Local Health Area (LHA) boundaries; 2022 boundary configuration. The LHAs are a mutually exclusive and exhaustive classification of the land area in BC. LHAs are contiguous (land area is geographically adjacent) and fit within an existing geographical hierarchy structure, e.g., cannot violate higher-level geography boundaries such as the Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDA) and Health Authorities (HA).

Community Health Service Area (CHSA) boundaries; 2022 boundary configuration. The CHSAs are a mutually exclusive and exhaustive classification of the land area in BC. CHSAs are contiguous (land area is geographically adjacent) and fit within the existing geographical hierarchy (cannot violate higher-level geography boundaries such as the Local Health Area).

Health Service Delivery Area (HSDA) boundaries; 2022 boundary configuration. The HSDAs are a mutually exclusive and exhaustive classification of the land area in BC. HSDAs are contiguous (land area is geographically adjacent) and fit within a geographical hierarchy structure, e.g., cannot violate higher-level geography boundaries Health Authorities (HA).

Health Authority (HA) boundaries; 2022 boundary configuration. The HAs are a mutually exclusive and exhaustive classification of the land area in BC. HAs are contiguous (land area is geographically adjacent) and fit within an existing geographical hierarchy, e.g., cannot violate lower-level geography boundaries such as the Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDA) and Local Health Area (LHA).

Community Areas are a standard analytical and service delivery geography for the city of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.Community Areas are a standard analytical and service delivery geography for the city of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.  The Community Areas geographic areas were developed by the Community Data Network (now more commonly referred to as the Winnipeg Community Data Consortium), with input from the WRHA, Manitoba Health, the City of Winnipeg, and other stakeholders. Community areas can be defined to either include or exclude the municipalities of East and West St. Paul. Because the Winnipeg RHA is defined to include East and West St. Paul, use of the geographies in a health services or health status context includes East and West St. Paul. Conversely, because the City of Winnipeg excludes East and West St. Paul, use of the geographies in a municipal administrative context excludes East and West St. Paul. This shapefile reflects the use of Community Areas in a health services or health status context, and includes East and West St. Paul.

The Indigenous Geographical Names dataset presents an extract from the Canadian Geographical Names Data Base (CGNDB) of geographical names with roots in Indigenous cultures. These geographical names reflect heritage, language, personal names, and cultural practices. Terrain and water features, populated places and culturally relevant places are geographical feature types present in the dataset. The Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC) is working to increase awareness of existing Indigenous place names and help promote the revitalization of Indigenous cultures and languages. Many more Indigenous place names exist in Canada, and this dataset will be constantly evolving as additional Indigenous place names are officially recognized and identified. The Geographical Names Board of Canada does not warrant or guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or current at all times. For more information, to report data errors, or to suggest improvements, please contact the GNBC Secretariat at Natural Resources Canada with questions or for more information. The CGNDB is the authoritative national database of Canada's geographical names. The purpose of the CGNDB is to store geographical names and their attributes that have been approved by the GNBC, the national coordinating body responsible for standards and policies on place names. This dataset is extracted from the CGNDB on a weekly basis, and consists of current officially approved names, feature type, coordinates of the feature, decision date, source, Indigenous language of origin where known, and other attributes.

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to important geographic features in the Strait of Georgia (SOG) ecoregion. This data was mapped to inform the selection of marine Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA). Experts have indicated that these areas are relevant based upon their high ranking in one or more of three criteria (Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences). The distribution of IAs within ecoregions is used in the designation of EBSAs.Canada’s Oceans Act provides the legislative framework for an integrated ecosystem approach to management in Canadian oceans, particularly in areas considered ecologically or biologically significant. DFO has developed general guidance for the identification of ecologically or biologically significant areas. The criteria for defining such areas include uniqueness, aggregation, fitness consequences, resilience, and naturalness. This science advisory process identifies proposed EBSAs in Canadian Pacific marine waters, specifically in the Strait of Georgia (SOG), along the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI, southern shelf ecoregion), and in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA, northern shelf ecoregion).Initial assessment of IAs in PNCIMA was carried out in September 2004 to March 2005 with spatial data collection coordinated by Cathryn Clarke. Subsequent efforts in WCVI and SOG were conducted in 2009, and may have used different scientific advisors, temporal extents, data, and assessment methods. WCVI and SOG IA assessment in some cases revisits data collected for PNCIMA, but should be treated as a separate effort.Other datasets in this series detail IAs for birds, cetaceans, coral and sponges, fish, invertebrates, and other vertebrates.Though data collection is considered complete, the emergence of significant new data may merit revisiting of IAs on a case by case basis.

Timing windows are the period(s) during the year when work may be carried out in and about water bodies with the lowest risk to fish and wildlife species and habitat. Timing windows and terms and conditions vary based on regional differences in fish and wildlife species and habitat, and geography. The timing window of least risk to fish and fish habitat must be applied to all activities in water bodies, as well as tributaries that have a risk of depositing sediment into water bodies. Windows of least risk are designed to protect all fish species known to occur in a water body.

This layer details Important Areas (IAs) relevant to important geographic features in the West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) ecoregion. This data was mapped to inform the selection of marine Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA). Experts have indicated that these areas are relevant based upon their high ranking in one or more of three criteria (Uniqueness, Aggregation, and Fitness Consequences).Canada’s Oceans Act provides the legislative framework for an integrated ecosystem approach to management in Canadian oceans, particularly in areas considered ecologically or biologically significant. DFO has developed general guidance for the identification of ecologically or biologically significant areas. The criteria for defining such areas include uniqueness, aggregation, fitness consequences, resilience, and naturalness. This science advisory process identifies proposed EBSAs in Canadian Pacific marine waters, specifically in the Strait of Georgia (SOG), along the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI, southern shelf ecoregion), and in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA, northern shelf ecoregion).Initial assessment of IA's in PNCIMA was carried out in September 2004 to March 2005 with spatial data collection coordinated by Cathryn Clarke. Subsequent efforts in WCVI and SOG were conducted in 2009, and may have used different scientific advisors, temporal extents, data, and assessment methods. WCVI and SOG IA assessment in some cases revisits data collected for PNCIMA, but should be treated as a separate effort.Though data collection is considered complete, the emergence of significant new data may merit revisiting of IA's on a case by case basis.Other datasets in this series detail IAs for birds, cetaceans, fish, other vertebrates, corals and sponges, and other invertebrates.This package also includes project documentation and tech reports relevant to the IA process and its role within the selection of EBSAs.

Canada’s landmass is very diversified and comprises 7 distinctive areas called physiographic regions, each of which has its own unique topography and geology. Physiographic regions are large areas that share similar relief and landforms shaped by common geomorphic processes and geological history. Physiographic regions are often used to describe Canada’s geography to show regional differences in climate, vegetation, population and the economy.This dataset collection contains three interrelated datasets mapping the location of Canada’s 7 different physiographic regions, their 21 subregions and many divisions (landforms).