Canada

By: Chase

WelcomeCanada is a large country stretching from the northern border of the United States all the way up to the Arctic Ocean, and from the eastern Island of Newfoundland west to the Island of Vancouver.

Canada is the second biggest country in the world. It is divided into ten providences. The capital is Ottawa in Ontario.

Thirty one million people live in Canada but 80% live within 185 miles of the Southern border.

Map

GovernmentThe Head of State is the King or Queen of Great Britain. They have no real power. They are there to honor the past. The Governor General lives in Canada and signs all laws. The Governor General acts only at the Prime Minister’scommand. The Prime Minister leads thegovernment and signs laws.

The Parliament is Canada’s lawmaking body and is made up of two groups: the Senate and the House of Commons. The Senate has little power. It usually passes whatever laws are proposed by the House of Commons.

The Canadians love their government and vote for candidates based on their political party. Popular parties are The Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party.

History/Culture

Inuit people were the first inhabitants of Canada and still live in the far North. These people lived by hunting and fishing.

Europeans began exploring Canada in the 1500’s and many British and Frenchclaimed different parts of the country. In the 18th century, the Britishbeat the French in the battle for control of Canada. Today 3 out of 10Canadians are British but French Canadians are still the second largestEthnic group in the country.

EconomicsNatural Resources/Products

Canada’s natural resources are timber, oil, wheat and medals (iron ore, aluminum, nickel, gold, silver, zinc, copper) and seafood. The lumber industry is one of the biggest exports and timber is cut for paper, furniture, and building materials. Canada is also the second largest wheat exporter in the world.  Canada also is a big producer of fish and seafood and people who live near the shore sell fish, lobsters and clams.

FlagThe official name is the National Flag of Canada. It has a maple leaf on the flag. It was made in 1965. Before the maple leaf the Canadians used the beaveras a national emblem. In 1860 the Canadians decided to use the maple leaf as their emblem when preparing for a visit from the Prince of Wales.

The colors of the flag are red and white and were the first colorsused in the General Service medal issued by the Queen Victoria.

Fun Facts

• CN Tower in Toronto is Canada’s largest tower • Canada is over half of the Northern hemisphere• Canada was completely covered with ice in the ice age• The Trans Canada Highway crosses through 10 providences• North Canada almost touches the North Pole• Canada has over 40 national parks for camping and hiking• The national anthem is “Oh Canada”• Canada holds the record of the most winter Olympic medals won• Canada borders three oceans• The national bird is the common Loon• Dollar coins are called loonies because the coin has a loon on it; two dollar bills are called toonies and have bears on the coins

Fact File Official Name: CanadaSize: 3,855,102 square milesPopulation: 31,612,897Capital: OttawaLanguages: English and FrenchGovernment: Parlimentary DemocracyCurrency: Canadian Dollar Products: Lumber, iron ore, aluminum, wheat, oil, natural gas. seafood

Tourist Guide- Places to Visit

• Prince Edwards Island – Visit the Providence House - the birthplace of Canada• Nova Scotia – Visit the British Fort called the Citadel and the Plains of Abraham Quebec – Stroll through the Historic Upper Town surrounded by a 400 foot wall and then take a sightseeing boat ride down the St. Lawrence River• Ottawa- Visit the Parliament Building and the Canadian Museum of Nature• Niagara Falls – View two waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls• Montreal-Ride the Metro to see Montreal. Visit the Notre Dame Cathedral and the ancient Mt. Royal Volcano• Visit all of Canada’s national parks via the Trans Canada Highway

Tourist Guide –Fun Events• The Quebec Winter Carnival (February): snow baths and canoe races; winter softball tournament; ice wall climbing; torch lit ski parade; ice castles.

• Maple syrup Festival: celebrated in small town all over Canada in March and April. Sleigh rides; log sawing contests, square dances.

• Canada’s Birthday Festivities (July 1st): Royal Mounted police put on a special fireworks display; Canadian rock musicians put on outdoor concerts, Toronto parade; parade and fireworks in Ottawa.

• Calgary Stampede (July): One of the largest rodeos in the world. Visitors and Canadians dress as cowboys. There are three riding events called Roughstock - saddle bronco riding, bareback riding. and bull riding. There are three roping events: calf roping, steer roping, and barrel racing.

Say it in French

• Good / bon• Good Morning/bonjoir• Goodbye /au revoir • No/ non• Yes/oui• Please/si vous plait• Thank you/Merci

Canada is a bi-lingual Country with most French people living in Quebec where French is the official language.

Amazing Animals of Canada• Birds: Bald eagle, blue heron,

mallard duck, loons, Canadian goose, Atlantic puffin,

kittiwake

• Wildlife: beavers, flying squirrels, snowshoe hares, musk ox, porcupines, Canadian lynx, arctic fox, black/grizzly/

bears, caribou, reindeers, moose, fur and harp seals.

• Fish: salmon, halibut, carp, trout, beluga whale, blue whale, orcas and walrus.

Bibliography• Canada Question and Answer Book; Nathan Olsen; 2005• Welcome to Canada; Elmash Emenauer; 2008• Colturgram Kids.• 40 Flag Facts• World Book Student• Letter From Canada; Marcia S. Gresko; 2001• Canada In Pictures; Eric Braun; 2003• Canada Enchantment of the World; Liz Sonnebron; 2012• First Atlas; Anita Ganeri; 2003• Google