Canadian Geography 1202 Unit 2.3/4: Issues influencing urban and rural areas

Where do Canadians Live? Most Canadians live in cities Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Moncton, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, St. Johns, Brantford Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Moncton, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, St. Johns, Brantford Urbanization: Increasing numbers of people choosing to live in cities. Urbanization: Increasing numbers of people choosing to live in cities. CountryUrban Population (%) 2010 Australia 89 Brazil 87 Canada 81 China 47 Hong Kong 100 Japan 67 Mexico 78

How are Urban Places Different From Rural Places? Urban: An area where a lot of people live at high density Rural: An area where people are spread out at a low density Population Centre: Describes a place with at least 1000 people and a density of greater than 400 people per square kilometer Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA’s): Large densely populated areas CommunityPopulation Hamlet Fewer than 200 Village200 – 800 Town1000 – CityGreater than Census Metropolitan AreaGreater than

Canada’s Heartland The Golden Horseshoe region of southern Ontario and the Montreal Region in Quebec are two areas popular for settlement. The Golden Horseshoe region of southern Ontario and the Montreal Region in Quebec are two areas popular for settlement. Settlers moved here because they could access the Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence Waterways Settlers moved here because they could access the Great Lakes/ St. Lawrence Waterways Over Time these two areas have become vital to Canada’s economic and industrial industries Over Time these two areas have become vital to Canada’s economic and industrial industries

Canada’s West The Pacific coast of B.C. seen the development of trading ports. The Trans-Canada Railway was important for getting settlers into the West. The Trans-Canada Railway was important for getting settlers into the West. Natural and human systems combined to settle the west. Government land gave away free land to attract settlers to the area. Government land gave away free land to attract settlers to the area.

Resource-Based Communities Only about 20% of Canadians live in Rural areas. Most of these rural communities are resource based. Business Cycle: Cycle where both good and bad times occur based on the conditions in the market of the resource produced by the community. Business Cycle: Cycle where both good and bad times occur based on the conditions in the market of the resource produced by the community. When times are good these communities grow. When times are bad these communities decline.

Urban Land Use Land Use: The term that describes what form of buildings, and activities can be placed on an areas. Land Use: The term that describes what form of buildings, and activities can be placed on an areas. There are 6 general forms of Land Use 1.Residential Land Use 2.Transportation Land Use 3.Commercial Land Use 4.Industrial Land Use 5.Institutional Land Use 6.Open Space and Recreational Land Use There are 6 general forms of Land Use 1.Residential Land Use 2.Transportation Land Use 3.Commercial Land Use 4.Industrial Land Use 5.Institutional Land Use 6.Open Space and Recreational Land Use

Residential Land Use Land used for living space. Can include low, medium or high density housing. Land used for living space. Can include low, medium or high density housing.

Transportation Land Use Land used for moving goods or people

Commercial Land Use Land that is being used for business, buying, or selling goods.

Industrial Land Use Land used for factories, warehouses, and any industries

Institutional Land Use Land used for schools, hospitals, places of worship, police, fire, government offices Land used for schools, hospitals, places of worship, police, fire, government offices

Activity: Determine the land use in the following satellite images:

Transportation: St. Johns International Airport

Residential: Cowan Heights Sr.Johns

Commercial: Avalon Mall St. Johns

Industrial: Donovans Industrial Park Mt. Pearl NL

Institutional: Confederation Building St. Johns

Commercial: West Edmonton, Mall Edmonton Alberta

Residential: Vancouver

Transportation: Highway 401 near Toronto

Institutional: Parliament Buildings, Ottawa Ontario

Industrial: Honda Factory, New Tecumseth, ON

Issues Affecting Urban Areas Service availability Population concerns Environmental impact Quality of life Service availability Population concerns Environmental impact Quality of life

Issues Affecting Urban Areas Service availability Urban areas sometimes have problems meeting the needs of their population. Urban areas sometimes have problems meeting the needs of their population. Urban areas usually develop service centers that meet the needs of the population at the time of development. Urban areas usually develop service centers that meet the needs of the population at the time of development.

New transportation routes, extensions on gas, water/sewer systems, and new service centers all need to be made to help urban areas keep services available to the population. New transportation routes, extensions on gas, water/sewer systems, and new service centers all need to be made to help urban areas keep services available to the population. Service availability As the population grows, and the urban area increases in size, people have to travel further to access these services, or the services have to travel further to reach them. Another issue is that the increase in population may cause too much stress on existing service systems and may collapse.

Issues Affecting Urban Areas As cities grow they attract people looking for employment opportunities. As cities grow they attract people looking for employment opportunities. Many of these people moving into cities do not have money, or the resources to make a living. Many of these people moving into cities do not have money, or the resources to make a living. Population concerns Essentially the issues boil down to: poverty, crowding, and employment.

Once these areas form they are hard to change as the cycle of poverty often lasts for generations. Once these areas form they are hard to change as the cycle of poverty often lasts for generations. These low income areas usually form on the outskirts of the city, however as the city grows they get consumed and become part of it. These low income areas usually form on the outskirts of the city, however as the city grows they get consumed and become part of it. Population concerns Often this creates pockets of poverty as low income areas form in cities. Often this creates pockets of poverty as low income areas form in cities.

Issues Affecting Urban Areas Environmental Impact In cities there are often more vehicles, factories, and other sources of air pollution. As cities grow they often do so on fertile soil (Ex: Toronto). When a city is placed on top of this soil it is nearly impossible to reclaim. Essentially this boils down to two things: pollution, and loss of arable land. Essentially this boils down to two things: pollution, and loss of arable land.

There is a big movement in many urban areas to reclaim some land for nature. Many cities are now taking part in community gardens where people come together to plant and care for food within the city. Urban planners try to include green space to help lower some of the impact, but this is often not enough. Environmental Impact

Issues Affecting Urban Areas Quality of life Green Space: an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes in an urban environment Green space is important because it creates a habitat for birds and animals, provides better drainage, filters air, and provides a connection to nature. Green space is important because it creates a habitat for birds and animals, provides better drainage, filters air, and provides a connection to nature. Cities need to make a trade off between profitable land uses and green space. It is not easy for all cities to set aside land for green space. Cities need to make a trade off between profitable land uses and green space. It is not easy for all cities to set aside land for green space. This boils down to basically three things: green spaces, crime, and standard of living. This boils down to basically three things: green spaces, crime, and standard of living.

However it is difficult to break the cycle of poverty experienced by residents and increase the wealth of the poor. However it is difficult to break the cycle of poverty experienced by residents and increase the wealth of the poor. Cities are always trying to increase the standard of living of its inhabitants. Cities are always trying to increase the standard of living of its inhabitants. Standard of Living: the degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community. Standard of Living: the degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community. Many cities are in a constant battle with crime. Statistically cities have higher crime rates. Quality of life

Issues Facing Rural Areas Service Availability (e.g., maintaining infrastructure, providing medical services) Population (e.g., declining tax base) Employment (e.g., impact of resource activities) Quality of life (e.g., pace of life) Service Availability (e.g., maintaining infrastructure, providing medical services) Population (e.g., declining tax base) Employment (e.g., impact of resource activities) Quality of life (e.g., pace of life)

Issues Facing Rural Areas Service availability Rural areas have great difficulty maintaining service levels. By definition rural areas have low population density, so there are less people using and paying for services. By definition rural areas have low population density, so there are less people using and paying for services. This refers to: maintaining infrastructure, and providing medical services. This refers to: maintaining infrastructure, and providing medical services.

The same example works most types of services and infrastructure (medical care, fire, police, road care). The same example works most types of services and infrastructure (medical care, fire, police, road care). Think about snow clearing; In a rural area you may have to plow 10 km of road to service 1000 people. While in an urban area you may service over people with that same distance. So while the cost of plowing 10 km of road does not change there are more people to pay for it. Think about snow clearing; In a rural area you may have to plow 10 km of road to service 1000 people. While in an urban area you may service over people with that same distance. So while the cost of plowing 10 km of road does not change there are more people to pay for it. Service availability

Issues Facing Rural Areas Population (e.g., declining tax base) A low population means there are less people paying taxes. As Canada continues to Urbanize there are less people staying in rural areas. Towns must learn to adapt to a shrinking tax base. (Less people paying taxes) This often means fewer services and/or higher taxes as the cost of available services like garbage collection is shared among the residents.

Issues Facing Rural Areas Employment (e.g., impact of resource activities) As was mentioned before rural areas are usually resource based (Which means they rely on a particular resource to function economically). This is a problem because it means that small towns are greatly affected by the business cycle (good times/bad times).

Towns need to be able to adapt to changes in the economic conditions involving their resource (closure of a fishery, mine, factory, mill). Mill closes = No work = No Families = No Children = No schools = No Teachers Mill closes = No work = No Families = No Children = No schools = No Teachers When the main source of employment in a town closes the town faces many problems, not just the people directly impacted by the closing but also those who might be indirectly impacted. Employment

Issues Facing Rural Areas Quality of life Generally the quality of life for people in rural areas depends heavily on other factors including: employment opportunities in the area, how well the local economy functioning, and availability of government assistance. Generally the quality of life for people in rural areas depends heavily on other factors including: employment opportunities in the area, how well the local economy functioning, and availability of government assistance. Quality of life in resource based towns is directly related to the quality of the resource industry. Quality of life in resource based towns is directly related to the quality of the resource industry. This refers to the pace of life in a community.

Rural living offers a slower pace of life; there is very little hustle and bustle. This attracts some people, but deters others from living in these areas. Rural living offers a slower pace of life; there is very little hustle and bustle. This attracts some people, but deters others from living in these areas. Quality of life Example: When people need coal, towns manufacturing coal do well. However when the coal runs out or demand drops the quality of life in the town drops as well.