Size
Second largest country on earth
10 million square kilometres
Population
About 34 million people
Majority live in cities
Capital
Ottawa, Ontario
4th largest metropolitan area
Three Oceans:
- • Pacific Ocean - West
- • Atlantic Ocean - East
- • Arctic Ocean - North
Atlantic Canada's coasts and natural resources have made these provinces important to Canada's history. Cool winters and cool humid summers.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Most easterly point, own time zone. Known for fisheries and offshore oil/gas. Labrador has hydro-electric resources.
Prince Edward Island
Smallest province. Known for beaches, red soil, potatoes. Birthplace of Confederation. Connected by Confederation Bridge.
Nova Scotia
Most populous Atlantic province. Halifax is largest east coast port. World's highest tides in Bay of Fundy.
New Brunswick
Only officially bilingual province. Founded by United Empire Loyalists. One-third population lives and works in French.
More than half of Canadians live in Central Canada - the industrial and manufacturing heartland. Together, Ontario and Quebec produce more than three-quarters of all Canadian manufactured goods.
Quebec
Nearly 8 million people, mostly along St. Lawrence River. More than 3/4 speak French as first language.
- • Main producer of pulp and paper
- • Largest producer of hydro-electricity
- • Leaders in pharmaceuticals and aeronautics
- • Montreal is 2nd largest French-speaking city after Paris
Ontario
More than 12 million people - over 1/3 of all Canadians. Toronto is largest city and main financial centre.
- • Large percentage of Canada's exports
- • Niagara region known for vineyards and wines
- • Largest French-speaking population outside Quebec
- • Five Great Lakes between Ontario and USA
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are rich in energy resources and have some of the most fertile farmland in the world. Mostly dry with cold winters and hot summers.
Manitoba
Economy based on agriculture, mining, hydro-electric power. Winnipeg's Portage and Main is Canada's most famous intersection. Largest Aboriginal population (15%+).
Saskatchewan
"Breadbasket of the world" - 40% of Canada's arable land. World's richest uranium and potash deposits. Regina is RCMP training academy home.
Alberta
Most populous Prairie province. Largest oil and gas producer. Oil sands in north. Vast cattle ranches. Five national parks including Banff (1885).
British Columbia
Canada's westernmost province with 4 million people. Port of Vancouver is gateway to Asia-Pacific.
- • Half of all goods produced are forestry products
- • Most valuable forestry industry in Canada
- • Known for mining, fishing, Okanagan Valley fruit/wine
- • Most extensive park system (600 provincial parks)
- • Large Asian communities - Chinese and Punjabi widely spoken
- • Victoria is capital and navy Pacific fleet headquarters
One-third of Canada's land mass but only 100,000 people. "Land of the Midnight Sun" - 24 hours daylight in summer, 3 months darkness in winter.
Yukon
Gold Rush of 1890s. Mining remains significant. White Pass and Yukon Railway. Coldest temperature in Canada (-63°C). Capital: Whitehorse.
Northwest Territories
Yellowknife is "diamond capital of North America." More than half population is Aboriginal. Mackenzie River is 2nd longest in North America.
Nunavut
"Our land" in Inuktitut. Established 1999. 85% Inuit population. Inuktitut is official language. Capital: Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay).
- • Know all provinces/territories and capitals
- • Learn the five regions
- • Understand each region's characteristics
- • Know major cities and geographic features
- • Remember population distribution
- • Learn about natural resources