Urbanization of Canada
and the World
Canadian Geography 120
Mr. D
What is an Urban area?

Statistics Canada defines an
urban area as a place with 1000
or more people and a population
density of 400 or more per
square kilometre
What attracts people to
cities?
Jobs
 Stores
 Schools
 Universities
 sports facilities
 Relatives
 Friends
 world important events

Sports and Urbanization

Many people learn about certain
cities because of sports teams
(ex. Montreal Canadiens,
Toronto Blue Jays)

The Olympic Games have been
held every four years except
when a world war has
intervened. They are always
associated with a host city.
Wealth and Urbanization

The world’s wealth is
concentrated in cities – banks,
stock exchanges, insurance
companies – Most financial
companies are headquartered in
great cities (New York, Tokyo,
London, Toronto)
History of Urban Growth

The first cities appeared in the TigrisEuphrates river basin (Mesopotamia) –
now a part of Iraq – between 4000
and 3000 B.C.

Development in trade, industry, art,
science, and culture to influenced
other cities growth. Some cities
(Babylon, Rome, Constantinople) grew
to be mighty empires

European cities disappeared after the
fall of the Roman Empire and many
people lived in the country sides

The Industrial Revolution in the 19th
century brought explosive growth in
the urban population of Europe
History of Urban Growth
(continued)

The Industrial Revolution
improved energy sources
and developed new
manufacturing technologies
(waterwheels, windmills,
steam engines – electricity
provided power for great
factories)

Urban areas began to
dominate every nation’s
economy and culture
Urbanization in Canada

Until the 1700s there were no large
urban settlements in Canada.

In the 1800s there was some growth
around sites where power was
available (Montreal, Trois Rivieres),
fur trade centres (Winnipeg,
Edmonton, Thunder Bay), defence
sites (Halifax, Vancouver), and places
where minerals could be found
(Sudbury).

In 1871 only 19% of Canadians were
in the cities. By 1930 it was 50%. By
1976 76% of Canadians lived in the
city. Since then the percentage has
stayed about the same
CMAs

CMA – census metropolitan area (ultra
large urban centre)

A significant trend in Canada is the
increasing dominance in national life
of a few CMAs

CMA is any place that:




has a large urbanized core
is surrounded by urban or rural areas that
are closely integrated (socially or
economically) with the core
must have a population of at least 100 000
Today there are 25 CMAs in Canada
Distribution of Canadian
Population in CMAs

The western CMAs are growing most
quickly (Edmonton and Calgary in
particular)

CMAs especially dominate in Ontario

Half of Canada’s population lives in the
country’s 20 largest urban areas; near
Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver

Urban centres are very important to
Canada, but only two rank in the
world’s top 100 in terms of population:
Toronto (61st) and Montreal (66th)
Questions

Why do you think some people would prefer
to live in a small town rather than a large
metropolitan area?

Do you expect to live in a city after you
complete your education? Explain why or
why not.

List at least five Canadian towns and cities,
noting their most famous professional or
amateur sports teams. Compare your list
with those of your classmates.

List the Canadian CMAs that you and your
classmates have visited or lived in during
the past two years. Note two positive and
negative aspects of each CMA that has been
visited