1. Interactions with the Physical Environment
Canada’s Population Patterns and Trends

2. Patterns and Trends
Geographers are always on the lookout for patterns and trends
Being able to identify patterns and trends can help you understand why something is where it is, and why this matters
Patterns: arrangement of objects on Earth’s surface in relationship to each other
Trend: a noticeable change in a pattern over time

3. Population Concentration
Isodemographic maps show population distribution within a country (and comparison with other countries)
They can also be used to show distribution within province

4. Population Concentration- Provinces

5. Population Concentration
Within Canada where do most people live- rural or urban areas?
What is rural?
What is urban?

6. Population Concentration
In Canada 80% if our population live in urban centers.
Why?
Most of these people live in cities that have more than 100,000 people
Areas with population concentrations of more than 100,000 people are called CMAs- census metropolitan areas
CMAs can include close municipalities combined- example: Toronto includes York, Peel, Halton and some of Durham region

7. Population Concentration
There is a tremendous variety of communities in Canada
Describe the characteristics of the following communities:

8. Mississauga

9. Fort McMurray, AB

10. Burgeo, NFLD

11. Ottawa, ON

12. Population Concentration
Population Distribution Map- populations of an area are shown indicating the amount of people in the area
On the map handout, the populations of the CMAs are shown by circles- the bigger the circle, the bigger the population
Elsewhere the population is shown by small dots
Once again- the circles indicate CMAs and the small dots are cities under 100,000 people

13. Population Concentration
Continuous Ecumene: the part of the country where there is continuous, permanent settlement.
Discontinuous Ecumene: the part of the country where there are significant patches of settlement.