive to those aged 65 and over.
The Catalogue contains seven Target Group Profiles (population with disabilities, visible minorities, aboriginal identiy, recent immigrants, female lone parents, seniors 65 years and over, and Francophones) at various geographic levels.
Urban Poverty Project
Urban Poverty Project tables are custom-ordered crosstabulations designed to analyse the characteristics of low-income individuals and households. They always have the letters UPP in their title. For example, the table titled,
UPP06_Table-02C_CT Ethnic Origin (52), Age Groups (9), Sex (3), Income Status Before Tax (3) and Knowledge of Official Languages (5) for the Population of Census Metropolitan Areas, Tracted Census Agglomerations and Census Tracts, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data UPP - Urban Poverty Project custom order
includes crosstabulations by ethnic origin, age group, sex, before-tax income status, and knowledge of official languages for all Census Tracts in Canada.
Variable name |
Number of categories |
| Ethnic Origin | 52 |
| Age Group | 9 |
| Sex | 3 |
| Income Status Before Tax | 3 |
| Knowledge of Official Languages | 5 |
For this dataset (UPP06_Table-02C_CT), it would be possible to uncover the number of individuals in a given Census Tract that were simultaneously of European descent, aged 65 and over, male, in the low-income category, and unable to speak English.