Canada Information
The name Canada comes from an Iroquoi Indian name “kanata” which means village.
Capital Ottawa (Population of Ottawa 1.3m)
Canada’s Population 35.2 million (2013) Most Canadians live within about 100 miles of the US border
Government/Political Parties Parliament w/2 houses (Senate & House of Commons) Chief Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II
Government Continued Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories
Canada’s Leader Today Prime Minister Stephen Harper – Conservative Party (Oct. 2011won 2 nd term)
Economy of Canada 1. Work: fishing, farming, manufacturing, tourism, forestry 2. Canada is the #2 trading partner for USA 3.Minerals: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, fossil fuels
Economy Continued 4. Hydro electricity 5. Very high standard of living
Money Canadian Dollar: $.95 Canadian dollar = $1.00 US Dollar
Land and Climate 1. 2 nd largest country land size in the world (Russia is 1 st ) 2. Prairie Provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba (main crop is wheat!)
Land/Climate continued 3. Maritime Provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Land/Climate Continued Climate zones: Marine West Coast, Sub-arctic, Ice Cap, Humid Continental, Semi-Arid, Highland
Religion Catholic – 42% Protestant – 40% Eastern Orthodox – 2% Jewish – 2% Other – 14%
Languages 2 Official languages: French & English English -- 75% French – 25% (spoken in Quebec & called Quebecois!)
Holidays Christian Holidays (Christmas, Easter, etc) Victoria Day Thanksgiving – 2 nd Monday in October Boxing Day – December 26 Guy Fawkes Day – 11-4
Sports & Recreation Ice hockey Skiing Soccer Basketball Football Rodeo (Calgary Stampede)
Foods Fish and dairy products Tea Fruits/veggies (short growing season) French fries w/gravy (called Poutine)
Ethnic Groups British – 40% French – 27% Inuit – 2% Other Europeans – 20%
Inuit Pictures
Current Events 1. trade issues – NAFTA 2. Separation of Quebec 3. Environmental Issues 4. Inuit Indians – Territory of Nanuvat given to Indians
Grand Banks 1. World’s largest fishing grounds 2.Labrador current mixes w/ Gulf Stream produces plankton for fish to eat
Grand Banks Continued 3.Off SE coast of Newfoundland 4. Continental Shelf slowly drops off
Bay of Fundy 1. Separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia 2.Has highest tidal flow in the world 3.Rises/drops 60 ft. each time tide changes
Bay of Fundy Cont. 4.Creates 6ft wave each time tide changes 5.Scientists trying to create Hydropower from the tidal surges
Bay of Fundy Pictures
St. Lawrence Seaway Located b/t Canada and USA
St. Lawrence Seaway Combination of locks/canals 183 mi. long Handles US & Canadian trade from May- November Seaway freezes the rest of the year
The End