Words to know
inquiry question
An open question that guides an investigation and needs evidence and reasoning to answer.
primary source
First-hand information: your own survey, interviews, photos, field observations, or raw data such as census tables.
secondary source
Information that interprets or summarizes primary sources: news articles, reports, textbooks.
geospatial technology
Tools for collecting and analysing location data: GIS, GPS, satellite imagery, online mapping.
GIS (geographic information system)
Software that layers maps and data so you can analyse patterns and relationships.
synthesize
Combine findings from several sources into one clear overall understanding.
transferable skill
A skill you can use in many jobs and situations, such as data analysis, critical thinking or communication.
demographer
A specialist who studies population data and makes projections.
Hook: your town is a data set
Everything in this unit (age structure, diversity, migration, density, quality of life) can be studied in your own community. In this lesson you'll walk through a complete geographic inquiry with a model, then plan your own. You'll also meet people who use these skills for a living.
Model inquiry: Is our community ready for an ageing population?
Step 1: Formulate questions (A1.1). Main question (evaluative): How well is our town prepared for its growing number of seniors? Supporting questions: What share of residents are 65+, and how has it changed since 2011? (patterns and trends) Where do seniors live in town, and how close are clinics and bus stops? (spatial significance) How do seniors, caregivers and young families see the town's services? (geographic perspective)
Step 2: Gather and organize (A1.2). Secondary: Statistics Canada Census Profiles (2011, 2016, 2021) for the town; the town's official plan; local news. Primary: a short survey of seniors at a community centre (with permission); a walk to map benches, ramps and bus stops; an interview with a home-care worker. Diverse perspectives: include seniors who are newcomers, Francophone seniors, Indigenous Elders (through the local Friendship Centre, respectfully and with permission), and people with disabilities.
Step 3: Interpret and analyse (A1.3, A1.4). Check credibility: is the survey sample big enough? Is a news article an opinion piece? Build a line graph of % aged 65+ over three censuses, and a map (paper or GIS) showing clinics, bus routes and where seniors live.
Step 4: Evaluate and conclude (A1.5). Synthesize: "The share of seniors rose each census. Most clinics are downtown, but many seniors live in outer neighbourhoods with no bus on weekends." Judgement: partly prepared. Prediction: without changes, more seniors will struggle to reach health care by 2031.
Step 5: Communicate (A1.6). Audience: town council. Format: a 3-minute presentation with one graph, one map and three recommendations, plus a reference list.
Checking credibility, including AI (A1.3)
For each source, note: author (who?), purpose (inform, persuade, sell?), date, evidence (data with sources?) and bias (whose voice is missing?).
If you use an AI tool to brainstorm questions or summarize, treat its output as a starting point: verify every fact in an original source, never cite the AI as the source of data, and say in your work how you used it if your teacher allows it.
Skills and careers (A2.1, A2.4)
A population inquiry builds transferable skills: asking good questions, analysing data, using spreadsheets and maps (STEM and geospatial skills), judging sources, writing and presenting clearly, and working with people who hold different views.
Careers that use them:
- Demographer or statistician: projects population and analyses census data (for example at Statistics Canada).
- GIS analyst or geomatics technician: builds maps and spatial data sets for cities, utilities and governments.
- Urban or regional planner: decides where housing, schools and transit go as communities grow.
- Land surveyor: measures property boundaries and land for new developments.
- Settlement worker or community developer: helps newcomers and plans services.
- Public health analyst: studies how health differs across neighbourhoods and groups.
- Skilled trades: a growing population needs homes, schools and hospitals, so carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators and other trades are in demand. Tradespeople read site plans and maps, measure precisely, and plan around community growth. Retirements of baby boomers in the trades add to the demand.
Hands-on activityPlan your own population inquiry
You need: a notebook or document; an adult to help with online research and any interviews.
- Choose an issue in your community: ageing, newcomers, housing, a school closing or crowding, young people leaving, a growing Indigenous population, or Francophone services.
- Write one main question (evaluative or predictive) and three supporting questions, each using a different concept of geographic thinking.
- List two secondary sources and one primary source you could use, and whose perspectives each represents.
- Sketch the graph or map you would make.
- Choose an audience (council, school, family, local newspaper) and a format.
- Name two careers (including one skilled trade) that work on this issue.
Look for: a focused main question, sources with diverse perspectives, a sensible visual, and a realistic audience. Bonus: carry out one step, such as building the census graph.