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.
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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.
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The First Settlers and Colonial Rivalry
Early Peoples
• After Ice Age, migrants
cross Arctic land bridge
from Asia
– ancestors of Arctic Inuit
(Eskimos); North
American Indians to south
• 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/newfoundlandlabrador/story/2010/07/21/viking-discovery-lanse-aux-meadows.html
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The First Settlers and Colonial Rivalry
Colonization by France and Britain
• French explorers claim much of
Canada in 1500–1600s 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+1600s
&um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbnid=6PTW2i87bQx9GM:&imgref
url
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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
• Rupert’s Land a northern area
owned by fur-trading company
• Immigrants arrive, cities develop:
Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto
– railways, canals are built as explorers
seek better fur-trading areas
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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
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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
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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
20th century
http://www.trailcanada.co
m/destinations/cities/
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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
http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsAmericas/ColoniesB
ritish.htm
• All ten provinces have own legislature
and premier (prime minister)
– federal government administers the
territories
Stephen
Harper is
the
current
Prime
Minister of
Canada.
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http://www.topnews.in/law/people/stephenharper?page=2
Section 2: Economy and Culture of Canada
http://www.traveltocanadanow.com/winnipe
g.htm
• Canada is highly industrialized and urbanized, with one
of the world’s most developed economies.
• Canadians are a diverse people. Winnipeg
Toronto
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http://www.wayfaring.info/2008/12/08/vanco
uver-olympics-games-2010/
http://www.geostoronto.com/about_city
An Increasingly Diverse Economy
The Early Fur Trade
• Beginning in 1500s Native Americans, now known as
the First Nations:
– begin trade with European fishermen along Atlantic coast
• French and English trappers and traders expand
westward
• Voyageurs—French-Canadian boatmen transport pelts
to trading posts
http://www.nps.gov/voya/historyculture/the-fur-trade.htm
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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/
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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
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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/CanadianTourism-College/Travel-Agent-Training.htm
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A Land of Many Cultures
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
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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
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https://travelcanada.wikispaces.com/Population+Map+of+Canada
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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/aboutLaval.html
• Oldest university, Laval, established
in Quebec by French
• English universities founded in Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick in 1780s
• Today, Canada has a 97% literacy
rate
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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
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http://www.inuit.com/?p2=/modules/xgalleries/showgallery.jsp&curAlbId=48
The Arts
• Earliest literature from oral
traditions of First Nations peoples
• Later writings from settlers,
missionaries, explorers
• Early visual arts seen in Inuit
carving, West Coast totem poles
• Early 1900s painting: unique style
of Toronto’s Group of Seven
• Shakespeare honored at Ontario’s
world-famous Stratford Festival
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Canada’s Political and Economic
Center
The Rideau Canal in
Ottawa freezes during the
winter, and is used for ice
skating!
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http://www.planetware.com/picture/ottawa-rideau-canal-cdn-cdn1048.htm
• Ottawa, Ontario is the national
capital
• Quebec has great political
importance in FrenchCanadian 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
– Alberta has coal, oil
deposits; produces 90% of
Canada’s natural gas
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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
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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
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The Territories
• The three northern territories account for
41% of Canada’s land
• Sparsely populated due to rugged land
and 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
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Bibliography
• Mcdougal Littell, World Geography. Houghton
Mifflin Company. 2012
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