Library and Archives Canada is in the process of extracting from outdated storage devices, and then preserving, the datasets of studies undertaken by federal departments. The studies, covering a wide range of topics-including the environment, health, and immigration–are being made available on the Open Data portal. To learn more about the structure of the data, see Open Data: Providing access to historical Government of Canada studies.

In the coming months, Library and Archives Canada will be releasing the following datasets:

Alouette I synoptic data

The data result from radio sounding of the ionosphere by the Alouette I satellite. The data sets being released relate to data collected from May 1, 1963, to December 31, 1966.

Water Survey of Canada

The Water Survey of Canada has been collecting and publishing hydrometric data since 1908. Five categories of data were collected between 1908 and 1979:

• FLOW files – historical daily, monthly and annual streamflow data from stations across Canada
• LEVELS file – historical daily, monthly and annual water level data from stations across Canada
• HYDEX file – descriptive information for hydrometric gauging stations (streamflow and water level)
• PEAKS file – annual maximum instantaneous discharges or water levels from some 1,400 gauging stations across Canada
• SEDEX file – historical daily mean suspended sediment concentrations in milligrams per litre from gauging stations across Canada

Food Prices Review Board

The results from several food price studies undertaken between 1973 and 1976 will be released:

• Average retail food prices in major cities across Canada
• Availability of comparative price information and effects on consumers’ purchasing decisions
• Price data on dairy foods in major cities across Canada
• Costs and benefits of meat specials merchandizing practices
• Beef and pork prices in major cities across Canada