Canada: Forward Sortation Areas

The 2011 Census Forward Sortation Area (FSA) Boundary File depicts the boundaries of 1,621 forward sortation areas (identified by the first three characters of the postal code) derived from postal codesOM captured from the 2011 Census of Population questionnaires.Through analysis of the postal codesOM reported by census households, a single FSA was assigned to each dissemination block based on the most frequently reported FSA for the dissemination block. Unreported dissemination blocks were assigned an FSA based on proximity to reported dissemination blocks in the same province or territory or nearest Canada Post Corporation delivery installation.The 2011 Census FSA Boundary File provides a framework for mapping and spatial analysis. It is available in two types: cartographic and digital. The cartographic boundary file depicts the 2011 FSAs with the shoreline of the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands. The digital boundary file depicts the full extent of the 2011 FSAs, including the coastal water area.