MISCELLANEOUS FACTS ABOUT CANADA http://www.geocities.com/pcawizman/index.html The Provincial Capitals There are 14 capitals in Canada: one national capital, ten provincial capitals, and three territorial capitals. Populations have been taken from 2001 Statistics Canada Census' Statistical Profile of Canadian Communities unless otherwise specified. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory -- Location: 60:43:01N 135:04:01W - Population (1996): 19,157 Yellowknife, Northwest Territory -- Location: 62:28:48N 114:25:12W - Population (1996): 17,275 Iqaluit , Nunavut - Population: 3,600 "Established as the Hamlet of Frobisher Bay in 1971, as a Village in 1974 and as a Town in 1980, it reverted to it's original name of Iqaluit in 1987. Now with a population of over 4,200 is the largest municipality in, , and the capital of Nunavut." Victoria, British Columbia -- Location: 48:37:48N 123:24:00W - metropolitan population: 318,800 Having begun it's history as a Hudson Bay Company trading post in 1843, Victoria is Western Canada's oldest city. This is a beautiful city nestled on the southern end of Vancouver Island, and named "The Garden City" of Canada for very good reason. "In a survey conducted by Conde Nast Traveller magazine, Victoria was judged to be one of the world's best cities, topping the list in the category of environment and ambience." Victoria is probably known best as the retirement capital of Canada. Edmonton, Alberta -- Location: 53:30:00N 113:30:00W - Population: 956,800 Edmonton calls itself the festival city of Canada. The Fringe, Jazz City, the Northern Alberta Childrens Festival, Heritage Days, the Street Performers Festival and many other activities keep Edmonton rocking. Regina, Saskatchewan -- Location: 50:30:00N 104:30:00W - Population: 198,100 Regina was the first headquarters of the North West Mounted Police in 1882, the RCMP Training Academy is still in Regina and recruits from across Canada are taught modern police methods here. Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Location: 49:54:00N 97:07:48W - Population: 684,800 Christmas Capital of Canada. Toronto, Ontario -- Location: 43:40:12N 79:22:12W - Population: 4,881,400 In 1994, Toronto was ranked fourth of world cities for quality of life by the Corporate Resources Group of Geneva; and in the top ten of Fortune Magazine's best cities in the world to do business. Quebec City, Quebec -- Location: 46:45:00N 71:10:12W - Population: 693,100 The old quarter of Québec City was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985. This is the only fortified city in North America, and from the top of its ramparts you can admire the maze of narrow, winding streets and sloping roofs. Halifax, Nova Scotia -- Location: 44:40:12N 63:34:48W - Population: 359,200 Fredericton, New Brunswick -- Location: 45:51:00N 66:25:48W - Population (1996): 78,950 Fredericton has been dubbed the "City of Stately Elms" in recognition of the many old elm trees which line the streets and river, and it's also acknowledged to be the pewtersmith capital of Canada. Fredericton also marked its 150th birthday in 1998. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island -- Location: 46:14:24N 63:07:48W - Population (1996): 57,224 St. John's, Newfoundland -- Location: 47:04:48N 52:42:36W - Population: 176,200 Alberta (population: 2,997,200) Westernmost of the three Prairie provinces which include Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This province is called Sunny Alberta, because it has more hours of sunshine a year than any other province. Alberta entered the Dominion on Sept. 1, 1905, with Saskatchewan as the eighth and ninth provinces. Alberta lies between the 49th and 60th parallels - virtually the same latitude as the United Kingdom. Alberta is 1,217 kilometers from north to south and between 293 and 650 kilometers in width from west to east. The province is named for Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939), who was the wife of a Canadian governor-general and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. Culture: Despite the persistence of a "frontier ethos" Alberta has advantages: a rich physical landscape that has influenced both painters and writers; a diverse population that perpetuates various ethnic cultures; plus periodic governmental, corporate and private affluence, which has benefited the cultural sector. Climate: Alberta's climate is affected by its northern location, by the cold arctic air masses to the north, and by the position of the Rocky Mountains along its western border. Some warmer air enters Alberta from the south, or from the west, making temperatures in southern Alberta as much as 10° to 15° C higher than in the north. Geography: Alberta has four main natural areas: the Prairie, the Montane Cordillera, the Boreal Plains, and the Taiga Plains. A fifth, small area, called the Badlands, has some of the most unusual scenery in Canada. Alberta has the largest area of National Parks of any Canadian province: Banff National Park, (Canada's first national park), Elk Island National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Wood Buffalo National Park. The national parks contain some of the world's most spectacular scenery. Alberta's 115 provincial parks are mostly wilderness areas with camping facilities. Capital: Edmonton Motto: Fortis et liber (Strong and free) Floral Emblem: Wild rose Mammal: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Tree: Lodgepole pine Bird: Great horned owl Area: 661,190 sq km including 16,800 sq km of inland water Highest Point: Mt. Columbia, 3747 m in the Rocky Mts. Time Zone: Mountain Standard Saskatchewan (population: 1,023,600) Half of the province is covered by forest and one-eighth is water. The Precambrian shield in northern Saskatchewan provides the setting for an adventurer's paradise. Manitoba (population: 1,147,900) Yukon Territories (population: 30,700) "The Yukon is a land rich with history and folklore. Our most valuable assets are the aboriginal people and those who have come to love and stay within the Yukon Territory. It is said "there is nothing as wonderful as northern hospitality". Yukoners exemplify this ideal ." Quebec (population: 7,372,400) Nova Scotia (population: 941,000) New Brunswick (population: 756,600) Newfoundland Outport (population: 538,800) Ontario (population: 11,669,300) Prince Edward Island (population: 138,900) British Columbia (population: 4,063,800) Northwest Territories (population: 42,100) Nunavut (population: 27,700) At the top of the North American continent lies a land of incredible natural beauty and infinite space. Canada is the largest country in land size in the western hemisphere with a population of only 29 million people. Its form of government can be characterized as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. It comprises of 10 provinces and 3 territories, with Toronto (3.8); Montreal (3.1) and Vancouver (1.6) being the largest cities. Canada is a young and dynamic country where immigration is the foundation for economic growth and which brings people, customs and traditions, rituals and culture to the forefront of current Government policy. The only desert in Canada is located in Osoyoos, British Columbia. Approximately 16 Canadians have their appendices removed when not required, everyday. Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Canada has one-third of all the fresh water in the world. Canada is a Native Indian word meaning big village. Canola oil is actually rapeseed oil but the name was changed in Canada for marketing reasons. Doctors in Canada use an adhesive similar to Krazy Glue instead of stitches, lowering the possibility of bacterial infection and minimizing scarring. Each month, there is at least one report of UFOs from each province of Canada. Famous Hell's Gate is located in the scenic Fraser Canyon of British Columbia, Canada. It is nature at its most magnificent. You can take a 25 passenger tram, descending 502 feet across the canyon, directly above the unique Hell's Gate Fishways. Hudson Bay is the largest bay in the world bordering only one country, Canada. Quebec and Newfoundland are the only two provinces which do not allow personalized license plates. The longest street in the world is Yonge Street, which starts in Toronto, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and winds its way north then west to end at the Ontario-Manitoba-Minnesota border. The only flying saucer launch pad in the world is located in St. Paul, Alberta, Canada. Toronto's original name was York, but it had another name long before that. The area near the shores of Lake Ontario was called ""the meeting place"" by the Ojibway of Southern Ontario. Their word: Toronto.