2. CANADA
Canada is a country occupying most of
northern North America, extending from the
Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific
Ocean in the west and northward into the
Arctic Ocean.
It is the world's second largest country by
total area 9,984,670 km2, and shares land
borders with the United States to the south
and northwest.
The land occupied by Canada was
inhabited for millennia by various groups of
aboriginal people.
3. Canada is a federation composed of ten
provinces and three territories.
Western Canada consists of British Columbia
and the three Prairie provinces (Alberta,
Saskatchewan, and Manitoba).
Central Canada consists of Quebec and
Ontario.
Atlantic Canada consists of the three Maritime
provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward
Island, and Nova Scotia), along with
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories,
and Nunavut) make up Northern Canada.
Provinces have more autonomy than
7. History of Canada
The name Canada comes from a St.
Lawrence Iroquoian word, kanata, meaning
“village” or “settlement”.
The most common alternative theory
suggested that the name originated when
Spanish or Portuguese explorers, having
explored the northern part of the continent
and unable to find gold and silver, wrote el
cabo de nada
("Cape Nothing"), acá nada, aqui nada or
cánada ("nothing here") on that part of their
maps.
An alternative explanation favoured by
philologist Marshall Elliott linked the name to
the Spanish word cañada, meaning "glen" or
8. European colonization
The first known attempt at European
colonization began when Norsemen settled
Newfoundland around 1000 AD. No further
European exploration occurred until 1497,
when Italian seafarer John Cabot explored
and claimed Canada's Atlantic coast in the
name of King Henry VII of England. In
1534, French explorer Jacques
Cartier explored the Saint Lawrence River,
where, on July 24, he planted a 10-metre
(33 ft) cross bearing the words "Long Live
the King of France" and took possession of
the territory (known as the colony
9. Independence
Following several constitutional conferences,
The Constitution Act, 1867 brought about
Confederation creating “one Dominion under
the name of Canada” on July 1, 1867, with
four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova
Scotia, and New Brunswick.
10. Government and Politics
Government:
Federal Parliamentary Constitutional
Monarchy
14. Prime Minister
The Right Honourable
Justin Trudeau
23rd Prime Minister
of Canada
November 4, 2015
to
Present
15. Multiculturalism is often cited as one of Canada's
significant accomplishments, and a key distinguishing
element of Canadian identity.
Culture
Religion
Canada is religiously diverse, encompassing a wide
range of beliefs and customs. Canada has no official
church, and the government is officially committed
to religious pluralism.
Languages
A multitude of languages are used by
Canadians with English and French
Currency
Canadian Dollar $$$$