Assessing the landscape for discovery and access to historical Canadian census data

Authors

  • Graeme Campbell
  • Katie Cuyler
  • Alex Guindon Concordia University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/iq1167

Keywords:

Canadian census, access points, data type, inventory

Abstract

The Canadian census is a primary source of information about Canada and the people who live there, and that information is used by researchers, the private sector, public servants and residents. However, access to Canadian census data is fragmented and inconsistent, with no single source of Census data for all census years, or in all census data formats. This is a barrier to research, making systematic analysis, discovery, and reuse difficult. This article provides an overview of the current landscape of Canadian census portals by data format. It includes an analysis of the coverage and usability of census portals and demonstrates the outstanding need for a single comprehensive access point for Canadian census data.

References

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Published

2025-12-19

How to Cite

Campbell, G., Cuyler, K., & Guindon, A. (2025). Assessing the landscape for discovery and access to historical Canadian census data . IASSIST Quarterly, 49(4). https://doi.org/10.29173/iq1167

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 4 (2025): IASSIST Quarterly

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Graeme Campbell, Katie Cuyler, Alex Guindon

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