Chapter 7 Human Geography of Canada Developing a

Chapter 7 Human Geography of Canada: Developing a Vast Wilderness Three major groups in Canada—the native peoples, the French, and the English—have melded into a diverse and economically strong nation. 1

Section 1: History and Government of Canada • French and British settlement greatly influenced Canada’s political development. • Canada’s size and climate affected economic growth and population distribution. 2

The First Settlers and Colonial Rivalry Early Peoples • After Ice Age, migrants cross Arctic land bridge from Asia – ancestors of Arctic Inuit (Eskimos) – Vikings found Vinland (Newfoundland) about A. D. 1000; later abandon http: //wearecanadians. wordpress. com/2011/03/14/the-inuitpeople-of-canada/ http: //www. cbc. ca/news/canada/newfoundlabrador/story/2010/07/21/viking-discovery-lanse-aux-meadows. html 3

The First Settlers and Colonial Rivalry Colonization by France and Britain • French explorers claim much of Canada in 1500– 1600 s as “New France” • British settlers colonize the Atlantic Coast • Coastal fisheries and inland fur trade important to both countries • Britain wins French and Indian War (1754– 1763); French settlers stay http: //www. google. com/imgres? q=new+france+map+1600 s &um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbnid=6 PTW 2 i 87 b. Qx 9 GM: &imgref url 4

Steps Toward Unity Establishing the Dominion of Canada • In 1791 Britain creates two political units called provinces – Upper Canada (later, Ontario): English-speaking, Protestant – Lower Canada (Quebec): Frenchspeaking, Roman Catholic • Immigrants arrive, cities develop: Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto – railways, canals are built as explorers seek better fur-trading areas 5

Establishing the Dominion of Canada • Political, ethnic disputes lead to Britain’s 1867 North America Act – creates Dominion of Canada as a loose confederation (political union) – Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick – self-governed part of British Empire • Expansion includes: – Rupert’s Land, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island – later: Yukon Territory, Alberta, Saskatchewan – Newfoundland in 1949 6

Continental Expansion and Development From the Atlantic to the Pacific • In 1885 a transcontinental railroad goes from Montreal to Vancouver • European immigrants arrive and Yukon gold brings fortune hunters – copper, zinc, silver also found; grow towns, railroads http: //trailblazer-guides. com/book/trans-canada-rail-guide 7

Urban and Industrial Growth • Farming gives way to urban industrialization, manufacturing – within 100 miles of U. S. border due to climate, land, transportation • Canada becomes major economic power in 20 th century http: //www. trailcanada. co m/destinations/cities/ 8

Governing Canada The Parliamentary System • In 1931 Canada becomes independent, British monarch is symbolic head • Parliamentary government: – parliament—legislature combining legislative and executive functions – consists of an appointed Senate, elected House of Commons – prime minister, head of government, is majority party leader • All ten provinces have own legislature and premier (prime minister) – federal government administers the territories http: //www. historyfiles. co. uk/King. Lists. Americas/Colonies. B ritish. htm Stephen Harper is the current Prime Minister of Canada. 9 http: //www. topnews. in/law/people/stephenharper? page=2

Section 2: Economy and Culture of Canada http: //www. traveltocanadanow. com/winnipeg. htm • Canada is highly industrialized and urbanized, with one of the world’s most developed economies. • Canadians are a diverse people. Winnipeg Toronto c n a V http: //www. geostoronto. com/about_city 10 http: //www. wayfaring. info/2008/12/08/vanco uver-olympics-games-2010/ r e v ou

Canada’s Primary Industries • Farming, logging, mining, fishing: 10% of gross domestic product – Canada is the world’s leading exporter of forest products http: //www. cbc. ca/news/business/story/2010/05/17/fore st-agreement. html • Mining: uranium, zinc, gold, and silver are exported • Fishing: domestic consumption is low, so most of catch is exported http: //www. gildedlife. com/2010/08/canadian-gold-maple-leaf-coins/ 11

The Manufacturing Sector • 15% of Canadians work in manufacturing, create 1/5 of GDP – make cars, steel, appliances, equipment (hightech, mining) – centered in heartland, from Quebec City, Quebec, to Windsor, Ontario 12 http: //www. canada. com/business/fp/Conference+Board+gloomy+profit+outlook/5261819/story. html

Service Industries Drive the Economy • Most Canadians work in service industries, which create 60% of GDP – finance, utilities, trade, transportation, communication, insurance – land’s natural beauty makes tourism the fastest growing service http: //www. canadaupdates. com/content/can adian-tourism-commission-gears-attracttourists • Heavy trade with U. S. : same language, open border (world’s longest) – 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with U. S. , Mexico – 85% of Canadian exports go to U. S. – 75% of Canada’s imports come from U. S. http: //www. directoryofschools. com/Canadian. Tourism-College/Travel-Agent-Training. htm 13

A Land of Many Cultures Bon jou r! Languages and Religions • Mixing of French and native peoples created métis culture • Bilingual: English is most common, except in French-speaking Quebec • English Protestants and French Catholics dominate, but often clash – increasing numbers of Muslims, Jews, other groups ! o l l e H 14

Canada’s Population • Densest in port cities (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) and farmlands • Environment keeps 80% of people on 10% of land (near U. S. border) • Urbanization: in 1900 33% of people lived in cities, today it’s 80% • Various ethnic groups cluster in certain areas – 75% of French Canadians live in Quebec – many native peoples live on reserves—public land set aside for them – most Inuits live in the remote Arctic north – many Canadians of Asian ancestry live on West Coast 15

https: //travelcanada. wikispaces. com/Population+Map+of+Canada 16

Life in Canada Today Employment and Education • Relatively high standard of living, well-educated population • Labor force is 55% men, 45% women – 75% in service industries, 15% in manufacturing http: //www. damas. ift. ulaval. ca/~beaumont/about. Laval. html • Oldest university, Laval, established in Quebec by French • English universities founded in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick in 1780 s • Today, Canada has a 97% literacy rate 17

Sports and Recreation • Popular sports: skating, ice hockey, fishing, skiing, golf, hunting – Canada has own football league; other pro teams play in U. S. leagues – native peoples developed lacrosse, European settlers developed hockey • Annual festivals include Quebec Winter Carnival, Calgary Stampede http: //www. buckinghampalacenews. com/wp/prince-william-kate-canada-details/474 18

Section 3: Sub regions of Canada • Canada is divided into four sub regions: the Atlantic, Core, Prairie Provinces, and the Pacific Province and then the Territories. • Each sub region possesses unique natural resources, landforms, economic activities, and cultural life. 19

The Atlantic Provinces Harsh Lands and Small Populations • Eastern Canada’s Atlantic Provinces: – Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland • Only 8% of Canada’s population, due to rugged terrain, harsh weather • Most people live in coastal cities such as: – Halifax, Nova Scotia – St. John, New Brunswick • 85% of Nova Scotia is rocky hills, poor soil • 90% of New Brunswick is forested • Newfoundland has severe storms 20 http: //golf-for-beginners. blogspot. com/2010/08/golf-in-coastal-provinces-of-atlantic. html

Economic Activities • New Brunswick’s largest industry: logging (lumber, wood pulp, paper) • Gulf of St. Lawrence, coastal waters supply seafood for export • Nova Scotia: logging, fishing, shipbuilding, trade through Halifax • Newfoundland: fishing, mining, logging, hydro-electric power – supplies power to Quebec, parts of northeastern U. S. http: //www. perkins-sabre. com/News/Sab-2 -066. cfm 21

The Core Provinces—Quebec and Ontario The Heartland of Canada • Quebec City: French explorer Samuel de Champlain built fort in 1608 • 60% Canada’s population live in Core Provinces Ontario and Quebec – Ontario has largest population; Quebec has largest land area http: //www. laurieroptical. com/fr/locations. php 22

Canada’s Political and Economic Center The Rideau Canal in Ottawa freezes during the winter, and is used for ice skating! 23 http: //www. planetware. com/picture/ottawa-rideau-canal-cdn 1048. htm • Ottawa, Ontario is the national capital • Quebec has great political importance in French. Canadian life • Core: 35% of Canada’s crops, 45% of minerals, 70% of manufacturing • Toronto the largest city, finance hub; Montreal second largest city

The Prairie Provinces Canada’s Breadbasket • Great Plains Prairie Provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta • 50% of Canada’s agricultural production, 60% of mineral output – Alberta has coal, oil deposits; produces 90% of Canada’s natural gas 24

A Cultural Mix • Manitoba: Scots-Irish, Germans, Scandinavians, Ukrainians, Poles • Saskatchewan’s population includes Asian immigrants, Métis • Alberta’s diversity includes Indian, Japanese, Lebanese, Vietnamese 25

The Pacific Province and the Territories British Columbia • British Columbia—westernmost province, mostly in Rocky Mountains – 1/2 is forests; 1/3 is frozen tundra, snowfields, glaciers • Most people live in southwest; major cities are Victoria, Vancouver • Economy built on logging, mining, hydroelectric power – Vancouver is Canada’s largest port, has prosperous shipping trade 26

The Territories • The three northern territories account for 41% of Canada’s land • Sparsely populated due to rugged land severe climate – Yukon has population of 30, 000; mostly wilderness – Northwest Territories has population of 41, 000; extends into Arctic – Nunavut was created from Northwest Territories in 1999; home to Inuit • Territories’ economies include mining, fishing, some logging 27

Bibliography • Mcdougal Littell, World Geography. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2012 28