Manitoba | history - geography - province, Canada | Britannica.com province, Canada Gregory Selinger (New Democratic Party) Date of admission Time zone Central (GMT − 6 hours) Manitoba, province of Canada , one of the Prairie Provinces , lying midway between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The province is bounded to the north by Nunavut territory, to the northeast by Hudson Bay , to the east by Ontario , to the south by the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota , and to the west by Saskatchewan . Manitoba contains more than 100,000 lakes, including Lake Winnipeg , one of the world’s largest inland bodies of fresh water. More than two-fifths of the province’s land area is forested. Winnipeg , Manitoba’s largest city, is the capital. The province’s name comes from an Indian word meaning “the god who speaks.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Northern lights, Churchill, Man., Can. © Altrendo Nature/Getty Images Manitoba became Canada’s fifth province when the area that had been the Red River Settlement was admitted to the confederation in 1870.

The present-day province straddles the boundary between the Prairie and Central Canada, and it has both a large agricultural sector and a topography similar to those of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta . It also has a mixed economy, an urban orientation, and a multiethnic character, all of which are more like Ontario than the Prairie West. While other areas of the Canadian West have experienced economic cycles of boom and bust, Manitoba has maintained a steadier pace. Similarly, the province’s political and cultural life has largely avoided the extremes that tend to characterize western Canadian society. Area 250,116 square miles (647,797 square km), of which about one-sixth is inland water. Pop. (2011) 1,208,268. Land Relief, drainage, and soils Extreme southern Manitoba is part of the Saskatchewan plain, a land of rich, level prairies and rolling pastures.

The Manitoba Lowland to the north is the basin that once held glacial Lake Agassiz , remnants of which include Lake Winnipeg (9,416 square miles [24,387 square km]), Lake Winnipegosis (2,075 square miles [5,374 square km]), and Lake Manitoba (1,785 square miles [4,623 square km]). Upland plateaus, wooded river valleys, limestone outcrops, forests, and swamps mark the area that is drained by the Red River of the North and the Assiniboine River into Lake Winnipeg. Much of this river region is a natural floodplain, which has often been inundated. Modern flood-control measures (particularly the Red River Floodway and the Portage Diversion) have mitigated the problem. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Seven Oaks Massacre Caribou, Arctic foxes, martens, wolves, otters, lynx , red squirrels, and mink live in the northern forests; deer, moose , cougars, elk, black bears, beavers, weasels, raccoons, red foxes, coyotes, and muskrats inhabit the more southerly areas. Polar bears roam along Hudson Bay. Grouse, prairie chickens, and other game birds live in the uplands, and millions of geese and ducks breed in Manitoba’s sloughs and ponds. Fish include bass, pickerel, sauger, pike, trout , and whitefish. Beluga whales inhabit Hudson Bay. People Population composition Manitoba is home to a number of North American aboriginal groups, including the Assiniboin and Ojibwa Indians (First Nations) in the south, the Cree and Chipewyan Indians in the north, and the Inuit (aboriginal Arctic people of Canada, called Eskimo in the United States) on the Hudson Bay coast. The aboriginal peoples have occupied the region for thousands of years, although historically there has been considerable population movement.

In addition, their numbers were greatly reduced as a result of exposure to European diseases, particularly smallpox. In the early 19th century the Métis (people of mixed Indian and European ancestry, whom the Canadian government granted legal recognition as a native group at the beginning of the 21st century) developed a unique plains culture . The early agricultural Red River Settlement attracted a number of Scottish farmers, and improvements to river and rail transportation led to the rapid growth of European settlement between 1870 and 1900. Most early settlers were from elsewhere in Canada, but Icelanders and German-speaking Mennonites also arrived beginning in the 1870s. After 1896 immigration from eastern Europe began in considerable numbers. Manitoba’s population declined during the Great Depression in the 1930s and World War II but grew steadily thereafter, largely through natural increase. Manitoba is noted for its ethnic diversity . There are many ethnic enclaves within the city of Winnipeg. Notably, the north end of the city retains a strong eastern European character, and the St. Boniface district has one of the largest Francophone communities outside Quebec .

Francophones established a number of communities south of Winnipeg; Germans settled in south-central Manitoba; and a sizable Icelandic settlement developed around Gimli, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Although more than two-fifths of the current population is of British descent, significant ethnic minorities include Germans, Ukrainians, French, South Asians, Italians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and Poles. Roman Catholicism and the United Church of Canada are the largest religious denominations, although there are substantial numbers of Anglicans , Lutherans , Mennonites , and adherents to Eastern Orthodoxy and the Ukrainian Catholic ( Eastern rite ) church, plus many smaller groups. Winnipeg’s Jewish community is the largest in the Prairie Provinces. Settlement patterns In the south, Manitoba’s countryside has an older, more occupied look than those of the other Prairie Provinces. The development of the Red River Settlement in the 19th century gave the early province a distinctly rural character. The rapid occupation of the agricultural lands between 1870 and 1914 and subsequent expansion into the Interlake and northwest areas maintained the rural dominance. During World War II, however, the rural-urban balance tipped.

Since then, the depopulation of rural Manitoba has continued apace, and Winnipeg and the province’s network of smaller urban centres have grown accordingly. By the turn of the 21st century, nearly three-fourths of the province’s population was urban. Over four-fifths of this urban population (and about three-fifths of the total population of the province) resides in metropolitan Winnipeg. Other than Winnipeg, the province’s main towns are Brandon , an industrial and agricultural centre serving the southwest; Thompson , a nickel-mining and nickel-processing town in the northern forest; The Pas, a trading and communications centre on the Saskatchewan River ; Flin Flon , a mining centre near the Saskatchewan border; Churchill , a trans-shipment centre and port on Hudson Bay; Dauphin , a regional service town in west-central Manitoba; Selkirk, the centre of commercial fishing and water transportation on Lake Winnipeg; and several service towns, such as Steinbach and Morden, in the southeastern region. Brandon, Man.

Malak, Ottawa Demographic trends Mainly because Manitoba’s economy faltered in the late 20th century, at least by comparison with the economies of other western Canadian provinces, there has been a steady out-migration of young people and professionals to other provinces—especially the Canadian West. Immigration to the province now comes mainly from less-developed countries. Manitoba’s population also has become consistently older since the end of World War II. The province’s birth rate is slightly higher than the national average. As a result of all of these factors, Manitoba’s population was barely growing at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. Economy Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Agriculture remains an important sector of the Manitoban economy, though climate and soil types limit agricultural production; indeed, some marginal areas, including the Interlake District, have been farmed for several generations with little success. A significant portion of the province lies north of the 53rd parallel, where the Canadian Shield begins, and has an extremely short growing season.

While much of the agricultural production is grain for export, a sizable market gardening sector (cultivation of vegetables and flowers for sale in nearby markets) has developed in the lands bordering the Red and Assiniboine rivers. In addition, poultry, hogs, and cattle are raised throughout the southern districts of the province, and the livestock sector has grown significantly. Wheat remains the province’s main crop; others include barley, rapeseed (canola), flaxseed, oats, rye, sugar beets, sunflowers, corn (maize), and canning vegetables. Dairy products, eggs, and potatoes are also important. Field of sunflowers on a farm in the Assiniboine River valley near Carberry, Manitoba. E. Otto/Comstock Forestry is a key factor in northern Manitoba’s economy. More than one-fourth of the province’s landmass supports valuable timber, although there has been much devastation from forest fires. Manitoba also has a specialized commercial fishing industry, primarily located around the major lakes—Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Winnipegosis. Resources and power The province has a range of resources to draw upon, which has allowed it to diversify its economic base.

Numerous mineral deposits, including nickel, copper, gold, lead, silver, cadmium, and zinc, make mining a vital part of the economy. Oil and natural gas have been found in the southwest, particularly around Virden, although the fields are relatively small. Manitoba also has a huge network of streams, rivers, and lakes with considerable potential for hydroelectric development. Manitoba Hydro, the government-owned utility, has developed a number of large power stations along the Nelson and Saskatchewan rivers, and a portion of the power generated is exported. Moreover, Manitoba has arguably the best wind resources in North America , which the province is in the process of developing. Grand Rapids hydroelectric power station on the Saskatchewan River at its influx at the … George Hunter Manufacturing Manufacturing has overtaken agriculture as the largest sector of the province’s economy. The traditional industries are chiefly involved with resource processing: meatpacking, flour milling, and the production of lumber, pulp, and paper. Distilling, printing, textile manufacture, and nickel and copper ore smelting also remain important. Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, the economy was supplemented by technology industries, including the manufacture of aeronautical systems, computers, and electrical equipment.

Although no single industry dominates the Manitoba economy, many communities are dependent upon only one industry. In general, Manitoba’s non-resource-based industries are located in the Winnipeg area, while those based on resource processing are found throughout the province. Services, labour, and taxation The service sector has become the largest single part of Manitoba’s economy. Winnipeg, once the commercial centre for western Canada, remains a major financial centre and home to the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange as well as other financial institutions, including insurance companies. The growth of government services also has contributed to the expansion of Manitoba’s service sector, as has tourism, which increased steadily at the end of the 20th century, although the province’s distance from the centres of North American population remains a drawback. Sportfishing is particularly vital to Manitoba’s tourist industry. Government revenues are derived largely from taxation and federal grants, with a small portion coming from fees and royalties on hunting, fishing, and oil, as well as from other sources. Transportation and telecommunications Because of its central location, Manitoba has long been a focus for transportation activity. The construction of transcontinental railways after Manitoba joined the confederation in 1870 stimulated much development in the region.

With the growth of roadways and the decline in passenger train traffic in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, however, many branchlines in outlying areas have been abandoned. The province has an extensive network of major highways running east to west (including the Trans-Canada Highway ) and north to south, supplemented by secondary gravel roads. The home of many of Canada’s major trucking companies, Manitoba has attempted to exploit the north-south corridor opened by international free-trade agreements. Winnipeg was once the service headquarters for Trans Canada Airlines, the predecessor of Air Canada , and remains a major hub for air travel. Scheduled flights carry travelers from Manitoba airports to major Canadian centres and the United States, while nonscheduled operators provide service to isolated areas of Manitoba. The railway port and former military base of Churchill on the shore of Hudson Bay provides a short, direct sea route to Europe. The port is open for only 10 weeks, in late summer, however. Waterborne freight traffic plies Lake Winnipeg in summer, and isolated northern communities and logging and mining camps are served by sled trains and vehicles designed for winter roads. Manitoba Telecom Services is the principal communications carrier in the province.

It began as a government monopoly and was privatized in 1996. It now faces stiff competition from other wireless providers. Government and society Constitutional framework Manitoba derives its authority from the Canadian constitution and the Manitoba Act of 1870. The lieutenant governor of Manitoba, appointed by the (federal) governor-general in council, represents the crown; the duties of this office are largely honorary and ceremonial. The functioning head of the government is the premier. The unicameral legislature sits for five years or until dissolved by executive action. The Legislative Building (centre), Winnipeg, Man. Tourism Canada; photograph, E. Bork Municipalities are incorporated by the province, and local administration is under provincial control. Each municipality is governed by a council headed by a mayor or reeve. Local government districts are governed by provincial administrators. Greater Winnipeg, consolidated into a single administrative unit in 1972, has an elected mayor and council. Provincial policing is handled by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police , except in Winnipeg, which has its own police force. Health and welfare The people of Manitoba enjoy a relatively high standard of living and access to a wide range of government services.

Sanitation and water-delivery systems are part of an extensive public health and safety service. The province oversees medical and hospital insurance programs and provides all Manitobans with free medical insurance. Manitoba has an extensive hospital network, with most specialized services available in Winnipeg or in regional centres. The province also maintains a substantial social welfare infrastructure . Health care and its improvement are among the major political issues in the province. Education Elementary, secondary, technical, and vocational schools and universities are a provincial responsibility. Schools are administered by elected boards under the supervision of the Department of Education and are financed by government grants and local taxes. After French-speaking Manitobans fought for their linguistic rights, French was reinstated as a language of instruction in 1970, and immersion programs for non-Francophones became extremely popular, with a doubling of the number of French-speaking Manitobans between the 1970s and ’90s. Manitoba has four universities. The University of Manitoba in Winnipeg is the major academic institution and home to most professional schools. Chiefly an undergraduate institution in arts and sciences and education, the University of Winnipeg is noted for its Institute of Urban Studies. Brandon University is located in the southwestern part of the province.

Canadian Mennonite University, an amalgamation of three smaller colleges, was established in 1998 in Winnipeg. Community colleges based in Winnipeg, The Pas, Portage la Prairie, and Brandon operate campuses throughout the province. Cultural life Manitoba’s diverse population has created a rich and varied cultural life. Ethnic groups—European, Asian, and aboriginal—maintain vigorous attachments to their traditional cultures through schooling, dance, art, music, and crafts. Winnipeg exhibits a variety of cultures; the towns and villages of the southwest have a strong, uniformly British tradition; and ethnic enclaves throughout the province reflect the pattern of initial settlement. Manitoba is noted for its efforts to retain minority languages. Arts and cultural institutions Manitobans have a reputation for supporting cultural agencies. Winnipeg is home to a number of major artistic institutions: the internationally famous Royal Winnipeg Ballet , the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Rainbow Stage, Le Cercle Molière, and the Winnipeg Art Gallery. A major centre in downtown Winnipeg houses a concert hall and a planetarium, as well as the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature.

Manitoba also played an important role in the development of rock music in Canada. In the mid-1960s community clubs in Winnipeg provided crucial venues for a generation of aspiring musicians that included Neil Young and the quintessential Canadian rock band the Guess Who. Important modern writers include Margaret Laurence and Gabrielle Roy . Painters of note include Ivan Eyre and William Kurelek. Manitoba’s most distinguished composer was Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté. The province maintains a strong sense of its past. The Manitoba Historical Society is the leading agency in that regard. The Archives of Manitoba is a major repository for historical documents, including the collection of the Hudson’s Bay Company. There are dozens of historical museums in the towns and cities of the province, as well as a number of historic sites, including the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, located just north of Winnipeg, and York Factory National Historic Site on the shores of Hudson Bay. Manitobans sponsor and support an exceptional array of community and cultural festivals. Among the more important are the Winnipeg Folk Festival; Folklorama, also in Winnipeg; Gimli Icelandic Festival; the National Ukrainian Festival at Dauphin; the Festival du Voyageur in St.

Boniface; and the Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival at The Pas. Sports and recreation Professional sports franchises include the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian (gridiron) Football League and a minor league baseball and hockey team. Curling is an important winter sport. In addition to hockey, other major participant sports include baseball, football (soccer), cross-country skiing, fishing, and hunting. Manitoba has one national park, Riding Mountain, and numerous provincial parks. Media and publishing Manitoba is served by a number of daily and weekly newspapers, of which the most important are the Winnipeg Free Press and the Brandon Sun. There is a small but lively publishing industry centred in Winnipeg. History The fur-trade era Aboriginal (Indian [First Nations] and Inuit) peoples, who had lived in the Manitoba region for thousands of years, first came in contact with Europeans through the fur trade. Explorers searching for the Northwest Passage reached Hudson Bay in 1610, when Henry Hudson navigated the east side of the bay to which he gave his name. He was followed by a number of adventurers, including Thomas Button (1612), Jens Munk (1619), and Luke Fox and Thomas James (1631).

As a result of the opening of the fur trade in Hudson Bay by French Canadian adventurers Pierre Radisson and Médard Chouart des Grosseilliers, the Hudson’s Bay Company was incorporated in England in 1670 and granted a monopoly over the fur trade in an area designated as Rupert’s Land . The Hudson’s Bay Company established a number of posts along the bay. The company faced tremendous competition from French traders, who, led by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye , reached the Red River in the early 1730s and established a series of posts in the area, including Fort Rouge on the present site of Winnipeg . The French forced the Hudson’s Bay Company to expand inland, but the British traders were unable to compete successfully with other traders based in Montreal who eventually organized as the North West Company . That company’s agents, known as Nor’westers, came overland into the region and wintered with the aboriginal peoples to facilitate fur trading with them. The agents also worked closely with the Métis and resisted the British company’s attempts to establish an agricultural colony at Red River. Several decades of intense competition between the British and French Canadian traders ensued.

The bitter, often violent competition culminated in the Seven Oaks Massacre of 1816. Increasing violence and declining profits forced the two firms to merge into the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1821. Settlement The successful settlement of the western United States in the 19th century encouraged expansionists in Central Canada to look to the western regions of British North America as Canada’s natural hinterland. The agricultural potential of the vast prairie lands west of Red River was documented by two scientific expeditions in 1857: the Palliser Expedition, commissioned by the British government and led by John Palliser, and the (Henry Youle) Hind expedition, authorized by the government of Canada. Negotiations between the Hudson’s Bay Company, the British government, and the government of the new Dominion of Canada resulted in an agreement in 1869 to transfer Rupert’s Land to Canada. In 1870, under the Manitoba Act , the territory joined the confederation as a province; the remaining lands were designated the Northwest Territories . The federal government encouraged western settlement by providing land to would-be settlers.

There was an initial rush to the new province, but the absence of a rail connection to markets reduced the attractiveness of the region. Construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway had reached Manitoba by the early 1880s; however, settlement was delayed by a Métis uprising in 1885 and further slowed by the continued availability of homestead lands in the United States. Nevertheless, some settlers did come during this period, among them Ontario farmers, Mennonite immigrants, and Icelandic peoples. At the turn of the century, immigration to Manitoba boomed, fueled by massive government advertising, social conditions in Europe, and the decline in available land in the United States. Manitoba since 1900 The immigration boom ushered in an era of prosperity and growth. Winnipeg grew rapidly, becoming the major urban centre for western Canada and earning the nickname “Chicago of the North.” Manitoba farmers, aided by reduced freight rates, higher world prices for wheat, and improved strains of grain seed, enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Manitoba’s economy was transformed during the early part of the century.

A strong agricultural sector, diversified among wheat and other grains, livestock, and market gardening, provided the basis for a rapid increase in the commercial and industrial economy, especially around Winnipeg. Manitoba’s boundaries expanded westward in 1881, eastward in 1884, and northward in 1912, mainly at the expense of the Northwest Territories. The economic boom ended just before World War I , ushering in a depression that lasted through the first years of the conflict. Labour unrest over wages and working conditions arose during the war and peaked afterward with the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. The province was severely affected by the Great Depression of the 1930s, although the problem was more one of prices than of production in the agricultural sector. Nonpartisan or coalition governments ruled the province from 1922 to 1958, when Dufferin Roblin led the Progressive Conservatives into office. The return to prosperity during World War II was matched by a resolve to diversify the province’s economic base. The provincial government gained control of natural resources in the 1930s and began to encourage northern development, particularly of mining and lumbering.

Government involvement in the economy peaked during the administrations of the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 1969 to 1977 and 1981 to 1986, with major investments in infrastructure and some controversial experiments in direct ownership. Indicators of the province’s future in the 21st century are mixed. On one hand, Manitoba’s economy is growing stronger and more diversified. On the other hand, the province’s relatively harsh climate is not particularly attractive to new immigrants, and it has suffered from much out-migration. Canada, Facts and Free Pictures Canada; Visitor Information and Pictures Canada is the world’s second largest country after Russia. It is simply enormous, measuring almost 4 million square miles, or nearly 10 million square kilometres in area and has more lakes and inland waters than any other country. Some of the lakes are so huge that you can stand on the shore and imagine you are standing at the edge of an ocean. The provinces are so vast that it can take over 24 hours to drive from one border to the next. And all this space is home to around 32 million people, little more than half the population of the United Kingdom.

Most are concentrated within 160 km of the US border. Canada is renowned for its stunning scenery, which attracts millions of visitors every year. Landscapes with vast plains, towering peaks and great glaciers, bordered by vast oceans to the west, north and east. A big country and home to big animals: grizzly bears, moose, polar bears and humpback whales. A paradise for photographers. Canada was inhabited by various groups of aboriginal people for thousands of years before the British and French began to settle the country in the late 15th century. It is now a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. Canada has two official languages: English and French. Approximately 58% of people speak English only, 22% French only, 17% speak both and the remaining 3% speak various aboriginal languages. Quebec has a strong French-speaking identity and distinguishes its culture from the English Canadian culture. Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations and one of the top ten trading nations. The major importers of Canadian goods are the USA, UK and Japan.

The country’s natural resources, such as oil and timber, provide its inhabitants with an enviable standard of living. The biggest problem for the visitor to Canada is deciding where to go. Here are just a few of the options: Manitoba In the north is Hudson Bay, where you can see polar bears and beluga whales, or some of the 300 species of birds. There are 110,000 lakes in Manitoba, which are perfect for fishing, hiking, or just photographing. The city of Winnipeg is steeped in history and was once the centre of the fur trade. It offers 30 museums and 100 ethnically varied restaurants. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Winnipeg Art Gallery add to the cultural experience of Manitoba’s capital city. Alberta With the Rocky Mountains to the west, Alberta is one of the most stunningly beautiful provinces in Canada. It offers both prairie grasslands and lakes and mountains in summer, and skiing at six Rocky Mountain resorts in winter. Its largest city, Calgary, hosts the annual “Stampede”, a festival originally based around rodeo, but these days including a parade, shows, concerts and an industrial exhibition.

Claiming to be ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’, the Stampede is televised throughout Canada. The state capital, Edmonton, has a smaller population than Calgary, but is the seat of government for the province. Situated on the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton has to have plans in place to cope with winter snow to keep the city moving safely. A local law governs when the government will clear snow, and residents must clear their own portion of sidewalk. Edmonton Valley Zoo is one of the city’s main attractions (opens every day except Christmas Day). Banff is worth a visit for its National Park, and Jasper is a delightful small town further north with its own National Park and skiing centre. Finally you should not miss the chance to see the Northern Lights while in Alberta. The Aurora can be visible any night from September to mid-May from the Dark Sky areas of Wood Buffalo and Jasper National Parks. British Columbia Universally known as “BC”, this is the most westerly province in Canada and it contains the wild and exciting Pacific Rim National Park. Vancouver was voted the best city in the world to live in by its residents, and Victoria on Vancouver Island is charmingly reminiscent of British Victorian Colonial life.

The train called “the Rocky Mountaineer” runs daily through the Rockies – a spectacular journey that gives you the chance to take some beautiful photos from the observation cars. Go whale watching from Victoria, or visit a winery in the Okanagan Valley; ski at Whistler, or learn about the “gold rush” in Barkerville; experience First Nation history and culture at numerous sites in BC: this province really does have something for everyone. There are 14 capital cities in Canada, all of them different and all worth a visit: the national capital is Ottawa, then there are 10 provincial capitals, and 3 territorial capital cities. Other regions and cities of Canada are well worth a visit too: don’t miss the multi-cultural city of Toronto, capital of the province of Ontario (the largest province, with the largest population), or the Niagara Falls in the same province. Quebec Province’s capital, Quebec City, the only walled city in North America, offers French culture and dining, and is a wonderful place to visit if you like history. Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories allow you to really experience the vastness of Canada in completely different landscapes.

Montreal is modern and sophisticated, while Labrador in the far north is one of the last great wildernesses in the world. Finally, there is Newfoundland, said to be one of the most charming places to visit in all of this great nation. In fact if you spent your whole life exploring this varied and endlessly fascinating country, you would not run out of new and exciting places to visit! Getting Around Again there is so much choice that it is a matter of personal preference whether to fly, drive yourself or take a bus or a train. Or how about renting a motorhome? Air Canada is the largest carrier and flies to 150 destinations in the country. Westjet is a low cost airline based in Calgary and flying to cities throughout Canada. Porter Airlines flies mainly in eastern Canada, and a number of small local airlines serve remote destinations. VIA Rail Canada offer some awesome trips, such as the sleeper trains called “The Canadian” (Toronto to Vancouver), “The Ocean” (Montreal to Nova Scotia along the St Lawrence River), and “Hudson Bay” (Winnipeg to Churchill). Bus travel is the cheapest way of getting around and you see a lot, but be prepared for long journey times!

The leading bus company is Greyhound Canada, operating between Montreal and Toronto (10 hours) and Toronto and Vancouver (70 hours) and many other destinations. Where to Stay In addition to the worldwide brands, Canada and the US have a number of hotel chains that European travellers may not have heard of, but which have hotels all over the country. Best Value Inn and Lexington by Vantage have over 1,000 hotels in North America; Omni Hotels and Resorts only have 60 hotels, but they number 21,000 rooms between them; and La Quinta Inns and suites has 84,600 rooms to let. Perhaps in this country of the great outdoors, the thing to do is rent a motorhome (called an “RV” in North America) and head off into the wilderness. There are numerous companies offering rented vehicles of all sizes, such as Canadian Affair, CanaDream and Campertravelcanada. But they are not cheap and you need to study the small print to see what is and is not included, and what restrictions there are.

If you can afford it there are numerous RV sites in all the tourist areas, and they give (or sell) you firewood for the fire pit and picnic table so that you can fulfil the Canadian Dream and live the great outdoors life. Origin of the names of Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals | Natural Resources Canada Origin of the names of Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals Origin of the names of Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals Whitehorse, Yukon Ottawa, Canada The name Ottawa is derived from the Algonquin word “adawe”, which means “to trade”. The settlement was originally incorporated as Bytown in 1850. The name was changed to Ottawa in 1855. (Sources: Canadian Geographical Names Data Base, Geographical Names Board 18th Report) Find out more: Geographical name search results: Ottawa St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador There is some disagreement regarding the history behind how St. John’s acquired its name. The most widely accepted explanation comes from the Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real, who recorded the area as Rio de San Johem in 1519.

The earliest recording of the modern day spelling came from an English merchant who travelled to Newfoundland in the 1570’s. Geographical name search results: Toronto Winnipeg, Manitoba The Cree named the lake to the north “Win” (muddy) and “nipee” (water). In 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. (Source: City of Winnipeg ) Find out more: Geographical name search results: Winnipeg Regina, Saskatchewan Cree hunters stacked buffalo bones in the area of Regina, and named it Oskana-Ka-asateki or "the place where bones are piled." Early explorers, fur traders and settlers called the area “Pile of Bones.” It was decided in 1882 when the town began to grow that it required a more regal name. Princess Louise suggested that the town be named Regina in honour of her mother and the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. Geographical name search results: Iqaluit Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Yellowknife acquired its name from the aboriginal group known as the “T'atsaot'ine”, or “Yellowknives”. It became the capital of the Northwest Territories in 1967.

Known for its valuable minerals, it has the traditional name of Smbak'è, which means money place. (Source: Canadian Geographical Names Data Base) Find out more: Geographical name search results: Yellowknife Whitehorse, Yukon Originally called White Horse, the name came from the foam in nearby rapids on the Yukon River which looked similar to the manes on white horses. Whitehorse was incorporated as a city in 1950, and replaced Dawson as the capital of the Yukon in 1953. (Sources: Canadian Geographical Names Data Base) Find out more: Canadian Provinces - Canada Provinces Canadian Provinces Vancouver Aquarium Share Canadian provinces stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, from the Arctic Circle to the U.S. border. This country offers a range of experiences as diverse as polar bear tours along the Hudson Bay, shopping for diamonds in Yellowknife, enjoying French heritage in cosmopolitan Quebec , and so many more. Whether you're seeking adventure or looking to connect with culture, you'll find the perfect vacation somewhere in the vast country of Canada. Ontario , one of the most diverse of all of the Canadian provinces, is home to Canada's largest city as well as its capital.

Toronto , the cosmopolitan capital city, is loved for its approachable residents, clean streets, wealth of attractions, and ease of getting around. Places like Hockey Hall of Fame , the CN Tower , and the Second City complement cultural happenings, including ethnic celebrations and one of the world's largest live theater scenes. Over in Niagara Falls , visitors come to admire the natural wonder and to experience the fun attractions that have popped up around the falls. Canada's capital, Ottawa , also friendly and accessible, is perhaps best loved for its free tourism resources, including the parliament and the tulips that bloom in the spring. Canada Map Just over the border from Ottawa, you'll find Quebec, with chic Montreal , historic Quebec City, and countless scenic sites. As the only one of the Canadian provinces with French as the official language, Quebec offers numerous opportunities to experience a rich culture. Montreal, the largest French-speaking city outside of Paris, has its share of sidewalk cafes and boutiques, as well a wide array of museums, kid-friendly nature tours, and the simply stunning Notre Dame Basilica . Quebec City has the distinction of being the only city in North America with ramparts.

Today's visitors can see with the French and the British skirmished on the Plains of Abraham, have tea at the elegant Chateau Frontenac, and enjoy the Carnaval de Quebec, one of the biggest wintertime events anywhere. In January and February, the city transforms into a winter wonderland complete with an ice hotel and a packed schedule of fun things to do. While Quebec retains its French flair, Atlantic Canada celebrates its British, Celtic, and Gaelic roots. The Canadian provinces along the eastern coast, from tiny, verdant Prince Edward Island to the sprawling Newfoundland and Labrador , offer miles and miles of coastline where you can visit lighthouses, watch for whales, and see authentic fishing villages that keep the old way of life alive. You'll also find vibrant cities, including Halifax, Nova Scotia , and Saint John, New Brunswick , where you can soak in the local culture, hang out in pubs, and taste the local cuisine. Canadian Provinces Yukon Way over on the west coast, British Columbia offers a mix of coastal adventure, alpine adventures, and Wild West settings. Victoria , the capital, has beautiful gardens and tearooms to spare, while Vancouver combines a vibrant city with outdoor adventure.

The skiing in Whistler is some of the best in the world, and plenty of wide-open spaces in northern British Columbia set the stage for amazing camping and hiking. British Columbia also shares the Canadian Rockies with its neighbor, Alberta . Banff and Lake Louise have picture-perfect lakes, meadows, and chalets, all with the towering mountains in the backdrop. Alberta's two main cities have a flair all their own. Calgary offers the spirit of the old and new West as visitors flock to the summertime Calgary Stampede and visit world-class museums. Edmonton , best known for its huge West Edmonton Mall, hosts more than 30 festivals throughout the year. Manitoba and Saskatchewan , the two Canadian provinces on the prairie, have seen a lot of growth in their first century. Saskatchewan's Queen City, Regina, and Saskatoon have matured from rough-and-tumble prairie towns to exciting cities where you can enjoy live music, experience First Nations heritage, and see where the next generations of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are trained. Manitoba, long a gathering point for various cultures, has a vibrant downtown and French Quarter. Winnipeg also hosts Folkorama, a summertime cultural festival with no rival.

Up in the northern reaches of Manitoba, you'll have the chance to see polar bears and beluga whales in their natural habitats. Yukon For a truly northern adventure, you could spend time in Canada's territories. The Yukon Territory shares a border with Alaska, as well as gold rush and dog sledding traditions. Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories , is the center of the Canadian diamond trade, as well as a hotspot for folk music and shopping. Nunavut , the newest territory, is also Canada's largest. Here, Inuit culture and polar landscapes are just waiting to be discovered. In all of the territories, and all of the provinces, too, you'll find nearly endless opportunities for outdoor adventure among the beautiful landscapes of Canada. Travel Resources Canada Provinces Buy data Donate Updates: Update 12 to Geopolitical Entities and Codes (formerly FIPS 10-4) is dated 2013-06-30. It corrects the French name of Newfoundland and Labrador by inserting a missing hyphen.

The name of Newfoundland changed to "Newfoundland and Labrador" ("Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador" in French) on 2001-12-06. This is reflected in Change Notice 8 to FIPS PUB 10-4, dated 2002-06-28, and in ISO 3166-2 Newsletter I-2 (2002-05-21). Subsequently the province's postal designator was changed from NF to NL. ISO 3166-2 Newsletter number I-4, dated 2002-12-10, made the corresponding change to the ISO code. The name "Yukon Territory" was changed to "Yukon" in the ISO standard on 2014-10-29. Nunavut split from Northwest Territories on 1999-04-01. This is reflected in Change Notice 3 to FIPS PUB 10-4, dated 1999-05-17, which added Nunavut, and assigned new codes to it and to Northwest Territories.

Update I-1 to ISO 3166-2 (2000-06-21) added Nunavut, with NU as its code. Country overview: Ottawa, Ontario Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867. In 1926, an Imperial Conference clarified that the dominions were autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status to Great Britain. The formal name "Dominion of Canada" was phased out from the 1950s to 1982, in favor of simply "Canada". The British Commonwealth of Nations was formally inaugurated on 1931-12-11, with Canada and Newfoundland as members. The Parliament of the United Kingdom retained the power to approve or reject some amendments to the Canadian Constitution until 1982. Canada began with four provinces in 1867. There have been territorial acquisitions since then, but only one during the 20th century: Newfoundland, in 1949. Other names of country: See the Counties of Canada page. The subdivisions of the Canadian provinces and territories are varied in size, status, and stability.

The eastern provinces tend to be divided into counties; the western provinces, sections, divisions, or districts; and Yukon is only subdivided for electoral or census purposes. Prince Edward Island appears to have been subdivided into Prince, Queens, and Kings Counties for as long as it has been a province. Northwest Territory had been subdivided into the districts of Franklin, Keewatin, and Mackenzie since 1912, although their borders had been somewhat modified; then, about 1980, it was changed to five districts (Baffin, Fort Smith, Inuvik, Keewatin, and Kitikmeot). Other provinces are more complex. The units of local government include cantons, cities, community councils, counties, districts, divisions, muncipalities, parishes, sections, towns, and villages. There are sub-varieties, including county regional municipalities, district municipalities, metropolitan municipalities, and municipal townships. Many provinces have more than one level of subdivision. Most of them have changed their subdivisions several times. (See source [10].) Territorial extent: British Columbia is separated from Alaska by an indefinite boundary in coastal waters.

It contains the Queen Charlotte Islands and Dundas Island, but not Dall Island, Prince of Wales Island, or Sitklan Island. The boundary with Washington follows the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula, then turns north between Canada's Sidney Island, South Pender Island, and Saturna Island, and the United States's San Juan Island, Stuart Island, and Waldron Island, until it meets the longitude of 49ï¿½ N. New Brunswick is divided from Maine by a line that runs down the Saint Croix River and passes between Deer Island, Campobello Island, Grand Manan Island, and adjacent islets on the Canadian side, across from West Quoddy Head, the easternmost point in the United States. Newfoundland and Labrador consists of the large island of Newfoundland, a large mainland area on the northeast coast (Labrador), and adjacent islands. Labrador has sometimes been abbreviated LB as if it were a province name. Northwest Territories includes the Canadian Arctic islands north of 70ï¿½ N. and between 110ï¿½ and 136ï¿½ W.

(to a first approximation; for a more accurate description of the boundary with Nunavut, see for example this page ). The largest Arctic islands totally within Northwest Territories are Banks Island and Prince Patrick Island. Northwest Territories also includes large parts of Victoria Island and Melville Island. Nova Scotia includes Sable Island in the Atlantic Ocean. Nunavut includes all Canadian islands in Hudson Bay, James Bay, the Hudson Strait, Ungava Bay, and the Arctic Ocean between the eastern border of Northwest Territories and the northern tip of Labrador (see source [3]). The border between Labrador and Nunavut runs along Killiniq Island. The division between Nunavut and Greenland follows the Robeson Channel, Kennedy Channel, Kane Basin, Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, and Labrador Bay. Ontario includes Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario, and Pelee Island in Lake Erie. Middle Island, an islet lying off Pelee Island, is the southernmost point of land in Canada. Ontario also includes Manitoulin Island, between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the largest lake island in the world. In Lake Superior, Caribou Island belongs to Ontario.

Quebec includes Anticosti Island and the ï¿½les de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Yukon includes Herschel Island in the Arctic Ocean. Four provinces or territories meet at approximately 60ï¿½ N., 102ï¿½ W.: Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Saskatchewan. for Canada lists locations in the country, some of them with their latitudes and longitudes, some with their ISO 3166-2 codes for their subdivisions. This information can be put together to approximate the territorial extent of subdivisions. Origins of names: Alberta: Named for Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, wife of the then-Governor General of Canada and daughter of Queen Victoria of England. British Columbia: British possession, on the Columbia River, named by Capt. Robert Gray for his vessel Columbia, in turn named for Cristopher Columbus. Labrador: Portuguese lavrador: laborer, farmer. Probably for Joï¿½o Fernandes, an explorer and farmer.

Manitoba: Probably from Cree maniotwapow: the strait of the spirit, from a belief that a natural noise caused by pebbles on Manitoba Island was the sound of a spirit beating a drum. New Brunswick: Named in honor of King George III of England, a descendant of the House of Brunswick (Germany). Newfoundland: Called a "new found isle" by discoverer, John Cabot. Northwest Territories: Descriptive. Nova Scotia: Latin for New Scotland. Nunavut: Inuktitut for our land. Ontario: Named for Lake Ontario. From native word, possibly onittariio: beautiful lake. Prince Edward Island: Named for Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria of England. Quebec: From the Algonquian word for narrow passage, referring to the Saint Lawrence River at Cape Diamond. Saskatchewan: Named for the Saskatchewan River. From Cree Kisiskatchewani Sipi: swift-flowing river. Yukon: Named for the Yukon River. From native name Yu-kun-ah: great river. Change history: Around 1754, the lands which now form Canada were divided between France and Great Britain.

Nouvelle-France (New France) was the name for all French territory in North America. Newfoundland and Nova Scotia were British colonies. The Hudson's Bay Company held a charter from King Charles II of England, under which it governed Rupert's Land. 1763-02-10: New France ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Paris. France retained only the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which now constitute a territorial collectivity of France. 1763-10-07: Island of Saint John's (French ï¿½le Saint-Jean; present-day Prince Edward Island) and Cape Breton Island (French ï¿½le Royale) annexed to Nova Scotia. Labrador coast, Anticosti Island, and the Madeleine Islands annexed to Newfoundland. 1769: Saint John's Island colony (ï¿½le Saint-Jean) split from Nova Scotia. Its capital was Charlottetown. 1774: By the Quebec Act, Quebec province was extended to the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and incorporated the Labrador coast, Anticosti Island, and the Madeleine Islands.

1783-09-03: Treaty of Paris recognized independence of the United States. The part of Quebec south of the Great Lakes became an acknowledged part of the United States. 1784-06-18: New Brunswick province and Cape Breton Island colony split from Nova Scotia by an Order in Council. Sydney was the capital of Cape Breton Island. 1788: Fredericton became capital of New Brunswick. 1791-08-24: Quebec province split into Upper Canada (corresponding to Ontario) and Lower Canada (Quebec). 1792-07-26: Capital of Upper Canada established at Niagara, which was simultaneously renamed Newark. The name change was reversed in 1794. The town is now Niagara-on-the-Lake. 1796-02-01: Capital of Upper Canada moved from Niagara to York. 1799: Name of Saint John's Island changed to Prince Edward Island. 1809: Labrador coast and Anticosti Island transferred to Newfoundland.

1818: Treaty of 1818 fixed the boundary between the United States and Canada at 49ï¿½ North latitude, westward from Lake of the Woods to the Oregon Territory, which became a condominium of the United States and Great Britain. 1820: Cape Breton Island merged with Nova Scotia. 1825: Anticosti Island, and the Labrador coast from Riviï¿½re Saint-Jean to Anse Sablon, transferred from Newfoundland to Lower Canada. 1834: Name of capital of Upper Canada changed from York to Toronto. 1841-02-10: Under Act of Union, name of Lower Canada changed to Canada East, and Upper Canada to Canada West. The two were united to form the province of Canada. Its capital was Kingston, now in Ontario. 1842-11-10: Webster-Ashburton Treaty settled the boundary between U.S. and Canada (Maine/New Brunswick, Minnesota/Hudson's Bay Company). 1844: Capital of Canada province moved from Kingston to Montrï¿½al (source [1]).

1846: Oregon Boundary Treaty established the 49ï¿½ line as the boundary between the Oregon territory and British possessions. The British part was named New Caledonia. 1849: Vancouver Island organized as a colony. 1849: Capital of Canada province moved from Montrï¿½al to Toronto. 1851: Capital of Canada province moved from Toronto to Quebec City. 1855: Capital of Canada province moved from Quebec City to Toronto. 1855: Status of Newfoundland changed to dominion, with Labrador as its dependency. 1858: New Caledonia was renamed British Columbia and organized as a colony. 1859: Capital of Canada province moved from Toronto to Quebec City. 1859: The remaining unorganized territory between British Columbia and the Arctic Ocean, and between Alaska and Rupert's Land, was claimed by Great Britain and named The North-Western Territory. 1862: Stickeen territory was split from North-Western territory, extending northward from British Columbia to 62ï¿½ North latitude.

1863: Stickeen territory split between British Columbia and North-Western territory, with the line of division following 60ï¿½ North latitude. 1865: Capital of Canada province moved from Quebec City to Ottawa. 1866-11: Vancouver Island merged with British Columbia, which had now reached its present-day borders. 1867-07-01: By the British North America Act, Canada became a dominion. It had four provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec (these last two formed by splitting the former province of Canada). Its capital was Ottawa. 1870-07-15: Rupert's Land ceded by the Hudson's Bay Company and merged with North-Western territory to form The North-West Territories. Canada assumed the governance of North-West territories. Manitoba province created, consisting of about the southern third of present-day Manitoba. 1871-07-20: British Columbia became a province of Canada. 1873-07-01: Prince Edward Island became a province of Canada.

1880-09-01: Great Britain transferred its claims to all North American arctic islands to Canada. 1881-07-01: Manitoba annexed part of Northwest Territories. 1898-06-13: Yukon territory split from Northwest Territories. 1905-09-01: Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces formed from parts of Northwest Territories. 1912-05-15: Parts of Northwest Territories annexed to Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec provinces. 1927-03-01: Labrador hinterland transferred from Quebec province to the dominion of Newfoundland. 1934-02-16: Status of Newfoundland changed from dominion to crown colony. 1949-03-31: Newfoundland merged with Canada, becoming a province. Labrador, formerly its dependency, became part of the new province. 1967-01-18: Yellowknife became capital of Northwest Territories. Formerly, the region had been administered from Ottawa.

~1993: The Canada Post designator for Quebec was PQ, for "Province du Quï¿½bec", until it was changed to the current QC. The exact date of the change calls for further research. 1999-04-01: Nunavut territory split from Northwest Territories (former FIPS code CA06). Canada Post continued to use NT as the designator for both Nunavut and Northwest Territories until 2000-12-12. See source [9] for a sidelight. 2001-12-06: Name of Newfoundland changed to Newfoundland and Labrador. (Date of proclamation; the Canadian Senate removed the last legal barrier by passing a constitutional amendment on 2001-11-20.) 2002-10-21: Canada Post changed postal designator of Newfoundland and Labrador from NF to NL (source [8]). A six-month grace period was allowed for the changeover. 2003-04-01: Name of Yukon Territory changed to Yukon (see source [7]).

Other names of subdivisions: Alberta: Альберта (Russian) British Columbia: Britisch Kolumbien (German); Colombie britannique (French); Columbia Britï¿½nica (Spanish); Colï¿½mbia Britï¿½nica (Portuguese); Columbia Britannica (Italian); New Caledonia (obsolete); Британская Колумбия (Russian) Manitoba: Манитоба (Russian) New Brunswick: Neubraunschweig (German); Nueva Brunswick (Spanish); Nouveau-Brunswick (French); Nova Brunswick (Portuguese) Newfoundland and Labrador: Neufundland [n] (German); Newfoundland (obsolete); Terra Nova (Portuguese); Terranova (Italian, Spanish); Terre-Neuve (French-obsolete); Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador (French); Ньюфаундленд (Russian) Northwest Territories: Nordwestgebiete, Nordwest-Territorien (German); Territoires du Nord-Ouest (French); Territori di Nordovest (Italian); Territorios del Noroeste (Spanish); Territï¿½rios do Noroeste (Portuguese) Nova Scotia:

 Acadia (obsolete, also refers to New Brunswick); Neuschottland [n] (German); Nouvelle-ï¿½cosse (French); Nova Escï¿½cia (Portuguese); Nueva Escocia (Spanish) Ontario: Ontï¿½rio (Portuguese); Upper Canada (obsolete); Онтарио (Russian) Prince Edward Island: ï¿½le de Saint-Jean (obsolete); ï¿½le du Prince-ï¿½douard (French); Ilha do Prï¿½ncipe Eduardo (Portuguese); Isla Prï¿½ncipe Eduardo (Spanish); Isola Principe Edoardo (Italian); Prinz Edward-Insel (German) Quebec: Lower Canada (obsolete); Quï¿½bec (French, Italian, Portuguese); Quebeque (Portuguese-variant); Квебек (Russian) Saskatchewan: Саскачеван (Russian) Yukon: Territoire du Yukon (French-obsolete); Yukon Territory (obsolete); Yukï¿½n (Spanish) Population history: Notes: The 1996 census reported a population of 64,404 for Northwest Territories,

 which included Nunavut at that time.

The figures shown above for those territories in 1996 were calculated retroactively. Prior to 1949, Newfoundland had a separate census. Its population was 289,588 in 1935, and 321,819 in 1945. Populations of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Yukon included in Northwest Territories before 1900. Population of Manitoba included in Northwest Territories before 1870. 1951 figures are duplicated to facilitate comparison of successive censuses. Sources: [1] "A Capital for Canada: conflict and compromise in the nineteenth century", David B. Knight. Chicago: University of Chicago, Dept. of Geography, 1977. It describes six times that the capital of Canada was moved in 1841-1867. Manitoba Latitude, Longitude, Absolute and Relative Locations - World Atlas Relative Locations: (specific details) RELATIVE LOCATION: Specifically positioned in central Canada, a part of North America, Manitoba is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan , and by the Nunavut Territory . The province is also bordered by the U.S.

States of North Dakota and Minnesota , and by Hudson Bay. Canada Landforms and Land Statistics Hills Lakes Mountains Plains Rivers Print this map As the second largest country in the world, Canada includes a wide variety of land regions, vast maritime terrains, thousands of islands, more lakes and inland waters than any other country, and the longest coastline on the planet. In essence, Canada is a smorgasbord of landforms. Significant landforms include the Appalachian Mountains; St. Lawrence River; Canadian Shield; Canadian Arctic Archipelago; Great Lakes; Hudson Bay; Great Plains; Lake Winnipeg; Columbia, Fraser, Mackenzie and Yukon Rivers; Great Bear Lake; Great Slave Lake; Rocky Mountains; Canadian Cordillera and the dozens of volcanoes along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Landforms of North America (details) Appalachian Mountains: The Appalachians extend from the New England states in the U.S. up through parts of the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Quebec. In Canada, they're mostly rolling hills. Canadian Arctic Archipelago: The Canadian Arctic Archipelago is located north of the Canadian mainland on the fringes of the Arctic Ocean.

This group of some 36,000 islands is mostly part of the territory of Nunavut. Baffin, Ellesmere and Victoria islands are the largest of the group, respectfully. The climate here features long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The terrain consists of tundra except in mountainous regions of the east. Canadian Shield: The Canadian Shield, covering the eastern half of Canada's landmass, is an ancient bedrock base of gneiss and granite covered by a shallow layer of soil. Large areas of coniferous (evergreen) forests and hundreds of rivers and lakes spread across this mostly flat region. Its scattered low-lying mountains include the Laurentian and Torngat ranges. Canada Cordillera: The Canada Cordillera extends from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.. The Cordilleras are part of a huge mountain system extending from the Andes of South America to the tip of Alaska. The Canadian Cordillera includes ranges of the Rocky Mountains, the Coast Range and varied coastal mountains ranges and their many active volcanoes. Great Slave Lake: Great Slave Lake is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada behind Great Bear Lake.

It's the deepest lake in North America at 614 m (2,015 ft), and the ninth-largest lake in the world. Great Bear Lake: Great Bear Lake is the largest lake entirely within Canada; the third largest in North America, and the seventh largest in the world. The lake has a surface area of 31,153 sq km (12,028 sq miles) with a maximum depth of 446 m (1,463 ft). Great Plains: The Great Plains slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western edges of the Appalachians. The land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and sloping shallow river valleys. They extend across parts of Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan, and vast parts of the north central U.S. CanadaInfo: Provinces and Territories: Manitoba The Honourable Brian Pallister (Progressive Conservative Party) Click on the picture for free downloads including this image.

Manitoba, easternmost of the Prairie provinces of Canada, in the central part of the country, bounded on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the northeast by Hudson Bay, on the east by Ontario, on the south by the states of Minnesota and North Dakota, and on the west by Saskatchewan. Manitoba entered the Canadian Confederation on July 15, 1870, as the fifth province. Manitoba has traditionally been known for its primary economic activities: agriculture, mining, forestry, and fishing. Although Winnipeg is a leading manufacturing center of interior Canada, in the early 1990s the processing of primary products retained a leading role in the provincial economy. The name Manitoba is taken from Lake Manitoba and is a Native American phrase meaning "great spirit's strait." Winnipeg is the source of Winnie the Pooh's name and is also home of the windiest intersection in Canada, Portage and Main. Riding Mountain National Park This natural wonder features almost 3000 square kilometres of boreal forest, aspen parkland, deciduous forest and open grasslands and meadows. The area is a haven for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing - including a herd of bison living in the park!

Explore the park via a network of day-use and overnight trails, designed for hiking, cycling or horseback riding. Interpretive programs are offered throughout the summer. There are several campgrounds and picnic areas at many of the other lakes in the park, including Lakes Audy, Grayling, Katherine, Moon, Deep, and Whirlpool. Famous sons and daughters of Manitoba include: Billy Bishop, WWI flying ace Margaret Laurence, author ARCHIVED - Manitoba - Provinces and Territories - Canadian Confederation - Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada ARCHIVED - Canadian Confederation Archived Content This archived Web page remains online for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated. Web pages that are archived on the Internet are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats of this page on the Contact Us page. Provinces and Territories Sources Territorial Development At the time of Confederation in 1867, the Hudson's Bay Company was still developing the territories of Western Canada, by virtue of its charter.

To maintain its monopoly over the fur trade, it created policies aimed at limiting the number of white settlers who could settle in the region. However, as of 1812, European immigrants settled in the territory of Manitoba. In fact, the Selkirk concession occupied a small territory, in what is now southern Manitoba and northern North Dakota. Source Hudson's Bay Company Post, Dog Head Point, Lake Winnipeg, 1884. During the next 60 years, the development of that region followed the rhythm of the fur trade. Aboriginal people and Europeans tried to cohabitate peacefully. The Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company in turn established trading posts, and the Métis population, which was growing steadily, became involved in the fur trade. On what used to be the Selkirk concession developed what became known as the Red River colony. There, a heterogeneous population of Métis, Francophones mainly from Quebec (Lower Canada, then Canada East) and Anglophones mainly from Ontario (Upper Canada and Canada West) settled. The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 included a section on "Homestead rights or Free grant lands." That section greatly favoured the arrival of new settlers in the region.

The act allowed heads of families older than 21 years of age to occupy land, which they had to cultivate and on which they had to build a residence, all within three years of their arrival. After those three years, they became the owners of the land. The act was amended in 1879 thus allowing heads of families over 18 years of age to benefit from these provisions. Top of Page Population The majority of people who immigrated to Manitoba during the 1870 and 1880 decades were from Ontario. The new arrivals obviously devoted themselves to agriculture, but also established businesses. They became politicians, lawyers, notaries public and doctors. These people arrived in Manitoba with, at most, some members of their immediate families. Source Bird's eye view of Winnipeg, 1882. Urban development in Winnipeg was closely linked to the arrival of the railroad. When the Pembina line of the Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company (later the Canadian Northern Railway ) was inaugurated in 1878, cities such as Selkirk, Emerson and Winnipeg expanded rapidly. Winnipeg also lobbied to obtain the passageway of the new Canadian Pacific , which created a real boom for its development.

Top of Page Process and Issues Before beginning negotiations with the Hudson's Bay Company regarding the transfer of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory, the Canadian government sent surveyors to the Red River valley in order to notify the Métis population of the Government of Canada's intention to buy the lands in the region. The Métis reacted strongly to the lack of consultation. In October 1869 they chose a leader, Louis Riel , who organized the Comité national des Métis . "Insurrection of the French Half-breeds" , The Nor'Wester and Pioneer, October 26, 1869. William McDougall , the new lieutenant-governor of what would henceforth be known as the Northwest Territories, was sent to announce to the Red River settlers that the Government of Canada had just bought part of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory from the Hudson's Bay Company. Ottawa decided, however, to delay the official possession of the lands and its announcement until the issue of the Métis dissatisfaction was resolved. McDougall, already en route to the Red River colony, was not aware of the decision made by the federal government.

In order to go to the Red River, he had to travel through the United States. When he reached the border on October 31, 1869, the Métis were there and refused to let him cross. They wanted to prevent the annexation of the territory by the Government of Canada and thus make their rights known. On November 3, 1869, Riel and his men took possession of Upper Fort Garry (Winnipeg), which was then the property of the Hudson's Bay Company. On December 8, they formed a provisional government, which took care of business in the region and replaced the administration of the Company until an agreement was reached with Ottawa. The Métis were not against the idea of being part of Canadian Confederation. However, they were very displeased with the fact that Ottawa decided to proceed with the purchase of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory without consulting them. The negotiations regarding the sale of those territories were, above all else, a matter between Canada, Great Britain and the Hudson's Bay Company. Canada wanted to establish its rights over the territory to the west of Ontario in order to counter the expansionist aims of the United States .

Great Britain hoped to avoid a possible armed confrontation with the United States, wanted to find a way to manage the gold rush underway in British Columbia and questioned the validity of renewing the Hudson's Bay Company's charter. Great Britain also had to provide for the political organization of the territories. The Hudson's Bay Company, for its part, actively participated in negotiations, since they mainly concerned its territory. As for the Government of Canada, it was not against the idea of granting the Métis of the Red River valley the power to govern the colony, but it wanted to do so only after assuming possession of the disputed territory. Top of Page Negotiations At the end of 1869, Riel and the Métis drafted a first "List of Rights" which expressed their claims. The text and its subsequent versions did not constitute a declaration of independence: in creating the provisional government, the Métis took an oath before the Queen. These lists were the basis of negotiation between the Métis and the federal government. The lists became more and more refined, and the Métis representatives became more and more demanding. Armed with the fourth version of that list, representatives of the provisional government negotiated the entry of Manitoba into Confederation.

In January 1870, the federal government sent two mediators to meet with the Métis and the provisional government: Reverend J. B. Thibault and Colonel Charles de Salaberry . Their role was to explain the wishes of the federal government to the Métis in the Red River colony, but they did not succeed in accomplishing their mission. The provisional government did not agree to receive delegates who did not have the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the federal government. Instead, Thibault and Salaberry were "politely imprisoned" in the palace of the Bishop of St. Boniface. When Prime Minister Macdonald learned that the mediators' mission was a failure, he convinced the Hudson's Bay Company to send its own emissaries in order to resolve the deadlock. Macdonald, discouraged by the turn of events and having postponed the official possession of the new territory, thus forced the Company to act in order to bring peace back to the Red River colony. Donald A. Smith was the representative chosen by the Hudson's Bay Company to meet with Riel and try to remove him from power.

Although Smith failed in his mission, he did succeed in making the Métis council elect delegates who would go to Ottawa to apprise the federal government of their positions and their claims. The Métis then drafted a second "List of Rights" which they took with them to Ottawa. While the negotiations for the entry of Manitoba into Canadian confederation were in full swing, the execution of Thomas Scott marked the end of Riel's prestige. He had to seek exile in the United States. That event also marked the sending of mainly British soldiers to the territory. For some time, Prime Minister Macdonald had been planning to send armed reinforcements to restore order. Preferring to wait and see if a peaceful settlement could be reached, he postponed the date for sending the troops. The execution of Thomas Scott, however, which triggered a strong reaction from the Orangemen in Ontario, forced the prime minister to take action. At the end of March 1870, the Métis delegates left for Ottawa armed with a third "List of Rights".

They added the following demands to this list: that Manitoba be admitted into Confederation as a province and not as a territory, that the lieutenant-governor inevitably be bilingual and that indemnity be granted to all those who participated in the establishment of the provisional government. A fourth "List of Rights" was drafted, probably at the request of Bishop Taché . This time, the establishment of denominational schools and the granting of a political organization similar to that of Quebec -- the establishment of an Upper House and a Legislative Assembly -- were now part of the demands. The fourth "List of Rights" was taken to Ottawa by Judge John Black , Reverend N.-J. Ritchot , and Alfred H. Scott . Upon their arrival in Ottawa, the three were arrested due to an accusation by Hugh Scott, brother of Thomas Scott. Ritchot and Alfred H. Scott were "imprisoned" in the episcopal palace of the Bishop of Ottawa and released on April 23, 1870, after a short trial where the Government of Canada ensured their defence. Source "Manitobah!" , Montreal Gazette, July 11, 1870.

The meeting between Macdonald, Cartier and the three "Manitoban" representatives was carried out under specific conditions. Black, Ritchot and Alfred H. Scott appointed themselves to be the representatives of the provisional government established by Riel in Upper Fort Garry. Prime Minister Macdonald and his Quebec lieutenant refused to meet with the representatives of a provisional government that, according to them, was illegal. The two groups finally reached a compromise: Black, Ritchot and Alfred H. Scott agreed to be considered as the representatives of the Northwest population. As for Ritchot, he insisted that a letter emphasizing the meeting between the Canadian representatives and the "Manitoban" representatives be delivered to them, as citizens. The two parties were satisfied and negotiations began on April 25, 1870, and lasted until May 2. "An Act to amend and continue the Act 32 and 33 Victoria, chapter 3; and to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Manitoba" , Statutes of Canada 1870, c. 3, p. 20-27. Most of the Métis' demands were met.

Manitoba would henceforth have responsible government, provincial status, bilingual institutions, denominational schools and a property rights guarantee for Aboriginal lands. An agreement was reached, and Manitoba became the fifth Canadian province. On May 12, 1870, the Manitoba Act received Royal Assent and was enacted on July 15, 1870. At that time, Manitoba was a tiny province with a surface area of a little more than 160 square km. While the Métis obtained most of their demands, Prime Minister Macdonald succeeded in ensuring that the Canadian Parliament retained control over western Canada, thus, the Crown lands remained the property of the government. In buying Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory from the Hudson's Bay Company, the Canadian Parliament created the North-Western Territories, an immense area over which it retained control of Crown lands and natural resources once again. Bercuson, David ; Palmer, Howard. -- Settling the Canadian West. -- Toronto : Grolier, 1984. -- 95 p. Bowers, Vivien ; Garrod, Stan. -- L'ouest et son histoire.

-- Montréal : Trécarré, 1988. -- 432 p. Friesen, Gerald. -- The Canadian Prairies : a history. -- Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1984. -- 524 p. Manitoba : the birth of a province. -- Edited by W. L. Morton. -- [Winnipeg] : Manitoba Record Society, 1984. -- 265 p. Morton, W. L. -- The critical years : The union of British North America. 1857-1873. -- Don Mills : Oxford University Press, 1999. -- 322 p. Voisey, Paul. -- "The urbanization of the Canadian prairies, 1871-1916". -- Histoire Sociale - Social History. -- Vol. VIII, no. 15 (Mai-May 1975). -- P. 75-101

Question: Which Canadian Province, with a border on Hudson Bay, has Winnipeg as its capital?
Answer: MANITOBA