Statistics - BC

Statistics on British Columbia are available from a variety of sources: Statistics Canada, BC STATS, federal and provincial ministries and agencies, regional governments and municipalities. This guide will help you locate general and topical statistics on British Columbia. If you don't find what you need, contact us by chat, email, or phone via our Ask Us services, or stop by the Help/Reference desks in any of the SFU Library branches.

1. Statistical Agencies

1.a Statistics Canada

Many Statistics Canada publications are now freely available online. Search the Statistics Canada Online Catalogue using British Columbia or using the subject you want and the term "province", e.g., housing and province. The Statistics Canada Catalogue is also available in print (Belzberg & Bennett Reference Desk HA 744 Z9231; Bennett Stats Canada 11-204). Check the Daily News for latest releases. Print copies of many Statistics Canada publications are located on the 2nd floor of the Bennett Library, arranged by Statistics Canada catalogue number. See the Library guide Statistics - Canada for more information.

1.b BC STATS

The central statistical agency of the Province of British Columbia, BC STATS collects and publishes reports of statistics from Statistics Canada, provincial government ministries and agencies and from administrative files. The website is organized by topic and has information about publications, quick facts about the province and current census information.  Their A-Z list is often a good place to start your search.  Also check the weekly Infoline publication for weekly statistical highlights and information about new products and services.

Note that several key BC STATS publications such as Business Indicators and the Tourism Sector Monitor are available online for SFU researchers.

2. Databases

CANSIM (Canadian Socioeconomic Information Management).
Time series on a wide range of topics.  Use this resource to compare time series over several years so you can perform further calculations using a numerical analysis program such as SPSS. Check out our interactive tutorial about using CANSIM via CHASS.

Canadian Research Index (formerly known as Microlog). 1982-
This index covers Canadian federal, provincial and municipal government publications. CRI provides good keyword access to Statistics Canada and BC STATS publications, as well as to statistical publications from other government agencies. CRI documents (MICRO JL 044 37) are shelved at the west end of the 6th floor, arranged in cabinets by Microlog number (look for microlog numbers of the format ### - #### when you are searching the index -- this is the number of the microfiche on the Library's 6th floor).  Always take a few seconds to check our catalogue and the relevant Canadian government website to see if you can get the same item in a more user-friendly format.

E-Stat
Some Canadian census data as well as access to CANSIM II.  Allows creation of customized graphs and maps.  Note that the E-Stat version of CANSIM is only updated once a year.  Use CANSIM (above) for the most current data.

PCensus. 1989-
Available on standalone machines in the Bennett and Belzberg Libraries only.
The PCensus system allows you to manipulate census data from British Columbia in a variety of ways, including comparisons with other provinces & regions or with the country as a whole.

3. Selected Periodical Publications by Topic

3.a Crime / Police

Canadian crime statistics. 1995-
Bennett Stats Canada (85-205)
Also online for SFU researchers - link from the SFU Library catalogue record.

Summary statistics. (British Columbia. Police Services Branch). 1977-1990.
Bennett Library (HV 7642 B7 P65)
For current years of this publication, see Police Services Division Publications site.

3.b Economy

Tourism sector monitor.
Formerly known as Tourism room revenue

British Columbia business indicators.
Bennett Bound Journals (1990-1999) and Belzberg (current 5 years only).

British Columbia economic accounts: 1961-1999.
Also available in a print edition: Bennett and Belzberg: 1961-1999. HC 117 B8 B67

British Columbia financial and economic review. 1994-
Bennett Reference and Belzberg Reference: HC 117 B8 B7311
Note that this site offers many other key BC economic publications.

Consumer price index. (Victoria, B.C.).
Pre-2000 issues available in Bennett: Bound Journals.

Current statistics.
Bennett: Bound Journals and Periodical Room

Exports BC origin.
Bennett: Bound Journals and Periodical Room

Major projects inventory. (Victoria, B.C.).
Older issues (to 2004) available at Bennett: Bound Journals

Quarterly report on the economy, fiscal situation and outlook. (Look for a link to the "Quarterly Report" in the General section.)
Bennett: Current year only (Current Journals area on the 6th floor).

Quarterly regional statistics. (Victoria, B.C.). 1994-
Pre-1999 issues available at Bennett: Bound Journals

Small business quarterly. (Victoria, B.C.).

3.c Elections

British Columbia. Chief Electoral Officer. Statement of votes.
1928-1991 issues available in the Bennett Library: JL 439 A15 A3

Canada votes
Bennett Reference. JL 193 A54 1989 (Book covers 1935 to 1986)
Also see Official Voting Results: JL 193 A21 (Bennett)
Results from 1996 to the present are online at the Elections Canada site

Elections Canada. Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. 1991-
Bennett Library. JL 193 A25
Also online at the Elections Canada site

3.d Employment / Labour

British Columbia earnings and employment trends.
Belzberg Library (1997-2001) and Bennett: Bound Journals (1990-1998)

Labour force statistics. (Victoria, B.C.).
Bennett: Bound Journals and Periodical Room (1990-1999 only).

Work futures : British Columbia occupational outlooks.
Bennett (1996), Belzberg Reference (2000), and Surrey Reference (2000): HF 5382.5 C2 J622

3.e Environment / Climate

Lower Fraser Valley ambient air quality report / Greater Vancouver Regional District
Bennett Reference:  TD 883.7 C2 G7411
Previous title: Ambient air quality ... annual report: Bennett: TD 883.7 C2 G741
The newest issues is also online (free)

SFU Library Research Guide: Geography - Climate & Weather

3.f Housing / Real Estate

Canadian housing statistics. 1960-
Bennett: HD 7305 A3 C4
NOTE: monthly update at  HD 7305 A3 C4 Suppl.

Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. Real estate profile. 1992-1995.
More current information is available at the FVREB site.

Rental market survey report, British Columbia.
Bennett Bound Journals: 1989-1995.

Royal LePage survey of Canadian house prices.
Online reports from 1974 to the present.
1985-2000 reports: Bennett: HD 7305 V3 M472

3.g Natural Resources / Agriculture

Agricultural land reserve statistics.
Print edition: Bennett Reference. HD 319 B8 A37 (1979/80-1997 only).

B.C. Hydro. Annual report.
Bennett Library. HD 9502 C33 B651 (print copies to until 2000/01 only)

British Columbia commercial catch statistics : by species, gear, month and area.
Bennett Reference: SH 224 B6 B721 (print copeis for 1985-1995 editions only)

British Columbia forest industry fact book.
Print edition: Bennett: HD 9764 C2 B86 (for 1984, 1988-1992, 1994 only)

British Columbia land statistics.
Belzberg Reference & Bennett Reference. HD 319 B7 B757 1996

British Columbia. Milk Marketing Board. Statistics for the month of.
Bennett: Bound Journals and Current Journals

Fisheries production statistics of British Columbia.
Print edition for 1981-1996 only: Bennett: HD 9464 C26 F581
1996 edition, and related publications, available online (free).

Mineral market update.
Print edition for 1990-1995 only: Bennett: Bound Journals.
Newer reports similar to this one are available online at the relevant BC Government ministry site.

Park data handbook.
Print issues for 1980-1997 only: Bennett: SB 484 C22 P3

3.h Population / Migration

B.C. regional district population projection.
1991 and 1993 print editions available at Belzberg Reference & Bennett Reference. HA 747 B7 B785
More current data can be found online at the BC Stats site for population projections .

Quarterly digest. (British Columbia. Division of Vital Statistics). 1991-
1991-2000 print editions available at Bennett: Lam Collection.
Also online (free) at the Vital Statistics site.

British Columbia immigration highlights.
Print editions for 1990-1999 only: Bennett: Lam Collection.

British Columbia migration highlights.
Bennett: Bound Journals and Periodical Room

British Columbia population forecast.
"1985-2006" to "1994-2021" print issues available at Bennett:. HA 747 B7 B78
More current data can be found online at the BC Stats site for population projections .

3.i Regional and Municipal

Greater Vancouver key facts : a statistical profile of Greater Vancouver, Canada.
Paper edition: Bennett and Belzberg to 1997 only.

Municipal statistics, including regional districts.
1967-2001 print issues available at Bennett: HJ 9014 B7 A261.
More recent statistics available from the Local Government Statistics part of the BC Government site.

Vancouver trends.
1990-1999 print issues available at Bennett:: HT 169 C22 V3482 (1999 issue is Bennett Reference)
1999 issue is also online (free) via the City of Vancouver site.

3.j Transportation

British Columbia Ferry Corporation. Annual report. 1978-
Bennett Library. HE 5785 B7 B75
Newest report available online (free) at the BC Ferries site.

British Columbia ... traffic collision statistics .
Print issues for 1994-1999 at Bennett Library: HE 5614.5 C2 T721
Online issues from 1995 onward available via the ICBC site.

3.k Miscellaneous

British Columbia. Liquor Distribution Branch. Annual report.
Bennett Library. HV 5080 C22 B7512.
Also online (free) from 1998 to the present at the Liquor Distribution Branch site.

Canada's culture, heritage and identity: a statistical perspective.
Bennett Stats Canada. 87-211
Also online for SFU researchers via the Index of Dowloadable Statistics Canada Publications.

Health reports.
Belzberg & Bennett Stats Canada. 82-003E
Also online for SFU researchers via the Index of Dowloadable Statistics Canada Publications.

Provincial Health Officer's annual report.
Bennett Library. RA 407.5 C3 P76

Simon Fraser University fact book.
Older print editions (2000 and earlier) available at Bennett: LE 3 S82 S65

4. Books and Pamphlets

Books

Try a keyword search in the Library Catalogue for your topic with the addition of the words statistics and British Columbia; e.g., health and statistics and British Columbia.

Here is a small selection of the sorts of books that you should find with such a search:

Analysis of status Indians in British Columbia: updated report, 1991-1997. 1998.
Bennett Library. E 78 B9 A695 1998

Fact book on aging in British Columbia
Belzberg Reference: HQ 1064 C2 F22 2000.

Income prospects of British Columbia University graduates. 2001.
Bennett Library. HD 6278 C32 B754 2001
Also online (free) [www.statcan.ca/english/research/11F0019MIE/11F0019MIE01170.pdf]

The nineteen eighties: a statistical resource for a decade of vital events in British Columbia. 1994.
Bennett Reference. RA 407.5 C3 N56 1994

Statistical record of native North Americans. 1993.
Bennett Reference. E 98 P76 S73 1993

Visible minority neighbourhood enclaves and labour market outcomes of immigrants. 2003
Bennett: HD 8108.5 A2 H68 2003

Women count: a statistical profile of women in British Columbia. 1993.
Bennett Reference. HQ 1459 B7 W592 1993

5. Style manuals

A style manual explains how to prepare term papers with a uniform format and acknowledge research sources with footnotes and a bibliography.  The following titles are just a few examples of this type of resource.  There are a great many more resources available.  Try searching the SFU Library catalogue using subjects such as Report writing, English language -- Rhetoric, and Academic writing.

SFU Library Guides to APA, MLA, Chicago Style, Citing Statistical Sources, etc.

Fit to print : the Canadian student's guide to essay writing
Bennett Reference & Belzberg Reference. LB 2369 B83 1998

How to cite statistical data (...obtained from Statistics Canada's website, the PCensus database, E-Stat, or from CANSIM via the University of Toronto's CHASS site)

A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations. 1996.
Bennett, Surrey, and Belzberg Reference. LB 2369 T8 1996