Group Assignment Using E-Stat - 1996 Census

Getting Ethnicity & Race, Social Class and Gender Data for Local School Communities

J. Lundy & K. DeSilva
July 2002

1. group member will need to find relevant Canadian Census (1996 and some 2001) information for each school catchment area in the first practicum placement. Ensure that your group has a geographically dispersed representation (ex. small town/township – large city; inner city – suburb; Northern Ont. – Southern/Southwestern/Eastern Ont.;).
   
   

2. The assignment requires you to find Statistics Canada census data on
   1. ethnicity and race,
   2. social class,
   3. and gender based information.
      
      
3. While each member will work on her/his own area, the group should agree upon a set of relevant data variables and then produce relevant raw data for each school catchment area.  A sufficient number of tables, graphs and maps corresponding to these data should then be made in order to compare and reflect on the similarities and differences found among these data.  You will want to discuss in your group why ethnic and race, social class and gender differences are important variables for your students primarily and for you as teachers.
   
   
4. Your group may choose to present this visual information (tables and graphs) via the E-STAT program itself or import data into a spreadsheet program like Excel or Quattro Pro. Maps should, however, come from E-STAT.
   
   
5. Finally, ensure that your data are presented coherently and that you have a 4-5 page (1000-1250 words) reflection focussing on significant similarities and differences among your communities. This reflection should concentrate on ethnicity and race, social class and gender variables.
   
   
6. The format should be:
   1. Title Page (title; course code; prof. name; group names & section #)
   2. Reflections on Our Different School Communities [4-5 pages]
   3. Raw Data (Organized by; Geographic headings [ex. Data for Exeter; Data for Toronto Census Tracts #22.00-23.00, 078.00-80.00, etc.]
   4. Maps, Tables and Graphs [organized by concepts – Ethnicity, etc.]

How do I find all this information?

1. Example: City of Calgary data     [Note: NOT census tract data here]
1. Make a copy of the City of Calgary raw data example handout that is provided at the web site http://www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/lundyj/. Click on Ed & Schooling on the left hand corner of the home page, and then click on ES social variables using E-STAT. In the handout you will find most of the variables upon which you will be required to research and collect data. After looking at E-STAT you may want to add one or more variables to this list.
2. The data are categorised under each criterion (Social Class, Gender, Race and Ethnicity). This will help you to focus on what variables to use.

Use E-STAT to get the data. 

I need help in using E-STAT..!

1. In Netscape or Internet Explorer type in http://estat.statcan.ca/ in the address box and hit enter. This will take you to the E-STAT web site.  
   
   

2. Click on English and then scroll down and click on Accept.  If you are not browsing the web through the university you will be prompted to type in __________________ for the username and _____________________ for the password.  
   
   

3. You should now be on the E-STAT – Table of contents page.  
   
   

4. Now click on the DATA tab. [If you would like to read articles on the same headings you may click on  the ARTICLES tab].  
   
   

5. Under “Data” there are many subheadings, such as Economy, Land and Resources, People, Nation, Censuses of Canada, 1965 to 1871 and Elections Canada.  
   
   

6. Most of the data you will be looking at are under “People.”