Burlington Public Library



Statistics Canada: How to Start (A Pathfinder)

[Back to BPL Reading: How-to Resources]

This pathfinder will introduce you to the Statistics Canada Web site and the various types of statistical information available, including both Census and non-census data. Use BPL's Recommended Sites / Government, Canadian page as your jumping off point, or the links as provided in this pathfinder.

Use This Pathfinder to Find:

  1. Latest Indicators, e.g. CPI (Consumer Price Index), GDP (Gross Domestic Product), Unemployment Rates
  2. Statistics for ALL of Canada by Subject, e.g. Trade, Manufacturing, Agriculture
  3. 2006 Census Information for ALL of Burlington
  4. 2006 Census Information for PARTS of Burlington, e.g. Census Tracts
  5. Census Tract Maps for Burlington
  6. How to Use E-STAT for Non-Census Statistics

Statistics Canada Web Sites

  1. Statistics Canada: www.statcan.gc.ca
  2. E-STAT: www.statcan.gc.ca/estat/licence-eng.htm - Statistics Canada's teaching and learning tool for the education community.

1. How to Search For the Latest Indicators

On the Statistics Canada home page, the Latest Indicators area contains frequently asked for statistics such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Population Estimates, Unemployment Rates and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

  1. Example: to find the CPI
  2. From the Statistics Canada home page locate the Latest indicators box on the right then Consumer Price Index. The percentage figure on the right represents the change as compared to the same month in the previous year.
  3. Click on the CPI Annual Inflation link.
  4. For the Consumer Price Index for Provinces scroll to the middle of the page and select Table 2.
  5. For Cities scroll up and click on 62-001. Click on view (middle right of the page). Centre of the page click on tables and scroll down. Look for table 11 and click on HTML or PDF.
  6. Note for Ontario you will find data on the following cities: Ottawa, Toronto and Thunder Bay.

2. How to Search for Statistics for ALL of Canada by Subject, e.g. Trade, Manufacturing, Agriculture

  1. Example: to find statistics on forest fires and forest lands burned
  2. From the Statistics Canada home page click on Browse by Subject.
  3. Under the heading Browse by Subject, select Environment, then select Natural resources.
  4. Under Resources, select Summary tables and scroll down the page to find the tables.
  5. Under entry, Forest fires and forest land burned, by province and territory, select View.

3. How to Search for 2006 Census Material for ALL of Burlington

  1. From the Statistics Canada home page, click on the Census icon on the right and scroll down on the right and select 2006 Community Profiles.
  2. Scroll to the middle of the page and in the Place name box enter burlington.
  3. In the Province or Territory box, use the drop down arrow and select Ontario.
  4. Click on Search.
  5. Select Burlington, Ontario (City).
  6. You will see links under a variety of topics, e.g. All data. Click on the arrow beside All data to see selected date from Aboriginal peoples to Visible minority.
  7. Click on the topic of your choice to view statistics.

4. How to Find 2006 Census Information for PARTS of Burlington, e.g. Census tracts

Burlington census tracts are part of the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and start from 0200.00 to 0223.12. They are prefixed with the numbers 5370 which refers to the Hamilton CMA.

  1. From Statistics Canada home page, click on the Census icon on the right.
  2. On the right, click on Census Tract Profiles.
  3. You have 3 options. Option 1 - Find census tract data using a postal code; Option 2 - Find census tract data using GeoSearch2006 and Option 3 - Find census tract data using a CMA/CA code and census tract number.
  4. If you want to use Option 3 you need to know the Census Tract number for your area.
  5. Go to Part 5 in this Pathfinder to find out how to access the Census Tract Maps.
    For example, if you need to get data for census tract number 0206.00 you need to prefix the census tract number with 5370. For this example you would enter the census tract number as 53700206.00. and click on Submit. You will see a very long table that has information on all types of data for this Census Tract, e.g. population, income, education and so on.

5. How to Find Census Tract Maps for Burlington

Note: the library now has the paper copy for the Census Tract Maps for the 2006 Census . You may also look for those maps online.
Note: Adobe Acrobat (version 7 or later) is required.

  1. Example: to find and print a map of the Census Metropolitan Area of Hamilton (which includes Burlington) for the 2006 Census.
  2. From the Statistics Canada home page, click on Census, then under 2006 Census, select Geography.
  3. Under Maps, click on Reference maps and under Dissemination Area Reference Maps:, click on by Census Tracts, for Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations.
  4. Scroll down the page until you see Step 1.
  5. In order to download a PDF file of the map you need to fill in 3 steps.
    • Step 1 - Use the down arrow to select the province of Ontario and click on Next button.
    • Step 2 - Use down arrow and select the CMA of Hamilton and click on Next button, (Burlington is in this CMA).
    • Step 3 - Select Census Tract Use. Click on the inverted triangle and select one census tract number, e.g. 0200.00  Click on Download button. You can only look at one census tract at a time.
  6. Click on Download map: (Ontario) Ont 03200401537-02-0200.00.
  7. To enlarge the map right click on the + sign at the top. You will see a magnifying glass. Keep clicking in the area of the map until the desired size is obtained.  The census tract that you picked will be in white and the surrounding tracts will be gray with the census tract numbers in red.
  8. To print select the PDF printer icon inside the PDF document. A print manager box will appear.
  9. Under the section Page Handling, look for Page Scaling and select Fit to Printable Area.
  10. Click on Auto Rotate and Center.
  11. Click on OK to print the map for the area selected.

6. How to Use E-STAT for Non-Census Statistics to Find Statistics on Burlington

Note: For some categories we suggest that you look at both Census and CANSIM data.

  1. Example: to find statistics on Marriages by religion
  2. From the BPL home page select Recommended Sites / Government, Canadian / Canadian
    Statistics    , then select E-STAT under the Statistics Canada heading. Click on Accept and enter.
  3. Click on Table of contents, on the left.
  4. Under the heading People, select Society and community, and under CANSIM, select Religion.
  5. Click on Table 101-1009.
  6. You can create a table by selecting the variables of Geography, Religion of groom, religion of bride, Reference Period.
  7. Select all for each category OR you may select individual variables. Hold the Ctrl key down to select more than one.
  8. When done, select Retrieve as a Table.
  9. Select Output Specification HTML table time as rows.
  10. Click Retrieve now.

For further assistance, ask staff at the Information Desk.

Use This Pathfinder to Find:

  1. Latest Indicators, e.g. CPI (Consumer Price Index), GDP (Gross Domestic Product), Unemployment Rates
  2. Statistics for ALL of Canada by Subject, e.g. Trade, Manufacturing, Agriculture
  3. 2006 Census Information for ALL of Burlington
  4. 2006 Census Information for PARTS of Burlington, e.g. Census Tracts
  5. Census Tract Maps for Burlington
  6. How to Use E-STAT for Non-Census Statistics

Maintained by KY, December 2009