Provinces and Territories of Canada

Province in brief

Occupation

Cities

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1. Ontario

“rocks standing high near the water”

Entered Confederation: 1 July 1867

Area: 1,068,587 sq km

Location: in the center of Canada

Population: 10,084,885

Provincial symbols:

  • the trillium
  • the eastern white pine
  • the loon
 

It’s a geographic and cultural transition between eastern Quebec and the Midwestern prairie provinces.

It’s the largest province in the terms of wealth and population.

It’s the most industrial center of Canada.

It produces: 98% of motor vehicles,

93 % of heavy electrical equipment,

92% of agricultural machinery,

¼ of the world’s nickel (Sudbury).

It’s the national leader in car production (Oshawa, Winsdor).

It’s Canada’s iron and steel center (Hamilton).

Elliot Lake sits on the largest uranium deposits.

The Niagara Peninsula is an important fruit and wine-producing region.  

Toronto – the capital of the province and the largest city.

It is located on the north shore of Lake On tario.

It’s one of the chief Great Lakes ports.

It has an international airport at Malton.

It is famous as an artistic and musical center.

The sights are: the Art Gallery, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Royal Ontario Museum.

Educational centers are: the University of Toronto,

Ryerson Iinstitute of Technology, York University.

Ottawa – the capital of Canada.

It sits on the south bank of the Ottawa River at its confluence with the Rideau River.

It’s a political center, the government and the parliament are situated here.

The sights are: Parliament Hill, Peace Tower, Rockcliffe Park, the National Gallery, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Canadian War Museum, the National Museum of Science and Technology, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables and Practice Ground.

2. Quebec

“where the river narrows”

Entered Confederation: 1 July 1867

Area: 1,540,687 sq km

Location: St. Lawrence Lowlands

Population: 6,895,960

Provincial symbols:

  • the white lily
  • the snowy owl

The Climate and the soil are good for general farming.

Manufacturing is the prime industry.

There are vast amounts of hydroelectric power.

It’s the main paper producer in North America.

Half the province is forest.

Other important industries are: aluminium, minerals, timber, tourism, dairy goods, apples and maple syrup.

St. Lawrence River is a link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Quebec City – the capital of the province.

It was founded by Jacques Cartier in 1534 (was called Stadacona).

It was named Quebec (“kebec”) by Samuel de Champlain in 1608.

Montreal – an island city.

It’s the largest Canada’s city and most important port.

It’s the largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris.

It’s called the “Paris of the Western Hemi sphere”.

   

It’s a financial, commercial and industrial center of the country.

Here is James Street known as the “Wall Street of Cana-da”.

The Metro was opened in 1966.

The sights are: the square Place Royal (old), Basilica Notre Dame (the church), Museum of Archaeology and History, the park Mont Royal, Fine Arts Museum, the Contemporary Art Gallery, the Cathedral of Montreal, the Olympic Sports Complex, the Biodom, Wax Museum.

Educational centers: McGill University (English), the University of Montreal (French).

3. Newfoundland and Labrador

Entered Confederation: 31 March 1949

Area: 404,520 sq km

Location: island of Newfoundland, the coast of Labrador on the main-land

Population: 568,474

Provincial symbols:

  • the pitcher plant
  • the marine Atlantic puffin

It’s rugged, weather-beaten land at the edge of Canada, heavily influenced by the sea and the conditions of the not-to-distant north.

Fishing and forestry gave prosperity to this province.

They export raw natural resources: nickel, copper, oil, cobalt.

Labrador is the second largest producer of nickel in the world.

St. John’s – the capital of the province.

4. Nova Scotia

Entered Confederation: 1 July 1867

Area: 55,491 sq km

Location: a 380 mi long peninsula at the Atlantic Coast

Population: 930,000

Provincial symbols:

  • the mayflower
  • the osprey

Fishing remains important.

Major moneymakers are: mining, shipbuilding, tourism, crafts.

Agriculture is a significant part of the economy. The main products are: dairying, fruit, Christmas trees.

Halifax – the capital of the province.

5. Prince Edward Island

Entered Confederation: 1 July 1873

Area: 5,657sq km

Location: is separated from the mainland by a strait

Population: 131,600

Provincial symbols:

  • the common lady’s slipper
  • the blue jay

It’s primarily a farming community because of good red soil. They grow potatoes and sold it all over the country.

Fishing is also important.

Tourism is a growing industry. The quiet, gently rolling hills with good beaches attract a lot of tourists.

Charlottetown – the capital of the province.

6. New Brunswick

Entered Confederation: 1 July 1867

Area: 73,437 sq km

Location: along the Atlantic Coast

Population: 723,900

Provincial symbols:

  • the purple violet
  • the chickadee

It’s largely forested.

Two of the main industries are: Lumber and pulp and paper operations.

Fishing, manufacturing and minerals are also important.

Fredericton – the capital of the province.

7. Manitoba

“great spirit” “Manito Waba”

Entered Confederation: 15 July 1870

Area: 650,090 sq km

Location: between Ontario and Saskatchewan

Population: 1,091,942

Provincial symbols:

  • the prairie crocus
  • the grey owl

The western edge is best for farming.

Wheat is the major agricultural product.

Manufacturing is the main source of income.

Food processing and clothing factories are important.

In the northern Shield area there are rich deposits of gold, copper, nickel, zinc.

Winnipeg – the capital of the province.

8. Saskatchewan

“river which turns around when it runs”

Entered Confederation: 1 September 1905

Area: 651,903 sq km

The south is flat.

It’s the greatest grower of wheat in North America.

It produces 2/3 of Canada’s crop.

Other agricultural products: barley, rye, sunflowers, beef cattle.

In the north there are 100,000 lakes.

Regina – the capital of the province.

Location: between Manitoba and Alberta

Population: 988,928

Provincial symbols:

  • the lily
  • the sharp-tailed grouse

It has the richest potash deposits in the world.

Oil mining brings a lot of money.

 

9. Alberta

Entered Confederation: 1 September 1905

Area: 661,185 sq km

Location: between British Columbia and Saskatchewan

Population: 2,545,550

Provincial symbols:

  • the wild rose
  • the lodgepole pine
  • the great horned owl
  • the big horned sheep

In the east – the Canadian prairies.

It has very fertile agricultural land. They produce wheat, barley, rye and beef.

In the north – rivers, lakes and forests.

Manufacturing industries: timber and pulp industry, mining minerals (oil, natural gas, coking coal).

Tourism is the third highest source of profit.  

Edmonton – the capital of the province.

It’s on the North Saskatchewan River.

It’s the ninth largest city in Canada.

It has one of the largest airports in the country.

The Canadian National Railway passes through the city.

There are numerous industries there.

The University of Alberta is here.

Calgary (“clear running water”) is the center of Canada’ greatest ranching area.

It’s the administrative and financial center of Canada’s oil industry.

It’s a cultural and educational center: the University of Alberta, Provincial Institute of Technology and Art, Mount Royal College, Allied Arts Centre, Philarmonic Orchestra, Jubilee Auditorium, an aquarium.

10. British Columbia

Entered Confederation: 20 July 1871

Area: 948,596 sq km

Location: Pacific Coast, is warmed by the Japanese Current

Population: 3,282,065

Provincial symbols:

  • the Pacific dogwood
  • the blue-black Stellar’s jay

In the east – Rocky Mountains.

In the north – mountain ranges, forests, lakes.

In the south – a small desert.

The major industries: forestry, tourism, mining, hydroelectric power, agriculture and fishing.  

Victoria – the capital of the province.

Vancouver is the largest city in the province.

It’s a major manufacturing and financial center.

It has a symphony orchestra, an art gallery, a summer theatre.

The annual Vancouver Festival of the Arts has been held here since 1958.

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