August 2022 GCBC: Canada Social Studies, History, and Landmarks

Facts About Canada

Canada Basic Facts

Official Name: Canada
Government: Federal parliamentary state
Capital: Ottawa
Population: 35,881,659
Official Languages: English, French
Money: Canadian dollar
Major Mountain Ranges: Rockies, Coast, Laurentian

Fun Facts About Canada

From north to south Canada spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere. From east to west it stretches across six time zones. It is the second largest country in the world, but it has only .5% of the world’s population.

Ice, snow, and glaciers dominate the landscape of Canada’s far North. Few trees grow here, and farming is not practical. Native Canadians, called First Nations people, live in this region by hunting and fishing. First Nations peoples make up about four percent of the population.

First Nations artwork is widely recognized and is seen as a symbol of Canadian culture.

History of Canada

The first people to come to Canada arrived between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago across a land bridge that joined Asia and North America. Around A.D. 1000, the Viking explorer Leif Eriksson reached Newfoundland, Canada.

In the 16th century, French and British settlers arrived. Land disputes between farmers and fur traders led to four wars between 1689 and 1763. The final war, called the French and Indian War, left the British in control of Canada, but French influence remains strong even today.

In 1867, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick combined to form a dominion with its own government, parliament, and prime minister. Manitoba joined soon after. In 1931, Canada became an independent nation.