Human Geography of Canada
Developing a Vast Wilderness

History and
Government of
Canada
Objective

The student will examine
Canadian expansion and
development and be able to
describe Canadian
government.
Places and Terms
 province
 Dominion
of Canada
 confederation
 parliamentary government
 parliament
 prime minister
The First Settlers and Colonial Rivalry




Canada’s vast size & cold
climate affected it’s
development.
Early people migrated
after the last Ice Age,
many being the ancestors
of the Inuit (Eskimos)
16th & 17th Century:
Colonization by France &
Britain.
Coastal fisheries & fur
trade important to both
countries.
Britain and France in Canada

Two Cultures

Roman Catholic French
 Lower

Canada (Quebec)
Protestant English
 Upper
Canada (Ontario)
Britain and France in Canada

Establishing the Dominion of Canada

1867: British North America Act



A loose confederation of Ontario & Quebec as well as
Nova Scotia & New Brunswick
Had self-government but remained part of British Empire
with Ottawa as the capital
Expansion of Dominion was rapid
Continental Expansion
1872: Construction of transcontinental
railroad
 Not long after the completion of the
railroad gold was found in Yukon which
brought people from all over the world to
seek their fortune
 As a result of the transcontinental railroad
many towns developed.

Governing Canada
Canada was recognized as an independent
nation by Britain in 1931
 Parliamentary Government

Legislative & Executive functions are
combined into “parliament”
 Canada is independent but it’s symbolic head
of state remains the British Monarch
 Majority party’s leader in parliament becomes
“Prime Minister”

Review Questions
Why did France and Britain fight?
 Why was the Dominion of Canada formed?
 What brought immigrants to Canada in the
late 1800s?
 How is it determined who heads the
government?

Human Geography of Canada
Developing a Vast Wilderness

Economy and
Culture of Canada
Objective

The student will identify
economic power and examine
cultural diversity in Canada.
Places and Terms
 First
Nations
 métis (may-TEES)
 reserve
Economy and Culture of Canada


Fur trade was a major
economic activity in
early Canada
First Nations Canada’s native
peoples began fur
trade with European
Fisherman during the
16th century
Economy and Culture of Canada





Primary Industries: Farming, logging, mining, & fishing
Only 5% of land suitable for farming
Biggest export: Forest products
Three ocean coastlines give ample access to fishing
industry
North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA signed
in (1994) allowed the United States and Canada to trade
goods easily. These two countries share the largest open
border in the world.
Economy and Culture of Canada

Canada is officially a bilingual country



English speaking majority
French speaking minority
Only in Quebec is French spoken in the majority
Economy and Culture of Canada



Sports and Recreation
Canadians enjoy sports
such as skating, ice
hockey, fishing, skiing,
golf, and hunting are
popular.
The First Native peoples
developed the game of
lacrosse.
Human Geography of Canada
Developing a Vast Wilderness

Subregions of
Canada
Objective

The student will examine the
subregions of Canada.
Places and Terms
 Atlantic
Provinces
 Quebec
 Ontario
 Prairie
Provinces
 British Columbia
 Nunavut
Subregions of Canada


Canada is divided into ten provinces and three
territories
Atlantic Provinces include Prince Edward
Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, & St.
John
Subregions of Canada




Core Provinces include Quebec and Ontario,
which sustain three out of every five Canadian
residents
Prairie Provinces are part of the Great Plains of
North America.
Pacific Provinces include British Columbia and
the three territories
Nunavut was carved out of the eastern half of
the Northwest Territories and is home to many
of Canada’s Inuit
Map Activity




Using a piece of computer paper draw Canada
and label all ten provinces and three territories.
Label the following areas – Ottawa, Toronto,
Quebec, St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, Winnipeg,
Calgary, Vancouver, Edmond, Pacific Ocean,
Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay
Reference pages 154, 157, and Atlas – p.11
Ask teacher for markers, map pencils, or other
supplies