How your community benefits from the census

The census is an important part of Canadian identity, dating back to 1666, when Jean Talon, the first Intendant of New France, conducted the first Canadian Census. The census has become our country’s primary source of sociodemographic data and the information collected is used to support programs and communities across the country.

The census is an important part of our heritage that allows us to better understand our country, provinces, towns and neighbourhoods. It also helps governments make more informed decisions and policies. But how does it benefit you and your community specifically? And how does your contribution make a difference? In addition to doing your civic duty, there are many other advantages of participating in the census.

• Infrastructure. Communities are constantly evolving, with residents aging, starting families and new members moving in, and there is no better way to track and document these demographic characteristics than through the census. Once data is gathered, community organizations and local authorities can make stronger arguments for planning and infrastructure that meet your neighbourhood’s needs.
• Transportation. Do you use public transportation to get to work? Are there enough local buses for your teens to get around on their own, or long-distance buses for you to conveniently visit out-of-town family? The census collects information about commute times and public transit use, which can be used to create new bus routes and even add lanes to existing congested roads.
• Culture. Each community has a unique makeup of people in different life stages, whether it’s retirees or young families. Thanks to census data, provincial and federal governments are able to offer support services and programs that are tailored to their residents, such as daycare centres, schools and retirement residences.