On ClimateData.ca, you can now view and download historical and future climate data aggregated by Census Subdivision (CSD). This resource is particularly useful for municipal planners, conservation authorities, and regional organizations, among others, to support planning and preparation for climate change at the local or regional level. Today, these data have been updated to align with the latest CSD boundaries. Users are encouraged to check their municipality’s updated census boundaries by visiting ClimateData.ca’s interactive map page and selecting ‘Census subdivisions’ under the ‘View By’ menu, or by clicking this link.
As defined by Statistics Canada, a CSD is a catch-all term used to describe municipalities or regions treated as municipal equivalents for statistical analyses. These include areas like Indigenous communities, settlements, and unorganized territories, as recognized under provincial or territorial law. In Canada, each province and territory has its own legal framework that determines the official status of these subdivisions.[1]
The official census data is updated every five years, which can lead to changes in CSD boundaries. As a result, some subdivisions may experience slight shifts in their borders. To ensure accuracy, ClimateData.ca recalculates and adjusts its climate data with each CSD update to reflect these changes in geographic boundaries.
Statistics Canada has all the information that you’ll need to check the status of your census subdivision boundaries. Click here to learn more and to see if your boundaries have changed.
[1] Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021 – Census subdivision (CSD) (statcan.gc.ca))