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Data Services

What is the Research Data Centre?

The Research Data Centre (RDC) at the University of Regina is part of a nation-wide network of RDCs, with more than 30 university campuses. The RDC is a secure environment that allows researchers to access confidential Statistics Canada microdata files. At the University of Regina, the RDC facility is located in the Classroom Bulding 330.2, 3707 Sureau Loop.

Why Should I Use the RDC

The RDC provides access to Statistics Canada’s de-identified microdata. There will be no cost for many researchers affiliated with a collaborating institution and undertaking academic research. Researchers can review the CRDCN Access and fee-for-service (AFFS) policy when fees are applicable.. Conducting secondary analysis on these data sets can be a time effective way to access high-quality data for thesis/dissertation and other research projects. The process for acquiring approval from the Research Ethics Board is simplified by using data that has been gathered in compliance with the Statistics Act.

In addition, the RDC offers funding to PhD students who use RDC data for their dissertation, in the form of an Emerging Scholar Award.

Where is the Regina RDC?

The Regina RDC facility is located in the Classroom Building 330.2, 3707 Sureau Loop. Interested researchers can contact regina.rdc@uregina.ca to schedule a video conference call or consultation.. All analyses of Statistics Canada data must be conducted in the RDC facility; no confidential material is allowed to leave the facility. All workstations are supplied with statistical software (SAS, STATA, SPSS, and R). Users are expected to be familiar with the statistical software they are using prior to accessing the data sets.

You can contact the Regina RDC by phone(306-5854RDC) or email (regina.rdc@uregina.ca).

How Do I Access the RDC Data Sets?

Researchers and students who wish to access the RDC data sets must submit an application for approval of their project. The application process can take up to two months to be approved and requires an evaluation of the proposal by Statistics Canada and a security screening.

Step 1: Draft a project proposal. We encourage interested researchers to contact us for a pre-review before proceeding to Step 2.

Step 2: Complete the online application form on the Microdata Access Platform website

Step 3: Evaluation of the proposal by Statistics Canada

Step 4: Complete the security screening process

Step 5: Attend an orientation session, take the Oath or Affirmation of Office and Secrecy, declare any conflict of interest related to the use of the data, and sign an agreement for data access with Statistics Canada

Important Websites

Continuum of Microdata Access

From Statistics Canada

Which Data Sets are Available?

The RDC offers access to a wide range of national data sets that may be of interest to researchers and students.

This includes:

  • Health-related surveys, such as:
    • Canadian Community Health Survey
    • General Social Survey
    • Canadian Health Measures Survey
  • Disability-related surveys, such as:
    • Participation and Activity Limitation
    • Survey on Living with Chronic Conditions
    • Survey on Living with Neurologic Conditions
    • Canadian Survey on Disability
  • Social-related surveys, such as:
    • Aboriginal People's Survey
    • General Social Survey
    • Workplace Employee Survey
    • Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada
  • Population-related surveys, such as:
    • Census and National Household Survey
    • Canadian Cancer Registry
    • Administrative Data (Longitudinal Immigration Database, Cancer Registry, Birth/Death Database)

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The University of Regina is located on Treaty 4 Territory with a presence in Treaty 6 Territory. These are the ancestral lands of the nêhiyawak (Cree), Anihšināpēk (Saulteaux), Dakota, Lakota, Nakoda and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation.

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