This post is part of the #StateChallenge run by @Denise_Barlock and @jayasimha78, in which I’ll be the guest host representing Canada on February 26, 2022 at 11:30am EST (NYC). Join the #StateChallenge Google Group to participate in this and future events.
See the Facebook event page here
“Canada” is most likely the derived from the Huron-Iroquois Aboriginal work “kanata” meaning “village” or “settlement”. This was the term used to describe the area when the French explorer Jacques Cartier first explored in 1535. The land of present day Canada were originally inhabited by the Indigenous (First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples).
Initially the “Province of Canada” (now known as the provinces of Ontario & Quebec) began a union with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on July 1, 1867 known as the Confederation. Prior to this date, Britain controlled these regions. The “British North America Act” (BNA) was the result of the London Conference that took place in December 1866 and became law on July 1, 1867 creating the “Dominion of Canada”. Sir John A. Macdonald became Canada’s first Prime Minister.
Of the 72 resolutions made in the BNA, it was stated that Canada would have a single federal government as well as individual governments in each of the provinces. At the federal level, there would be a House of Commons and a Senate.
After Confederation, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories were created in 1870 and became part of the confederation. The Northwest Territories split into 4 regions known today as Yukon (1898), Alberta and Saskatchewan (1905) and Nunavut (1999). Later to join the Confederation of Canada; British Columbia (1871), Prince Edward Island (1873), Newfoundland and Labrador (1949).
The Canada Act (also known as the Constitution Act of 1982) was approved by British Parliament on March 25, 1982 and given Royal Assent on March 29 (115 years to the day after her great grandmother Queen Victoria approved the federation act of 1867) and then proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II on April 17, 1982. This made Canada wholly independent from Britain.
Geography & Fun Facts:
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Total area: 9,984,670 km2, the second-largest country in the world.
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Land border: 8,890-km border with the United States, the longest international border in the world.
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Coastline: 243,042 km on three oceans, the longest coastline in the world.
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Number of islands: 52,455.
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Highest tide: Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, with a mean large tide of 16.1 m, the world’s highest tide.
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Highest mountain: Mount Logan, in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon, 5,959 m.
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Longest river: Mackenzie River, 4,241 km from its furthest source to its ultimate outflow.
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Coldest recorded temperature: –63°C at Snag, Yukon, on February 3, 1947.
Population:
- Total population is almost 39 million
- Just under 22% represent immigrants with over 200 ethnic origins (highest in the G7 countries and only second in the world to Australia)
- Calculated population density is 3.8 people per sq/km
- 2/3 of the total population live within 100km of the southern border with the USA which is only about 4% of the total land area.
Languages:
- Two official languages are English & French
- Other languages reported as “mother tongue” from the foreign-born population include Chinese languages (13%), Tagalog (Filipino), Spanish, Punjabi, Arabic, Italian, German, Portuguese, Persian (Farsi), and Polish.
- Given that the Canada is over 5,500km wide, even English speaking, Canadian born people have many accents and dialects in various regions across the country
Time Zones:
- There are a total of 6 time zones that range from UTC-3:30 to UTC-8
- Most areas but not all also observe Daylight Savings Time
- Newfoundland is the only time zone which is offset by 30 minutes
The provinces and territories are grouped into 5 regions:
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Atlantic - Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia & New Brunswick
- Population: 2.5M (6%)
- Newfoundland and Labrador is the oldest colony in the British Empire
- Known for fishing, forestry, mining & farming
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- Population:23.6M (61%)
- Main area for industry and manufacturing in Canada
- Produces 85% of the world’s supply of Maple syrup
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Prairie - Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Alberta
- Population: 7.1M (18%)
- Mainly known for farmland, beef cattle, oil & gas, mining and hydro-electric power generation.
- Terrain is very, very flat with only Alberta beginning as the foothills to the Rocky Mountains
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West Coast - British Columbia
- Population: 5.3M (14%)
- Lumber, mining and fishing are it’s major industries.
- Weather ranges between extremes due to the drastic rise in elevation between the Pacific coastline and the height of the Rockies.
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Northern - Nunavut, Northwest Territories & Yukon Territory
- Population: 130k (0.3%)
- Landmass is about 1/3 of Canada
- Natural resources include gold, lead, copper, diamond and zinc.
- Known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. During the height of summer, daylight can last 24 hours. However, in winter, darkness sets in for three months.
Food:
From coast to coast to coast, there is such a diversity of traditional food as well as endless inspiration from world-wide cuisine that we are so lucky to experience. Here are a few truly Canadian foods:
- Jigg’s Dinner - Newfoundland
- Poutine, A Quebec Icon (@Melissa_Langlois)
- Maple Syrup - anything maple flavour (it’s on our flag!)
- Beaver Tails - not actually made from beavers
- Saskatoon Berries - pie, jam, syrup, wine, muffins (better than blueberries)
- Butter Tarts
- Peameal bacon - commonly referred to as “Canadian Bacon”
- Salmon
Sports:
- Canada has 2 recognized national sports: Hockey & Lacrosse.
- There are many other popular sports that include baseball, football, soccer, skiing, golf and tennis.
- Basketball was invented by a Canadian.
Other articles worth reading:
- WHAT MAKES CANADA’S CHARISMA (@OlgaSmile)
- Road Trip Cross Country Canada (@rochenmc)
- Why I am proud to share my love for Montreal on Google Maps? (@LuisMGonzalez)
- I’ve been capturing Canada Coast to Coast (@ThisIsMeIn360VR)
Sources:
