Source:

Statistics Canada, Data Liberation Initiative

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Description:

The Forward Sortation Area (FSA) is the first three digits of the postal code.

The FSA digital boundary files provide polygon boundaries corresponding to the postal code Forward Sortation Areas, and can be used to map census data or any statistical data with corresponding geography, in GIS software packages such as ArcView and MapInfo.

FSA digital boundary files are available for 1996 Census and 1986 Census. They are available for all of Canada in 1996. Files for smaller geographical areas can be created using ArcView. The example shown here is for the Hamilton area. They are only available for individual Census Metropolitan Areas in 1986.

File format: ArcInfo Export format (.e00) or MapInfo format

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Metadata:

1) Statistics Canada, Digital Boundary File and Digital Cartographic File Reference Guide, April 1997.

• Metadata for all digital 1996 Census geography files from Statistics Canada, including Forward Sortation Area files.
  
• Paper copy available in the Map Collection in the binder labelled 1996 Census: User Guides for Digital Boundary Files.
  
• Metadata can also be obtained as a digital file from the DLI Administrator
  (filename = geogfiles/1996/digbound/document/dbfdoc.pdf).
• This metadata document is available on the University of Toronto Data Library website, if you are accessing the Internet from a McMaster domain computer and if you have Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer: http://prod.library.utoronto.ca/datalib/codebooks/c/cc96/georef/dbfdoc.pdf
  
  

 

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Attribute Fields in This Coverage

• FSA (3 digit Forward Sortation Area)
• IQ (indicator of positional accuracy)

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Demo Location:

A demonstration copy of this coverage is mounted on the ArcView workstation in the Map Collection.

The demonstration shows the Forward Sortation Areas in the Hamilton area, which is a subset created from the FSA file for all of Canada.

d:\census\demo.apr. View = 1996 Census Boundaries Demo - Hamilton CMA

 

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How To Obtain These Files:

Canadian Census digital boundary files are supplied to McMaster University Library under a license agreement with Statistics Canada, which is called the Data Liberation Initiative. They are available only to affiliates of McMaster University, and may be used only for non-commercial purposes.

1) The DLI license form must be signed before the files will be delivered. Obtain a copy of this license form in the Map Collection or from the DLI Administrator (Benson Agi, Data/Text Services, Mills Library, Room 217). You must return the signed form to Mr. Agi or to the Map Collection before your request for files will be processed.

2) Determine the correct path and filename from the DLI ftp site. The Map Collection staff will assist you if you need help in understanding the codenames used, or the choices of file formats offered.

3) Contact the DLI Administrator (Benson Agi) to request delivery of this file. Mr. Agi will need the full path and filename, in order to deliver the correct file. He will give you information about delivery options (ftp, email, LearnLink, floppy disk).

Contact: mapref@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: August 7, 2002
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