Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 1st May 2026
Statistics Canada
The 2026 Census begins in May!
Collection begins on May 4 across Canada.
Census data are essential for planning programs and services that support employment, public transit, education, health care and more.
Households will receive a census invitation letter in the mail starting in May with instructions on how to complete their questionnaire.
The census questions will be available in alternate formats and 28 non-official languages for reference purposes.
All information is collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and will be kept strictly confidential.
Participation in the 2026 Census is mandatory. Under the Statistics Act, all Canadian households are required to complete a Census of Population questionnaire
Why is the census important for Canadians?
The Census of Population is about more than just counting people and dwellings.
Information collected by the census is used by governments, businesses, social service
and ethno-cultural organizations, community associations and others to make important
decisions for your community, your province or territory, and for the entire country.
For example, census data are used to:
• Realign the boundaries of federal electoral districts and determine representation
in the House of Commons
• Identify new locations for daycare centres, hospitals, police stations, schools,
residences for senior citizens, factories and stores
• Identify the need for changes to existing transportation services such as public
transit and high occupancy vehicle lanes
• Help calculate federal transfer payments to the provinces and territories for
health care, post-secondary education, early childhood development and more
• Plan pensions, health care, housing and employment programs
• Inform social service agencies what language skills their staff need
• Assist businesses to tailor their products to the cultural, occupational, and
educational background of their neighbourhood clients
• Allow researchers to study effects of various factors on life expectancy
Since accuracy depends on complete information, participation in the census is
mandatory. Answers are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and are kept
strictly confidential.
More details about the 2026 Census can be found at census.gc.ca
Collection begins on May 4 across Canada.
Census data are essential for planning programs and services that support employment, public transit, education, health care and more.
Households will receive a census invitation letter in the mail starting in May with instructions on how to complete their questionnaire.
The census questions will be available in alternate formats and 28 non-official languages for reference purposes.
All information is collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and will be kept strictly confidential.
Participation in the 2026 Census is mandatory. Under the Statistics Act, all Canadian households are required to complete a Census of Population questionnaire
Why is the census important for Canadians?
The Census of Population is about more than just counting people and dwellings.
Information collected by the census is used by governments, businesses, social service
and ethno-cultural organizations, community associations and others to make important
decisions for your community, your province or territory, and for the entire country.
For example, census data are used to:
• Realign the boundaries of federal electoral districts and determine representation
in the House of Commons
• Identify new locations for daycare centres, hospitals, police stations, schools,
residences for senior citizens, factories and stores
• Identify the need for changes to existing transportation services such as public
transit and high occupancy vehicle lanes
• Help calculate federal transfer payments to the provinces and territories for
health care, post-secondary education, early childhood development and more
• Plan pensions, health care, housing and employment programs
• Inform social service agencies what language skills their staff need
• Assist businesses to tailor their products to the cultural, occupational, and
educational background of their neighbourhood clients
• Allow researchers to study effects of various factors on life expectancy
Since accuracy depends on complete information, participation in the census is
mandatory. Answers are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and are kept
strictly confidential.
More details about the 2026 Census can be found at census.gc.ca
(census-2026-encourage-completion-poster-02.pdf)