| Documentation: | Canadian Census 2011 |
you are here:
choose a survey
survey
document
chapter
Publisher: Statistics Canada
Survey: Canadian Census 2011
| Document: | Statistics Canada - Catalogue no. 98-301-X: 2011 Census Dictionary |
| citation: | Social Explorer; Statistics Canada - Catalogue no. 98-301-X: 2011 Census Dictionary |
Chapter Contents
Statistics Canada - Catalogue no. 98-301-X: 2011 Census Dictionary
The dwelling universe is composed of subuniverses and variables (see Figure 22) which pertain to characteristics of dwellings in Canada. Dwellings are distinct from households. Dwelling characteristics refer to the physical attributes of a set of living quarters, whereas household characteristics pertain to the person or the group of persons (other than foreign residents) who occupy a dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada.
Dwelling used for commercial, institutional or communal purposes, such as a hotel, a hospital or a work camp.
Refers to a dwelling of a commercial, institutional or communal nature. It may be identified by a sign on the premises or by an enumerator speaking with the person in charge, a resident, a neighbour, etc. Included are lodging or rooming houses, hotels, motels, tourist homes, nursing homes, hospitals, staff residences, communal quarters (military bases), work camps, jails, group homes, and so on. Collective dwellings may be occupied by usual residents or solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons.
An institution providing medical or surgical diagnosis and short-term treatment to the ill or injured. Included are general hospitals, children's hospitals, maternity hospitals, remote hospitals, etc.
Establishments that provide continuous medical, nursing and professional health care supervision for long-term patients who are dependent in all activities of daily living and are unable to perform most or all personal care tasks.
Included are rehabilitation hospitals. These are hospitals which provide continuing treatment of patients whose condition is expected to improve through the provision of rehabilitative services.
Nursing homes are a long-term care facility that are classified as a separate category.
Included are rehabilitation hospitals. These are hospitals which provide continuing treatment of patients whose condition is expected to improve through the provision of rehabilitative services.
Nursing homes are a long-term care facility that are classified as a separate category.
Nursing homes are long-term care facilities, which provide a range of health care services going from periodic assistance up to regular nursing care, for elderly residents.
These facilities provide professional health monitoring and skilled nursing care 24/7.
Residents are not independent in most activities of daily living.
These facilities provide professional health monitoring and skilled nursing care 24/7.
Residents are not independent in most activities of daily living.
Residences for senior citizens that provide support services (such as meals, housekeeping, medication supervision, assistance in bathing) and supervision for elderly residents who are independent in most activities of daily living.
Group homes or institutions providing care and treatment to the physically handicapped. Treatment centres provide care, treatment or assistance services for persons with an addiction. Generally, lower level of health care is provided than in hospitals or nursing homes.
Establishments that provide accommodation for children under guardianship of the court or children needing shelter or assistance services.
Group homes or institutions providing diagnosis or treatment to persons with psychiatric disorders or developmental disabilities.
Correctional institutions where inmates (mostly adults) are serving a sentence to custody of 2 years or more. These may be run either by the federal government or a private company.
Correctional facilities or detention centres where inmates (mostly adults) are serving a sentence to custody of less than 2 years or who are being detained to await court proceedings, judgement or sentence. These may be run either by the provincial/territorial government or a private company.
Facilities to which young offenders are admitted into custody. The facility may be an open or a secure custody facility. These minors are awaiting trial, are under court order or have been convicted of an offence. A young offender is a person who is 12 years of age and older, but less than 18 years of age, at the time of committing an offence.
Facilities where persons are detained by police for a short period of time for any number of reasons, including awaiting court appearance, transfer to another facility or release. A lock-up facility is generally operated by a police force in a police station under the authority of a municipal, regional, provincial or federal authority. Persons may or may not have been charged with an offence. Detainees may be adults or young offenders.
Establishments for persons lacking a fixed address such as homeless shelters or shelters for street youth.
Establishments for women and their children who need shelter or assistance.
Establishments for residents who need shelter or assistance. Included are transition homes and halfway houses for ex-inmates or persons on conditional release.
Commercial establishments (which may originally have been a private dwellings) having furnished rooms for rent. Residents receive no type of care. They generally have access to common facilities, such as the kitchen and/or the bathroom.
Commercial establishments that serve as temporary accommodation for business travellers and persons on pleasure trips. Also included are bed and breakfasts.
Buildings or other facilities providing temporary accommodation for persons on pleasure trips, or accommodation for transients or persons with no fixed address.
One or more buildings that usually accommodate students attending an educational institution or training centre, such as boarding schools, colleges and universities. These buildings may be located on or off the grounds of the institution and may accommodate non-students.
Accommodation provided to employees of an industry, such as mining, logging or hydro construction, and generally located in a remote area. A work camp usually consists of bunkhouses, tents, trailers, etc.
Establishments, such as YMCA/YWCA, hostels, and Ronald McDonald Homes, that do not belong to any of the above categories and provide temporary accommodation to persons with or without a fixed address. These establishments may charge for accommodation.
Establishments, such as a convent or a seminary, which provide accommodation to members of a religious group.
Barracks and other buildings on a military base in Canada belonging to the Canadian Forces.
Commercial vessels 1,000 or more tons gross tonnage under Canadian registry in port on May 10, 2011.
Commercial vessels less than 1,000 tons gross tonnage under Canadian registry in port on May 10, 2011.
Canadian Forces and Coast Guard vessels. Other government vessels, e.g., research and exploration vessels.
A group of people of the Hutterite religion who live in dwellings that belong to the community and use their land for agricultural purposes.
For census purposes, a Hutterite colony is classified as a single collective dwelling, and the person in charge (the 'boss') is considered as its representative.
For census purposes, a Hutterite colony is classified as a single collective dwelling, and the person in charge (the 'boss') is considered as its representative.
Only data for collective dwellings occupied by usual residents are published and limited information is available. The categories published for collective dwelling depend on the data quality.
Refers to a set of living quarters in which a person or a group of persons resides or could reside.
An occupied private dwelling which, because it was not built, maintained or converted for year-round use, does not meet the two conditions for year-round occupancy (a source of heat or power and shelter from the elements). To be included, the marginal dwelling must be permanently occupied by a person or a group of persons who have no other usual place of residence. Examples of occupied marginal dwellings are non-winterized cottages or cabins and unconverted barns or garages.
1In 2011, whether a dwelling lacked heat and/or shelter was evaluated by the enumerator for only a portion of the dwellings. In areas where questionnaires were mailed to respondents and no enumerator visited the dwelling, the marginal dwelling status was not collected.
2The 2011 and 2006 occupied marginal dwellings and the 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986 marginal dwellings and dwellings under construction correspond to the 1981 Census variable 'Dwelling, seasonal/marginal'.
2The 2011 and 2006 occupied marginal dwellings and the 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986 marginal dwellings and dwellings under construction correspond to the 1981 Census variable 'Dwelling, seasonal/marginal'.
A separate set of living quarters designed for or converted for human habitation in which a person or group of persons reside or could reside. In addition, a private dwelling must have a source of heat or power and must be an enclosed space that provides shelter from the elements, as evidenced by complete and enclosed walls and roof, and by doors and windows that provide protection from wind, rain and snow.
Refers to a separate set of living quarters with a private entrance either from outside or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway inside the building. The entrance to the dwelling must be one that can be used without passing through the living quarters of someone else. The dwelling must meet the two conditions necessary for year-round occupancy:
- a source of heat or power (as evidenced by chimneys, power lines, oil or gas pipes or meters, generators, woodpiles, electric lights, heating pumps, solar heating panels, etc.) an enclosed space that provides shelter from the elements (as evidenced by complete and enclosed walls and roof, and by doors and windows that provide protection from wind, rain and snow).
Notes
1The classification of private dwellings into regular private dwellings and seasonal/marginal dwellings appears in the 1981 Census only. For the 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986 censuses, the 'seasonal/marginal' variable was replaced by the variables 'Dwelling, marginal' and 'Dwelling under construction' (including conversion and extensive renovation).
2The counts of dwellings occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents do not appear in the 1971, 1966 and 1961 Censuses.
1The classification of private dwellings into regular private dwellings and seasonal/marginal dwellings appears in the 1981 Census only. For the 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986 censuses, the 'seasonal/marginal' variable was replaced by the variables 'Dwelling, marginal' and 'Dwelling under construction' (including conversion and extensive renovation).
2The counts of dwellings occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents do not appear in the 1971, 1966 and 1961 Censuses.
Refers to a private dwelling occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons on May 10, 2011. A temporarily present person of a dwelling is a person who resides there on May 10, 2011, but has a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada. A foreign resident is a person whose usual place of residence is outside Canada. These dwellings are classified into regular dwellings and occupied marginal dwellings.
Prior to 2011, 'Dwelling, private, occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons - was referred to as 'Dwelling, private, occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents' in the Census Dictionary.
Prior to 2011, 'Dwelling, private, occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons - was referred to as 'Dwelling, private, occupied by foreign and/or temporary residents' in the Census Dictionary.
A separate set of living quarters which has a private entrance either directly from outside or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway leading to the outside, and in which a person or a group of persons live permanently.
Refers to a private dwelling in which a person or a group of persons is permanently residing. Also included are private dwellings whose usual residents are temporarily absent on May 10, 2011. Unless otherwise specified, all data in housing products are for occupied private dwellings, rather than for unoccupied private dwellings or dwellings occupied solely by foreign and/or temporary residents.
The number of private dwellings occupied by usual residents is equal to the number of private households in the 2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 and 1976 censuses (see the definition Household, private in the Household universe section). Prior to 2006, private dwellings occupied by usual residents were referred to as 'Dwelling, occupied private' in the Census Dictionary.
Refers to a private dwelling which was built or converted and meets the two conditions for year-round occupancy: a source of heat or power and shelter from the elements. These dwellings are classified into dwellings occupied by usual residents, dwellings occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons and unoccupied dwellings.
Refers to a private dwelling which meets the two conditions necessary for year-round occupancy (a source of heat or power and shelter from the elements), but in which no individual is residing on May 10, 2011.
Marginal dwellings that were unoccupied on May 10, 2011 are not included in the housing stock.
1In 1971, the term 'vacant dwelling' was used. This referred to a dwelling, not a seasonal or vacation home, which was suitable and available for immediate occupancy, but which was not inhabited on Census Day. Newly constructed dwellings, completed and ready for occupancy, but as yet unoccupied on May 10, 2011, were counted as vacant. This did not refer, however, to dwellings whose occupants were temporarily away.
Characteristics that define a dwelling's structure, for example, the characteristics of a single-detached house, a semi-detached house, a row house, or an apartment or flat in a duplex.
Refers to the structural characteristics and/or dwelling configuration, that is, whether the dwelling is a single-detached house, an apartment in a high-rise building, a row house, a mobile home, etc.
20111, 20061, 20011, 1996 (1/5 sample) 1, 19911, 19861, 19811, 19761, 19711, 19661, 1961 (1/5 sample)1
Single-detached house - A single dwelling not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A single-detached house has open space on all sides, and has no dwellings either above it or below it.
A mobile home fixed permanently to a foundation is also classified as a single-detached house.
Semi-detached house - One of two dwellings attached side by side (or back to back) to each other, but not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A semi-detached dwelling has no dwellings either above it or below it, and the two units together have open space on all sides.
Row house - One of three or more dwellings joined side by side (or occasionally side to back), such as a townhouse or garden home, but not having any other dwellings either above or below. Townhouses attached to a high-rise building are also classified as row houses.
Apartment or flat in a duplex - One of two dwellings, located one above the other, may or may not be attached to other dwellings or buildings.
Apartment in a building that has five or more storeys - A dwelling unit in a high-rise apartment building which has five or more storeys.
Apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys - A dwelling unit attached to other dwelling units, commercial units, or other non-residential space in a building that has fewer than five storeys.
Other single-attached house - A single dwelling that is attached to another building and that does not fall into any of the other categories, such as a single dwelling attached to a non-residential structure (e.g., a store or a church) or occasionally to another residential structure (e.g., an apartment building).
Mobile home - A single dwelling, designed and constructed to be transported on its own chassis and capable of being moved to a new location on short notice. It may be placed temporarily on a foundation pad and may be covered by a skirt.
Other movable dwelling - A single dwelling, other than a mobile home, used as a place of residence, but capable of being moved on short notice, such as a tent, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, houseboat or floating home.
A mobile home fixed permanently to a foundation is also classified as a single-detached house.
Semi-detached house - One of two dwellings attached side by side (or back to back) to each other, but not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A semi-detached dwelling has no dwellings either above it or below it, and the two units together have open space on all sides.
Row house - One of three or more dwellings joined side by side (or occasionally side to back), such as a townhouse or garden home, but not having any other dwellings either above or below. Townhouses attached to a high-rise building are also classified as row houses.
Apartment or flat in a duplex - One of two dwellings, located one above the other, may or may not be attached to other dwellings or buildings.
Apartment in a building that has five or more storeys - A dwelling unit in a high-rise apartment building which has five or more storeys.
Apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys - A dwelling unit attached to other dwelling units, commercial units, or other non-residential space in a building that has fewer than five storeys.
Other single-attached house - A single dwelling that is attached to another building and that does not fall into any of the other categories, such as a single dwelling attached to a non-residential structure (e.g., a store or a church) or occasionally to another residential structure (e.g., an apartment building).
Mobile home - A single dwelling, designed and constructed to be transported on its own chassis and capable of being moved to a new location on short notice. It may be placed temporarily on a foundation pad and may be covered by a skirt.
Other movable dwelling - A single dwelling, other than a mobile home, used as a place of residence, but capable of being moved on short notice, such as a tent, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, houseboat or floating home.
A linked home (a single house which is not attached to any other dwelling above ground) is classified as a 'single-detached house'.
1Starting in 2006, 'apartment or flat in a duplex' replaces 'apartment or flat in a detached duplex' and includes duplexes attached to other dwellings or buildings. This is a change from the 2001 Census where duplexes attached to other dwellings or buildings were classified as an 'apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys'.
In 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986, the type of dwelling was coded by census representatives in the field. The coverage was: occupied private dwellings, unoccupied private dwellings, and dwellings occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons. In 2011, the type of dwelling was coded for only a portion of the dwellings. In areas where questionnaires were mailed to respondents and no enumerator or canvasser visited the dwelling, the structural type of dwelling reflects the classification from 2006.
In 1971 and 1976, the type of dwelling was reported for occupied private dwellings and vacant (unoccupied) dwellings.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the term 'single-detached house' replaced 'single-detached' and 'single house', as used in previous censuses.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the term 'semi-detached house' replaced 'semi-detached or double house'.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the category 'other single-attached house' was introduced to cover types similar to the previous category 'house attached to a non-residential building' and to account as well for single houses attached to multi-unit or multi-purpose buildings.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the type earlier known as a 'duplex' was renamed an 'apartment or flat in a detached duplex' in order to be consistent with the definition.
In 1981, the category 'apartment or multiple dwelling' was expanded to two categories, 'apartment in a building that has five or more storeys' and 'apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys'. In 1971, 1966 and 1961, the term 'apartment and flats' was used with the subcategories 'duplex' and 'other'.
In 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 and 1976, the term 'movable dwelling' referred to mobile homes and other movable dwellings.
In 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991 and 1986, the type of dwelling was coded by census representatives in the field. The coverage was: occupied private dwellings, unoccupied private dwellings, and dwellings occupied solely by foreign residents and/or by temporarily present persons. In 2011, the type of dwelling was coded for only a portion of the dwellings. In areas where questionnaires were mailed to respondents and no enumerator or canvasser visited the dwelling, the structural type of dwelling reflects the classification from 2006.
In 1971 and 1976, the type of dwelling was reported for occupied private dwellings and vacant (unoccupied) dwellings.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the term 'single-detached house' replaced 'single-detached' and 'single house', as used in previous censuses.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the term 'semi-detached house' replaced 'semi-detached or double house'.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the category 'other single-attached house' was introduced to cover types similar to the previous category 'house attached to a non-residential building' and to account as well for single houses attached to multi-unit or multi-purpose buildings.
In 1996, 1991 and 1986, the type earlier known as a 'duplex' was renamed an 'apartment or flat in a detached duplex' in order to be consistent with the definition.
In 1981, the category 'apartment or multiple dwelling' was expanded to two categories, 'apartment in a building that has five or more storeys' and 'apartment in a building that has fewer than five storeys'. In 1971, 1966 and 1961, the term 'apartment and flats' was used with the subcategories 'duplex' and 'other'.
In 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981 and 1976, the term 'movable dwelling' referred to mobile homes and other movable dwellings.
