Canada's Regions
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area and stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and north to the Arctic. It is made up of ten provinces and three territories, grouped into five regions, each with its own character.
The national capital
Ottawa, located in the province of Ontario, is the capital of Canada. It was chosen as the capital by Queen Victoria in 1857. Ottawa is home to the Parliament buildings and was selected partly because it sits on the border between English-speaking and French-speaking communities.
The five regions of Canada
Canada can be divided into five regions:
- The Atlantic Provinces.
- Central Canada.
- The Prairie Provinces.
- The West Coast.
- The Northern Territories.
The Atlantic Provinces
The Atlantic Provinces are located on Canada's east coast and have a strong tradition tied to the sea, including fishing and shipping.
- Newfoundland and Labrador, capital St. John's, the most easterly province, known for fisheries and offshore oil.
- Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), capital Charlottetown, the smallest province, the birthplace of Confederation.
- Nova Scotia, capital Halifax, a major Atlantic port with a long maritime history.
- New Brunswick, capital Fredericton, Canada's only officially bilingual province, home to many Acadians.
Central Canada
Central Canada is home to more than half of Canada's people and is the industrial and manufacturing heartland of the country.
- Quebec, capital Quebec City, the largest province in area and the centre of French-speaking Canada; Montreal is its largest city.
- Ontario, capital Toronto, the most populous province; Toronto is Canada's largest city, and Ottawa, the national capital, is also in Ontario.
The Prairie Provinces
The Prairie Provinces are rich in energy resources and farmland, and produce much of Canada's grain and cattle.
- Manitoba, capital Winnipeg, with a strong agricultural base and a notable Francophone and Aboriginal heritage.
- Saskatchewan, capital Regina, known as the wheat province and rich in other resources.
- Alberta, capital Edmonton, the largest oil and gas producer; Calgary is famous for the Calgary Stampede.
The West Coast and the North
British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province, while the three territories make up the vast Canadian North.
- British Columbia (B.C.), capital Victoria, known for its mountains, Pacific ports, forestry and fruit growing; Vancouver is its largest city.
- Yukon, capital Whitehorse, famous for the Klondike Gold Rush and the highest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan.
- Northwest Territories, capital Yellowknife, rich in minerals including diamonds.
- Nunavut, capital Iqaluit, created in 1999, with a majority Inuit population; its name means our land in Inuktitut.