Canada is a federation of provinces and territories, and offers a diversity of areas for immigrants to settle. The separate political divisions have their own personalities and unique atmospheres. A thorough knowledge of their attributes can help you decide which part of Canada you wish to become your new home.
Canada has ten provinces and three territories.
The ten provinces are:
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
The three territories are:
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Yukon
Alberta
Alberta is the sixth largest of Canada's land areas and fourth in population. The capital is Edmonton and the largest city is Calgary. This province offers magnificent vistas of rolling prairies, farmlands, and the oil fields. Agriculture was the most important economic contribution until the recent past, when Alberta's petroleum industries boomed. Today Alberta is also home to many of Canada's corporate headquarters and boasts a diversity of lively businesses. Tourism is also important to Alberta's economy.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the fourth largest of Canada's land areas and third in population. The capital is Victoria and the largest city is Vancouver. It is made up almost exclusively of mountain terrain. Lumbering is a principal industry and along with that, pulp and paper mills. BC has four national parks and attracts visitors for hunting and fishing. There are large mineral reserves in BC, making mining one of its largest industries.
Manitoba
Manitoba is the eighth largest of Canada's land areas and fifth in population. The capital and largest city is Winnipeg. Traditionally, Manitoba has been a province known for its mining, lumbering, and agriculture. More recently it has become a center for the IT industry as well as diverse manufacturing.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is the eleventh largest of Canada's land areas and eighth in population. It is part of what was originally Acadia. The capital is Fredericton and the largest city is Saint John. One third of the population speaks French. Most of the land area is made up of forests, making lumbering a very important industry. Manufacturing and fishing industries make important contributions to the economy of New Brunswick, as do dairy farms and various crops.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador comprise the tenth largest of Canada's land areas and ninth in population. The capital and largest city is St. John's. The harsh climate has proven to be a deterrent to economic growth but mining, fishing, and logging have proven to be successful industries. This province supplies half of Canada's iron ore but also has large deposits of other mineral resources.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is the twelfth largest of Canada's land areas and seventh in population. The capital and largest city is Halifax. Principal industries in Nova Scotia include manufacturing, mining, fishing, and agriculture. Some of the mining and fishing have been reduced due to depletion. Tourism and technology industries also contribute to Nova Scotia's economy.
Ontario
Ontario is the fifth largest of Canada's land areas and first in population. The capital and largest city is Toronto. Ontario is the most industrialized area of Canada, manufacturing a diverse assortment of high-demand goods. Agriculture, mining, and forestry are also important.
Prince Edward Island
PEI is the smallest of Canada's land areas and tenth in population. The capital and largest city is Charlottetown. Agriculture and fishing are major industries followed by tourism.
Quebec
Quebec is the second largest of Canada's land areas and second as well in population. The capital is Quebec City and the largest city is Montreal. A large northern portion of the province is uninhabited. Montreal is the largest industrial area of Quebec. The IT industry is growing rapidly, as are other technology fields.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is the seventh largest of Canada's land areas and sixth in population. The capital is Regina and the largest city is Saskatoon. Wheat is a major crop along with other grains, while farming and dairying are also important. Oil and gas resources contribute to the economy as does mining.
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories are the third largest of Canada's land areas and eleventh in population. Yellowknife is the capital. The chief industry is mining. The Northwest Territories are rich in diamonds, gold, and petroleum.
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest of Canada's land areas and last in population. The capital and largest city is Iqualuit. Hunting and fishing are major industries, along with fur trapping and seal hunting. There are mineral resources here as well.
