THE CANADIAN SHIELD
By Samson, Zach, and Jeremy
Where is the Canadian Shield?
Geography
- Makes up nearly half of Canada’s land
surface
- Stretches from Arctic Islands in the North to
the Canadian-USA Border
- Covers parts of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec
and North West Territories
- Cities include Sudbury, Ottawa, Montreal,
Quebec, Iqaluit, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg.
Geology
• Is one of the oldest landforms in the world
• Over Millions of years, weathering and erosion,
especially from Glaciers, wore the land down to
flat bare rock, lakes and wetlands
• Thin Soil makes area unsuitable for farming
• Once a volcanic mountain region
• Most of the rocks in the area have been changed
into metamorphic rocks by heat and pressure
• Created many Valuable minerals such as Copper, Gold, Lead,
Diamonds, Platinum and Nickel
Economic Region
• Canadian Shield
Economic Development
• 1. Aboriginal people such as the Cree hunted, gathered
and fished (traditional economy)
• 2. Europeans came to Canada and started the Fur Trade,
which became dominant
• 3. Forestry and pulp & paper industry became important
Economic Development (Cont.)
• Mines and smelters - important sine early 20th century
• Sault Ste. Marie - Algoma Steel has dominated local
economy since 1901
Current Economy
• Relies heavily on natural resources
• Very sensitive to international prices -
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•
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commodities produced fluctuate in
price due to global supply-anddemand
Resources eventually run out and
mines shut down
Communities around mines struggle
to survive once they mines close up
i.e. Schefferville, Quebec, 1981 - Iron
Ore Company of Canada closed
because the prices for iron were too
low to make a profit
4000 people left Schefferville after
this happened
Current Economy (Cont.)
• Solution to the aftermath of shut down mines - nearby
communities don't rely on mines
• Mining companies fly in employees and equipment from
other areas
• Workers stay for 2-3 weeks in temporary camps
• When the mine shuts down, the mine is removed
Challenges
• Mines have produced dangerous stockpiles of mineral
waste, known as tailings
• Refining operations have produced high levels of sulphur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides, leading to acid rain
• Water systems, plants and wildlife are all affected by acid
rain
Population Growth
• Many larger mining cities, such as Sudbury, have
developed tourism, recreation, and retirement facilities