Canada: it’s that big nation just above the United States. Most people outside of it think of snow, winter sports, maple syrup, and nature. While it’s true much of those characteristics shape the Canada we know today, there are so many other facets about Canada people unfamiliar with it don’t know about.
Not only is it geographically vast, but so are the people. Canadians are known for their accomplishments in science, sports, arts and entertainment, and so much more. Once you take a closer look, you’ll realize how vibrant Canada really is.
Canada is a big country. Bound by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, Canada is the second largest nation in the world. Within those parameters, past explorers and today’s travelers alike noted in awe the great multitude of geography, historical sites, flora, and fauna.
Canada is broken up into ten provinces and three territories. To the east, provinces New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador boast mixed forests and beautiful Atlantic coastlines. The central provinces of Quebec and Ontario contain the highest populations, central government operations, and major financial industries along with great natural landscapes in-between. The Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are major agricultural provinces with up-and-coming resource-based industries. British Columbia on the Pacific coast is a rich, warm environment amongst the great Rocky Mountains. The northern territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are home to great Indigenous communities and sub-Arctic nature not found anywhere else in the world.
Yes, it is big. But it is all there to be explored.
Looking all the way back into history, Canada was made up of numerous Indigenous populations, many of whom still exist today. The first explorers to Canada were Scandinavians that landed on what is now its eastern provinces. The larger settlements in Canada came later with predominantly British and French migration, both of whom established Upper and Lower Canada respectively and that established Canada’s current bilingualism of official English and French languages. As mass of immigration came thereafter and Canada became a nation of settlers from countries as diverse as Iceland, Ukraine, Holland, and Latvia.
What makes Canada so unique today is its mix of ethnicities. Both inside and outside the major city centres, you will encounter people of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Ethiopian, Portuguese, Serbian, and countless other extractions. Canada prides itself on how diverse its ethnic make-up is and welcomes all influences newcomers to Canada bring.
Since it’s official establishment as a nation in 1867, Canada has been noted for some great milestones of history and those that were victorious in the their fields, including:
…and that’s only a handful. There will doubtlessly be more, especially from newcomers to Canada bringing their own dreams and ideas.
Unlike the United States of America, Canada—akin to Australia and New Zealand—is a democratic monarchy. While independent in its own governing duties, Canada maintains an allegiance to the British Royal Family. As such, it has notable positions and establishments in its government:
Beyond the federal government, provincial and municipal governments have many duties at their own levels, including region decisions on holidays, public services like snow removal, and city by-laws.