Statistics Canada
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Summer... by the numbers
Summer
begins June 21.
Summer is a time for people across Canada to venture outdoors and engage in summer activities such as gardening, boating and swimming or to just relax and enjoy the great outdoors.
For students, summer is an opportunity to gain work experience.
Canadians typically explore parts of the 10 million square kilometres that make up this country, whether sightseeing or to visit friends and family. They may also explore other parts of the world, or just their own backyard.
Many Canadians love music, the theatre and the nation's diverse cultures. Lucky for them, there are many cultural, music and arts festivals across the country, in communities big and small. (See Canadian Multiculturalism Day.by the numbers for more on ethnic diversity.)
The first day of summer-the summer solstice-also marks National Aboriginal Day, a celebration of Canada's aboriginal peoples.
Here are some facts on summer and assorted topics related to the season.
Smog
Summer smog events are often linked to heat waves-when light winds allow pollution to accumulate, and sunshine and high temperatures contribute to smog formation.
Although health effects caused by exposure to ozone and smog are generally higher during the warm season, "winter smog" caused by particulate matter is also a significant concern.
Human activities contributing to air pollution include the use of motor vehicles, fossil fuel combustion for residential and industrial purposes, thermal-electric power generation and wood burning for residential home heating.
One-quarter - The proportion of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions generated by transportation activities in 2004.
758 megatonnes - The estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions released in Canada in 2004.
27% - The increase from 1990 to 2004 in the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released in Canada.
The production and consumption of energy (including road transportation, oil and gas industries and fossil fuel-fired electricity generation) accounted for 82% of total Canadian emissions in 2004 and 91% of the growth in emissions from 1990 to 2004.
0.9% - The average increase per year of the ozone indicator at the national level from 1990 to 2004.
Sources: Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators; Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators: Highlights; "Human activity and the environment: Transportation", The Daily, Thursday, November 9, 2006.
Warm summer days
The average temperature from 1971 to 2000 for the summer months of June, July and August, for selected locations:
| Month | |||
| June | July | August | |
| °C | |||
| Halifax | 15.0 | 18.6 | 18.4 |
|
Montréal |
17.7 | 20.5 | 19.2 |
|
Ottawa |
18.3 | 20.9 | 19.5 |
|
Toronto |
17.8 | 20.8 | 19.9 |
|
Calgary |
13.8 | 16.2 | 15.6 |
|
Vancouver |
15.2 | 17.5 | 17.6 |
|
Yellowknife |
13.5 | 16.8 | 14.2 |
|
Iqaluit |
3.6 | 7.7 | 6.8 |
Source: Human Activity and the Environment: Annual Statistics, 2006.
Keeping cool
16% - The percentage of households in Canada reporting a window air conditioner in 2005.
28% - The percentage of households in Canada reporting central air conditioning in 2005.
Source: Summary tables, Selected dwelling characteristics and household equipment.
7% - The percentage of households in Canada reporting expenses on playground equipment, above-ground pools and accessories in 2005.
Source: CANSIM, table 203-0010 (Survey of Household Spending).
(Statistics Canada does not have specific data on the number of homes with in-ground or above-ground swimming pools.)
Time off
14 - The average number of days of paid vacation leave available to employees in Canada in 2003.
11 - The average number of days of paid vacation taken by employees in Canada in 2003.
Vacation leave entitlements and the actual number of days of vacation leave taken by employees vary according to gender, age, occupation group, educational attainment and hourly wage.
Source: Data from the Workplace and Employee Survey provided by the Labour Statistics Division.
Getting away from it all
115.3 million - The number of nights spent away from home by Canadians travelling within the country between July and September 2005.
60.1 million - The number of nights spent in private accommodations during the third quarter of 2005. More than a quarter of these nights were spent at privately owned cottages.
17.3 million - The number of nights spent at campgrounds during the third quarter of 2005. For comparison, 14.8 million nights were spent in hotels and motels.
Source: "Domestic travel", The Daily, Wednesday, October 25, 2006.
Explore Canada.
77.2 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to visit relatives.
53.0 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to visit friends.
35.2 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go sightseeing.
16.8 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go to a bar or nightclub.
13.6 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to visit a national or provincial park.
12.2 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go swimming.
8.2 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go boating.
7.8 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to attend a festival, fair or exhibition.
6.4 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go fishing.
5.6 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to visit a casino.
5.3 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to visit a theme or amusement park.
4.8 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go cycling.
4.2 million - The number of trips taken by Canadians in 2004 to go golfing.
Source: CANSIM, table 426-0006 (Travel Survey of Residents of Canada).
Camping and other outdoor activities
$100 - The median spending by the 16.7% of Canadian households that purchased camping, picnic equipment and accessories (excluding barbecues) in 2005.
$19,500 - The median spending by the 0.2% of Canadian households that purchased motor homes in 2005.
$10,000 - The median spending by the 0.9% of Canadian households that purchased travel trailers in 2005.
$2,900 - The median spending by the 0.2% of Canadian households that purchased tent trailers in 2005.
$2,400 - The median spending by the 1.2% of Canadian households that purchased boats or canoes in 2005.
$1,600 - The median spending by the 0.5% of Canadian households that purchased outboard motors and personal watercraft in 2005.
$4,500 - The median spending by the 1.2% of Canadian households that purchased all-terrain vehicles in 2005.
$300 - The median spending by the 7.4% of Canadian households that sent their children to camp in 2005.
Source: CANSIM, table 203-0010 (Survey of Household Spending).
Summer nuptials
About three-fifths of all weddings in Canada during 2003 took place during the summer.
12% - The proportion of couples (17,117 couples) who exchanged vows in June 2003.
15% - The proportion of couples (21,495 couples) who exchanged vows in July 2003.
21% - The proportion of couples (30,321 couples) who exchanged vows in August 2003.
For comparison, January was the least popular month, with 2.6% of marriages in 2003.
Source: CANSIM, table 101-1001 (Marriages); "Marriages", The Daily, Wednesday, January 17, 2007.
Summer jobs
For many students, summer jobs represent an extension of hours from positions held during the school year. During the summer months, however, students are also more likely to be working in the goods-producing sector, especially in manufacturing, construction and agriculture.
Summer employment for students has improved only moderately over the past eight years. Employment rates in the summer of 2005 averaged 51.7% for students planning to return to their studies in the fall, compared to 46.9% in the summer of 1998, and remains far from the peak reached in the summer of 1989 when 61.4% of students were employed.
Source: Education Matters, "Students in the labour market", April 2006.
1.2 million — The average number of students (four-month average) who held summer jobs during the months of May, June, July and August 2006.
Source: Labour Force Survey.
Summer down on the farm
27,617,300 tonnes - The estimated production of tame hay, harvested from 6,771,100 hectares in Canada in 2006.
Source: CANSIM, table 001-0010 (Field Crop Reporting Series).
Hay is the second largest crop in Canada and is gaining on wheat with an increase in area of just over 9% since 2001. Western Canada grows 73.4% of the total hay area.
Low commodity prices, coupled with high input costs, have led to a shift from annual crops-such as wheat and barley-to lower-cost perennial forages such as alfalfa, tame hay, and improved pasture in many provinces.
Source: 2006 Census of Agriculture, Snapshot of Canadian agriculture.
8,329 - The number of fruit and tree-nut farms in Canada in 2006, up from 7,743 in 2001.
5,239 - The number of vegetable and melon farms in Canada, up from 5,031 in 2001.
Source: 2006 Census of Agriculture, Farm data and farm operator data, Data tables, Agriculture overview, Farms classified by industry group.
A big lawn to mow!
58,945 acres - The total sod area in 2006. Sod is in high demand for golf courses, homes and parks.
$128 million - The value of sod sales recorded by growers in 2006.
Source: "Greenhouse, sod and nursery industries", The Daily, Friday, May 25, 2007.
Flowers and plants
$1.52 billion - The value of sales of flowers and plants in Canada in 2006. The largest purchasers of these products were wholesalers, followed by consumers.
$679 million - The value of sales of potted plants in Canada in 2006. The most popular potted plants were geraniums and tropical varieties.
230 million square feet - The area dedicated to growing greenhouse products in Canada in 2006. Slightly more than half of the area was used for growing flowers and plants, while the remaining 48% was for vegetables.
65% - The proportion of total greenhouse sales made up by sales of flowers and plants in Canada in 2006.
35% - The proportion of total greenhouse sales made up by sales of vegetables in Canada in 2006.
$2.34 billion - The total greenhouse sales reported by operators in Canada in 2006, the best year ever.
569,551,300 - The number of ornamental bedding plants produced in Canada in 2006.
465,370,700 - The number of vegetable plants produced in Canada in 2006.
$826.9 million - The value of sales of greenhouse vegetables in Canada in 2006, the majority of which were sold to wholesalers.
Tomatoes generated the highest revenue, followed by peppers and cucumbers.
55,735 acres - The total area of Canada's plant nurseries in 2006.
$595.2 million - The value of nursery sales in Canada in 2006. The largest buyers of nursery stock were landscapers and garden centers, providing just over half of all revenues to nurseries.
Nursery stock includes annual and perennial plants ranging from woody plants (e.g. trees, shrubs, rose bushes) to bedding plants and potted outdoor flowers.
Source: Greenhouse, sod and nursery industries, 2006.
Summer cruisin'
86.7 billion kilometres -The distance driven (on average) by vehicles registered in Canada during the July to September quarter, the busiest quarter or the year.
The next busiest quarter (April to June) averages 80.7 billion kilometres.
These distances are based on the quarterly average for years 2000 to 2006.
Source: "Canadian Vehicle Survey", The Daily, Tuesday, March 6, 2007.
10.1 - The fuel efficiency of light vehicles, expressed in litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, during the summer. The best fuel efficiency is achieved during summer months when the weather is warmer and more travel is done on highways.
12.7 - The fuel efficiency of light vehicles, expressed in litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, during the winter. Engines generally require more fuel when the weather is colder.
Source: "Canadian Vehicle Survey", The Daily, Thursday, October 6, 2005.
484,903 - The number of motorcycles and mopeds registered in Canada in 2006.
Source: Summary tables, Motor vehicle registrations.
Moving Day
July 1 is Canada Day, but for many people in the province of Quebec-especially in Montréal-the date marks moving day! Of course, people in Canada do move from one apartment to another, or into a new home, on various dates throughout the year.
1.6 million - The approximate number of Canadians who moved between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005. This was up 3% from a year earlier.
285,500 - The number of people who moved from one province or territory to another in 2004/2005.
1 million - The approximate number of people who moved from one census division to another within the same province or territory. (A census division is similar to a county or a regional municipality.)
(These data include only people who moved between census metropolitan areas or census divisions as well as those who moved into or out of the country. Moves within the same city or town are excluded.)
1st - The rank of Calgary relative to other census metropolitan areas (CMA) when it came to the net inflow of people in 2004/2005.
Relative to the size of its population, Calgary had the highest net inflow of 21.1 people for every 1,000 people living there, followed by Toronto with 16.2 and Vancouver with 15.4. Alberta saw a huge influx of people from other parts of Canada, reflecting the robust provincial economy.
Source: "Migration", The Daily, Wednesday, September 27, 2006.
Summer drinks
52 litres -The volume of tea consumed per person in Canada in 2006. Although this amount would include hot tea, surely some of the amber brew has been poured over ice with a dash of sugar and lemon, and garnished with a mint leaf during the summer!
85 litres - The volume of soft drinks consumed per capita in Canada in 2006, continuing a downward trend. Conversely, energy and sport drink consumption has been on the rise in recent years.
77 litres - The volume of beer consumed per person (over 15 years of age) in Canada in 2006.
14 litres - The volume of wine consumed per person (over 15 years of age) in Canada in 2006.
7 litres - The volume of spirits consumed per person (over 15 years of age) in Canada in 2006.
Source: Food Statistics, 2006.
Have fun during summer activities. but be careful!
251 - The number of people in Canada of all ages who died of accidental drowning and submersion in 2004.
This number includes:
15 - Drowning and submersion into swimming-pool
2 - Drowning and submersion following fall into swimming-pool
80 - Drowning and submersion while in natural water
31 - Drowning and submersion following fall into natural water
6 - Diving or jumping into water causing injury other than drowning or submersion
104 - Water transport accidents.
Insects and other dangers
3 - The number of deaths by contact with hornets, bees and wasps in Canada in 2004.
1 - The number of deaths by contact with a power lawnmower in Canada in 2004.
1 - The number of deaths of victims of lightning in Canada in 2004.
407 - The number of deaths of pedestrians injured in a transport accident in Canada in 2004.
68 - The number of deaths of pedal cyclists injured in a transport accident in Canada in 2004.
199 - The number of deaths of motorcycle riders injured in a transport accident in Canada in 2004.
1,080 - The number of deaths of occupants of car, pick-up truck or van, heavy transport vehicle or bus injured in a transport accident in Canada in 2004.
2 - The number of deaths in Canada as a result of exposure to sunlight in 2004.
4 - The number of deaths in Canada as a result of exposure to excessive natural heat in 2004. For comparison, 107 people died of exposure to excessive natural cold.
Source: CANSIM, table 102-0540 (Death Database).
3,954 - The number of new melanomas of the skin (skin cancer) cases in 2003 in Canada (2,139 males and 1,815 females).
Source: CANSIM, table 103-0543 (Canadian Cancer Registry).
Celebrate Canada!
Sunday, July 1, 2007 is Canada Day-a day to celebrate 140 years since Confederation.
3,463,000 - The population of Canada in 1867.
Source: Historical Statistics of Canada.
31,612,897 - The population of Canada in 2006.
Source: "Population and dwelling counts, 2006 Census", The Daily, Tuesday, March 13, 2007.
32,852,800 - The estimated population of Canada as of April 1, 2007.
Source: "Canada's population estimates", The Daily, Thursday, June 28, 2007.
1,130,761 - The population of the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolitan area, according to the 2006 Census.
For more census data on this metropolitan area or for a city, town or municipality in your part of the country, see 2006 Community profiles or 2001 Community profiles.
For information on this page or more data, contact Media Relations.
