Canada is a colony of which country. British Canada. Canada

) in the east. The Canada-US border is the longest common border in the world.

Canada is a constitutional monarchy (kingdom) with a parliamentary system, its monarch is the monarch of the British Commonwealth of Nations; Canada is a bilingual and multicultural country where English and French are recognized as official languages at the federal level. A technologically and industrially advanced state, Canada has a diversified economy based on rich natural resources and trade (in particular, with which Canada has been comprehensively cooperating since the existence of the colonies and the founding of the Confederation).

Founded by the French explorer J. Cartier in 1534, Canada originates from a French colony on the site of a modern one, originally inhabited by local peoples. After a period of English colonization, the Canadian confederation was born from the union of three British colonies (which were previously territories). Canada gained from the peace process that lasted from 1867 to 1982.

Canada is currently a federal state made up of ten provinces and three territories. The province with a predominantly French-speaking population is , the rest are predominantly English-speaking provinces, also called English Canada in comparison with French-speaking Quebec. As one of nine predominantly English-speaking provinces, it is the only officially bilingual Canadian province. is officially bilingual (English and French), and the territory recognizes eleven, including four official languages respectively (which also includes English and French).

Etymology

Monument to Cartier. Saint Malo

Name Canada comes from the word Kanata, meaning "settlement", "village" and "land", "edge" in the language of the Laurentian Iroquois, who wintered in the village of Stadacona (in the vicinity of modern), - the first Indians whom Jacques Cartier met on Gaspe in the summer of 1534 in their summer camp . (Compare with mingo kanötaye'"village, city" and onond. ganataje"city" from other Iroquoian languages.) In 1535, the inhabitants of the area where the city is now located used this word to direct him to the village of Stadakona. Soon after the Cartier expedition, the Laurentian tribe disappeared without a trace - as archaeological excavations have shown, most likely as a result of wars with and southern Iroquois.

Cartier later used the word "Canada" to refer not only to this village, but to the entire area under the control of the local chief Donnacona. Since 1545, European books and maps have designated this region and all the banks of the St. Lawrence River with the word "Canada". Subsequently, this name was transferred to most of the neighboring territories in North America, ruled by the British Empire.

Geographical position

Satellite image of Canada. Throughout the country, except for the extreme south, taiga prevails, glaciers are common in the arctic region, as well as on the coastal mountains and Mount St. Elijah, while the steppe plains are favorable for agriculture. In the southeast of the plains, where the St. Lawrence River flows from the Great Lakes, most of the population lives.

Banff National Park in Alberta

cubs in national park Kootenay

Canada occupies most of the North of North America. 75% of the territory is the zone of the north. Canada has a common land border with the south and northwest (between Alaska and Yukon) and is located from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific in the west and to the Arctic Ocean in the north of the country. It also has maritime borders with France () and Denmark (). Since 1925, Canada has owned a part of the Arctic between 60˚ W. d. and 141˚ W. but these possessions are not universally recognized. The northernmost settlement in Canada and in the world is located in Alert (Nunavut), the base of the Canadian Forces on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island (82.5˚ N 834 km - 450 nautical miles - from the North Pole). Canada is the second largest country in the world.

The population density (about three people per 1 km²) is one of the lowest in the world. The most populated area of the country is the Quebec-Windsor corridor along the flat banks of the St. Lawrence River and in the southeast of the Great Lakes. To the north of this area is the vast Canadian Shield, a rocky region that was last cleared. ice age, devoid of fertile land, rich in minerals, lakes and rivers. There are more lakes in Canada than in any other country in the world, it has a significant supply of fresh water. The Great Lakes are the world's largest source of fresh, non-freezing water in terms of area.

Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island) in winter

In the east of Canada, the St. Lawrence River flows into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, having the largest mouth in the world, where the island of Newfoundland is located, and is located to the south of it. and are separated by the Bay of Fundy, which is famous for having the highest tides in the world. These four maritime provinces are to the east of Quebec. Ontario and Hudson Bay are located in the center of Canada, while from Manitoba west through Saskatchewan and Alberta, the vast plains of the Canadian prairies stretch out to the Rocky Mountains that separate them from British Columbia. Hudson Bay is the second largest in the world in size after the Bay of Bengal.

Niagara Falls in Ontario.

North of the 60th parallel there are three Canadian territories (, and), strewn with numerous lakes (the largest of which are the Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes) and crossed by the longest river in the country, the Mackenzie River. In addition, the continental lands of the Canadian North from the north border on a large archipelago, the Canadian Arctic archipelago, which includes the largest islands in the world. The straits between these islands represent the Northwest Passage from the Labrador Sea to the Beaufort Sea bypassing Baffin Bay. In addition, in this region, covered with polar ice, between the Queen Elizabeth Islands is the north magnetic pole.

Cape Speer, the easternmost point of Canada (and North America), is located on the Avalon Peninsula.

Polar bear, northern Manitoba

Vegetation varies from deciduous forests in southern Ontario to mixed and Laurentian forests and gradually decreases northward from taiga (northern forests or coniferous belt) to tundra and further to the Arctic deserts of the North. The polar islands are located in a zone whose surface is covered with snow and glaciers that do not melt even in a short summer. Baffin Island and other islands off the northern coast of Canada are covered in tundra that extends throughout the northern mainland of Canada, penetrating far south along the western coast of Hudson Bay and into the Labrador Peninsula. Heather, sedge, shrub birch and willow grow here. To the south of the tundra, between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, there is a wide strip of forests. Coniferous forests predominate; the main species are black spruce in the east and white spruce in the west (in the valley of the Mackenzie River), pine, larch, thuja, and others. Less common deciduous forests consist of poplar, alder, birch, and willow. The forests in the Great Lakes region are especially diverse (American elm, Weymouth pine, Canadian hemlock, oak, chestnut, beech). On the Pacific coast, coniferous forests of Douglas and Sitka spruce, Alaskan and red cedar are common; Arbutus and Oregon oak are found near Vancouver. In the coastal Atlantic provinces - Acadian forests with balsam fir, black and red spruce; also cedar, American larch, yellow birch, beech.

In the tundra zone, reindeer, polar hare, lemming, arctic fox and the original musk musk ox are found. To the south, the fauna is more diverse - forest caribou deer, red deer, elk, elk, in mountainous areas - bighorn sheep and mountain goat. Rodents are quite numerous: Canadian chikari squirrel, chipmunk, American flying squirrel, beaver, jumper from the jerboa family, muskrat, porcupine - needlewool, meadow and American hare, pika. Of the feline predators in Canada, the Canadian lynx and cougar live. There are wolves, foxes, a gray bear - a grizzly, a raccoon. Of mustelids - sable, pecan, otter, wolverine, etc. There are many nesting migratory birds and game birds. The fauna of reptiles and amphibians is not rich. There are a lot of fish in freshwater reservoirs.

As for the relief, the main part of the country is occupied by the plains of the prairies and the plateau of the Canadian Shield. To the west of the prairies are the continental lowlands of British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains, while the Appalachians rise south from Quebec to the maritime provinces. One of the mountains in Canada bears the name of the Serbian governor during the First World War.

Climate

Average January and July temperatures vary for each area. Winters can be very severe in some regions of the country, with average monthly temperatures reaching -15°C in the southern part of the country, and sometimes as low as -45°C with strong icy winds. The minimum temperature ever observed in Canada is -63 ˚С (in the Yukon). Annually, the level of snow cover can reach several hundred centimeters (for example, in Quebec, the average is 337 cm). The coast of British Columbia, especially Vancouver Island, is an exception and enjoys a temperate climate with mild and rainy winters. Summer temperatures can reach +35 ˚С, even +40 ˚С, given the humidity index.

Story

Panorama of Montreal, Canada

indigenous peoples

Benjamin West's The Death of General Wolfe depicting the death of British General James Wolfe after his victory at the Battle of Abraham's Fields in 1759.

Indigenous archaeological and genetic studies have confirmed human presence in the north since about 26,500 years ago, and in the southern part of the province since 9,500 years ago. The Old Crow Flats and Bluefish archaeological sites are two of the earliest archaeological sites of human (Paleo-Indian) habitation in Canada. Among the Indians of Canada, there are eight unique creation myths and adaptations of these myths. These are myths about the earth, the world parent, appearance, conflict, robbery, the rebirth of a corpse, two creators and their competition, as well as the myth of brothers. Aboriginal Canadian civilizations included permanent or urban settlements, agriculture, public and historic buildings, and complex social hierarchies. Some of these civilizations disappeared long before the first permanent European settlements (late 15th - early 16th centuries) and were discovered during archaeological research.

The indigenous population was estimated to be between 200,000 and 2,000,000 at the end of 1400. A figure of 500,000 has been adopted by the Canadian Royal Commission on Aboriginal Health. Repeated outbreaks of European infectious diseases, such as influenza, measles, smallpox (to which the Indians had no natural immunity), combined with other effects from contact with Europeans, resulted in the extinction of 40% to 80% of the indigenous population. Indigenous peoples in Canada include Indians, Eskimos, and Mestizos. The mestizo culture arose in the middle of the 17th century when Indians and Inuit mixed with European settlers. The Inuit had more limited contact with European settlers during the early period.

New France

French explorer Jacques Cartier landing on Gaspe in 1534.

The first Europeans arrived when the Norwegian Vikings settled at Lance O Medu in Newfoundland around 1000, after the failure of this colonization attempt, no other attempts are known until 1497 when the Italian navigator Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) explored the Atlantic coast of Canada for . Subsequently, between 1498 and 1521, various Portuguese sailors explored the coast of eastern Canada and established permanent fishing settlements in the region. In 1524, the expedition of the Florentine navigator Giovanni Verrazano, who was in the service of the French king, explored the eastern shores of Canada.

In 1534, Jacques Cartier went ashore on the Gaspé and named this land Canada, which later became one of the provinces of New France. After numerous unsuccessful attempts (New Angouleme on and in), the French founded the first colonies approved by the crown: Tadousac (Quebec) in 1600 , Port-Royal in 1605 and in 1608. The English in 1610 legally formed a city in Newfoundland. The French established strong ties with the Indian peoples closest to them.

However, European explorers brought numerous diseases that quickly spread along the trade routes deep into the indigenous population, leading to devastation. The French settlers, who often arrived very sick in not very clean ships, were saved by Indian medicines. So, for example, to cure scurvy, they offer decoctions from the bark of white cedar, and its name is aneda.

French period: alliances, battles and the Seven Years' War

Competition for territory, naval bases, furs, and fishing becomes increasingly fierce, and multiple wars break out involving the French, Dutch, English, and allied Indian tribes. The Franco-Iroquois wars for control of the fur trade are fought between the Iroquois confederation, allied first by the Dutch and then by the British, and or even by the Algonquins, allies of the French. The four Franco-Iroquois Wars between 1689 and 1763 resulted in the successive fall of Newfoundland and later Acadia into British hands. There were clashes between French settlers and British authorities such as the complete destruction of Port-Royal and the subsequent deportation of the Acadians (known as the Great Trouble) in 1755.

Autonomous Canada

Attack of a Canadian tank and soldiers at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917

As part of the British Empire, Canada enters World War I in 1914 and sends predominantly volunteer divisions to the Western Front (Belgium, the Somme and ) to fight as a national contingent. Of the approximately 625,000 men who served in the corps, about 60,000 were killed and another 173,000 were wounded. The loss of life is so great that the then Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Laird Borden, issued a conscription order in 1917. This decision is extremely unpopular with the Quebec population, leading to the 1917 conscription crisis, the loss of popularity of the Conservative Party in Quebec, and the famous Quebec strike that went unnoticed, a response to the Ladies' Road uprising in France. During a large demonstration in Quebec, the British army fires into the crowd and kills many people. Though deeply divided by the issue of compulsory conscription, the Liberal Party members are uniting and becoming the dominant party on the Canadian political scene.

In 1919, Canada joins the League of Nations on its own initiative, and in 1931, the Statute of Westminster confirms that from now on, no law of the British Parliament applies to Canada without its consent, and the competence of the government of Canada (as well as other British dominions) is expanding in international and internal affairs. At the same time, the Great Depression of 1929 affects Canadians of all social strata; growing popularity of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in Alberta and leads to reform political system in accordance with the concept of the welfare state, such as that mentioned by Tommy Douglas or later in the 1960s by Jean Lesage in Quebec.

Up until Canada's centenary in 1967, massive post-war immigration from various devastated countries in Europe changes the course of the country's demographics. In addition, throughout the Vietnam War, thousands of American dissenters settled throughout the country. The growth of immigration, combined with a sharp increase in the birth rate, is an economic phenomenon similar to what happened in the 60s. - and with the reaction to the quiet upheaval in Quebec, it contributes to the emergence of a new type of Canadian nationalism.

A number of social democratic programs have also been created, such as universal health care, the Canadian Pension Plan, and Canadian Student Loans, although provincial governments, in particular the provinces and , opposed many of them, as they considered them an invasion of their jurisdiction. Finally, after a series of constitutional conferences, Canada's constitution was repatriated in 1982, at the same time as the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1999, it became Canada's third territory after a series of negotiations with the federal government.

As of January 2015, Canada's national unemployment rate was 6.6%. Provincial unemployment rates range from low 4.5% in Alberta and Saskatchewan to 11.4% in the province.

Government debt (accumulated deficit) of Canada in fiscal year 2013-14 was CA$611.9 billion, in 2012-13 fiscal year - 609.4 billion.

Canada's net assets in the third quarter of 2014 were $25.6 billion.

The budget deficit in fiscal year 2013-14 was $5.2 billion, in fiscal year 2012-13 it was $18.4 billion.

Canada is one of the world's leading manufacturers of Hi-Fi and Hi-End loudspeaker systems and components.

Population

Toronto, Canada's largest and most multicultural city

Vancouver, Canada's youngest and most dynamic city

The population of Canada at the beginning of 2010 is 34 million people. The 2006 census recorded a 5.4% increase over 2001.

Despite the large area, approximately three-quarters of Canada's population lives within 160 km of the border with. A similar proportion exists in urban areas concentrated along the -Windsor corridor (in particular the -Hamilton and - urban agglomerations), the British Columbia Continental Plains (from the Vancouver area to the end of the Fraser River Valley), and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor in Alberta. The 2001 census registered 30,007,094 Canadians. According to the Canadian Statistical Service, the population of the country as of March 2009 was about 33.5 million people, 8 million of whom are French speakers. Most of the population growth is due to immigration. Although the main economic return from immigration comes from independent skilled immigrants, half of all those entering the country fall under the family reunification program (spouses, minor children or parents of new Canadian sponsors).

Canada is a very diverse country from an ethnic point of view. According to the 2006 census, 43 ethnic groups live in Canada, consisting of at least 100,000 people. The largest ethnic group calls themselves "Canadians" (30.9%), as most Canadians, especially those whose ancestors came during the colonization, consider themselves as Canadian people. This is followed by those who call themselves English (20.1%), French (15.1%), Scots (14.5%), Irish (13.3%), Germans (9.7%), Italians (4 .4%), Chinese (4.1%), Indians (3.8%), Ukrainians (3.7%), Dutch (3.2%), Poles (3%), Indians (3%), Russians (1.5%).

Canada is a country of immigrants. Canada's global reputation as a highly developed, peaceful country free from ethnic strife and conflict, where you can raise children in a calm environment, certainly contributes to the growth of immigration to the country. The vast majority of new Canadians, as newly arrived immigrants are called here, settle in large cities, due to the situation on the labor market and existing contacts. After a while, almost everyone moves to the suburbs, encircling any North American city. Immigration makes a significant contribution to the country's economy, from government fees and application fees to the financial contribution of entrants, especially families, from the purchase of real estate and furniture to future tax revenues. The ethnic composition of the country has undergone tremendous changes over the past thirty years, which is caused by a dramatic change in the course of immigration policy. According to 2001 data, only 39.4% of those living in the country consider themselves to be descendants of immigrants from, Ireland and. Anyone wishing to immigrate to Canada has open access to the conditions of entry and requirements for potential immigrants published on the official website of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

For many years, the main directions of population migration within Canada have been the outflow of young people from rural areas and small towns to large cities, as well as the mass exodus of skilled labor (engineers, nurses, designers, etc.) and university graduates to work in the United States. can certainly be called the strongest magnet for intra-Canadian migration in the east of the country. With the booming oil and gas industry and construction in Alberta and British Columbia, there is a strong trend of a mobile young population moving out of Central Canada, from the Prairies and Atlantic provinces into Western Canada. Also, the exodus of the English-speaking population from Quebec to other provinces, tired of years of separatist sentiments and not wanting, according to those leaving, to feel like second-class citizens, continues.

Over the past decades, the ethnic composition of the largest Canadian cities - Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver - has changed significantly in the direction of increasing the weight of the population from the countries of the Middle East, China, India, Latin America and other regions of the world.

Languages and federal bilingual policy

Montreal's population is predominantly French-speaking, but there is a significant English-speaking community. According to the 2006 census, French is spoken by 52.6% of the city of Montreal, with an alarming trend of becoming a minority language.

Canada is officially a bilingual country. Since July 7, 1969, under the Law on Official Languages, English and French have equal status in Parliament, in the federal court and state institutions. This measure reflects the important historical, political and cultural role of francophone Quebec. The Prime Minister of Canada traditionally delivers speeches in Parliament and at public events, partly in English, partly in French. The chairmen of all four federal parties speak both languages. All Canadian federal employees serving the public in institutions and by telephone are required to be able to communicate in both English and French. All federal literature, from tax returns to pamphlets and reports, is published in both languages.

English is native for 57.8% of the population, French - for 22.1%. 98.5% of Canadians speak at least one of the official languages (67.5% speak only English, 13.3% speak only French, and 17.7% speak both languages). About 5,200,000 people indicated during the census that their native language is one of the unofficial languages: Chinese (including Cantonese) has confidently established itself in the first place in terms of the number of speakers recently - with 853,745 people, followed by Italian (469,485), then German (438,080) and, thanks to the largest Sikh population outside of India, Punjabi (271,220). At the same time, it should be borne in mind that these data do not fully reflect the ethnic composition of Canada, since these languages are native only to first-generation immigrants and elderly parents - their children and grandchildren quickly switch to English or French upon arrival, or already speak these languages. languages since childhood.

The main official language in all provinces and territories, excluding and , is English, however, all documents and other official texts must be dubbed in French. In Quebec, the official language is French. 85% of francophone Canadians live in Quebec. Significant French-speaking populations live in northern New Brunswick, as well as eastern and northern Ontario, southern Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In the English-speaking provinces of Canada, schools teaching some or all subjects in French (the “French Immersion Program”) are very popular: parents enroll their children in them long before the start of classes, since bilingualism is a great advantage when applying for public service. Numerous local languages are recognized as official languages in the Northwest Territories. In Nunavut, a new Canadian territory in the far north, the native language of the majority population (Inuit) is Inuktitut (a dialect of the Eskimo language), one of the territory's three official languages.

Religion

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kingston

Canadians practice a large number of religions. According to the latest census, 77.1% of Canadians consider themselves Christians, most of them are Catholics (43.6% of Canadians). The most important Protestant church is the United Church of Canada (unites most of the Calvinists (some Presbyterians and all Congregationalists and Methodists); approximately 17% of Canadians do not associate themselves with any religion, and the rest of the population (6.7%) professes other religions (Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism).Over the past 10 years, the Muslim population of Canada has increased by 82% - from approximately 579 thousand people in 2001 to more than 1 million in 2011. Muslims make up 3.2% of the Canadian population, while while they accounted for only 2% in 2001. Two-thirds of Canadian Muslims live in the country's three largest cities -, and... Toronto is home to the largest Muslim community - 424 thousand people, in Montreal and Vancouver, respectively, more than 221 thousand. and about 73 200. This is the fastest growing community in Canada noted by ABNA.co.

culture

Many elements of Canadian culture are very close to those of the United States of America, including film, television, clothing, housing, private transportation, consumer goods, and food. Despite this, Canada has its own unique culture.

There are many internationally renowned orchestras in Canada, such as the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and especially the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Kent Nagano.

Canadian multiculturalism

Kwakwaka'wakw and traditional totem big house in Victoria, British Columbia

In commemoration of Canada's diversity of peoples, the country has embraced a policy of multiculturalism, or multiculturalism, since the 1960s. In Canadian cities, elements from cultures around the world can be found; in many cities there are quarters with a predominance of some national minority (for example, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese quarters in Toronto and Montreal), festivals dedicated to the cultures of different countries are regularly held. The maritime provinces preserve the Celtic folklore of the Irish and Scots, which at the same time blends well with the Gallo-Romance themes of Celtic Gaul, prevalent in Acadia and Quebec. The influence of the indigenous population of Canada is also noticeable: in many places you can find huge totem poles and other works of art of the indigenous peoples.

The francophone population of Canada stands out significantly. It gives a special specificity to the character of Canada; is the most important center of French-speaking culture in Canada. Many French-speaking artists come to Montreal from different parts of the country (, Acadia, etc.), from (especially from), and also from the Caribbean region to pursue a career in literature, music, cinema, etc.

Canadian culture is influenced by recent immigrants from all parts of the world. Many people come to Canada from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which contributes to the development of relevant cultural elements in the life of the country. Many Canadians embrace multiculturalism, and it can be seen from the views of some people that Canada's culture in the narrow sense of the word is multicultural. Canada's multicultural heritage is protected by Article 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The creation and preservation of Canada's diverse culture depends in part on federal government programs, laws, and political institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, fr. Société Radio-Canada), Canadian public service cinematography (eng. National Film Board of Canada, fr. Office national du film du Canada), as well as the Council on Radio, Television and Telecommunications (Eng. Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, fr. Conseil de la radiodiffusion et des telecommunications canadiennes).

Traditions

Respect and equal treatment of all in the country is the norm for Canadians. It is not customary in the country to evaluate other people by clothes, car or work. Prosperity has no role, the determining factor is the person himself and his success. Canadians first say or write the name, and only then the surname, demonstrating in this way that the person himself is more important than his origin. But people who break the law are treated very harshly in the country. Such people lose all authority in the eyes of society. One more characteristic Canadians - politeness. They are incredibly polite, the habit of asking for forgiveness is in their blood. "Sorry" is one of the most popular words among locals. They greet and ask about the affairs of everyone they meet - the bus driver or the tourist who asked for directions.

It is customary in the country to help each other and always be positive. V holidays you can easily find a person who will agree to give a lift to the house of a drunk person for free. Canadians give gifts to unfamiliar children, they can give their things to a homeless person, because he needs them more. Canadians always smile, smiling is part of their culture and way of communicating, visitors are always quickly infected with this habit and begin to smile along with the locals, enjoying life in its most banal manifestations. The elderly and the disabled are treated with special attention in the country. The infrastructure for people with disabilities in the country is incredibly developed, they can freely go to absolutely any institution and lead a full life.

The main sport in Canada is ice hockey, it is played by men, women and children. Ice hockey is an important part of Canadian culture and a real passion for the locals. Successful hockey players are the real treasure of the country. In Canada, it is not customary to arrange traditional feasts, especially among young people. Exceptions are traditional holidays - Christmas, Thanksgiving. Usually a birthday celebration is a party with snacks, pizza and chips. Guests usually bring wine or a pack of beer with them, sometimes their own snacks. If the birthday is celebrated in a restaurant, it is enough for the birthday person to pay for drinks or some kind of snack.

Education

Education in Canada is the responsibility of the provinces and territories; Canada does not currently have a government ministry of education. Each of the educational systems is similar to the others, while displaying its own history, local culture and geography of the respective province. Only the system in Quebec is most different from others: there, after completing the basic school, studies continue at the College of General Vocational Education (Cégep) - a school that prepares for entering the university and trains technical specialists. The age of schooling varies across Canada, but typically ranges from 5-7 to 16-18, contributing to 99 percent adult literacy. Complete secondary and higher education is the responsibility of the provincial and territorial governments, which basically finance it; the federal government additionally provides subsidies for research activities. In 2002, 43% of Canadian adults aged 25 to 64 had already completed secondary or tertiary education, and 51% of those aged 25 to 34. According to the Pisa international ratings for 2017, which are conducted by the Organization economic cooperation and Development (OECD), Canadian teenagers are among the most educated in the world, with the country achieving the highest results in mathematics, science and reading. In the natural sciences, the variation in estimates due to socio-economic differences is only 9% in Canada, while in France it reaches 20% and 1%.

Canadian universities are actively attracting foreign students. Every year, Canadian universities and colleges accept about 150,000 foreign students. For example, in 2010 international students spent more than CAD 8 billion in Canada on tuition, accommodation and other expenses. More than 86,000 jobs were created, generating revenues in excess of $455 million.

Architecture

The best examples of the country's architecture can be called the buildings of the universities of Simon Fraser and Lethbridge, built according to the designs of Arthur Erickson, the Canadian pavilions at the world exhibitions in Montreal (1967) and Osaka (1970), the building of the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, buildings built according to the designs of the architect Douglas Cardinal, notably the Canadian Museum of Civilization (1989).

Rodeo

The Calgary Stampede Festival is held annually. Growing from an annual fair that has been held since 1886, by 1912 the festival has become the largest open-air show. The Festival Historical Committee assists in the preservation of historical artifacts in the festival archives, organizes exhibitions and recreates historical events in the Stampede Park area.

Contribution to popular culture

Canadian singer Avril Lavigne

Canada gave the world big number famous rock, pop, folk and jazz musicians.

Canadian cinema has developed relatively recently. In 1939, the National Film Board was formed, and in 1967 the government established the Canadian Film Development Corporation (now known as TV Film Canada) to help film producers make feature films. Shortly thereafter, such extraordinary films with Canadian themes as Don Chebiba's Down the Road (1970) and Claude Jutre's My Uncle Antoine (1971) appeared. Canadian directors Denis Arkan (The Decline of the American Empire), Atom Egoyan (Exotica), Norman Jewison and David Cronenberg received international recognition.

A number of world-famous filmmakers, both actors and directors, who were born or have lived for a long time in Canada but have made their artistic careers in the United States. You can name such actors as Tommy Chong, Mary Pickford, Matthew Perry, Eric Knudsen, Leslie Nielsen, Justin Bieber, Michael J. Fox, Keanu Reeves, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey, Ellen Page, Raiserrga McAdams, Francois Arnaud, Jessica Lounds, Jessica Steen, Nina Dobrev and Michael Cera. Of the directors, this is primarily James Cameron ( Terminator and - have their own teams that are members of the National Hockey League (NHL). 50% of all players in the League (and in total there are 30 clubs from Canada and) come from Canada. Toronto is home to the world's largest hockey hall of fame. The official summer sport is lacrosse.

Curling, figure skating and Canadian football are also popular in Canada (similar to the American version, there is the Canadian Football League). European football, basketball and baseball are played more at the amateur and youth level. These sports do not have such popularity in the professional field as the rest, although one of the NBA clubs is based in. The 1988 Winter Olympics were held.

Canada hosted the 2007 FIFA Youth World Cup. The Canadian city and nearby ski resort of Whistler () hosted the 2010 XXI Winter Olympic Games.

Symbols of Canada

The national symbols of Canada are the maple, the beaver and the Canadian horse breed.

In addition, there are other characters. For example, the coins depict a reindeer (caribou), a black-billed loon (Common Loon, so a one dollar coin is usually called a loonie), a polar bear.

International ranking

Organization	Study	Place
Project "Freedom in the countries of the world"	Index of freedom of the countries of the world	3 out of 159
United Nations Development Program	Human Development Index	4 out of 182
The World Bank	Ease of doing business, 2009	8 out of 181
Economist	World in 2005. International Living Standards Index 2005	14 out of 111
Yale University/Columbia University	Environmental Sustainability Index, 2005	6 out of 146
Reporters Without Borders	Press Freedom Index 2009	19 out of 175
Transparency International	Corruption Index 2010	6 out of 180
Institute for Economics & Peace	Peace rating	8 out of 144
Foundation for a World Without War	Fragile States Index, 2009	166 out of 177
World Economic Forum	Global Competitiveness Report	9 out of 133
Economist	Democracy index	11 out of 167

"CANADA. HISTORY. FRENCH COLONY" in books

Canada

From the author's book

Canada Musk's grand escape to Canada is hardly well thought out. He knew that he had a great-uncle in Montreal, so he got on a plane and trusted his luck. After landing (it was June 1988), Musk found a pay phone and tried through

Canada

From the book of the GRU in the Great Patriotic War author Kolpakidi Alexander Ivanovich

Canada In the pre-war period, Canada was not the object of special interests of the Soviet Union. military intelligence. Work on it was carried out mainly from the territory of the United States, although there were informants in Canada itself, as a rule, communists. Canada participated in World War II

French colony in St. Petersburg of the 19th century

From the book Metaphysics of Petersburg. Historical and cultural essays author Spivak Dmitry Leonidovich

The French colony in St. Petersburg in the 19th century The French colony has never been large in our country - from 2 to 4 thousand people, which throughout the 19th century was less than half a percent of the total population of the city. As a result, marking on the map

Canada

From the book Hippies from A to Z. Sex, drugs, music and the impact on society from the sixties to the present day by Stone Skip

Canada Vancouver, Victoria & Nelson - “Vancouver is a Greenpeace city and our neighbors to the south (not including you wonderful, open-minded brothers and sisters, of course) call us Northern Columbia! AND WE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA TOO!" Tofino, British Columbia - "It's right on

Oh Canada

From the Book of Reflections author Stupnikov Alexander Yurievich

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Due to its being the most developed of France's North American colonies, the terms "New France" and "Canada" were often used interchangeably.

historical state

Canada

New France in 1750

1534 - 1763

Capital

Quebec

Languages)

French

Religion

Catholicism

Form of government

French colony

Geography and political structure

The colony of Canada included lands adjacent to the St. Lawrence River. In administrative terms, the colony of Canada was divided into three regions: Quebec, Trois-Rivieres and Montreal. Each of the districts had its own government; The governor of the district of Quebec was also the governor-general of New France.

The territories dependent on Canada were the so-called. “High lands" (fr. Pays d "en Haut) - territories stretching north and west of Montreal. This concept included all the places where the French pioneers reached, although French settlements existed only in the area south of the Great Lakes. Part The top land was Illinois Land, which in 1717 was incorporated into the Colony of Louisiana.

Story

In 1534, the French navigator Jacques Cartier erected a cross on Cape Gaspe and proclaimed these lands the property of the French King Francis I. Despite the fact that the first French attempts to establish settlements ended in failure, French fishermen continued to sail along the northeast coast of the North American continent and swam into the St. Lawrence River, establishing contacts with local Indians. Soon French traders became aware that these places were rich in fur animals (especially beavers, which by that time were few in Europe), and the French authorities decided to start colonizing the region.

In 1608, sponsored by the French king Henry IV, Pierre Dugua and Samuel de Champlain founded the settlement of Quebec. Having entered into an alliance with the Algonquins and Montagniers who lived there, who fought with the Iroquois, Champlain in 1609 traveled south along the St. Lawrence River valley to Lake Champlain, where he took part in the battle against the Iroquois. This strengthened the position of the French among the Algonquins and Hurons, which became essential for the further penetration of French pioneers and settlers deep into the continent. Champlain also encouraged young Frenchmen to live among the Indians in order to adopt their language and customs; such people (such as Étienne Brule) became agents of French influence in the areas south and west of the Great Lakes.

In the first decades of its existence, only a few hundred French lived on the territory of the colony. Wanting to make New France as important as the English colonies in America, Cardinal Richelieu created the Company of New France in 1627. Only Catholics were allowed to move to New France; Protestants were required to convert to Catholicism before leaving; this led the Protestants to prefer to go to the English colonies. As a result, the Catholic Church has taken firm root in Canada. Richelieu also organized a semi-feudal system of land tenure in Canada that lasted in the St. Lawrence Valley until the 19th century.

At this time, the English colonies to the south began to raid the St. Lawrence Valley, and in 1629 captured Quebec, which they held until 1632. Appointed governor-general of New France, Champlain returned to the Americas that same year and established a new trading post, Trois-Rivières.

British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province, located between the coast Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. Known worldwide for its natural attractions, it is home to 4.6 million people. The majority of the population lives in the southwestern region of the Lower Mainland, and the total area of the province is larger than that of Germany, France and the Netherlands combined.

The capital of British Columbia is the city of Victorialocated on Vancouver Island. Interestingly, the largest is not Victoria, but Vancouver - the third largest city in Canada with a population of 2.5 million (including suburbs). Every year more than forty thousand immigrants from all over the world arrive here, which is why the ethnic composition is particularly diverse. Based on the facts, every third local resident was born abroad, and the Chinese diaspora is the largest in the country. Multicultural atmosphere and great quality life makes British Columbia one of the main destinations for immigration to Canada.

Geography

British Columbia is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Alaska to the northwest, Yukon and the Northwest Territories to the north, Alberta to the east, and Washington, Idaho, and Montana to the south. The area of the territory is 944375 square kilometers. The winding coastline is 27,000 kilometers long and includes both deep mountainous fjords and 6,000 islands, most of which are uninhabited. It is the only Canadian province with access to the Pacific Ocean.

The capital of British Columbia is the city of Victoria on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island. Only a narrow strip of coast from the Campbell River to Victoria is inhabited on the island. The western coast is covered with almost impenetrable temperate rainforests. The most populated city in the province is Vancouver, located in the southwest of the continental part.

The coastline and numerous bays attract hundreds of thousands of tourists to British Columbia with stunning views. In recent years, the topic of ecotourism has been especially relevant. 75% of the province is located above 1000 meters above sea level, 60% is covered with forest, and only 5% is suitable for agriculture. Despite this, the Okanagan region is Canada's largest producer of wine and cider. Other wine destinations in British Columbia are the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island and the Fraser River Valley near Vancouver.

The northern two-thirds of the province is almost uninhabited, except for a small area east of the Rocky Mountains, where the Canadian Prairies begins, centered on Dawson Creek on the border with Alberta.

Climate

Due to the warm Kuroshio Current (also known as the Japanese Current), the southern part of British Columbia has a mild rainy climate, in places similar to the Mediterranean. The continental part of the province, covered from the west by mountains, has a semi-arid climate - some places receive less than 250 mm of precipitation per year. In the most populated areas, the average annual temperature reaches 12 degrees - warmer than anywhere else in Canada.

In winter, it almost constantly rains on the coast, on average, only 25-50 centimeters of snow falls during the winter, although once every few years heavy snowfalls up to 20 centimeters at a time and frosts down to minus 10-12 degrees are possible. In the northern part of British Columbia, winters are very severe. In the city of Smith River, on the border with the Yukon, one of the lowest temperatures in all of North America was recorded - minus 58.9 degrees.

Summers are usually warm and dry, which is why forest fires are frequent. The heat inside the mainland reaches 44.4 degrees - this is the temperature that was recorded in the city of Lytton on July 16, 1941.

Story

British Columbia has a rich history associated with Indian tribes. Anthropologists have irrefutable evidence that the first people appeared here about 11.5 thousand years ago. On the west coast, the density of Indians was especially high: at the time of the first contact with Europeans, half of the Canadian aborigines lived here.

The first Europeans - the British James Cook and George Vancouver (after whom the city and the island were named) - appeared in the province at the end of the 18th century. They were followed by fur miners, who began the permanent presence of Great Britain in this part of the world. Many modern cities began as trading posts.

British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871, becoming the sixth province. At the end of the 19th century, immigrants from all over Europe, as well as from China and Japan, settled here. After the construction of the transcontinental railroad, the people of BC moved away from traditional farming to lumberjacks and miners.

After World War II, British Columbia experienced a period of dramatic industrial growth. The authorities were able to effectively use the huge income from the sale of timber to modernize the economy. At this time there was a cultural flourishing of the Colombian cities, Vancouver and Victoria became significant cultural and educational centers, which flocked to writers, poets, actors, scientists and musicians.

Nowadays, the province remains one of the leaders in terms of quality of life. Its cities are consistently recognized as the world's best places to live, the cleanest and most comfortable. These qualities helped Vancouver win the right to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Demography

The province is home to 4.6 million people. On average, a woman gives birth to 1.4 children, which is much less than the national level - 1.6. This means that population growth is provided mainly by immigration. Local employers experience a significant shortage of labor, which is filled by foreign workers.

On the map below you can see which areas are preferred by people from certain countries. For example, North Vancouver is covered in light green to represent Iran. The south of the city is preferred by people from China, the Philippines and the UK.

Due to its geographical location on the Pacific coast and relative proximity to Asia, British Columbia has always experienced an influx of immigration from Asian countries. The Chinese make up about ten percent of the population, and the number of Japanese, Filipinos, and Koreans is also significant. In South Vancouver and Surrey, immigrants from South Asian countries - India and Bangladesh - prefer to settle.

Immigration

Immigration has always played an important role in the history of the province, from the first settlers to modern times. Given the low birth rate, the entire population growth will depend on visitors. To address the labor shortage, the government has developed a special provincial immigration program that speeds up the immigration process for qualified applicants who want to settle in British Columbia and devote their efforts and funds to its development. Many new residents come here through a temporary worker program.

Cities

85 representatives, each from their constituency, are elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly every four years. Now power belongs to the Liberal Party of British Columbia. The head of government is Christy Clark.

The quality of life

British Columbia is widely known for its high quality of life, and Vancouver is consistently ranked among the world's most comfortable cities. For newly arrived immigrants, Vancouver provides economic opportunities and support for existing national communities, a low crime rate and beautiful nature. The same can be said for Victoria, and inland cities such as Kelowna.

The cost of living here is considered the most expensive in all of Canada, mainly due to high housing costs, but this is offset by high salaries. The minimum hourly wage is $10.25 and the income tax is one of the lowest in the country. Large parks, two mountain ranges and the Pacific Ocean allow for a healthy lifestyle, which affects the average life expectancy of 82 years.

The property

The residential real estate market in British Columbia is considered overheated, the cost of houses here is significantly higher than in the rest of Canada. The most expensive are Vancouver and Victoria, as well as their suburbs. Most families spend between 30 and 60 percent of their income on housing. The cost of commercial real estate is close to the national average.

Many Vancouverians choose to live in nearby suburbs such as Richmond, Surrey and Burnaby. Living in these cities is not only cheaper, but also provides more space for families, and the center is not too far to get to.

Education

British Columbia has an excellent educational system, including world-class research universities. In Canada, all citizens and permanent residents under the age of twenty are entitled to free secondary education, including alternative schools, Indian programs, immersion in French, fine arts, sports, and of course regular public schools. Students are not limited in their choice of schools and can attend any of them of their choice. Provincial examinations are taken in grades 10, 11 and 12.

For those wishing to continue learning, more than 1,900 educational programs are offered at 25 institutions: 11 universities, 11 colleges and three institutes. For Canadians, the tuition fee is about $4,300 per year. In order to improve accessibility higher education the government has developed programs to help students in the form of loans and scholarships.

Top universities in British Columbia, including (UBC), Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria, form a research network that attracts scholars and students from all over the world. UBC alumni include Nobel laureates in medicine, physics and economics. A strong educational network makes the province's economy competitive on a global level.

healthcare

Under Canadian law, all provinces and territories are required to provide free comprehensive health care to every citizen and permanent resident of Canada. In other words, most medical services cost nothing to them. Some procedures that are considered optional remain chargeable, such as cosmetic surgery and some dental procedures. The list of paid services varies depending on the province.

British Columbia has one of the highest levels of healthcare costs for its residents. On average, the BC government spends $5,700 a year per person.

culture

The culture of British Columbia is largely inspired by the natural beauty of these places. The people of the province are known for their in a healthy way life, love for active sports - cycling, skiing, snowboarding, kayaking and swimming are especially popular.

The local culture has been strongly influenced by the historically high level of immigration. The British, German, Chinese, Indian and Japanese diasporas are especially strong here. This makes Vancouver a very cosmopolitan and creative city, attracting artists from all over the world.

Video

Long before the first Europeans in 987 AD. crossed the Atlantic, in the lands that we now know as Canada, various civilizations developed. The tribes of hunters came here on foot, crossing the isthmus that once connected Asia and North America and was part of the ancient continent of Laurasia.

These first inhabitants, now referred to as the First Nations, endured difficult times of adjustment, developing the crafts, techniques, and culture necessary to live in Canada.

Survival

Over a large area, from the Yukon to the Atlantic, lived two large groups of hunters and gatherers, the Algonquians and Athabaskans. They settled in small nomadic tribes, the people of these tribes learned to build birch bark canoes and snowshoes in order to travel throughout the vast country. They received food and clothing through fishing and hunting wild animals, thanks to these traditions, the fish and fur trade developed well in Canada. To the north of these two groups lived the Innu, who managed to conquer the Arctic and survive in this harsh land of long dark winters and short summers. In the south, the Iroquois tribes settled in forest villages, where they built their long wigwams and grew corn, which was their main food.

The western plains were inhabited by tribes that survived by hunting buffalo, while the tribes of the Pacific coast were mainly engaged in fishing and trading. Their high totem poles testify to the high level of culture and religiosity.

Although the way of life of all the tribes was completely different, they were united by one very important point: they all considered themselves part of nature, and not its conquerors. They believed that the animals they hunted had a soul related to man, and those who dared to destroy such a soul in vain, unnecessarily, were prophesied misfortunes.

Indigenous generosity towards Europeans may have precipitated their own downfall. As Canadian historian Desmont Morton noted: “Without the support of the natives, who showed the Europeans their ways of survival, their lands and their minerals, a huge number of early explorers and settlers would have died, and others might have abandoned the search, as it has been 500 years the Vikings did it back."

First Europeans

The Scandinavian sagas of northern Europe tell that the Vikings from Iceland were the first, back in 986 AD, to reach the shores of Labrador and made several unsuccessful attempts to establish their colonies there. Lif Erikson, nicknamed "Lucky", set sail from Greenland in 988, he named the western lands he discovered "Vinland" (Vinland), after the wild grapes, which were in abundance there. Around 1000 AD Thorfinn Karlsefni founded a colony in Vinland. Thorfinn's detachment spent the winter in Vinland, but in the spring went back to Greenland, deciding that the existence of a colony on these lands was impossible due to the small number of colonialists and the hostility of the local inhabitants - akraelings. Interestingly, traces of this ancient Viking settlement were discovered in Newfoundland in 1963.

English invasion

In 1497, the Italian navigator John Cabot (1450-1498), using the means English king Henry VII, on his ship "Matthew" went on a trip to America. June 24, he moored to the shores of Newfoundland. Here he went ashore with a small team to declare the found lands the property of England. He then continued his journey to map the east coast and returned to his homeland, where he received a hero's welcome.

In May 1948, Cabot set sail again, this time equipping an expedition of five ships and 300 crew members. His goal was to find a northwestern route to China. Bad weather forced Cabot to abandon his original plan and turn south towards Nova Scotia. Cabot ended up in a sea full of icebergs. The ships were lost, and England's interest in new lands weakened.

French arrival

The explorer Jacques Cartier (1491-1577) made his first voyage to Canada in 1534, starting from the port of Saint-Malo. He reached the Labrador Peninsula, the Newfoundland Islands and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, before landing on the island of Anticosti, he realized that he was at the mouth of a large river. A year later, Cartier returned and descended the St. Lawrence River to what is now Quebec City and on to the ancient settlement of Hochelaga (the future Montreal). In 1543, Cartier's hopes of establishing a strong colony crumbled and he returned to France.

Father of New France

Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635) was talented in many ways - an excellent navigator, soldier, soothsayer.

In 1605, Champlain's attempt to establish a colony in Port Royal was unsuccessful, but in 1608 a small French colony was established in Quebec City: three two-story houses, a courtyard and a watchtower were built, surrounded by a wooden wall.

The economic basis of Champlain's accomplishments was the fur trade. Thanks to her, he managed to conclude alliances with the Algonquins and the Hurons. Champlain and his associates not only established strong settlements in the St. Lawrence Valley, but also explored half of the entire continent. They created a "New France" that at its best stretched from Hudson Bay to New Orleans in Louisiana, and from Newfoundland almost to the Rocky Mountains to the west. In 1612, Champlain became the first head of the government of French Canada.

Through the efforts of Champlain, religious sentiments reigned in the country, thanks to which such orders as, for example, the Jesuit, could establish missions. But his activities also created a conflict with the British that would last for the next century and beyond.

Anglo-French Wars

By 1713 Great Britain controlled Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, the Hudson's Bay region and, after the Seven Years' War in 1763, all of French Canada.

The tension between the British and the French also increased due to religious issues: the British were mostly Protestants, and almost all the French were Catholics. As a result of their conflicts, the colony of Quebec was divided in 1791 into English-speaking Upper Canada (now Ontario) and French-speaking Lower Canada (now Quebec). Taking advantage of the conflict between the British and Napoleon in Europe, the Americans poured into Canada in 1812. They were defeated in 1814, but the threat of re-invasion influenced Canadian history for much of the 19th century.

british dominion

For twenty-five years after the War of 1812, the country could not get out of the impasse, in Canada reigned the cruelty of the different origin. The British sought dominance in the field of suffrage and limit the influence of the Catholic Church. In 1834, the French occupied one-quarter of government posts, while three-quarters of the population were precisely them. Revolts in Upper and Lower Canada in 1837-1838. They were led by both French and Andean reformers who sought an accountable government with a broader constituency. The British government responded by uniting the two colonies into the province of Canada in 1840. The newly formed assembly gained more and more independence when, in 1849, the largest party, the Reform Party, issued an act to compensate those who had suffered losses during the uprisings. 1837 Although the governor-general, Lord Elgin, was opposed to this decision, he chose not to use his veto. The province of Canada now had a "responsible government" (it had the right to legislate without the sanction of the British colonial representatives).

Nevertheless, the rest of British North America was still a series of self-governing colonies that, despite their economic successes, feared American pretensions. Their fears were heightened by a series of Fenian raids into Canadian territory in 1866-1870. (The Fenians were Irish immigrants from New York who tried to use anti-British sentiment in French Canada to gain Irish independence.) The question of confederation had been raised and discussed at every conference held since 1864. Only by uniting in the face of this common danger, politicians said, could the British colonies repel these attacks.

The new country was born on July 1, 1867. Under the terms of the British North American Act, the new provinces of Quebec (eastern Canada) and Ontario (western Canada) were created, which, together with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, were united into the dominion of Canada. The new government was based on the British parliamentary system, with a governor-general (representative of the Crown), the House of Commons and the Senate. Parliament was given the power to make laws relating to national interests: protection, criminal matters and trade, while the provinces dealt with local matters such as education.

Métis uprising

The Government of Canada purchased vast northwestern territories from the Great Lakes to the Rocky Mountains from the Hudson's Bay Company. The mestizos (descendants of French fur traders and indigenous people) who lived in these lands were very alarmed at the coming influx of English-speaking settlers. In 1869, local leader Louis Riel took matters into his own hands and led the first two uprisings. The Red River Rebellion was an attempt to protect the lands that the Métis considered their native property. A compromise was reached in 1870, when the new province of Manitoba was formed. Still, many mestizos moved west to what became Saskatchewan in 1905.

Riel was elected to the House of Commons in 1874, but in 1875 he emigrated to the United States. In 1884, the government's intentions to settle in the western lands led the Saskatchewan Métis to call Riel home to lead the Northwest Rebellion. It did not last long, he was accused of treason, and on November 16, 1885, in Regina, he was hanged.

Birth of a nation

The defeat of the mestizos and the construction of the transcontinental railroad were decisive factors in the founding of the west. British Columbia, a Crown colony since 1858, decided in 1871 to join the Confederacy, demanding a rail link to the rest of the country. Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province, became part of the Confederation in 1873. Yukon Territory was formed in 1898. In 1905, the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were formed from the former lands of the Hudson's Bay Company, the remaining lands being the Northwest Territories. Each province had a premier and an elected assembly.

In 1949, Newfoundland finally became part of Canada as the tenth province.

Gold Rush in the Klondike

Rumors that there is gold in the Yukon began to appear from the 30s. XIX century, but most prospectors were unable to penetrate these lands due to difficult natural conditions and the strict protection of their territory by the Chilkoot Indians. On August 16, 1896, the most famous and most violent "gold rush" in the history of Canada broke out. It began after George Washington Carmack and two of his Indian friends, Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie, found a huge gold nugget on the river (a small tributary of the Klondike), which they later called Good Luck Creek (Bonanza Creek). Over the next two years, at least 100,000 miners went to those parts in search of gold. Only 40,000 people managed to reach the place. The Gold Rush generated $50 million in revenue.

New optimism and new settlers

The influence of the Gold Rush was felt throughout Canada. It led to the expansion of cities such as Vancouver and Edmonton, as well as the formation of the new Yukon Territory. A period of optimism was marked by the election of a new Liberal government in 1896 during the tenure of the first French-born Prime Minister, Wilfrid Laurier, who firmly believed that "the 20th century would be the century of Canada." The new central provinces of Canada received new emigrants from Europe. By 1913, the emigration wave reached a record high of 400,000 people. Finally, Canada began to benefit from a prosperous world economy and established itself as a strong industrial and agricultural country.

Allied support

The first test of a fledgling nation came in 1899, when the Boer War broke out in South Africa; the second is for 1914, when Europe entered the First World War. Laurier was very cautious about the South African crisis, but in 1899, under pressure from the English-speaking population, he was forced to send 1,000 soldiers to Cape Town.

Before the end of the war in 1902 G7, about 6,000 more people went to the battlefields of South Africa. They returned to Canada with a sense of national unity that their compatriots back home did not expect.

But the experience of the war not only revived the spirit of unity in some, but also led to some negative consequences. Thus, fights often broke out between French-Canadian and Anglo-Canadian university students, and Ontario conservatives and Quebec French-speaking politicians could not resolve their differences.

No sooner had this conflict reached its decisive stage than a new crisis had already broken out. Joining the Allies in Flanders, the Canadians gained military glory during the First World War. Canadian pilot Billy Bishop was the top Allied air ace. Canadian troops became famous in two major battles - at Ypres (1917) and at Vimy Ridge (1915). By the time the peace treaty was signed on November 11, 1918, 175,000 Canadians had been wounded and 60,000 had died for their country.

Status of independence

Canada played such an important role during the First World War that it was considered an independent country, it even joined the League of Nations. Canada's independence was officially declared in 1931. with the signing of the Statute of Westminster, which granted Canada political independence from Great Britain and established a union of sovereign nations under a single crown.

Meanwhile, the period of optimism ended with the Great Depression, which began with the Wall Street crisis of 1929. Droughts devastated the farms of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. One out of four workers was unemployed, it was very difficult to find a job.

The Second World War

The need to provide for the Allied army during World War II hastened Canada's recovery from the depression. The Canadian Navy played a decisive role in the victory in the Battle of the Atlantic (1940-1943), thousands of Allied pilots were trained in Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada at the time was Liberal Mackenzie King (1935-1948). He held a popular vote that allowed Canadian conscripts to be sent overseas, supervised the construction of the Alaska Highway, and, on the advice of ministers, actively supported the Allies.

International situation

By the time the peace treaty was signed in September 1945, Canada had the third largest navy in the world, the fourth largest air force, and a standing army of 730,000. Although Canada paid a heavy price for its World War II successes—43,000 men died in action and the national debt quadrupled—at the end of the war, the nation was in a strong position. The population was able to cope with the losses, most of the debt was spent on doubling the gross national product and the development of industry, which was able to restore the country's economy in the post-war years.

After World War II, Canada's economy continued to grow. The growth of the economy, combined with social programs of the government, for example, to support pensioners, provide employment and medical care, led to the fact that the standard of living in Canada became one of the highest, which, of course, attracted emigrants from all over the world. Since 1945, the flow of emigrants mainly consisted of immigrants from southern Europe, Asia, South America and islands caribbean, they have enriched the multinational status of the country.

The reputation of Canada and its influence in the world have been strengthened. Canada has been a member of the UN since its founding in 1945 and is the only country that has participated in virtually every major UN peacekeeping operation. It was the future Prime Minister of Canada Lester Pearson who contributed to the peace process, in 1957 he received Nobel Prize for helping to resolve the Suez Crisis. Canada also remains a respected member of the British Commonwealth, the International Organization of the Francophonie, the G8, the OAS (Organization of American States) and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

French-English section

Given all the achievements, it seems rather ironic that the last quarter of the twentieth century. Canada had to face again the issue of national self-determination and unity. The historic rivalry between Anglo Canadians and French Canadians remains the driving force behind these disputes. Main actors recent events of the twentieth century. were Prime Minister Peter Trudeau (1968-1984) and Premier of Quebec Rene Levesque (1968-1987).

When Jean Lesage was elected Premier of Quebec in 1960, he staged a "quiet revolution" - he carried out a series of reforms that strengthened the position of the provinces. However, this was not enough to prevent the growth of revolutionary nationalist sentiments. In October 1970, British Trade Commissioner James Cross and Quebec Minister of Labor and Immigration Pierre Laporte were kidnapped by the French Canadian terrorist organization Quebec Liberation Front.

Pierre Trudeau dedicated his political career struggle for federalism, the elimination of separatism and the creation of a new constitution for Canada. Lesage's successor, René Levesque, in contrast, actively supported Quebec's 1980 referendum on independence for that province. In 1982, Trudeau's plans came true - a constitutional act was issued, which strengthened the federal civil rights and freedom.

Movement towards conservatism

In 1984, the leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Brian Mulroney, won the election by the largest margin in Canadian history. Unlike Trudeau, Mulroney pursued a policy of closer contact with Europe and especially with the United States. In the following years, two serious attempts were made to reform the constitutional system. The Meech Lake Constitutional Accord recognized Quebec's claims to special status by virtue of its French culture, but it was not signed due to the fact that not all provinces gave their consent. When the Inuit began to fight for more seats in Parliament, the Charlottetown Accord (1991) was created, which raised the issue of their own Inuit government. The Accord was rejected by a national referendum in 1992.

To date, many of these reforms have been implemented. The French population of Quebec has received official recognition, and the Inuit rule their own territory of Nunavut.