Postal Code Conversion File - Statistique Canada
Transcript Of Postal Code Conversion File - Statistique Canada
Catalogue no. 92F0153GIE
Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF), Reference Guide
June 2003
Statistics Statistique Canada Canada
How to obtain more information
For information on the wide range of data available from Statistics Canada, you can contact us by calling one of our toll-free numbers. You can also contact us by e-mail or by visiting our Web site.
National inquiries line National telecommunications device for the hearing impaired Depository Services Program inquiries Fax line for Depository Services Program E-mail inquiries Web site
1 800 263-1136 1 800 363-7629 1 800 700-1033 1 800 889-9734 [email protected] www.statcan.ca
Ordering and subscription information
This product, Catalogue no. 92F0153GIE, is available on Internet free. Users can obtain single issues at http:// www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/freepub.cgi.
Standards of service to the public
Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner and in the official language of their choice. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients. To obtain a copy of these service standards, please contact Statistics Canada toll free at 1 800 263-1136.
Statistics Canada
Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF), Reference Guide
June 2003
Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada Minister of Industry, 2004 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission from Licence Services, Marketing Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0T6. January 2004 Catalogue no. 92F0153GIE ISSN: 1708-3095 Frequency: Semi-annual Ottawa La version française de cette publication est disponible sur demande (n° 92F0153GIF au catalogue).
Note of appreciation Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued cooperation and goodwill.
iv
What’s new?
What’s new?
• The postal code reference date for this update is June 2003. Normally, the reference date for the January release is November, but converting the PCCF to 2001 base and a systems change have resulted in delays to the data capture. We continue to work towards returning the PCCF to a normal release schedule.
2001 Geography Features
• A slight change in the methodology for the creation of the single link indicator (SLI). When a postal code with more than one type is assigned to a representative point, the postal codes types are now ranked by numerical value. The single link indicator is then assigned to the first record.
• Within major urban areas, postal code address ranges are linked to the National Geographic Base (NGB) and wherever possible, a block-face link is identified.
• The 2001 postal code conversion process has produced some cases of reduced data quality. A part of the process generated cases where a postal code was assigned to all blocks along a road. This occurred when a postal code could be geo-coded to a road but not to a specific address. The system then assigned the postal code to all blocks linked to the 2001 road identifier. In some cases, especially if the road was very long, this process was not appropriate and has resulted in poorer data quality. We acknowledge the issue and are committed to improving the PCCF product in future releases.
• A new geographic unit, the block, has been added to the standard hierarchy.
• A new statistical area classification code (SAC) has been added to the census subdivision.
• All the spatial information is now based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83).
New standard geographic areas and classifications
• The national road coverage and related geographic attributes permit the creation of a new basic geographic unit—the block. A block is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of selected standard geographic areas.
• These blocks are used to automatically generate dissemination areas (DAs). The dissemination area is a small, relatively stable geographic unit composed of one or more blocks. Dissemination areas cover all the territory of Canada and replace the enumeration area (that is still used for census collection) as the smallest standard geographic area for which census profile data are disseminated. In most cases, dissemination areas have a population of between 400 and 700.
• For the first time, urban areas are defined using population counts and population density data from the current census instead of from the previous census. The population density data are block-based rather than enumeration area-based as for previous censuses.
• Statistical area classification (SAC) classifies census subdivisions according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a census agglomeration (CA), an influenced zone or a territory.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
Table of contents
Table of contents
1. About this guide ......................................................................................................................1 2. Overview ..................................................................................................................................2
Reference Dates........................................................................................................................2 3. How to use this product .........................................................................................................3
Purpose of the product ..............................................................................................................3 Limitations..................................................................................................................................3 General Methodology ................................................................................................................4 Content ......................................................................................................................................4 Comparison to the 1996 Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF).................................................6 4. Data quality ..............................................................................................................................7 Lineage ......................................................................................................................................7 Positional accuracy..................................................................................................................10 Attribute accuracy ....................................................................................................................11 Logical consistency..................................................................................................................11 Consistency with other products..............................................................................................11 Completeness..........................................................................................................................12 5. Technical specifications.......................................................................................................13 File specifications ....................................................................................................................13 Data descriptions and record layouts ......................................................................................13 6. Glossary.................................................................................................................................20 Appendix A: Hierarchy of Standard Geographic Units.............................................................26 Appendix B: Structure of the postal code ................................................................................27 Appendix C: Representative points .........................................................................................29 Appendix D: Census subdivision types by province and territory ............................................30 Appendix E: Data File Naming Convention .............................................................................32 References .................................................................................................................................33 Geography products and services ...........................................................................................35 End-use licence agreement.....................................................................................................40
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
1
About this guide
1. About this guide
This guide is intended for users of the Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF). It provides general information about the product, including a description of the general methodology used to create the product.
Section 4, Data quality gives a detailed description of the various steps in the creation of PCCF. This section also provides information to evaluate the suitability of the data for a particular use.
Technical specifications in Section 5 include record layout and item descriptions.
Geographic terms and concepts are described in the glossary. More details can be found in the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue number 92-378-XIE. Supplementary information is provided in the appendices with a list of related products and services.
This guide is based on the best information available at the time of its release. It in no way constitutes a warranty of the data in the event that users may observe characteristics that deviate from those stated in this document. All efforts have been made to ensure a thorough verification of this product, however, there is no guarantee that the data are 100% accurate.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
2
Overview
2. Overview
The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) is a digital file, which provides a correspondence between the six character postal code and Statistics Canada's standard geographical areas for which census data and other statistics are produced. Through the link between postal codes and standard geographic areas, the PCCF permits the integration of data from various sources.
The geographic coordinates attached to each postal code on the PCCF are commonly used to map the distribution of data for spatial analysis (e.g., clients, activities). The location information is a powerful tool for marketing, planning, or research purposes.
In April 1983, the Geography Division released the first version of the PCCF, which linked postal codes to census geographic areas and included geographic coordinates. Since then, the file has been updated on a regular basis to reflect postal code changes provided by Canada Post Corporation (CPC).
Every five years, the postal code linkages on the PCCF are “converted” to the latest census geographic areas. The original PCCF was linked to the 1981 Census geographic areas. Since then, the PCCF has undergone four “conversions”, following the 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001 censuses. A revised automated system was used for the 1996-2001 conversion. The 2001 Census postal codes reported by respondents were used to validate the PCCF links.
Reference Dates
The reference date for postal codes contained in the PCCF is June 2003.
The geographic reference date is a date determined by Statistics Canada to finalize the geographic framework for which the Census data will be collected, tabulated and reported. The geographic reference date for the 2001 Census is January 1, 2001.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
3
3. How to use this product
How to use this product
Purpose of the product
The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) provides a link between six-character postal codes and standard 2001 Census geographic areas (such as dissemination areas, municipalities, census tracts). It also provides the x,y (latitude/longitude) coordinates for a point representing the approximate location of the postal code to support mapping.
Limitations
The PCCF contains multiple records for a postal code when the postal code straddles more than one block-face, block or dissemination area. Multiple records are quite common for rural postal codes and community mailboxes.
Rural postal codes are defined in terms of rural routes which are not explicitly attached to dwellings as are civic address ranges. These routes tend to straddle several dissemination areas, often crossing boundaries of standard geographic areas such as census tracts or census subdivisions. It is difficult, if not impossible, to identify a precise physical location based on a rural postal code.
Community mailboxes are a growing source for multiple records on the PCCF. In new urban delivery areas, postal codes are assigned to a community mailbox that may cover partial blocks, both sides of a street and different streets within 200 metres of any customer’s door. These situations often result in multiple links being established between the postal code and block-faces, unlike the more traditional urban postal codes, which correspond generally to a block-face.
The “single link indicator” (SLI) was created to assist users in dealing with postal codes with multiple records. The method used to establish the single link indicator identifies the geographic area with the majority of dwellings assigned to a particular postal code. Users should be aware that only a partial correspondence between the postal code and other geographic areas is achieved when using the single link indicator. It should also be noted that the single link indicator is identified on both active and retired postal codes. Users will find when working with both active and retired postal codes, multiple SLI’s will appear for a postal code that has been retired and rebirthed.
The following table presents the number of postal codes (including retired postal codes) that show multiple links for selected geographic areas.
Geographic area
Dissemination area Census tract Census subdivision (municipality) Census division Census metropolitan area Province/Territory
Postal codes with multiple links 84,936 17,096 5,122 1,023 323 11
The address associated with a postal code does not always represent the location of those receiving mail using that postal code. This is particularly the case in rural areas, where rural route service and post office
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
4
How to use this product
pick-up is commonly used to deliver mail. The delivery mode type of “W” (rural) and “H” (rural route) on the PCCF identifies postal codes that are usually considered rural.
A typical rural route address, such as "RR#3 Caledon, Ontario", does not provide sufficient address information to identify a precise physical location. A rural post office address such as "PO BOX 4001 STN A VICTORIA BC" is also imprecise and not explicitly attached to the dwellings served by that postal code. Consequently, rural postal codes can not be used in the same manner as most urban postal codes can to precisely geo-reference a physical location.
Similarly, postal codes with a delivery mode type “K” (group of post office boxes) or “M” (one post office box) are generally linked to the location of the post office on the PCCF, as opposed to the physical location of customers who rent a post office box.
General Methodology
The PCCF is updated on a regular basis and is released every six months. The regular maintenance of the file takes the postal code changes continually introduced by Canada Post Corporation (CPC) and finds the corresponding census geographic areas. Every five years, after each census, the PCCF must be converted to the new census geographic areas.
CPC provides Statistics Canada with a file every month containing the latest postal codes, address ranges and other attributes (e.g., delivery mode type). Within major urban areas, postal code address ranges are linked to the National Geographic Base (NGB) and wherever possible, a block-face link is identified. Municipality maps are used where necessary and as a last resort, contact is made with local authorities to get as precise a street location as possible. The relationship to a block or dissemination area is then determined. All other postal code links to geographic areas are derived from the dissemination area.
Content
This version of the PCCF contains 830,485 postal codes (778,716 active, 51,769 retired codes that have not been reactivated). This total figure does not include 5001 postal codes that have been reborn. This represents all valid postal codes as of June 2003 according to CPC. These postal codes are linked to the geographic areas used in the 2001 Census and to latitude/longitude coordinates.
Postal codes do not respect Census geographic boundaries and therefore may be linked to more than one standard geographic area or be assigned to more than one set of coordinates. Therefore, one postal code may be represented by more than one record.
Postal code data are available as a national file or as separate provincial/territorial files identified by using Standard Geographic Classification (SGC) coding. This is summarized in Appendix E.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
5
How to use this product
The following table provides the number of unique postal codes and total records by province/territory:
Province/Territory
Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Territory Northwest Territories Nunavut Canada Total
Number of postal codes
10,313
3,276 25,732 57,631 205,404 278,541 25,431 22,751 78,848 120,893
1,055 570 40
830,485
Number of records
28,129
9,820 65,120 93,673 465,521 626,230 73,237 92,617 215,979 276,435
3,673 1,931
191 1,952,556
Postal codes can straddle provincial boundaries. See Appendix B for more information.
Each record on the file consists of the following (for more detailed information refer to Section 5 Technical Specifications):
• a six character postal code • the dissemination area (DA) identifier --made up of the province code, the census division code and
the dissemination area code-- for the dissemination area linked to the postal code • the block – new basic geographic unit • latitude/longitude coordinates representing approximate point location for the postal code • the census subdivision (CSD) name, code and type • geographic codes of all other higher level standard geographic areas in which the dissemination area
is located • the federal electoral district code (1996 Representation Order)
Canada Post Corporation (CPC) information relevant to each postal code - its birth date, retirement date, type of mail delivery, CPC community name and various flags: single link indicator, type of representation point, and postal code type.
Purchasers of the PCCF also receive supplementary “Names” files. Due to the size of the name fields, and because of their repetition, the names are provided on separate files: • Census Division Names File (C02.DAT) • Federal Electoral District Names File - 1996 Representation Order (FED02.DAT) • Statistical Area Classification Names File (SAC02.DAT)
The basic link between the postal code and other standard census geographic areas is made through one or more 2001 blocks. The geographic areas contained on the PCCF are shown on the hierarchy chart provided as Appendix A.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF), Reference Guide
June 2003
Statistics Statistique Canada Canada
How to obtain more information
For information on the wide range of data available from Statistics Canada, you can contact us by calling one of our toll-free numbers. You can also contact us by e-mail or by visiting our Web site.
National inquiries line National telecommunications device for the hearing impaired Depository Services Program inquiries Fax line for Depository Services Program E-mail inquiries Web site
1 800 263-1136 1 800 363-7629 1 800 700-1033 1 800 889-9734 [email protected] www.statcan.ca
Ordering and subscription information
This product, Catalogue no. 92F0153GIE, is available on Internet free. Users can obtain single issues at http:// www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/freepub.cgi.
Standards of service to the public
Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner and in the official language of their choice. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which its employees observe in serving its clients. To obtain a copy of these service standards, please contact Statistics Canada toll free at 1 800 263-1136.
Statistics Canada
Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF), Reference Guide
June 2003
Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada Minister of Industry, 2004 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission from Licence Services, Marketing Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0T6. January 2004 Catalogue no. 92F0153GIE ISSN: 1708-3095 Frequency: Semi-annual Ottawa La version française de cette publication est disponible sur demande (n° 92F0153GIF au catalogue).
Note of appreciation Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued cooperation and goodwill.
iv
What’s new?
What’s new?
• The postal code reference date for this update is June 2003. Normally, the reference date for the January release is November, but converting the PCCF to 2001 base and a systems change have resulted in delays to the data capture. We continue to work towards returning the PCCF to a normal release schedule.
2001 Geography Features
• A slight change in the methodology for the creation of the single link indicator (SLI). When a postal code with more than one type is assigned to a representative point, the postal codes types are now ranked by numerical value. The single link indicator is then assigned to the first record.
• Within major urban areas, postal code address ranges are linked to the National Geographic Base (NGB) and wherever possible, a block-face link is identified.
• The 2001 postal code conversion process has produced some cases of reduced data quality. A part of the process generated cases where a postal code was assigned to all blocks along a road. This occurred when a postal code could be geo-coded to a road but not to a specific address. The system then assigned the postal code to all blocks linked to the 2001 road identifier. In some cases, especially if the road was very long, this process was not appropriate and has resulted in poorer data quality. We acknowledge the issue and are committed to improving the PCCF product in future releases.
• A new geographic unit, the block, has been added to the standard hierarchy.
• A new statistical area classification code (SAC) has been added to the census subdivision.
• All the spatial information is now based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83).
New standard geographic areas and classifications
• The national road coverage and related geographic attributes permit the creation of a new basic geographic unit—the block. A block is an area bounded on all sides by roads and/or boundaries of selected standard geographic areas.
• These blocks are used to automatically generate dissemination areas (DAs). The dissemination area is a small, relatively stable geographic unit composed of one or more blocks. Dissemination areas cover all the territory of Canada and replace the enumeration area (that is still used for census collection) as the smallest standard geographic area for which census profile data are disseminated. In most cases, dissemination areas have a population of between 400 and 700.
• For the first time, urban areas are defined using population counts and population density data from the current census instead of from the previous census. The population density data are block-based rather than enumeration area-based as for previous censuses.
• Statistical area classification (SAC) classifies census subdivisions according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a census agglomeration (CA), an influenced zone or a territory.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
Table of contents
Table of contents
1. About this guide ......................................................................................................................1 2. Overview ..................................................................................................................................2
Reference Dates........................................................................................................................2 3. How to use this product .........................................................................................................3
Purpose of the product ..............................................................................................................3 Limitations..................................................................................................................................3 General Methodology ................................................................................................................4 Content ......................................................................................................................................4 Comparison to the 1996 Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF).................................................6 4. Data quality ..............................................................................................................................7 Lineage ......................................................................................................................................7 Positional accuracy..................................................................................................................10 Attribute accuracy ....................................................................................................................11 Logical consistency..................................................................................................................11 Consistency with other products..............................................................................................11 Completeness..........................................................................................................................12 5. Technical specifications.......................................................................................................13 File specifications ....................................................................................................................13 Data descriptions and record layouts ......................................................................................13 6. Glossary.................................................................................................................................20 Appendix A: Hierarchy of Standard Geographic Units.............................................................26 Appendix B: Structure of the postal code ................................................................................27 Appendix C: Representative points .........................................................................................29 Appendix D: Census subdivision types by province and territory ............................................30 Appendix E: Data File Naming Convention .............................................................................32 References .................................................................................................................................33 Geography products and services ...........................................................................................35 End-use licence agreement.....................................................................................................40
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
1
About this guide
1. About this guide
This guide is intended for users of the Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF). It provides general information about the product, including a description of the general methodology used to create the product.
Section 4, Data quality gives a detailed description of the various steps in the creation of PCCF. This section also provides information to evaluate the suitability of the data for a particular use.
Technical specifications in Section 5 include record layout and item descriptions.
Geographic terms and concepts are described in the glossary. More details can be found in the 2001 Census Dictionary, Catalogue number 92-378-XIE. Supplementary information is provided in the appendices with a list of related products and services.
This guide is based on the best information available at the time of its release. It in no way constitutes a warranty of the data in the event that users may observe characteristics that deviate from those stated in this document. All efforts have been made to ensure a thorough verification of this product, however, there is no guarantee that the data are 100% accurate.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
2
Overview
2. Overview
The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) is a digital file, which provides a correspondence between the six character postal code and Statistics Canada's standard geographical areas for which census data and other statistics are produced. Through the link between postal codes and standard geographic areas, the PCCF permits the integration of data from various sources.
The geographic coordinates attached to each postal code on the PCCF are commonly used to map the distribution of data for spatial analysis (e.g., clients, activities). The location information is a powerful tool for marketing, planning, or research purposes.
In April 1983, the Geography Division released the first version of the PCCF, which linked postal codes to census geographic areas and included geographic coordinates. Since then, the file has been updated on a regular basis to reflect postal code changes provided by Canada Post Corporation (CPC).
Every five years, the postal code linkages on the PCCF are “converted” to the latest census geographic areas. The original PCCF was linked to the 1981 Census geographic areas. Since then, the PCCF has undergone four “conversions”, following the 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001 censuses. A revised automated system was used for the 1996-2001 conversion. The 2001 Census postal codes reported by respondents were used to validate the PCCF links.
Reference Dates
The reference date for postal codes contained in the PCCF is June 2003.
The geographic reference date is a date determined by Statistics Canada to finalize the geographic framework for which the Census data will be collected, tabulated and reported. The geographic reference date for the 2001 Census is January 1, 2001.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
3
3. How to use this product
How to use this product
Purpose of the product
The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) provides a link between six-character postal codes and standard 2001 Census geographic areas (such as dissemination areas, municipalities, census tracts). It also provides the x,y (latitude/longitude) coordinates for a point representing the approximate location of the postal code to support mapping.
Limitations
The PCCF contains multiple records for a postal code when the postal code straddles more than one block-face, block or dissemination area. Multiple records are quite common for rural postal codes and community mailboxes.
Rural postal codes are defined in terms of rural routes which are not explicitly attached to dwellings as are civic address ranges. These routes tend to straddle several dissemination areas, often crossing boundaries of standard geographic areas such as census tracts or census subdivisions. It is difficult, if not impossible, to identify a precise physical location based on a rural postal code.
Community mailboxes are a growing source for multiple records on the PCCF. In new urban delivery areas, postal codes are assigned to a community mailbox that may cover partial blocks, both sides of a street and different streets within 200 metres of any customer’s door. These situations often result in multiple links being established between the postal code and block-faces, unlike the more traditional urban postal codes, which correspond generally to a block-face.
The “single link indicator” (SLI) was created to assist users in dealing with postal codes with multiple records. The method used to establish the single link indicator identifies the geographic area with the majority of dwellings assigned to a particular postal code. Users should be aware that only a partial correspondence between the postal code and other geographic areas is achieved when using the single link indicator. It should also be noted that the single link indicator is identified on both active and retired postal codes. Users will find when working with both active and retired postal codes, multiple SLI’s will appear for a postal code that has been retired and rebirthed.
The following table presents the number of postal codes (including retired postal codes) that show multiple links for selected geographic areas.
Geographic area
Dissemination area Census tract Census subdivision (municipality) Census division Census metropolitan area Province/Territory
Postal codes with multiple links 84,936 17,096 5,122 1,023 323 11
The address associated with a postal code does not always represent the location of those receiving mail using that postal code. This is particularly the case in rural areas, where rural route service and post office
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
4
How to use this product
pick-up is commonly used to deliver mail. The delivery mode type of “W” (rural) and “H” (rural route) on the PCCF identifies postal codes that are usually considered rural.
A typical rural route address, such as "RR#3 Caledon, Ontario", does not provide sufficient address information to identify a precise physical location. A rural post office address such as "PO BOX 4001 STN A VICTORIA BC" is also imprecise and not explicitly attached to the dwellings served by that postal code. Consequently, rural postal codes can not be used in the same manner as most urban postal codes can to precisely geo-reference a physical location.
Similarly, postal codes with a delivery mode type “K” (group of post office boxes) or “M” (one post office box) are generally linked to the location of the post office on the PCCF, as opposed to the physical location of customers who rent a post office box.
General Methodology
The PCCF is updated on a regular basis and is released every six months. The regular maintenance of the file takes the postal code changes continually introduced by Canada Post Corporation (CPC) and finds the corresponding census geographic areas. Every five years, after each census, the PCCF must be converted to the new census geographic areas.
CPC provides Statistics Canada with a file every month containing the latest postal codes, address ranges and other attributes (e.g., delivery mode type). Within major urban areas, postal code address ranges are linked to the National Geographic Base (NGB) and wherever possible, a block-face link is identified. Municipality maps are used where necessary and as a last resort, contact is made with local authorities to get as precise a street location as possible. The relationship to a block or dissemination area is then determined. All other postal code links to geographic areas are derived from the dissemination area.
Content
This version of the PCCF contains 830,485 postal codes (778,716 active, 51,769 retired codes that have not been reactivated). This total figure does not include 5001 postal codes that have been reborn. This represents all valid postal codes as of June 2003 according to CPC. These postal codes are linked to the geographic areas used in the 2001 Census and to latitude/longitude coordinates.
Postal codes do not respect Census geographic boundaries and therefore may be linked to more than one standard geographic area or be assigned to more than one set of coordinates. Therefore, one postal code may be represented by more than one record.
Postal code data are available as a national file or as separate provincial/territorial files identified by using Standard Geographic Classification (SGC) coding. This is summarized in Appendix E.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide
5
How to use this product
The following table provides the number of unique postal codes and total records by province/territory:
Province/Territory
Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Yukon Territory Northwest Territories Nunavut Canada Total
Number of postal codes
10,313
3,276 25,732 57,631 205,404 278,541 25,431 22,751 78,848 120,893
1,055 570 40
830,485
Number of records
28,129
9,820 65,120 93,673 465,521 626,230 73,237 92,617 215,979 276,435
3,673 1,931
191 1,952,556
Postal codes can straddle provincial boundaries. See Appendix B for more information.
Each record on the file consists of the following (for more detailed information refer to Section 5 Technical Specifications):
• a six character postal code • the dissemination area (DA) identifier --made up of the province code, the census division code and
the dissemination area code-- for the dissemination area linked to the postal code • the block – new basic geographic unit • latitude/longitude coordinates representing approximate point location for the postal code • the census subdivision (CSD) name, code and type • geographic codes of all other higher level standard geographic areas in which the dissemination area
is located • the federal electoral district code (1996 Representation Order)
Canada Post Corporation (CPC) information relevant to each postal code - its birth date, retirement date, type of mail delivery, CPC community name and various flags: single link indicator, type of representation point, and postal code type.
Purchasers of the PCCF also receive supplementary “Names” files. Due to the size of the name fields, and because of their repetition, the names are provided on separate files: • Census Division Names File (C02.DAT) • Federal Electoral District Names File - 1996 Representation Order (FED02.DAT) • Statistical Area Classification Names File (SAC02.DAT)
The basic link between the postal code and other standard census geographic areas is made through one or more 2001 blocks. The geographic areas contained on the PCCF are shown on the hierarchy chart provided as Appendix A.
Statistics Canada - Catalogue No. 92F0153GIE Postal Code Conversion File, Reference Guide