Help & User guide

How we use submissions

Every dataset suggestion helps strengthen the Canadian Cultural Data Catalogue (CCDC) by improving access to information about Canada's cultural life. Once a submission is received, our research team verifies, classifies, and publishes metadata describing the dataset.

The CCDC does not host or reproduce the dataset itself. Instead, we catalogue descriptive information (metadata) that connects users to the rightful data owner or access point. This approach ensures transparency, respect for ownership, and long-term sustainability.

Our Process

1. Review and Validation
   Each submission is reviewed to ensure that it meets the definition of a cultural dataset and includes the necessary descriptive information.
2. Verification and Follow-Up
   If clarification is needed—particularly regarding data ownership, Indigenous governance, or access conditions—the team will contact the contributor.
3. Metadata Structuring
   The dataset is described using the CCDC Metadata Schema, ensuring standardization, interoperability, and clarity.
4. Taxonomy Tagging
   The dataset is then classified under one or more domains using the Cultural Taxonomy, linking it to related cultural sectors and practices.
5. Ethical and Governance Review
   If a dataset includes Indigenous knowledge or community-held information, we apply OCAP® and CARE principles. Community consent and attribution are required before inclusion.
6. Catalogue Integration and Notification
   Once the record is ready, the contributor receives an email confirming publication and a direct link to the dataset entry in the catalogue.

Limitations and Disclaimers

• No Data Hosting or Redistribution
  The CCDC does not store or distribute the data itself. It provides descriptive information and directs users to the dataset owner's website or access portal.
• Accuracy and Completeness
  Every effort is made to ensure that metadata is accurate and up to date. However, since datasets are maintained by their respective owners, the CCDC cannot guarantee data accuracy, currency, or continued availability.
• Copyright and Ownership
  All datasets listed remain the intellectual property of their respective creators or custodians. Inclusion in the CCDC does not transfer or imply any ownership, rights, or endorsement by the CCDC.
• Access and Licensing
  Dataset access and licensing conditions are determined solely by the data owner. Users are responsible for reviewing and complying with those terms before downloading, redistributing, or using the data.
• Indigenous and Community Data
  The CCDC respects Indigenous data sovereignty. Records that include Indigenous content or knowledge are listed only with appropriate permissions. Some datasets may remain partially described or withheld if full consent cannot be confirmed.
• Liability
  The CCDC provides this catalogue as a public informational resource. We cannot be held responsible for any direct or indirect damages arising from the use, interpretation, or redistribution of listed datasets.

Metadata Schema

The CCDC Metadata Schema defines how datasets are described, ensuring consistency, transparency, and interoperability. It is informed by established frameworks including Dublin Core, ISO 19115, DataCite, and University of Toronto Metadata Maturity Paper, while embedding OCAP®, CARE, and FAIR principles. This schema supports both technical precision and cultural sensitivity. It enables researchers, policymakers, and cultural practitioners to find, evaluate, and responsibly reuse datasets

Schema Structure

Each dataset record includes seven metadata components:

Standards and Interoperability

The metadata schema is designed for integration with other open data ecosystems and cultural repositories, enabling export in common formats such as DCAT-AP, JSON-LD, and CSV. Each record includes a Source of Specification, citing where definitions originate (e.g., UNESCO, Statistics Canada, CADAC, or internal CCDC schema).

The schema is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect emerging metadata standards and community feedback.

Cultural Taxonomy

The CCDC Cultural Taxonomy organizes datasets into meaningful categories that mirror Canada's cultural diversity. It synthesizes frameworks from:

• UNESCO's Framework for Cultural Statistics (FCS)
• Statistics Canada's CFCS
• Québec's QCCACS
• CADAC (Canadian Arts Data)
• Canada Council for the Arts — Fields of Practice

This unified taxonomy ensures consistency across institutional, statistical, and community-driven cultural data.

Taxonomy Structure

Hierarchical and Cross-Domain Design

The taxonomy uses a logic-tree structure that supports both hierarchical navigation and associative cross-links:

• Datasets can belong to multiple domains if they intersect (e.g., Heritage and Tourism).
• "Is-a" relationships preserve clarity for searching and filtering, while associative links support multidisciplinary analysis.

Themes (Metadata Layer)

As part of our effort to build an inclusive and adaptable cultural taxonomy, the CCDC includes Themes as a dedicated metadata field.

Themes are currently applied to enable more granular categorization of datasets. They are derived from the dataset's own description and contextual information and function in a manner similar to a tagging system. This approach allows datasets to be described in ways that extend beyond fixed cultural categories, supporting nuance, specificity, and evolving cultural contexts.

In future phases of the platform, when users are able to submit datasets directly, Themes will allow contributors to describe their datasets more precisely, particularly in cases where existing cultural taxonomy categories may not fully or accurately represent the dataset's content.

All user-submitted Themes will be reviewed by the CCDC team. Validated Themes may inform future refinements to the taxonomy, supporting the development of a more inclusive, responsive, and community-informed classification structure while maintaining overall consistency and clarity.

Inclusivity and Indigenous Representation

The taxonomy explicitly recognizes Indigenous cultural practices, community-led arts, and traditional knowledge systems as integral cultural domains.
Datasets referencing Indigenous knowledge activities are classified under both Cultural Domains and Transversal Domains to highlight governance, sovereignty, and data stewardship.

Future Development

The taxonomy will evolve alongside user contributions, partner feedback, and new frameworks emerging from Canada's cultural policy ecosystem.