Regional Regional UrbanizationUrbanizationCanadian Geography 120Canadian Geography 120

Mr. DMr. D

The Atlantic RegionThe Atlantic Region Atlantic cities and urban settlements Atlantic cities and urban settlements

influenced by the seainfluenced by the sea For most cities on the coast, the sea has For most cities on the coast, the sea has

provided a livelihood for many of the provided a livelihood for many of the peoplepeople

Atlantic Canada’s cities were among Atlantic Canada’s cities were among Canada’s first major settlements, but Canada’s first major settlements, but with younger western cities growing with younger western cities growing rapidly and immigrants bypassing the rapidly and immigrants bypassing the Atlantic, their relative size as declined. Atlantic, their relative size as declined.

The largest cities in each of the four The largest cities in each of the four provinces (1996 approx) St Johns, provinces (1996 approx) St Johns, Charlottetown, Saint John (Moncton Charlottetown, Saint John (Moncton 2007), and Halifax all have natural 2007), and Halifax all have natural harbours. Three of these cities are harbours. Three of these cities are capitals of the provinces.capitals of the provinces.

The Atlantic Region The Atlantic Region (continued)(continued) Halifax is the only metropolis of the Atlantic region, Halifax is the only metropolis of the Atlantic region,

with over 370 000 people (Statistics Canada 2006) with over 370 000 people (Statistics Canada 2006) Its site was determined by the huge and deep Its site was determined by the huge and deep

harbour where the British established a fortified harbour where the British established a fortified naval base in 1749naval base in 1749

The city has been a military fortress ever since The city has been a military fortress ever since and remains the major base for Canada’s navyand remains the major base for Canada’s navy

Is the busiest port and major industrial centre in Is the busiest port and major industrial centre in Atlantic CanadaAtlantic Canada

A large oil refinery is one of the many industries A large oil refinery is one of the many industries spawned (generated) by the portspawned (generated) by the port

Has become the commercial, financial and Has become the commercial, financial and cultural centre of the regioncultural centre of the region

The Atlantic Region The Atlantic Region (continued)(continued)

St John’s is the second largest city in St John’s is the second largest city in the Atlantic region with over the Atlantic region with over 181,000 (Statistics Canada 2006) 181,000 (Statistics Canada 2006) Serves as the political, Serves as the political,

commercial, and cultural centre commercial, and cultural centre for NFfor NF

Secondary industries are mostly Secondary industries are mostly based on fish processing and ship based on fish processing and ship repairrepair

The Atlantic Region The Atlantic Region (continued)(continued)

Saint John - population of about Saint John - population of about 122,000 (Statistics Canada 2006) 122,000 (Statistics Canada 2006) Major industrial centre with two large Major industrial centre with two large

pulp and paper plantspulp and paper plants Canada’s largest oil refinery Canada’s largest oil refinery

Moncton – population of 126 000Moncton – population of 126 000

The Atlantic RegionThe Atlantic Region

Charlottetown is small with 58 000 Charlottetown is small with 58 000 (Statistics Canada 2006)(Statistics Canada 2006)

Capital and regional centre for P.E.I.Capital and regional centre for P.E.I.

The Central RegionThe Central Region The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waterway is a The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waterway is a

natural transportation corridor which has natural transportation corridor which has encouraged the development of settlement in this encouraged the development of settlement in this region region

Canada’s two largest cities (Toronto and Montreal) Canada’s two largest cities (Toronto and Montreal) were first settled by the French as military forts were first settled by the French as military forts and fur-trading postsand fur-trading posts

The lakes and rivers remained important as The lakes and rivers remained important as settlers moved into central and western Canada, settlers moved into central and western Canada, since travel by land was so difficult. One of the since travel by land was so difficult. One of the earliest industries was logging, and the rivers earliest industries was logging, and the rivers were essential for floating the logs to the ports for were essential for floating the logs to the ports for shipment overseas.shipment overseas.

Our national capital first began as Bytown, a Our national capital first began as Bytown, a lumber centre of the Ottawa Riverlumber centre of the Ottawa River

Railways – gave settlements a chance to develop – Railways – gave settlements a chance to develop – Mining towns were dependent on the railways to Mining towns were dependent on the railways to move their products. Some mining communities move their products. Some mining communities (Sudbury) were actually discovered during the (Sudbury) were actually discovered during the building of railways. Railways gave a big boost to building of railways. Railways gave a big boost to mining and pulp and paper industriesmining and pulp and paper industries

The Central Region The Central Region (continued)(continued) The cities of southern Ontario and Quebec have The cities of southern Ontario and Quebec have

attracted industry and immigrants thanks to: attracted industry and immigrants thanks to: varied resource base, excellent transportation varied resource base, excellent transportation facilities, energy supply, large domestic market, facilities, energy supply, large domestic market, and close to huge American marketand close to huge American market

Montreal and Toronto had excellent locations for Montreal and Toronto had excellent locations for their development as key transportation and their development as key transportation and communication centres, expanding also in communication centres, expanding also in manufacturing and commercemanufacturing and commerce

For most of Canada’s history, Montreal the For most of Canada’s history, Montreal the dominant urban centre In recent decades, dominant urban centre In recent decades, Toronto has become the nation’s leading Toronto has become the nation’s leading industrial, commercial and financial centre. industrial, commercial and financial centre.

Montreal still retains a special position as the Montreal still retains a special position as the great urban centre of French Canada – the second great urban centre of French Canada – the second largest French-speaking city in the worldlargest French-speaking city in the world

The population of Montreal and Toronto alone The population of Montreal and Toronto alone accounts for one out of every four Canadians accounts for one out of every four Canadians

The Prairie ProvincesThe Prairie Provinces Most cities started as fur trading posts (i.e. Edmonton Most cities started as fur trading posts (i.e. Edmonton

and Winnipeg). As in other regions, settling on major and Winnipeg). As in other regions, settling on major rivers was a key factorrivers was a key factor

Railway was important in stimulating urban growth in Railway was important in stimulating urban growth in the West. Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Moose the West. Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Moose Jaw greatly expanded when chosen as railway division Jaw greatly expanded when chosen as railway division centrescentres

The establishment of government administrative The establishment of government administrative centres also encouraged urban growthcentres also encouraged urban growth

Regina began as the headquarters for the North West Regina began as the headquarters for the North West Mounted Police (today’s RCMP) and administrative Mounted Police (today’s RCMP) and administrative centre for the entire North West Territories – training centre for the entire North West Territories – training for RCMP is still in Regina todayfor RCMP is still in Regina today

With many settlers coming in the late 1800s, With many settlers coming in the late 1800s, agriculture boomed (i.e. Saskatoon). Most agriculture agriculture boomed (i.e. Saskatoon). Most agriculture towns did not grow beyond small local centrestowns did not grow beyond small local centres

The Prairie Provinces The Prairie Provinces (continued)(continued) In recent years agriculture towns have been shrinking or In recent years agriculture towns have been shrinking or

disappearing as people move to the citiesdisappearing as people move to the cities

Discovery of oil in Turner Valley made Calgary Canada’s Discovery of oil in Turner Valley made Calgary Canada’s oil capital. After WWII oil discovered near Edmonton gave oil capital. After WWII oil discovered near Edmonton gave that city a boom also, but Calgary still remains the that city a boom also, but Calgary still remains the financial and administrative centre of the industryfinancial and administrative centre of the industry

In 1900, Winnipeg, “Gateway to the West,” was the most In 1900, Winnipeg, “Gateway to the West,” was the most important city in the prairies. Today is has one of the important city in the prairies. Today is has one of the lowest unemployment rates (6.6% in Canada)lowest unemployment rates (6.6% in Canada)

Key industrial sectors of Winnipeg include: financial Key industrial sectors of Winnipeg include: financial services, manufacturing, agri-food processing, services, manufacturing, agri-food processing, transportation, distribution, information technologies and transportation, distribution, information technologies and telecommunications, film production, and health telecommunications, film production, and health industriesindustries

The Pacific ProvinceThe Pacific Province Location of urban centres in B.C. is primarily related to Location of urban centres in B.C. is primarily related to

its resource industries. Transportation routes are the its resource industries. Transportation routes are the second major factor in urban development in B.C. second major factor in urban development in B.C.

After fur trade, the gold rush of the late 1850s was the After fur trade, the gold rush of the late 1850s was the first event that attracted European settlers to B.C. in first event that attracted European settlers to B.C. in any significant number. Goldfields were in the interior any significant number. Goldfields were in the interior plateau so most early settlements were there, or in the plateau so most early settlements were there, or in the Fraser River Valley, along the gold rush routeFraser River Valley, along the gold rush route

Vancouver, Canada’s third largest city, was uninhabited Vancouver, Canada’s third largest city, was uninhabited until 1885, when it was chosen as the western terminus until 1885, when it was chosen as the western terminus of the CPR. The city’s excellent harbour became of the CPR. The city’s excellent harbour became Canada’s major port for Pacific trade. By the 1920s, it Canada’s major port for Pacific trade. By the 1920s, it had become the primary metropolitan centre in western had become the primary metropolitan centre in western Canada, a position once held by WinnipegCanada, a position once held by Winnipeg

The Pacific Province The Pacific Province (continued)(continued) Vancouver – Canada’s number 1 port continues to grow as Vancouver – Canada’s number 1 port continues to grow as

Canada’s trade with the Far East increases; wheat and potash Canada’s trade with the Far East increases; wheat and potash from the prairies, coal, minerals and forest products from B.C. from the prairies, coal, minerals and forest products from B.C.

Vancouver provides the financial and commercial base for Vancouver provides the financial and commercial base for mining, forestry and fishing industries, as well as processing mining, forestry and fishing industries, as well as processing their productstheir products

Victoria, B.C.’s second city was another early fur trading post Victoria, B.C.’s second city was another early fur trading post and government centre, today remains as the provincial and government centre, today remains as the provincial capital. capital.

Victoria is Canada’s chief west coast military baseVictoria is Canada’s chief west coast military base

Most other cities owe their existence to resource industries, Most other cities owe their existence to resource industries, such as Prince Rupert (fishing), Kitimat (hydropower), Port such as Prince Rupert (fishing), Kitimat (hydropower), Port Alberni (forestry) and Trail (mining)Alberni (forestry) and Trail (mining)