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Municipal Census FAQ

1. Why does the City need to conduct a census?
2. Why should people participate in the census? Why is it important?
3. What can people expect when a Census Worker comes to their door?
4. Why is "dwelling ownership" asked?
5. How long will it take to answer the questions?
6. How is the City protecting privacy of information provided?
7. How will people who are not at home be included in the Census?
8. What about people who are in the process of moving?
9. Is the Census being carried out in Edmonton only?
10. Will homeless people be counted?
11. Will hotels and motels be counted?
12. When will the results be released to the public?

1. Why does the City need to conduct a census?

The city is growing and changing fast. We need up-to-date facts.

• Many grants from other orders of government are calculated on a per capita basis. We need an accurate count of our population to maximize those grants.
• We need to know how the city is growing and changing to plan city services now and in the long term.
• We use this information to ensure ward boundaries are set to ensure fair representation by population.
  

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2. Why should people participate in the census? Why is it important?

The City will only receive grants for the people identified in the census. Likewise, City staff can only plan and deliver services for the people they know are out there. Ensuring you are counted is an important step in helping civic services get to you and your family.

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3. What can people expect when a Census Worker comes to their door?

Census Workers wear photo ID with the City of Edmonton logo. The folloing questions will be asked:

1. Structure detail
2. Site status (occupancy)
3. Number of residents

For each resident:

1. Gender
2. Month of birth
3. Year of birth
4. Citizenship
5. Marital status
6. Employment status
7. School residency
8. Term of residence at current location
9. Previous residence if living in dwelling for less than a year
10. Dwelling rented or owned
11. The mode of transportation that is used to get to and from your place of employment
    

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4. Why is "dwelling ownership" asked?

This information provides important data for studies related to housing policies and programs.

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5. How long will it take to answer the questions?

Fourteen questions will be asked in this year's Census, however, we do not anticipate that it take more than a few minutes to answer the questions.

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6. How is the City protecting privacy of information provided?

No data on any individual residence will be released. Public reports will only provide information in terms of neighbourhoods, wards and the entire city.

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7. How will people who are not at home be included in the Census?

If Census Workers do not find residents at home, they will leave a call-back notice instructing residents how they can have their information included in the Census.

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8. What about people who are in the process of moving?

The Census is a count of all people who live in Edmonton on April 1. Information will be based on where people are living on that day.

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9. Is the Census being carried out in Edmonton only?

Each municipality chooses when to conduct a Census and runs each one independently.

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10. Will homeless people be counted?

Census Workers will gather information from Edmontonians living in shelters and other temporary lodgings on April 1. City staff will also try to identify anyone who does not seek temporary shelters that day.

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11. Will hotels and motels be counted?

Census office staff are responsible for identifying every Edmonton resident. They will inquire in all hotels and motels whether there are any persons using suites as permanent residences. Census Area Supervisors will stop at businesses to check whether there are living quarters on the premises.

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12. When will the results be released to the public?

The results will be released to the public by early summer 2012. 

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For more information:

Election and Census Services