May 11 is Census Day in Canada. For pollsters, the census is an irreplaceable tool used every day in our work. We use it to make sure our survey samples are representative of the population. We use it to help model data, and it helps us tell the story of changing demographics and behaviours in Canada.

Last week, I lucked out and was invited to complete the long-form census. It was 20 minutes of pure enjoyment. I know, I know – I need to get a life.

My guest on this episode of inFocus is Canada’s Chief Statistician – Anil Arora. Mr. Arora was appointed the head of Statistics Canada in September 2016.

On the deadline to complete the 2021 census, we talked about the importance of the census, how decisions about what is asked are made, and how the way data is collected is changing. We also dig into what Statistics Canada has done over the pandemic and its plan to improve how it captures data on race, gender, and sexual orientation.