The Canadian Encyclopedia Saskatchewan (Province) Saskatchewan is part of the Prairie region and is the only province with entirely artificial boundaries. It is bordered by the US to the south, the Northwest Territories to the north, and Manitoba and Alberta to the east and west respectively. Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian province located at the centre of the country, bounded by Saskatchewan to the west, Hudson Bay and Ontario to the east, Nunavut to the north, and North Dakota and Minnesota to the south. The province was founded on parts of the traditional territories of the Assiniboine, Dakota, Cree, Dene, Anishinaabeg and Oji-Cree peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. The land is now governed Treaties 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10. As of the 2011 census, Manitoba had 1,208,268 residents, making it the fifth most populous province or territory in Canada. Manitoba joined Confederation in 1870, and its capital city, Winnipeg, was incorporated shortly thereafter, in 1873.

Brian Pallister is the province’s current premier, leading a majority Progressive Conservative government. Gold, Greed and a Group of Rascals For one brief historical moment in 1858, the most important spot in British Columbia was a gravel bed in the Fraser River about two kilometres south of Yale. It was only 45 metres long when the river was low (and invisible when the water rose). It was called Hill's Bar. Far Out on the Left Coast On September 3, 1962, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker arrived at Rogers Pass to preside at the official opening of the Trans-Canada Highway. This section of pavement through British Columbia's Selkirk Mountains was the final stretch of the highway to be built. What is the westernmost Canadian province? - Find Answers Here! What is the westernmost Canadian province? We found this answers Capital City: Victoria British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province and one of North America's most mountainous regions. Because of its coastal location, it is ... - Read more Yukon is the westernmost and also the smallest of Canada’s provinces. The capital is Whitehorse, which is also the largest city in the territory.

- Read more Discussion about this question Gotta know 'em, eh? - Provinces Gotta know 'em, eh?  Provinces The provinces are listed from west to east, one of the conventional orderings. All population figures are from the 2001 census. Mother tongue means first language learned and still understood. British Columbia : area 944,735 km2 (3rd largest; 0.04% smaller than Tanzania), population 3,907,738 (3rd largest, 13% of total). Named after the Columbia River, which in turn was named by Captain Robert Gray for his ship Columbia. Became Canada's 6th province in 1871. Except for the Peace River country in the northeast, all of B.C. is mountainous, the mainland being traversed by a series of mountain ranges from the Coast Mountains on the Pacific Ocean to the slightly more imaginatively named Rockies on its eastern boundary. Off the coast are a chain of islands, also mountainous, the largest of which is Vancouver Island. Note that the city of Vancouver is on the mainland, not on Vancouver Island.

The southern coastal area has the mildest climate in all of Canada, sometimes with whole winters without snow (but lots of rain). Economically, the forests and industries related to them have always been dominant, and the province accounts for 44% of Canada's wood harvest. Mining is also important; B.C. produces 58% of Canada's coal. And of course many visitors are attracted to "Super, Natural British Columbia" (the official tourist slogan). As recently as the 1980s, at times B.C. got ahead of Alberta and Ontario to have the highest per-capita GDP of any province, but in the last decade or so it has fallen below the national average, even below Saskatchewan. Population by mother tongue: 74% English, 8% Chinese, 3% Punjabi, 2% German, 2% French, 11% other. B.C.'s population has increased 108-fold since joining Confederation, compared with a mere eightfold for the country as a whole, and it is the only province that has grown faster than the national average between every successive census without exception.

Many are drawn from abroad: 24% of its people were born outside Canada, the second-highest ratio after Ontario. B.C. is also tied with Ontario for having the most highly urbanized population (85%). Major metropolitan areas: Vancouver (1,986,965, or 51% of province's total), Victoria (311,902, or 8%). Licence plates read "Beautiful British Columbia". Postal/Internet abbreviation BC, postal codes start with V. Capital: Victoria. Alberta : area 661,848 km2 (4th largest; 2% smaller than Burma), population 2,974,807 (4th largest, 10% of total). Named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, 4th daughter of Queen Victoria. In 1905, Alberta and Saskatchewan were removed from the Northwest Territories to become Canada's 8th and 9th provinces. Alberta is the westernmost of the three Prairie provinces, with its western boundary along the Continental Divide and the 120th meridian, and its eastern boundary along the 110th meridian.

Most of Alberta consists of plains, except for the Rocky Mountains and its foothills in the west, and the northeast portion which is part of the Canadian Shield, a vast rocky area of lakes and forests. Alberta is blessed with valuable mineral resources including petroleum (78% of Canada's production) and natural gas (88%). Before the discovery of the Leduc oil field in 1947, Alberta's economy was dominated by agriculture, especially wheat and cattle; agriculture and food processing are still major sectors of its economy today. With its prominent oil and ranching industries and its conservative free-enterprise politics, Alberta is sometimes called the Texas of Canada, but without Texas's heroic story of being founded by proud men defending their right to own slaves. Alberta is the only province without a sales tax, and today has the highest GDP per capita of any province, 26% above the national average, and the highest rate of population growth (10.4%) between 1996 and 2001. Population by mother tongue: 82% English, 3% Chinese, 3% German, 2% French, 10% other.

Major metropolitan areas: Calgary (951,395, or 32% of province's total), Edmonton (937,845, or 32%). Licence plates read "Wild Rose Country". Postal/Internet abbreviation AB, postal codes start with T. Capital: Edmonton. Saskatchewan : area 651,036 km2 (5th largest; 0.2% smaller than Afghanistan), population 978,933 (6th largest, 3% of total). Named from the Cree word "kisiskatchewanisipi", meaning "swift-flowing river", referring to the Saskatchewan River which traverses the province from west to east. In 1905, Saskatchewan and Alberta were removed from the Northwest Territories to become Canada's 8th and 9th provinces. Saskatchewan is the central one of the three Prairie provinces, and all of its boundaries are artificial. The northern half, home to only 3% of the population, is part of the Canadian Shield. The southern half is part of the Great Plains and is a major agricultural area. Saskatchewan grows 60% of Canada's wheat, the most important crop.

Canola, oats, and barley are also widely grown. With 16% of Canada's crude oil production, Saskatchewan is a distant second to Alberta. In the mining sector, the biggest economic contributor is potash (potassium compounds), which is exported for use in fertilizers. In political contrast to its twin sister Alberta, Saskatchewan in 1944 elected North America's first avowedly socialist government, which set the model for the public medical care system that has since spread to every other province. Population by mother tongue: 85% English, 3% German, 2% Cree, 2% Ukrainian, 2% French, 6% other. Between 1900 and World War I there was a great inrush of people from eastern Canada, the United States and Europe, so that from 1911 until World War II, Saskatchewan was the 3rd most populous province, after Ontario and Quebec. Major metropolitan areas: Saskatoon (225,927, or 23% of province's total), Regina (192,800, or 20%). Licence plates read "Land of Living Skies".

Postal/Internet abbreviation SK, postal codes start with S. Capital: Regina (rhymes with "mynah"). Manitoba : area 647,797 km2 (6th largest; 2% larger than Somalia), population 1,119,583 (5th largest, 4% of total). Named from the Cree words "Manitou bou", meaning "the narrows of the great spirit", referring to Lake Manitoba, which narrows to less than 1 km wide at its centre. Became Canada's 5th province in 1870. Manitoba is the easternmost of the three Prairie provinces, and the only one with a coastline, along Hudson Bay. This coast does not really provide a great economic advantage because the shipping season lasts only 3 months, and it's so cold that trees cannot grow near its shores. All of Manitoba has a continental climate with great temperature extremes. The Hudson Bay Lowlands and the Canadian Shield cover the northern 80% of Manitoba, which is a "land of 100,000 lakes" and many rivers.

The southern 20%, home to 93% of the population, is a fertile agricultural area where wheat and canola are grown. In the north, there are large mines of nickel (25% of Canadian production), copper and zinc. Manitoba has a more diversified economy than the other western provinces, with major secondary industries including food processing and manufacturing of transportation equipment. In the early twentieth century, Winnipeg was the commercial capital of the Prairies, and it is still an important transportation centre, being a crucial link between Western and Eastern Canada. Population by mother tongue: 75% English, 6% German, 4% French, 2% Ukrainian, 2% Cree, 2% Tagalog, 9% other. Major metropolitan area: Winnipeg (671,274, or 60% of province's total). Licence plates read "Friendly Manitoba". Postal/Internet abbreviation MB, postal codes start with R. Capital: Winnipeg. Ontario : area 1,076,395 km2 (2nd largest; 4% larger than Mauritania), population 11,410,046 (largest, 38% of total).

Named from an Iroquoian word meaning "beautiful lake", referring to Lake Ontario. One of the four original provinces of 1867. The Canadian Shield and the Hudson Bay Lowlands cover 88% of the province but are home to only 7% of the population. This area's economy is dominated by mining, especially of nickel (75% of Canadian production) and gold (47%). The rest of the people live in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Lowlands in the southern part of the province. This includes Canada's industrial heartland, the "Golden Horseshoe" curving around the western end of Lake Ontario. The most important manufacturing sector is automobiles and related equipment. Ontario contains both the nation's financial, commercial and cultural capital, Toronto (on Lake Ontario), and the nation's political capital, Ottawa (on the Ottawa River, which forms the boundary with Quebec). The Ottawa area is also a centre for manufacture of telecommunications equipment. Ontario accounts for 42% of Canada's GDP, and its GDP per capita is 10% above the national average, second to Alberta.

Population by mother tongue: 71% English, 5% French, 4% Chinese, 3% Italian, 17% other. Immigrants from outside Canada make up 26% of its population, the largest fraction of any province, and 55% of all Canada's immigrants live in Ontario. Ontario is tied with B.C. for having the most highly urbanized population (85%), and includes many of the country's largest cities. Major metropolitan areas: Toronto (4,682,897, or 41% of province's total), Ottawa (806,096, or 7%), Hamilton (662,401, or 6%), London (432,451, or 4%), Kitchener/Waterloo (414,284, or 4%), St. Catharines/Niagara (377,009, or 3%). Licence plates read "Yours to Discover". Postal/Internet abbreviation ON, postal codes start with K, L, M, N or P. Capital: Toronto (rhymes with "wanna" in local dialect).

Quebec : area 1,542,056 km2 (largest; 1% smaller than Mongolia), population 7,237,479 (2nd largest, 24% of total). Named from an Algonquian word meaning "where the river narrows", a reference to the narrowing of the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City. One of the four original provinces of 1867. Quebec is similar to Ontario in that most of it is in the Canadian Shield, but the population is concentrated in the St. Lawrence Lowlands in the south. Northern Quebec supplies not only minerals, but also, through a serious of dams, large amounts of hydroelectric power, much of which is exported to the United States. The industrialized south is the centre of Canada's aerospace and pharmaceutical industries. Population by mother tongue: 81% French, 8% English, 2% Italian, 8% other.

The name "Canada" was originally used by French colonists to refer only to what is now the southern part of the province of Quebec, so it is kind of ironic that today it's the only province with a serious movement (including the members of its current government) dedicated to secession from Canada. Referenda on vaguely worded questions proposing some type of "sovereignty" were held, and voted down, in 1980 (60% against) and 1995 (50.6% against). Just after the 1995 referendum, the Canadian Parliament passed a resolution recognizing Quebec as "a distinct society within Canada", citing "its French-speaking majority, unique culture and civil law tradition". Major metropolitan areas: Montreal (3,426,350, or 47% of province's total), Quebec City (682,757, or 9%). Licence plates read "Je me souviens" (I remember). Postal/Internet abbreviation QC (formerly PQ), postal codes start with G, H or J. Capital: Quebec City.

New Brunswick : area 72,908 km2 (8th largest; 2% larger than Sierra Leone), population 729,498 (8th largest, 2% of total). Named for the British royal family of Brunswick. One of the four original provinces of 1867. One of the three Maritime provinces, New Brunswick is 85% forested, the highest rate of all Canadian provinces. Forestry and pulp and paper are the most important industries in its resource-based economy, but other important sectors are fisheries, agriculture (especially potatoes), and mining (notably zinc, of which it is the largest producing province, at 27% of Canada's total). Population by mother tongue: 65% English, 33% French, 2% other. New Brunswick is the only fully bilingual province, with French and English having equal status. With its large bilingual population, New Brunswick has become a convenient location for nationwide call centres. After P.E.I., it is the second least urbanized province, with 50% of its population living in rural areas.

Major metropolitan areas: Saint John (122,678, or 17% of province's total), Moncton (117,727, or 16%). Licence plates read "New/Nouveau Brunswick". Postal/Internet abbreviation NB, postal codes start with E. Capital: Fredericton. Nova Scotia : area 55,284 km2 (9th largest; 3% smaller than Togo), population 908,007 (7th largest, 3% of total). Latin for "New Scotland". One of the four original provinces of 1867. One of the three Maritime provinces, Nova Scotia consists of a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, together with Cape Breton Island. Nova Scotia leads the Atlantic provinces in the value of its fish catch, of which lobster is the most important economically. Coal mining is also important, with 8% of Canada's coal produced there. Agriculturally, dairy and poultry farming are the largest sectors, although the province may be better known for fruits and vegetables.

In the 19th century, before the tremendous growth in Western Canada, Nova Scotia was the 3rd most populous province, with 10% or more of the country's population. National policies on trade and on transportation (such as the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway) have been blamed for the decline in secondary industry since Confederation, and for the fact that today its GDP per capita is 29% below the national average. Population by mother tongue: 93% English, 4% French, 3% other. Major metropolitan area: Halifax (359,183, or 40% of province's total). Licence plates read "Canada's Ocean Playground". Postal/Internet abbreviation NS, postal codes start with B. Capital: Halifax. Prince Edward Island : area 5,660 km2 (smallest; 1% larger than the island of Bali), population 135,294 (smallest, 0.5% of total). Named after Edward, Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria. Was previously named St.

John's Island, but was changed in 1798 because it became too easily confused with Saint John, N.B., and St. John's, Nfld. Became Canada's 7th province in 1873. One of the three Maritime provinces, P.E.I. is not only the smallest of all the provinces in both area and population, but is also the most densely populated and has the least urbanized population (which is 55% rural). The island was connected for the first time by a fixed link to the mainland in 1997, with the opening of the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick. The mainstays of the economy are agriculture (especially potatoes, producing 30% of Canada's total), tourism and fishing (notably lobster). Visitors are attracted to the red sandy beaches and to the home of Anne of Green Gables. Do not confuse P.E.I. with the Quebec island of Anticosti, 300 km to the north.

Although Anticosti is 41% bigger than P.E.I., it has a population of only 266 (or 99.8% smaller) and contains no historical or literary attractions, nor even any agriculture. P.E.I. has the lowest per-capita GDP of any province (33% below the national average). Population by mother tongue: 94% English, 4% French, 2% other. Major metropolitan area: Charlottetown (58,358, or 43% of province's total). Licence plates read "Birthplace of Confederation" (referring to the 1864 constitutional conference) or "Confederation Bridge". Postal/Internet abbreviation PE, postal codes start with C. Capital: Charlottetown. Newfoundland and Labrador : area 405,212 km2 (7th largest; 0.4% smaller than Paraguay), population 512,930 (9th largest, 2% of total).

Island portion named "new found isle" by John Cabot in 1497; mainland named by Joï¿½o Fernandes, a Portuguese explorer and lavrador, or "landholder", in the Azores. Became Canada's 10th province in 1949. It is not considered to be one of the three Maritime provinces, but together with them, it is considered a part of "Atlantic Canada". Newfoundland and Labrador is the least densely populated province. Mainland Labrador makes up 73% of the land area of the province but is home to only 5% of its population. The principal economic activity there is mining of iron ore, of which Labrador produces 62% of Canada's total. On the island of Newfoundland, known to many as "the Rock", the cod fishing industry has dominated the economy for 500 years. Unfortunately, cod stocks have been severely depleted in the last 20 years because of overfishing. The unemployment rate of Newfoundland and Labrador, currently 17%, has consistently been the highest of any province.

Thanks to recent development of the offshore Hibernia oil field, discovered in 1979, the province's per-capita GDP is now slightly higher than P.E.I.'s, but still 30% below the national average. Population by mother tongue: 98% English, 2% other. Only 2% were born outside Canada, the lowest rate of any province, and the population shrank by 7.0% between 1996 and 2001, principally because of migration to other provinces. Major metropolitan area: St. John's (172,918, or 34% of province's total). Licence plates read "A World of Difference". Postal/Internet abbreviation NL (was NF until 2002), postal codes start with A. Capital: St. John's. Back to Gotta know 'em, eh? page. Discover Canada Discover Canada The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship Canada’s Regions Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship - Canada's Regions Duration: 14 minutes, 23 seconds. Read by Geraint Wyn Davies . Download this chapter: MP3 You can also download all of Discover Canada as a single file.

The audio may take a moment to load. In order to maximize the functionality of this page, please turn on Javascript . is now a tourist attraction and winter skateway [ See larger version ] Canada is the second largest country on earth—10 million square kilometres. Three oceans line Canada’s frontiers: the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Along the southern edge of Canada lies the Canada-United States boundary. Both Canada and the U.S.A. are committed to a safe, secure and efficient frontier The Regions of Canada Canada includes many different geographical areas and five distinct regions. The Atlantic Provinces The Northern Territories The National Capital Ottawa, located on the Ottawa River, was chosen as the capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria, the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. Today it is Canada’s fourth largest metropolitan area. The National Capital Region, 4,700 square kilometres surrounding Ottawa, preserves and enhances the area’s built heritage and natural environment. Provinces and Territories Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Each province and territory has its own capital city. You should know the capital of your province or territory as well as that of Canada.

Population Canada has a population of about 34 million people. While the majority live in cities, Canadians also live in small towns, rural areas and everywhere in between. Peggy’s Cove harbour, Nova Scotia Ottawa: The Capital of Canada The Atlantic provinces Atlantic Canada’s coasts and natural resources, including fishing, farming, forestry and mining, have made these provinces an important part of Canada’s history and development. The Atlantic Ocean brings cool winters and cool humid summers. Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly point in North America and has its own time zone. In addition to its natural beauty, the province has a unique heritage linked to the sea. The oldest colony of the British Empire and a strategic prize in Canada’s early history, the province has long been known for its fisheries, coastal fishing villages and distinct culture. Today off-shore oil and gas extraction contributes a substantial part of the economy. Labrador also has immense hydro-electric resources. Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island ( P.E.I. ) is the smallest province, known for its beaches, red soil and agriculture, especially potatoes. P.E.I.

is the birthplace of Confederation, connected to mainland Canada by one of the longest continuous multispan bridges in the world, the Confederation Bridge. Anne of Green Gables, set in P.E.I. by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is a much-loved story about the adventures of a little red-headed orphan girl. Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is the most populous Atlantic Province, with a rich history as the gateway to Canada. Known for the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy , the province’s identity is linked to shipbuilding, fisheries and shipping. As Canada’s largest east coast port, deep-water and ice-free, the capital, Halifax, has played an important role in Atlantic trade and defence and is home to Canada’s largest naval base. Nova Scotia has a long history of coal mining, forestry and agriculture. Today there is also off-shore oil and gas exploration. The province’s Celtic and Gaelic traditions sustain a vibrant culture. Nova Scotia is home to over 700 annual festivals, including the spectacular military tattoo in Halifax. New Brunswick Situated in the Appalachian Range, the province was founded by the United Empire Loyalists and has the second largest river system on North America’s Atlantic coastline, the St. John River system.

Forestry, agriculture, fisheries, mining, food processing and tourism are the principal industries. Saint John is the largest city, port and manufacturing centre; Moncton is the principal Francophone Acadian centre; and Fredericton, the historic capital. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province, and about one-third of the population lives and works in French. The province’s pioneer Loyalist and French cultural heritage and history come alive in street festivals and traditional music. Central Canada More than half the people in Canada live in cities and towns near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in southern Quebec and Ontario, known as Central Canada and the industrial and manufacturing heartland. Southern Ontario and Quebec have cold winters and warm humid summers. Together, Ontario and Quebec produce more than three-quarters of all Canadian manufactured goods. Quebec Nearly eight million people live in Quebec, the vast majority along or near the St. Lawrence River. More than three-quarters speak French as their first language. The resources of the Canadian Shield have helped Quebec to develop important industries, including forestry, energy and mining. Quebec is Canada’s main producer of pulp and paper. The province’s huge supply of fresh water has made it Canada’s largest producer of hydro-electricity.

Quebecers are leaders in cutting-edge industries such as pharmaceuticals and aeronautics. Quebec films, music, literary works and food have international stature, especially in La Francophonie, an association of French-speaking nations. Montreal, Canada’s second largest city and the second largest mainly French-speaking city in the world after Paris, is famous for its cultural diversity. Ontario At more than 12 million, the people of Ontario make up more than one-third of Canadians. The large and culturally diverse population, natural resources and strategic location contribute to a vital economy. Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the country’s main financial centre. Many people work in the service or manufacturing industries, which produce a large percentage of Canada’s exports. The Niagara region is known for its vineyards, wines and fruit crops. Ontario farmers raise dairy and beef cattle, poultry, and vegetable and grain crops. Founded by United Empire Loyalists, Ontario also has the largest Frenchspeaking population outside of Quebec, with a proud history of preserving their language and culture. There are five Great Lakes located between Ontario and the United States: Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan (in the U.S.A.

) and Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. The Prairie Provinces Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the Prairie Provinces, rich in energy resources and some of the most fertile farmland in the world. The region is mostly dry, with cold winters and hot summers. Manitoba Manitoba’s economy is based on agriculture, mining and hydro-electric power generation. The province’s most populous city is Winnipeg, whose Exchange District includes the most famous street intersection in Canada, Portage and Main. Winnipeg’s French Quarter, St. Boniface, has Western Canada’s largest Francophone community at 45,000. Manitoba is also an important centre of Ukrainian culture, with 14% reporting Ukrainian origins, and the largest Aboriginal population of any province, at over 15%. Saskatchewan Saskatchewan, once known as the “breadbasket of the world” and the “wheat province,” has 40% of the arable land in Canada and is the country’s largest producer of grains and oilseeds. It also boasts the world’s richest deposits of uranium and potash, used in fertilizer, and produces oil and natural gas.

Regina, the capital, is home to the training academy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Saskatoon, the largest city, is the headquarters of the mining industry and an important educational, research and technology centre. Alberta Alberta is the most populous Prairie province. The province, and the world-famous Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains, were both named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. Alberta has five national parks, including Banff National Park, established in 1885. The rugged Badlands house some of the world’s richest deposits of prehistoric fossils and dinosaur finds. Alberta is the largest producer of oil and gas, and the oil sands in the north are being developed as a major energy source. Alberta is also renowned for agriculture, especially for the vast cattle ranches that make Canada one of the world’s major beef producers. The West Coast British Columbia is known for its majestic mountains and as Canada’s Pacific gateway. The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest and busiest, handles billions of dollars in goods traded around the world. Warm airstreams from the Pacific Ocean give the B.C. coast a temperate climate. British Columbia British Columbia ( B.C.

), on the Pacific coast, is Canada’s western most province, with a population of four million. The Port of Vancouver is our gateway to the Asia-Pacific. About one-half of all the goods produced in B.C. are forestry products, including lumber, newsprint, and pulp and paper products—the most valuable forestry industry in Canada. B.C. is also known for mining, fishing, and the fruit orchards and wine industry of the Okanagan Valley. B.C. has the most extensive park system in Canada, with approximately 600 provincial parks. The province’s large Asian communities have made Chinese and Punjabi the most spoken languages in the cities after English. The capital, Victoria, is a tourist centre and headquarters of the navy’s Pacific fleet. The Northern Territories The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon contain one-third of Canada’s land mass but have a population of only 100,000. There are gold, lead, copper, diamond and zinc mines. Oil and gas deposits are being developed. The North is often referred to as the “Land of the Midnight Sun” because at the height of summer, daylight can last up to 24 hours. In winter, the sun disappears and darkness sets in for three months.

The Northern territories have long cold winters and short cool summers. Much of the North is made up of tundra, the vast rocky Arctic plain. Because of the cold Arctic climate, there are no trees on the tundra and the soil is permanently frozen. Some continue to earn a living by hunting, fishing and trapping. Inuit art is sold throughout Canada and around the world. Yukon Thousands of miners came to the Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s, as celebrated in the poetry of Robert W. Service. Mining remains a significant part of the economy. The White Pass and Yukon Railway opened from Skagway in neighbouring Alaska to the territorial capital, Whitehorse in 1900 and provides a spectacular tourist excursion across precipitous passes and bridges. Yukon holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada (-63°C). Mount Logan, located in the Yukon, is the highest mountain in Canada. It is named in honour of Sir William Logan, a world-famous geologist, born in Montreal in 1798 to Scottish immigrant parents.

Logan founded and directed the Geological Survey of Canada from 1842 to 1869 and is considered one of Canada’s greatest scientists [ See larger version ] Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories ( N.W.T. ) were originally made up in 1870 from Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory. The capital, Yellowknife (population 20,000), is called the “diamond capital of North America.” More than half the population is Aboriginal (Dene, Inuit and Métis). The Mackenzie River, at 4,200 kilometres, is the second-longest river system in North America after the Mississippi and drains an area of 1.8 million square kilometres. Nunavut Nunavut, meaning “our land” in Inuktitut, was established in 1999 from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories, including all of the former District of Keewatin. The capital is Iqaluit, formerly Frobisher Bay, named after the English explorer Martin Frobisher, who penetrated the uncharted Arctic for Queen Elizabeth I in 1576. The 19-member Legislative Assembly chooses a premier and ministers by consensus.

The population is about 85% Inuit, and Inuktitut is an official language and the first language in schools. (From left to right) An Inuit boy in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, uses a pellet gun to hunt for birds The caribou (reindeer) is popular game for hunters and a symbol of Canada’s North What is the biggest province in Canada? | Reference.com What is the biggest province in Canada? A: Quick Answer As of 2014, the largest province in terms of size in Canada is Quebec, which has an area of 643,819 square miles. Canada has 10 provinces: Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and British Columbia. The country has three territories, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon; Nunavut is the largest in size of all the provinces and territories. Full Answer Quebec is located in the eastern region of Canada. It borders the provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador to its east and Ontario to its west.

Quebec covers an area extending 1,242 miles from the border with the United States to the Arctic Ocean, with the Saint Lawrence River linking the province to the Atlantic Ocean. It is a French-speaking province, with the majority of the population speaking French. The capital is Quebec City. 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. CanadaInfo: Provinces and Territories: Alberta The Honourable Rachel Notley (New Democratic Party) Click on the picture for free downloads including this image.

Alberta is the westernmost of the Prairie provinces of Canada, bounded on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Saskatchewan, on the south by the state of Montana, and on the southwest and west by British Columbia. Alberta is a wholly inland territory. The province is called Sunny Alberta because it has more hours of sunshine a year than any other province. Alberta entered the Dominion with Saskatchewan on September 1, 1905, as the eighth and ninth provinces. With its extensive, fertile prairie lands, Alberta long had an economy dominated by agriculture. Since the 1950s, however, mineral extraction has become a leading sector of the economy. Alberta is now Canada's largest producer of petroleum and natural gas. The province is named for Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, who was the wife of a Canadian governor-general and a daughter of Queen Victoria. Ralph Klein has eliminated the province's deficit since he took office, at considerable cost to its social safety net. Calgary, a city quite similar to Denver, is home to the annual Calgary Stampede.

Other sites not to miss in Alberta include the West Edmonton Mall with its 800 stores, 19 movie theatres, 110 eateries, and a full sized hockey rink; Canada Olympic Park which hosted the 1988 Winter Olympic Games; and the series of national parks along its western borders collectively known as the Rocky Mountain Range National Park System. Banff National Park The Canadian province of Alberta is rich in natural beauty. The Rocky Mountains provide a spectacular environment for outdoor recreation and exploration. These riders trek through Banff National Park, the country's oldest national park, which is famous for its mountain scenery and pristine lakes.

Famous sons and daughters of Alberta include: The Right Honourable Joe Clark , 16th Prime Minister of Canada British Columbia – Canada’s Western-Most Province Home > Canadian Prairies > British Columbia – Canada’s Western-Most Province British Columbia – Canada’s Western-Most Province While it has in the past been customary to think and speak of British Columbia as a mountainous country, it is as well to bear in mind that since railway communication has been established the various resources of this western-most Province of Canada have been developed to a remarkable extent, and that when the projected railway extensions are completed, the country will occupy an even more prominent place in the public eye than it does at present. Its coast line on the Northern Pacific gives it a position of great commercial strategic importance. This Province, lying between the western prairie country and the Pacific Ocean, is the largest of the great divisions which make up the Dominion of Canada, its area being variously estimated at from 372,630 to 395,610 square miles. From north to south it extends some seven hundred miles, and it has an average width of about four hundred miles.

Vancouver Island, the largest of the archipelago of islands lying off the coast, is 285 miles long and from 40 to 80 miles wide, covering an area of about 20,000 square miles. In a Province of such vast extent it will be readily understood that the climatic conditions are of a varied character, but taken as a whole the climate of the Province presents all the conditions met with in European countries lying within the temperate zone. Dr. Macoun, of the Dominion Geological Survey, has stated that British Columbia possesses a climate superior to that of England in every respect, both as regards heat and moisture. Along the Pacific littoral the rainfall is heavy as the result of the moisture-laden winds from the Pacific. Throughout the great inland plateau a much drier climate prevails, while in the northern interior the winter climate is more severe. In Vancouver Island and along the southern coast the climate corresponds very closely with that of England, and severe frost scarcely ever occurs in winter. The mining industry, by which the :province is perhaps best known outside its borders, may be fairly said to be only in its infancy, although the mines have already produced over three hundred million dollars.

Gold has been found since 1862, and silver, lead, iron, copper and other minerals are also found in abundance, and the well-known coal areas of Vancouver Island are, of course, of outstanding value. In timber the province of British Columbia is especially rich and the output of lumber is increasing rapidly. Apart from the Douglas fir, which attains immense proportions, especially in the coast regions, there are many other growths of great commercial value such as the hemlock, cypress, white spruce, red cedar, white pine, tamarac, balsam, yew, maple, cotton wood, etc. Great developments are certain to take place in the manufacture of wood pulp and paper, for the conditions will be favourable not only as regards the availability of raw material and power for the factories, but transportation facilities are rapidly improving. The fisheries of British Columbia, while important, are still in a comparatively undeveloped state, although more attention is being drawn to their potentialities, and great developments will undoubtedly take place in the near future in connection with the deep sea fisheries. The remarkable salmon fisheries are well known, and are dealt with at length in another chapter.

It is only in comparatively recent times that British Columbia has been looked upon as being in any sense a country suitable for settlement from an agricultural point of view, and although, compared with other Provinces of the Dominion, the area available might seem limited, yet it is now better understood than formerly that it has rich assets in its arable and pastoral lands. Those who know the province will resent the statement that it is a ” sea of mountains,” notwithstanding that a stranger who keeps to the present main railway line may be quite prepared to endorse it. Its beautiful valleys are becoming better known, and their fertility ascertained beyond question. Large numbers of settlers are profitably engaged in mixed farming and fruit-growing, and the extent of the lands available for further cultivation, is considerable. Dairying and poultry-raising are found to pay well, and apart from the excellent markets in the cities and towns, the opening up of new mines and establishment of new industries provide splendid markets for such products. As regards opportunities for the extension of fruit-growing, it has been estimated that there are at least a million acres south of the 52nd degree where all the fruits of the temperate zone can be produced.

Ten years ago there was not enough fruit grown to supply the local markets, but the industry is growing steadily, and is likely to become one of the most important in the Province. The subject has attracted much attention in Great Britain in recent years owing to the steps which have been taken to display the produce of the British Columbia orchards, and many prizes have been awarded to the official exhibits at the Royal Horticultural Society’s shows and in the provinces since the annual displays were commenced in 1905. Besides apples, peaches and grapes are successfully grown, and more attention is being given to their cultivation as new areas suitable for the purpose are opened up. About Canada Canada is a country in North America consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. At 9.98 million square kilometres in total, Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area and the fourth-largest country by land area. Its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border shared by the same two countries. Being Canadian For better or worse, zoos are how most people come to know big or exotic animals.

Few will ever see wild penguins sledding downhill to sea on their bellies, giant pandas holding bamboo lollipops in China or tree porcupines in the Canadian Rockies, balled up like giant pine cones. Diane Ackerman Canadian Facts

Question: What is the westernmost of the Canadian provinces?
Answer: British Columbia