Halifax, the Capital of Nova Scotia, Canada Updated: 11/29/2014 About Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia , Canada. The largest urban area in the Atlantic provinces , Halifax looks out over one of the world's largest natural harbours and is an important seaport. Nature lovers will find sandy beaches, beautiful gardens and hiking, birding and beachcombing. Urbanites can enjoy the symphony, live theatre, art galleries and museums, and a lively nightlife. Halifax is an affordable city that provides a mix of Canadian history and modern living, with the constant influence of the sea. Location of Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is located in the centre of the east coast of Nova Scotia facing the North Atlantic Ocean. Area of the Halifax Regional Municipality 5,490.28 sq. km (2,119.81 sq. miles) (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Population of the Halifax Regional Municipality 390,096 (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Date Halifax Incorporated as a City Halifax was incorporated as a city in 1841.

In 1996 it was amalgamated with neighbouring communities into the Halifax Regional Municipality. Government of Halifax Halifax municipal elections are held every four years on the third Saturday in October. Date of the last Halifax municpal election: Saturday, October 20, 2012 Date of the next Halifax municpal election: Saturday, October 15, 2016 The Halifax Regional Council is the main governing and legislative body for the Halifax Regional Municipality. The Halifax Regional Council is made up of 17 elected representatives: the mayor and 16 municipal councillors. Trans Canada Trail Weather in Halifax Halifax weather is influenced by the ocean. Winters are mild and summers are cool. Halifax is foggy and misty, with fog on more than 100 days of the year, especially in spring and early summer. Winters in Halifax are moderate, but wet with both rain and snow. The average high temperature in January is 2°C (29°F). Spring comes slowly, and eventually arrives in April. It too brings rain and fog. Summers in Halifax are short, but beautiful. In July the average high temperature is 23°C (74°F).

By late summer or early fall, Halifax may feel the tail end of a hurricane or tropical storm. Nova Scotia | history - geography - province, Canada | Britannica.com Nova Scotia "Munit haec et altera vincit (One defends and the other conquers)" Provincial flower Time zone Atlantic (GMT − 4 hours) Nova Scotia, Canadian province located on the eastern seaboard of North America , one of the four original provinces (along with New Brunswick , Ontario , and Quebec ) that constituted the Dominion of Canada in 1867. Roughly 360 miles (580 km) long but not more than about 80 miles (130 km) wide at any point, the province comprises the peninsula of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island (separated from the mainland to the southwest by the narrow Strait of Canso ), and a number of small adjacent islands. Along the narrow Chignecto Isthmus , which seems to thrust the peninsula into the Atlantic Ocean , runs the province’s only land boundary, with New Brunswick to the west. Two arms of the Gulf of St.

Lawrence , the Northumberland and Cabot straits, separate Nova Scotia respectively from Prince Edward Island to the north and the island of Newfoundland to the northeast. To the east and south lies the Atlantic and to the northwest the Bay of Fundy . Halifax is the capital. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Harbour at Peggy’s Cove, N.S., Can. © Creatas/JupiterImages Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s Maritime Provinces (along with New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island), and both its past and its present are tied closely to the maritime life of fishing , shipbuilding, and transatlantic shipping. It became the site of the first permanent European settlement in North America north of Florida when the French established a fur-trading post at Port Royal (near present-day Annapolis Royal) in 1605. Early explorers gave the area the name Acadia (French: Acadie), probably a corruption of the word used by the native Mi’kmaq. The province’s present name, which means “New Scotland” in Latin, was the result of brief Scottish claims to the region in the 1620s.

Area 21,345 square miles (55,284 square km). Pop. (2011) 921,727. Land Relief, drainage, and soils Nova Scotia’s upland regions reach a maximum elevation of more than 1,700 feet (520 metres) above sea level in the Cape Breton Highlands . The most important lowlands lie along the Bay of Fundy and the Minas Basin in the southwest and along the Northumberland Strait. Many of the tens of thousands of acres of marshland created by the tremendously high tides—among the highest in the world—of the Bay of Fundy have been turned to agricultural use by dikes, which were begun in the mid-17th century by the early French settlers, the Acadians. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Yarmouth Forests occupy about four-fifths of the land area. About one-quarter of the woodland is held as crown, or public, land. Softwoods are by far the most numerous, led by species of balsam, spruce, hemlock, and pine; birch and maple make up most of the hardwoods.

Animal life includes such game species as deer and moose and, among the birds, partridge, pheasant, and duck. People Population composition The Mi’kmaq people had occupied the area for centuries before the arrival of the first Europeans in the late 15th century. Primarily hunters and gatherers, the Mi’kmaq ranged over the Maritime Provinces and into the Gaspé Peninsula and later spread to Newfoundland and New England . Their Algonquian language is reflected in such Nova Scotian place-names as Musquodoboit, Pugwash, and Shubenacadie. Many of Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq people now live on reservations. About one-eighth of Nova Scotia’s population is at least partially descended from the Acadian French, some of whom returned from exile after the end of French-English conflict in North America in 1763. Acadian communities , with a lively Acadian culture , are located in southwestern Nova Scotia and on Cape Breton Island. Most of the remaining people are descended from settlers from the British Isles and from what is now the United States .

In the second half of the 18th century, settlers from New England (known as Planters) and, later, American colonists loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution (known as United Empire Loyalists) settled much of western and northern Nova Scotia, with scattered settlements elsewhere. Settlers from England (Yorkshire) and Scotland populated northern and eastern Nova Scotia; the Scots, who settled in substantial numbers in Cape Breton, gave the province a strong Gaelic culture. Irish migration, especially in the 19th century, greatly expanded the population of the Halifax region, among others. German immigrants in the 1750s founded the seaport of Lunenburg . Lunenburg, N.S., Can. © Creatas/JupiterImages Beginning in the 20th century, there were smaller migrations of Dutch, Italian, Polish, Arab, Chinese, South Asian, and other peoples, especially to the urban centres of Halifax and Sydney . The small black population in the province includes the descendants of slaves brought into the colony in the 18th century as well as the descendants of black loyalists; West Indian immigrants have bolstered the black population.

Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest English is the only spoken language of the vast majority of the people. Nova Scotians who speak only French are few. However, both Gaelic and the native language of the Mi’kmaq have experienced a renaissance in recent years. Approximately one-third of Nova Scotians are Roman Catholics; among the Protestant denominations, the United Church of Canada is the largest, followed by the Anglican and Baptist churches. Settlement patterns and demographic trends Urbanization was an important trend during the 20th century, but nearly one-half of Nova Scotians still live outside major population centres. The early European settlement tended to hug the coastline; the sea provided the main means of transportation, and the economy was based on fisheries, the fur trade, and farming. Yet even with the development of railways and better roads in the 19th and 20th centuries, the interior of the province has remained sparsely settled.

With the decline in the late 19th century of shipbuilding and shipping, the coal, steel, and textile industries drew workers to the major centres of Sydney and Halifax, while such smaller towns as Yarmouth , Windsor, Truro, and Amherst developed smaller-scale manufacturing and processing industries. The last century and a half has seen a major out-migration of Nova Scotians, first to New England and later to Ontario and the Canadian West. Skyline of Halifax, N.S., Can. © Creatas/JupiterImages Economy Nova Scotia has a diversified economy based on both land and sea resources. Traditional industries such as fishing, forestry, and mining are in decline, while tourism and other service industries are becoming much more significant components of the economy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing Farming has tended to focus on dairy products, livestock, poultry and eggs, and fruit. Extensive forestry resources supply large pulp and paper mills, numerous sawmills, and the expanding Christmas tree and maple syrup industries. Related Topics Dalhousie University The catching, processing, and exporting of fish continue as important but declining industries. The near-complete destruction of cod stocks has decimated this traditional component of the fisheries.

However, lobster , scallops, and other shellfish, along with haddock and herring, remain important catches in Nova Scotian waters. Aquaculture is an increasingly significant facet of the fishing industry. Lobster fishing off the coast of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Can. Eric Hayes/© Comstock Resources and power Mining is another major industry in Nova Scotia. Traditionally, coal was the leading mined product, but many coal mines closed in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Salt and anhydrite production meet a wide demand, and the provincial gypsum deposits yield about three-fourths of Canada’s supply. There are significant resources of barite and construction materials, such as sand and gravel. The continent’s first tidal energy project, completed in 1984 near Annapolis Royal, harnesses the tides of the Bay of Fundy to enhance the province’s hydroelectric energy output. Natural gas is pumped from wells located off Sable Island and carried to the mainland via pipeline. Manufacturing, services, labour, and taxation Food processing, wood- and paper-related industries, metal production, and many smaller industries provide a solid manufacturing base to the provincial economy.

However, most of the labour force is employed in public and private services. Tourism is a particularly strong service industry, with more than a million people visiting the province each year. More than one-fourth of provincial workers are employed in knowledge-based service industries, such as telecommunications, computer technology, and education. In fact, more Nova Scotians work as teachers and university professors than as fish-processing, forestry, and construction workers combined. Also significant for the economy are several Canadian Forces military bases located within the province. Provincial income is derived from two main sources: various provincial taxes and fees and the federal government. Important taxes levied by the province include personal and corporate income taxes, a sales tax, and a fuel tax. Transportation and telecommunications Shipping remains a major enterprise in Nova Scotia. Point Tupper accommodates the world’s largest oil carriers, and Halifax, a railroad terminus and year-round ice-free port, has facilities for all types of vessels, including huge container ships. Other transportation needs are served by a network of paved highways, by a trucking industry that has largely displaced local rail service, and by an international airport at Halifax and several smaller airports.

Car and passenger ferries operate between Nova Scotia and ports in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the U.S. state of Maine . Ships docked in Halifax Harbour at Dartmouth, N.S. K. Wright/Comstock Nova Scotia has a highly developed, fully digital telecommunications system that features a provincewide fibre-optic network. Cellular telephone service and high-speed Internet access are widely available. Government and society Constitutional framework Nova Scotia’s governmental structure is similar to that of all Canadian provinces. A lieutenant governor appointed by the federal government serves as representative of the crown and titular head of state. The premier, who is the leader of the party in power in the provincial assembly, selects a cabinet from among the elected party. While judges of the province’s higher courts are federally appointed, the provincial government appoints judges to lower courts; judges normally serve until retirement. Government employees are recruited through a nonpolitical civil service. Since Canadian confederation there have been two major political parties in Nova Scotia: the Liberals and the Conservatives (later known as the Progressive Conservatives ). The New Democratic Party experienced dramatic growth in the late 20th century. Health and welfare In 1969 Nova Scotia joined the federal medical care program.

The premium is paid from the province’s general revenues, and insured services include all medically necessary procedures and care. The province provides facilities for mental health, dental care, tuberculosis control, and other public health services. Nova Scotia’s welfare services, similar to those in other provinces, cover old-age assistance, allowances for the blind and disabled, social assistance, social development, child welfare and adoptions, and services for single parents. Education The nondenominational system of compulsory, free public education, dating from the mid-19th century, provides Nova Scotians with high-quality education from kindergarten through grade 12. In areas of the province where demand is sufficient, education is available in French as part of the publicly funded school system. Higher education is offered by a system of technical schools and community colleges, as well as by the largest number of universities per capita of any province in Canada. Dalhousie University in Halifax is the largest; it offers a variety of programs, including law, medicine, nursing, and dentistry. Sainte-Anne University is Nova Scotia’s only French-language university. St.

Francis Xavier University , in Antigonish, has attracted international interest in its adult-education programs, while Acadia University , in Wolfville, has become a leader in Canada in the use of technology in learning. With many programs designed specifically for women, Mount Saint Vincent University, in Halifax, is the only university in Canada to make the education of women its focus. Cultural life The cultural life of Nova Scotia is rich and varied, reflecting both the cultural diversity of its people and the strong sense of its past. Traditional aspects of Scottish and Acadian culture are particularly vibrant. A number of provincial organizations do much to encourage cultural and artistic development. In the last decades of the 20th century a major revival of interest in Celtic music began, with singers and musicians (especially fiddlers) from Cape Breton becoming well known nationally and internationally. St. Francis Xavier University offers courses in Celtic studies, and the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, Cape Breton, teaches Celtic piping, singing, dancing, and handicrafts. Clan gatherings take place annually at St. Ann’s to celebrate the Gaelic Mod, a festival of Highland folk arts. Children participating in a Highland dancing competition, Antigonish, N.S., Can.

Jan Butchofsky-Houser/Corbis Acadian culture, fostered by a French-language school system, French-language radio and television stations, and local festivals, remains an important part of the life of the province. The late 20th century witnessed a renewed interest in the culture and traditions of the Mi’kmaq. Nova Scotia’s black community has retained a strong sense of its own traditions as well. Major cultural institutions include the Neptune Theatre and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, both in Halifax, and the Nova Scotia Museum system. Live theatre flourishes in many centres in the province, especially during the summer months. Artists and writers have found the province both a congenial place in which to live and a stimulating climate in which to work. Several impressive historic sites belonging to Canada’s national parks system reflect the rich history of the region.

These include a reconstruction of the 1605 French habitation at Port Royal, the reconstructed fortress of Louisbourg , the Halifax Citadel, the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site at Baddeck (where the Scottish-born American inventor Alexander Graham Bell had a summer home), and the Grand-Pré National Historic Site in the Annapolis Valley (a centre of Acadian settlement and deportation in the 18th century). Another significant historic site is Old Town Lunenburg, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. In addition, there are a number of provincial museums, and most communities have museums reflective of local history. Restored fortress of Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. © E. Otto/Comstock Photofile Limited Cape Breton Highlands National Park and Kejimkujik National Park provide popular scenic and wilderness experiences. There is also an extensive system of provincial parks. Popular sporting and recreational activities include football (soccer), golf , hockey, kayaking and canoeing, walking, and gardening. There are a great many community newspapers and a number of local radio stations in the province.

The region also is well served by the provincial newspaper The Chronicle Herald of Halifax as well as by radio and television affiliates of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Canadian Television (CTV) networks. History After thousands of years of occupation by aboriginal peoples, the region came to the attention of Europeans, perhaps during the Viking voyages of c. ad 1000 and certainly by the late 15th century. The rich fisheries of the coast provided the major impetus for European involvement in the area. In the early 17th century, a group of French merchants led by Pierre du Gua, sieur de Monts, and assisted by the explorer Samuel de Champlain , established trading posts in the region; one founded at Port Royal (near present-day Annapolis Royal) in 1605 was the first permanent European settlement in North America north of Florida. In 1621 the English king James I granted the area to a Scottish nobleman, Sir William Alexander . This led to a brief, unsuccessful Scottish settlement at Port Royal (1629–32). French settlement at Port Royal, Nova Scotia, from a map by Marc Lescarbot, 1609.

Library of Congress, Rare Book Division For the next century and a half, the region was a focal point for French-English rivalry for control of North America. This struggle for control retarded European settlement of the region and greatly altered the lives of the French settlers, or Acadians. The territory passed back and forth between France and England until 1713, when one of the treaties of Utrecht conveyed mainland Nova Scotia to the English for the last time, although conflict continued for another 50 years. The French retained Cape Breton Island , where they built the powerful fortress of Louisbourg , which the English attempted to counter by the founding in 1749 of Halifax as the new administrative and military centre of their colony. In the 1750s the English expelled the Acadians from the region—an event romanticized and popularized by the New England poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his narrative poem Evangeline. Offers of free land attracted immigrants from the British Isles, the Germanic states, and New England; these newcomers gave the colony its first substantial Protestant population. By the time of the American Revolution , New Englanders constituted roughly two-thirds of Nova Scotia’s population.

In spite of some support for the revolution, the colony remained largely passive during the conflict, and approximately 35,000 loyalists immigrated to the province from the revolting colonies to the south. Meanwhile, Prince Edward Island had split off from Nova Scotia in 1769, and New Brunswick and Cape Breton followed in 1784; the last was reunited with Nova Scotia in 1820. In 1848 Nova Scotia became the first British colony in which the administration of government was responsible to the majority in the House of Assembly, the representative branch of colonial government. Despite opposition from some economic and political leaders, confederation with the colonies of New Brunswick and Canada (present-day Quebec and Ontario ) was carried out in 1867. As a separate British colony, Nova Scotia had prospered from its forestry, fisheries, and shipbuilding for the first two-thirds of the 19th century. Under the Reciprocity Treaty (1854) between the Canadian colonies and the United States, the north-south flow of commerce and Nova Scotia’s normal market and supply source in New England seemed secure.

The colony benefited further from the increased demand by both the North and the South of the United States during the American Civil War . However, the termination of reciprocity in 1866 and changing continental and world trade patterns eroded much of Nova Scotia’s traditional economy. The linking of Nova Scotia with central Canada via the railway did not bring all the expected benefits to the region; rather, it helped to make the province more economically dependent on Quebec and Ontario. The late 19th century witnessed the extensive industrialization of parts of Nova Scotia, but in general the early 20th century saw the consolidation of financial and industrial power in Montreal and Toronto . The extensive out-migration of Nova Scotians, mainly to the New England states and western Canada, was a sign of the troubled economy. During both of the 20th-century World Wars, Halifax played a key role in the transportation of men and supplies to Europe; the city experienced unprecedented prosperity as a result. During World War I , much of the city was destroyed when two ships collided in Halifax Harbour on Dec. 6, 1917. The collision resulted in the largest man-made explosion in history prior to the advent of the atomic bomb.

More than 1,500 Haligonians were killed. At the turn of the 21st century, Nova Scotia’s population and economy continued to experience modest growth. The large potential of offshore gas reserves and an expanding technology-based industrial sector augured well for the future of the province, as did the tourism industry. However, increasing difficulties posed by border security and the high cost of gasoline led to a decline in the number of American tourists visiting the province. Nova Scotia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The sea is always close at hand in Nova Scotia, one of the four original Canadian provinces. Except for a narrow isthmus connecting it with New Brunswick, the province is surrounded by salt water. The Bay of Fundy, the Atlantic Ocean, or the Northumberland Strait is never more than 35 miles (56 kilometers) away from any spot in Canada’s "Ocean Playground." Noel, a village on the Minas Basin, has one of the world’s highest tides. The tides bring in fish, wash amethysts and agates from cliffs, and uncover dulse-a coarse red seaweed that when dried is eaten like popcorn.

Article Contributors CanadaInfo: Provinces and Territories: Nova Scotia The Honourable Stephen McNeil (Liberal) Click on the picture for free downloads including this image. Nova Scotia is known as Canada's Ocean Playground, and for good reason. For many Nova Scotians the sea is their main source of livelihood and leisure. But the ocean is much more than that. For more than 200 years the sea has played an integral role in the economy of the province. It was the abundant fishery that drew settlers to the area. They stayed to build a future in the many harbours and coves that are cut out along the coastline. To this day, their descendants work in a variety of professions that are related to the water. The people of Nova Scotia remain its most valuable resource. Descendants of the early settlers and immigrants from around the world have grown together to mold a society that celebrates many cultures. The people have maintained their traditions, but not at the expense of adopting modern and progressive ways. Nova Scotia is the world's largest producer of lobsters, Christmas trees, and wild blueberries. The development of industry in the province has benefited from this attitude. There has been little disruption of the environment. Natural attractions and a pleasant lifestyle are still cherished.

Historic towns and villages have all the modern conveniences, but they still treasure their rich heritage. Cape Breton Highlands National Park Cape Breton Highlands National Park, known for the dramatic cliffs that line its coast, occupies part of the northern tip of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. A common greeting by people of all ethnic backgrounds to visitors in the province reflects this pride in the past, but warmth of the present. Don't be surprised to be welcomed with the Gaelic saying of the first Scottish settlers: "Ciad Mile Failte - A Hundred Thousand Welcomes." Famous sons and daughters of Nova Scotia include: Alexander Graham Bell, inventor Where To Live In Canada | Best Province To Live in Canada | Canadian Provinces Where To live in Canada Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada located in the east-central part of Canada. It is the largest province by population and second largest in total area. It is home to Canada`s most populous city, Toronto, the capital city of Ontario, and Ottawa, the national capital of Canada. As Canada’s economic capital, Toronto is considered an alpha world city by the Globalization and World Cities study group and is one of the top financial centres in the world.

Toronto’s leading economic sectors include finance, business services, telecommunications, aerospace, transportation, media, arts, film, television production, publishing, software production, medical research, education, tourism, and sports industries. The city is also a major centre of higher education and research, home to many colleges and universities, including the University of Toronto, consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world and highest-ranked in Canada. The Toronto Stock Exchange, the world’s eighth largest in terms of market value, is headquartered in the city, along with the most Canadian corporate headquarters of a major Canadian city. Québec Quebec is Canada’s second most populous province, after Ontario. Most inhabitants live in urban areas near the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, the capital. English-speaking communities and English-language institutions are concentrated in the west of the island of Montreal but are also significantly present in the Outaouais, the Eastern Townships, and Gaspé regions. The Nord-du-Québec region, occupying the northern half of the province, is sparsely populated and inhabited primarily by Aboriginal peoples.

While the province’s substantial natural resources have long been the mainstay of its economy, sectors of the knowledge economy such as aerospace, information and communication technologies, biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry also play leading roles. These many industries have all contributed to helping Quebec become the second most economically influential province, second only to Ontario. Nova Scotia The Nova Scotia tourism industry includes more than 6,500 direct businesses, supporting nearly 40,000 jobs. 200,000 cruise ship passengers from around the world flow through the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia each year. This industry contributes approximately $1.3 billion annually to the economy.[58] The province also boasts a rapidly developing Information & Communication Technology (ICT) sector which consists of over 500 companies, and employs roughly 15,000 people. The Life Sciences sector in the province is flourishing; some of the most innovative life sciences companies in the world can be found in Nova Scotia. In 2006, the manufacturing sector brought in over $2.6 billion in chained GDP, the largest output of any industrial sector in Nova Scotia.

There are currently over 360 firms in the Insurance Industry of Nova Scotia; there is a forecasted 25% growth in employment for this industry in the province over the next three years. Nova Scotia’s defence and aerospace sector generates approximately $1.5 billion to the provincial economy annually.To date, 40% of Canada’s military assets reside in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has the fourth-largest film industry in Canada hosting over 100 productions yearly, more than half of which are the products of international film and television producers. Recently, the video game industry has grown with the emergence of developers such as HB Studios and Silverback Productions. New Brunswick New Brunswick’s urban areas have modern, service-based economies dominated by the health care, educational, retail, finance, and insurance sectors. These sectors are reasonably equitably distributed in all three principal urban centres. In addition, heavy industry and port facilities are found in Saint John; Fredericton is dominated by government services, universities, and the military; and Moncton has developed as a commercial, retail, transportation, and distribution centre with important rail and air terminal facilities. The rural primary economy is best known for forestry, mining, mixed farming, and fishing.

Forestry is important in all areas of the province, but especially in the heavily forested central regions. There are many sawmills in the smaller towns and large pulp and paper mills located in Saint John, Miramichi, Nackawic, and Edmundston. Heavy metals, including lead and zinc, are mined in the north around Bathurst. One of the world’s largest potash deposits is located in Sussex; a second potash mine, costing over a billion dollars, is in development in the Sussex region. Oil and natural gas deposits are also being developed in the Sussex region. Farming is concentrated in the upper Saint John River valley (in the northwest portion of the province), where the most valuable crop is potatoes. Mixed and dairy farms are found elsewhere, but especially in the southeast, concentrated in the Kennebecasis and Petitcodiac river valleys. The most valuable fish catches are lobster, scallops and king crab. The farming of Atlantic salmon in the Passamaquoddy Bay region is an important local industry. Manitoba Manitoba has a moderately strong economy based largely on natural resources. Its Gross Domestic Product was C$50.834 billion in 2008.

The province’s economy grew 2.4% in 2008, the third consecutive year of growth. The average individual income in Manitoba in 2006 was C$25,100 (compared to a national average of C$26,500), ranking fifth-highest among the provinces. As of October 2009, Manitoba’s unemployment rate was 5.8%. Manitoba’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, tourism, energy, oil, mining, and forestry. Manitoba’s largest employers are government and government-funded institutions, including crown corporations and services like hospitals and universities. Major private-sector employers are The Great-West Life Assurance Company, Cargill Ltd., and James Richardson and Sons Ltd. Manitoba also has large manufacturing and tourism sectors. Churchill’s Arctic wildlife is a major tourist attraction; the town is a world capital for polar bear and beluga whale watchers. Manitoba is the only province with an Arctic deep-water seaport, which links to the shortest shipping route between North America, Europe and Asia British Columbia The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the fifteenth largest metropolitan region in Canada.

The largest city is Vancouver, the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada and the second-largest in the Pacific Northwest. In 2009, British Columbia had an estimated population of 4,419,974 (about two million of whom were in Greater Vancouver). British Columbia has a resource dominated economy, centred on the forestry industry but also with increasing importance in mining. Employment in the resource sector has fallen steadily, and new jobs are mostly in the construction and retail/service sectors. With its film industry known as Hollywood North, the Vancouver region is the third-largest feature film production location in North America, after Los Angeles and New York City.[24] The economic history of British Columbia is replete with tales of dramatic upswings and downswings, and this boom and bust pattern has influenced the politics, culture and business climate of the province. Economic activity related to mining in particular has widely fluctuated with changes in commodity prices over time. British Columbia’s GDP is the fourth largest in Canada at C$197.93 billion in 2008.

British Columbia’s total debt will rise 16% to C$47.8 billion in the 2010-11 fiscal year, or 24.3% of GDP. Prince Edward Island The provincial economy is dominated by the seasonal industries of agriculture, tourism, and the fishery. The province is limited in terms of heavy industry and manufacturing. Although commercial deposits of minerals have not been found, exploration for natural gas beneath the eastern end of the province has resulted in the discovery of an undisclosed quantity of gas. Agriculture remains the dominant industry in the provincial economy, as it has since colonial times. During the 20th century, potatoes replaced mixed farming as the leading cash crop, accounting for one-third of provincial farm income. The province currently accounts for a third of Canada’s total potato production, producing approximately 1.3 billion kilograms annually. Comparatively, the state of Idaho produces approximately 6.2 billion kilograms annually, with a population approximately 9.5 times greater. The province is a major producer of seed potatoes, exporting to more than twenty countries around the world. The island’s economy has grown significantly over the last decade in key areas of innovation.

Aerospace, Bioscience, ICT and Renewable energy have been a focus for growth and diversification. Aerospace alone now accounts for over 25% of the provinces international exports and is the island’s fourth largest industry at $355 million in annual sales. Saskatchewan Saskatchewan’s economy is associated with agriculture; however, increasing diversification has meant that now agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting together make up only 6.8% of the province’s GDP. Beef cattle production in the province is only exceeded by Alberta. Mining is also a major industry in the province, with Saskatchewan being the world’s largest exporter of potash and uranium. In the northern part of the province, forestry is also a significant industry. Oil and natural gas production is also a very important part of Saskatchewan’s economy, although the oil industry is larger. Only Alberta exceeds the province in overall oil production. Natural gas is found almost entirely in the western part of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan’s GDP in 2006 was approximately C$45.922 billion, Alberta Alberta’s economy is one of the strongest in Canada, supported by the burgeoning petroleum industry and to a lesser extent, agriculture and technology.

The per capita GDP in 2007 was by far the highest of any province in Canada at C$74,825. This was 61% higher than the national average, and more than twice that of some of the Atlantic provinces. In 2006 the deviation from the national average was the largest for any province in Canadian history.[37] According to the 2006 census,[38] the median annual family income after taxes was $70,986 in Alberta (compared to $60,270 in Canada as a whole). The Calgary-Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized region in the province and one of the densest in Canada. The region covers a distance of roughly 400 kilometres north to south. In 2001, the population of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor was 2.15 million (72% of Alberta’s population).[39] It is also one of the fastest growing regions in the country Alberta is the largest producer of conventional crude oil, synthetic crude, natural gas and gas products in the country.

Alberta is the world’s 2nd largest exporter of natural gas and the 4th largest producer. Two of the largest producers of petrochemicals in North America are located in central and north central Alberta. In both Red Deer and Edmonton, world class polyethylene and vinyl manufacturers produce products shipped all over the world, and Edmonton’s oil refineries provide the raw materials for a large petrochemical industry to the east of Edmonton. The Athabasca oil sands have estimated unconventional oil reserves approximately equal to the conventional oil reserves of the rest of the world, estimated to be 1.6 trillion barrels (254 km3). With the development of new extraction methods such as steam assisted gravity drainage, which was developed in Alberta, bitumen and synthetic crude oil can be produced at costs close to those of conventional crude. Many companies employ both conventional strip mining and non-conventional in situ methods to extract the bitumen from the oil sands. With current technology and at current prices, about 315 billion barrels (50 km3) of bitumen are recoverable.

Newfoundland and Labrador Mines in Labrador, the iron ore mine at Wabush/Labrador City, and the new nickel mine in Voisey’s Bay produced a total of $2.5 billion worth of ore in 2006. Oil production from offshore oil platforms on the Hibernia, White Rose and Terra Nova oil fields on the Grand Banks was of 110 million barrels, which contributed to more than 15% of the province’s GDP in 2006 Tourism is a significant part of the economy. In 2006 nearly 500,000 non-resident tourists visited Newfoundland and Labrador, spending an estimated $366 million. Tourism is highly popular throughout the months of June–September, as these months are the warmest months of the year. Yukon Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada’s three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means “Great River” in Gwich’in. The territory’s capital is Whitehorse. The territory was created from the rump of the HBC’s North-Western Territory in 1898 as “the Yukon“.

The federal government’s most recent update of the Yukon Act in 2003 confirmed “Yukon”, rather than “Yukon Territory”, as the current usage standard. The largest ethnic group in the territory is English, followed by First Nations. Yukon law recognizes several First Nations languages, but only considers English and French as official languages. At 5,959 m (19,551 ft), Yukon’s Mount Logan, in Kluane National Park and Reserve, is the highest mountain in Canada and the second-highest of North America (after Mount McKinley in the U.S. state of Alaska). The territory’s climate is Arctic and subarctic, resulting in long cold winters, short summers, and little precipitation. Nunavut Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act,[6] though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993.

The creation of Nunavut – meaning “our land” in Inuktitut – resulted in the first major change to Canada’s map since the incorporation of the new province of Newfoundland in 1949. Nunavut comprises a major portion of Northern Canada, and most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, making it the fifth-largest country subdivision in the world. The capital Iqaluit (formerly “Frobisher Bay”) on Baffin Island, in the east, was chosen by the 1995 capital plebiscite. Other major communities include the regional centres of Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay. Nunavut also includes Ellesmere Island to the north, as well as the eastern and southern portions of Victoria Island in the west and Akimiski Island in James Bay to the far south. Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada. Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada’s two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south.

It has a land area of 1,140,835 square kilometres (440,000 sq mi) and a population of 41,464 as of the 2006 census, an increase of 11.0% from 2001 In 1967 Yellowknife became the capital as a result of recommendations by the Carrothers Commission. Geographical features include Great Bear Lake, the largest lake entirely within Canada,Keller Lake and Great Slave Lake, as well as the Mackenzie River and the canyons of the Nahanni National Park Reserve, a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Territorial islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago include Banks Island, Borden Island, Prince Patrick Island, and parts of Victoria Island and Melville Island. The highest point is Mount Nirvana near the border with Yukon at an elevation of 2,773 metres (9,098 ft). While Nunavut is mostly Arctic tundra, the Northwest Territories has a slightly warmer climate and is mostly boreal forest. About half of the territory is above the tree line. History and Facts about Canada and provinces in Canada.

HISTORY & FACTS Canada - History & Facts Canada is the biggest country in North America. It has borders from Atlantic Ocean to Arctic Ocean. It's known that Aboriginal peoples were the first people living in area. Then in the 15th century, French and English colonialists conquered the country. After some wars, country declared Canada Act 1982. Canada’s political structure is parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. Head of state is now Queen Elizabeth II. Population of country is 33.4 million. Canada has territories and provinces. Main difference between them is that provinces take power from Constitution Act, 1867 but territories take power from federal government. There are 10 provinces in Canada. They are Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. The biggest province of Canada is Ontario. It’s on the east-central of country. Most populour and capital city Toronto and Canada’s capital Ottawa locates in here. Ontario’s 2,700 km border locates in United States. In the last decades, people calls Ontario on two parts as Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario.

Southern Ontario is the main place people choose to live in Ontario. Ontario’s climate is mainly warm. Winter is cold and summer is hot. Scottish, Irish and French migrates mostly choose to live in Ontario. At last census, population of Ontario was 12,851,821. Ontario has a strong economy and it’s the manufacturing capital of Canada. Quebec is the second most populous province in Canada. Capital of province is Quebec City and most populous city is Montreal. Population is 7,903,001 by the last census. Especially people choose Saint Lawrence River borders to live in Quebec. French is the official language of province and it’s only one in Canada. There’s a political movement known as Quebec independence in the Canada’s political life. Canada’s government made referendums about independence but they couldn’t success. Economic power of Quebec comes from natural resources. Also province is developed on biotechnology. People of Quebec mostly speak an accent of French known as Québécois. British Columbia is the third populous province in Canada. British Columbia is the western part of country. Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia province. Also Vancouver is on British Columbia.

In the last census, population was 4,419,974. British Columbia’s economy stands on transporting. It has lots of railways and highways going to Pacific ports. Also moderate climate makes the British Columbia an important place for tourism. Most of Canada’s national parks are here. Some of them are Glacier National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park and Kootenay National Park. Alberta is the fourth most populous province in Canada. It’s population was 3,645,257 in 2011. Province has a little border to U.S. The capital city of Alberta is Edmonton and most populous city is Calgary. Alberta’s climate is the driest one in country. It has cold winters and hot summers. Province is one of the most important dinosaur fossils’ resources in the world. Manitoba is the fifth most populous province in Canada. Population in last census was 1,208,268. Winnipeg is both capital and biggest city of province. Manitoba has a strong economy based on natural resources. Canadian farmland’s 12 percent locates in Manitoba. Nova Scotia is one of the Maritime Provinces in Canada. Their capital city is Halifax.

Also New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are Maritime Provinces. Main cultural influences of provinces come from European settlements. But also it’s possible to see inspirations from historical cultures. Some colonies like British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island joined the Canada after some referendums and other censuses. Few Facts about Canada 1) The largest Island in Canada is Baffin Island. It is the fifth biggest island on Earth. Only two US states are bigger than Baffin Island – Alaska and Texas. Baffin Island is more than double the size of the UK and is slightly smaller than France. 2) Canada sources approximately 20 to 30% of the world’s annual uranium output. As such, Canada is the largest producer of natural uranium in the world. 3) Canada is home to the largest freshwater island in the world. Manitoulin Island, in Lake Huron, is the world’s largest island surrounded by freshwater. 4) Canada’s highest mountain is Mount Logan, 5,959 metres (19,551 ft) high. Due to tectonic activity, Mount Logan continues to gain height by an average of a few millimetres each year.

Mount Logan is possibly the world’s largest mountain because its overall footprint covers a greater area than any other known mountain massif on Earth. 5) Basketball was invented by a Canadian – Dr. James Naismith. He was born on November 6, 1861 in Ramsay township, near Almonte, Ontario. His mother and father had immigrated to Canada from Scotland. On December 21st 1891, James Naismith’s class of secretaries played the first ever game of basketball. The ball was a soccer ball and the goals were two peach baskets. 6) Canada has more lake area than any other country in the world and so it should come as no surprise that roughly 20 % of the world’s freshwater is to be found in Canada.

7) Canada's largest mountain national park - Jasper National Park 8) Canada's first/oldest national park - Banff National Park 9) World's largest shopping and entertainment complex - West Edmonton Mall 10) Greatest outdoor show on earth - Calgary Stampede (Calgary) 11) One of the richest dinosaur finds in the world - Dinosaur Provincial Park 12) World's largest Olympic museum - Olympic Hall of Fame (Calgary) SEARCH ATTRACTIONS 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

Question: Of which Canadian province is Halifax the capital?
Answer: NOVA SCOTIA