Canada

Canada - Introduction

In terms of land area, Canada is the second largest country in the world. It spans across five marine ecozones, the largest being the Arctic Archipelago, and seventeen terrestrial ecozones, the largest being the Boreal Shield. The Arctic Archipelago covers over 1,400,000 square kilometers and includes all of Hudson and James Bay. This region contains over 36,000 islands, one being Baffin Island, the fifth largest in the world. The Arctic Archipelago is spread over two Canadian territories; Northwest Territories and Nunavut, but has a combined population of less than 20,000 people. The Boreal Shield stretches from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and has an area of 1,800,000 square kilometers. It contains 20% of the Canadian landmass and 10% of the nation’s fresh water. Being remote and sparsely populated, these two ecozones offer an abundant variety of flora and fauna.

Canada Goose - Canada

Canada has more inland water systems than any other country. Canada’s Mackenzie River ranks as the 12th longest river in the world. Of the fifteen largest lakes, Great Bear, Great Slave, and Winnipeg are in Canada, four others are shared with the United States: Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior.

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Branta canadensis - In the second year of life, a Canada goose will choose a permanent mate; Canada geese are monogamous and remain together for life. A female will typically lay a clutch of about five eggs. Both parents tend to the nest; the female dedicating herself to the incubation process and the male will standby to offer protection or help maintain the nest. The incubation period lasts from 24 to 28 days. Once hatched, the goslings are capable of walking, swimming, and fending for themselves in finding food.

Sugar Maple - Canada

Acer saccharum - The sugar maple is one of several maple species found worldwide. It is a slow growing tree, attaining a height of 40 meters at maturity. The maple is a hardy and tolerant tree, but recent declines in acreage is a direct result of increased acid precipitation and air pollution in the northeastern industrial corridor. Maple syrup is derived from the xylem of the sugar maple tree. Xylem is the vascular tissue of the sugar maple and allows the tree to transport water from the roots to the leaves.

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The first European settlement of Canada occurred in 1000 AD; Norsemen built a small colony at L'Anse aux Meadows. The settlement did not survive and Europeans remained absent from Canada until John Cabot’s exploration of 1497; he claimed his findings for England. Jacques Cartier arrived in 1534 and claimed the area along the Saint Lawrence River for France. This pitted England against France in several wars for control of Canada; England emerged as the victor during the Seven Years’ War.

Ankylosaurus - Alberta

The District of Alberta was creating in 1882. It had been part of the Northwest Territories and originally consisted of the southern section of present day Alberta. In 1905, Alberta was granted provincial status and was enlarged to its current size by absorbing the western portion of the District of Athabasca.

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Ankylosaurus was over 10 meters in length and featured a massive body propelled by powerful limbs. The upper body was protected by rows of spines and boney armored plating. The tail came to a tapered end and carried a heavy mass of bone on the tip. This club could be swung from side to side and deliver a stunning blow to any predator. Fossil remains of ankylosaurus were unearthed in the western regions of North America and have been dated to the Cretaceous period, over 60 million years ago.

Sitka Spruce - British Columbia

Negotiating the Pacific border between Canada and the United States had been difficult. Canada feared the United States may try to bridge the land gap between the territories of Washington and Alaska at Canada’s expense. To offset this threat, British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation as a province in July, 1871.

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Picea sitchensis - The Sitka spruce is one of forty species in the Pinaceae family, the conifer trees. Growing to heights of 100 meters, it is the tallest spruce tree. The shallow root system of the Sitka make it vulnerable to toppling over in high winds and the thin bark offers little protection when forest fires ravage the landscape. These fires can destroy thousands of acres, but they also help to enrich the soil for the seeds of the next generation. The Sitka spruce is found along the rain corridor and coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest.

Polar Bear - Manitoba

The competition between the fur traders from the North West and Hudson Bay Companies was keen and sometimes violent. The two companies built several trading posts in the Red River Valley area and helped to establish Southern Manitoba as an important center of the fur trading business in Rupert’s Land.

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Thalarctos maritimus - Polar bears are not white and they do not hibernate. Cubs are white, but adults have a noticeable yellowish tint. Individuals take temporary shelter in ice dens during extreme weather and pregnant females will retire in midwinter to give birth; usually two cubs are born. Polar bears are stealth hunters able to patiently stake out breathing holes for the opportunity to grab an emerging seal. They are able to sustain themselves from fat reserves for extended periods between successful hunts or when sheltering in dens.

Atlantic Cod - New Brunswick

New Brunswick was one of the first four provinces of the Canadian Confederation. It was named for George I, the first Hanoverian king of England coming from the German House of Braunschweig-Lüneburg; he ascended to the English throne in 1714. Brunswick is the Anglicized form of "Braunschweig."

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Gadus morhua - The most common species of cod is the Atlantic variety. It is found throughout the northern Atlantic Ocean, from the Hudson Strait off Western Greenland, to the Labrador Sea, and as far south as Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The cod remains near the ocean floor, moving toward the surface only when feeding or during migration. Atlantic cod mature at 6 to 8 years of age. Late maturity and over fishing have caused drastic declines in population and resulted in the cod being listed as a species vulnerable to extinction.

Harp Seal - Newfoundland and Labrador

The term “Newfoundland” had been used since the early 1500’s by explorers describing the newly found lands of the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Newfoundland became the 10th Canadian province in March of 1949. The name of the province was changed in December of 2001 to reflect the importance of the Labrador region.

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Pagophilus groenlandicus - The harp seal's habitat is spread across the Northern Atlantic ranging from the Cara and Barents Seas to the waters of Greenland and Newfoundland. Harp seals migrate in pursuit of their favorite food: cod, herring, and halibut. Except when heaving onto the pack ice to give birth or to seek temporary refuge when moulting, harp seals do not venture out of the water often. Adult males grow from 170 to 190 centimeters in length and reach an average weight of 135 kilos; females are smaller and lighter.

Osprey - Nova Scotia

The French presence in Nova Scotia began with the establishment of Fort Royal in 1605. Through alliances with the native population, the French barely managed to keep the English from intruding. Six wars were fought and culminated with the French defeat in the Seven Years War and the loss of Canada to England in 1763.

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Pandion haliaetus - The osprey is a common bird found throughout the world. It is the second most widely distributed raptor bird to the peregrine falcon. The osprey is highly adaptable in finding niches to support itself; any location near water will sustain a healthy population. The diet is strictly fish based, but on rare occasions rodents, hares, other birds, and reptiles will be included. The osprey has the ability to spot fish from up to 40 meters above water and has the talons and lift capacity to easily haul out any fish under 2 kilos.

Caribou - Ontario

Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, accounting for almost 40% of Canada’s population. Ontario had been part of Québec until emerging as a separate entity in 1792. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Québec, became the first four provinces during the 1867 formation of the Canadian Confederation.

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Rangifer tarandus - The caribou of the Americas, Europe, and Asia belong to a single species, but there are three subspecies of caribou inhabiting North America: the woodland, the barren-ground, and the Perry. Caribou are different from the other members of deer; the male and female generally carry antlers with the antlers of the male being much larger. Caribou herds have been migrating across Canada for millions of years and have the longest migration route of any terrestrial mammal; annually, they travel over 5,000 kilometers.

Blue Jay - Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is one of Canada’s three maritime provinces; the other two are New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is Canada’s smallest province in population and land area, but served an important role in hosting the Charlottetown Conference, a meeting convened to discuss plans for Canada's unification.

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Cyanocitta cristata - Blue jays belong to the family Corvidae, a family including crows, ravens, and magpies. As a year round resident, it is common in the eastern regions of Canada and the United States. Populations along the extreme northern range do migrate to warmer areas. Blue jays pair for life and share in nest building and caring for the young. Females are fed and protected by the male while brooding the clutch of eggs; usually three to six eggs are laid. Except when nesting, the blue jay can be a loud and boisterous bird.

Common Loon - Québec

The Saint Lawrence River is the final link in connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Beginning at the outflow of Lake Ontario, the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It is a short river, 500 kilometers in length, but the estuary formed at the mouth is the largest in the world.

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Gavia immer - The common loon is widespread throughout the Arctic and temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. They inhabit the shallow coastal waters and are usually solitary when feeding, but may gather in loose flocks at night. They are extremely vocal during the courtship and mating season, producing a loud yodeling or laughing sound. Breeding adults have a checkered mantle, black head, and white underside. The common loon feeds extensively on fish and is a skilled diver, able to hold its breath for up to 3 minutes.

Sharp-tailed Grouse - Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan experienced its arrival on the Canadian scene with the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the government’s Dominion Land Survey, an act granting parcels of land to willing settlers. Saskatchewan was carved out of the vast Northwest Territories holdings and given provincial status in 1905.

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Tympanuchus phasianellus - Each spring the male sharp-tailed grouse moves to his traditional “dancing” ground to perform a ritual breeding dance. He brings his tail feathers up, shakes them, and struts about in circles with wings outstretched while stomping his feet vigorously. The large purple neck sac will inflate with air and make a low cooing sound as the air is slowly released in an attempt to attract a potential mate. This type of mating dance is known as “lek mating.” Lekking is a more noticeable trait among avian species.

Arctic Fox - Northwest Territories

In 1870, the Hudson Bay Company, a commercial organization incorporated in 1670 through a royal charter, transferred its Canadian land holdings, known as North-Western Territory and Rupert’s Land, to the British Crown. It was renamed as the Northwest Territories in 1912.

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Alopex lagopus - The Arctic fox has two phases for its seasonal coloration. The winter coat is white or bluish grey and provides excellent camouflage in the winter landscape. The summer coat is usually a greyish brown color, although some populations, depending on their habitats, have a steel grey color in the winter and a pale grey coat during the summer. Arctic foxes are monogamous with several generations maintaining strong family bonds. They remain active throughout the year and do not hibernate or migrate during winter months.

Rock Ptarmigan - Nunuvat

Nunuvat covers 1/5 of Canada’s land mass. It hosts the northern most permanently inhabited place on earth and is the largest sub-division of Canada, yet it also contains the smallest population of any Canadian province or territory. The Nunuvat Territory was created in 1999 by splitting it off from the Northwest Territory.

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Lagopus muta - The rock ptarmigan moults from a summer brown to a winter white coloration to blend in with the seasonal changes. It is a sedentary bird inhabiting the arctic and subarctic regions of the Americas and Eurasia. The primary diet consists of feeding on the buds from birch and willow trees; the developing juveniles add insects to their diet. Females and chicks find refuge near brushy areas to stay hidden from potential predators. Males leave the females for the open tundra once the females begin the incubation period.

Mountain Goat - Yukon Territory

The Klondike Gold Rush occurred from 1896 to 1899 and was centered in Dawson City. The harsh climate and rugged landscape was not a deterrent for the more than 100,000 prospectors trekking into the Canadian wilderness in search of gold. The brief stampede lasted only until gold was discovered in Nome, Alaska.

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Oreamnos americanus - The mountain goat is a species of antelope found in the higher mountain regions stretching from the northwestern United States through western Canada and into Alaska. They have a sturdy body, narrow frame, are tall at the shoulders, and shout legs with sharp-edged hooves. These features allow the mountain goat to safely climb the steepest cliffs and crags. Both sexes have short beards and horns; the male’s being longer for both features. The male is also considerably heavier and more robust than the female.

Tulip - Ottawa

Tulips originated in Southern Europe and Central Asia; there are about 75 species distributed across 4 subgenera. Tulips are perennial herbaceous geophytes: perennial describes plants able to live for more than two seasons, herbaceous plants lack a woody stem growing above ground, and a geophyte plant makes use of a storage organ, typically a bulb, corm, rhizome or tuber, for storing food during the dormant stage. These bulbs are usually concealed underground to protect them from adverse weather and grazing herbivores. 

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In 1826, the British built the Rideau Canal to link the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario. The project attracted new settlers and the village of Bytown was created. The name was changed to Ottawa in 1855, a name the local Algonguin tribe had been using in referring to the river for its importance of serving as a commercial waterway. In 1857, Queen Victoria had the final word in settling a dispute between the cities of Montreal, Toronto, Kingston, Quebec, and Ottawa to determine Canada’s capital city. Her choice was based on Ottawa’s central location between the two existing Canadian colonies at the time: Quebec and Ontario.

Cities in Canada

Over 2,000 years ago, the Coast Salish people occupied the present day area of Vancouver. The Fraser Gold Rush of 1858 brought thousands of prospectors to the area. Gastown, centered near the Hastings sawmill, was established in 1863 to serve the needs of the growing community. It was declared a town in 1870 and renamed Granville. In 1886, it was renamed for George Vancouver, a captain in the Royal Navy.

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In 1608, Samuel Champlain built three stockades to strengthen French claims in Canada. The settlement was named Habitation de Québec. Alliances with the Algonquin and Huron people were successful and the village prospered. In 1759, the Plains of Abraham, an area outside Québec City, became a battle site in the French and Indian War, a battle to decide if Canada would be controlled by the French or the British.

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The city of Hamilton was official chartered in 1846, but the area had been a destination point for large numbers of displaced Americans loyal to the British cause during and after the American Revolutionary War. With the arrival of the Great Western Railway in 1854 and the completion of the Niagara Suspension Bridge in 1855, Hamilton was fully connected to Canada and the United States.

Cities in Canada

A new community was founded on the treeless plains of Canada’s North West Territories in 1882 and named “Regina.” The settlement was named by Princess Louise in honor of her mother, Queen Victoria. Regina served briefly as the capital of the North West Territory. Saskatchewan became a province in 1905 and Regina, having been incorporated as a city in 1903, became Saskatchewan’s capital in 1906.

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People from the Blackfoot Confederacy had settled in the area of present day Calgary. John Glenn was the first European to establish a residence in the area; he built a log cabin near Fish Creek in 1873. His farmstead and trading post became a stop along the migration route crossing Canada. In 1875, Fort Brisebois, as Calgary was then known, served as an outpost for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

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The Europeans had established a short cut between the trading routes along Lakes Ontario and Huron. A French trading post, Fort Rouillé, was built near the Humber and Don Rivers during the mid-18th century. The settlement was destroyed by the British in 1759 during the French and Indian War. The rebuilt community was renamed York and became the key to British control of Upper Canada.