Canada's 'enthusiasm' for census brings down StatsCan website
#Census2016 trends across the country one week before Census Day
On Monday, Statistics Canada began mailing out access codes to Canadians to complete the 2016 census online by May 10.
But for some eager citizens, waiting one whole week for Census Day to come was too much to bear.
Not only did some people open their census letter right away, they posted it to Twitter.
Welcome back, evidence based policymaking tool. <a href="https://t.co/Q7tdAFYGlo">pic.twitter.com/Q7tdAFYGlo</a>
—@IdilBuraleAs a professor...no, scratch that. As a Canadian, I am *so glad* to see this in the mail. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/bcpUJx6dKh">pic.twitter.com/bcpUJx6dKh</a>
—@SteveUBCGot this in the mail & may have squealed. Never thought Government paperwork could get me this excited. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/LxWviSmaUS">pic.twitter.com/LxWviSmaUS</a>
—@DysthymicDadHow about a #CensusSelfie?
Nerd party for one. Filled out <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a>! Yay for evidence-based policy! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/censusselfie?src=hash">#censusselfie</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canlab?src=hash">#canlab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/goc?src=hash">#goc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nerd?src=hash">#nerd</a> <a href="https://t.co/BHfXag7trc">pic.twitter.com/BHfXag7trc</a>
—@ArielTrosterCanadians on Twitter were nerding out so hard about the census that the hashtag #Census2016 trended nationwide
People of the world, tonight Canadians are geeking out about filling out the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a>. I love this nation of nerds. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItMakesCensus?src=hash">#ItMakesCensus</a>
—@timtomchI'm such a nerd. Can't wait to get home and see if the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/census?src=hash">#census</a> arrived! <a href="https://t.co/yLZowTKaGo">https://t.co/yLZowTKaGo</a>
—@nenshi<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> is trending on Twitter. So proud to see Canadians excited to get back to reliable data for evidence based decision making.
—@MartyStJean(•_•)<br><) )╯Data<br> / \<br><br>\(•_•)<br> ( (> Driven<br> / \<br><br> (•_•)<br><) )> Decision making<br> / \<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a>
—@kat_tothBut even after you get your letter from Statistics Canada, one question remains. Are you one of the lucky Canadians to be picked to fill out the newly restored long-form census?
One in four randomly selected households in Canada will receive the 36-page long-form questionnaire known as the National Household Survey. For the rest, the census is a mere 10 questions long.
Awwwww, I only got the short form. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/census?src=hash">#census</a>
—@EmmMacfarlaneWhen you realize you got the long-form census. Three cheers for evidence-based public policy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/census?src=hash">#census</a> <a href="https://t.co/560TDB6cpz">pic.twitter.com/560TDB6cpz</a>
—@kylekirkupWhen you see people talking about the long form <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> and you got the short form <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/GIJfk4C67k">pic.twitter.com/GIJfk4C67k</a>
—@Jackstar009Is all this census love a little too much?
Based on tweets in my feed, Wayne R. Smith, Chief Statistician of Canada, is Canada's Beyonce. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census?src=hash">#Census</a>
—@ALL_CAPSUm, not quite.
I completed my census! Have you? – Wayne Smith, Chief Statistician <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2016Census?src=hash">#2016Census</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZuaIohgee3">pic.twitter.com/ZuaIohgee3</a>
—@StatCan_engBoth versions of the census are mandatory. Failing to provide census information could result in a fine of up to $500, imprisonment of up to three months, or both.
For this reason, not everyone was so enthusiastic about filling out the questionnaire.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> asked if I suffered from anxiety- considering they threatened jail time if I didn't fill out my form, I'd say yes.
—@jendeclinesyouMany people tweeting about the census noted errors on the Statistics Canada website, and most of them attributed this to high traffic volume.
Just completed long form <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> , or so I thought. Looks like Canadians smothered the system w/ love&affection <a href="https://t.co/OcVQCDcs2J">pic.twitter.com/OcVQCDcs2J</a>
—@RolinaOttCanada, you crashed the census page! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DataNerds?src=hash">#DataNerds</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Xn4pX4ryA">pic.twitter.com/2Xn4pX4ryA</a>
—@ChrisDcaIt looks like so many Canadians were excited to get a proper census back that we broke the servers. We broke the servers, folks! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a>
—@DrJayDrNoCanadians filling out <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a> so eagerly the website crashes <a href="https://t.co/l8txaXJm61">pic.twitter.com/l8txaXJm61</a>
—@Miss604Statistics Canada confirmed Tuesday morning that the website was down for 45 minutes because of Canadians' "enthusiasm" for the census.
StatsCan confirms to CBC News that service to census website was interrupted for 45 min. last night. Thanks Canadians for 'enthusiasm.' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hw?src=hash">#hw</a>
—@CBCPoliticsThanks Canadians for responding in such high numbers. The site was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, but we are back! <a href="https://t.co/SnxAmqTRSr">https://t.co/SnxAmqTRSr</a>
—@StatCan_engWill this day go down in history?
I look forward to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/heritageminute?src=hash">#heritageminute</a> about the day we crashed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Census2016?src=hash">#Census2016</a>
—@MFletcherMA