The first Canadian Census of Population took place in 1871. Nevertheless, it was only in 1901 that the country began collecting statistics on language through the census. Since then, more than 40 surveys have been conducted which include a language component (Lafrenière, 2013). Needless to say, with over 115 years of history and several dozen data sets available the wealth of choices may understandably be overwhelming. Therefore, we are happy to provide this guide to Statistics Canada’s language resources in order to:
- Introduce the history, development, and conceptualisation of the current language variables used by Statistics Canada.
- Familiarize the user with the various data sources available and their different characteristics.
- Provide some of the more significant data tables and publications as hyperlinks or in .pdf format.
- Assist the user in navigating the wealth of information on Statistics Canada website.
To achieve this goal, we have divided this guide into nine sections. Section 1 introduces the guide and our basic aims. Section 2 provides an overview of the main language-related data sources. Section 3 provides a sociopolitical history of the seven language questions currently asked in the census.
Given this preliminary contextualisation, Sections 4 through 8 provide a condensed summary of five of the most salient language themes. These themes include (a) Bilingualism and Multilingualism, (b) Language Practices, (c) Second Language Education and Literacy (d) Official Language Minorities, and (e) Ethnocultural Characteristics—all through a language lens. For each of these thematic sections, we strive to provide an overview of the relevant variables (introduction, wording, and use) as well as a selection of the most useful data tables and publications. In some cases, we also provide charts, figures, or diagrams to more succinctly present the required information.
Lastly, we end this guide with a list of additional resources that may better help the user contextualize, navigate, and find information on Statistics Canada’s website. These resources include dictionaries, data source guides, topic guides, citation guides, searching options, and historical census links. In the end, it is our hope that armed with this guide, researchers, academics, policy-makers, and community partners may better find what they seek in a more targeted and efficient manner.