Essential Canadian Geography and Demographics Facts

Posted on Feb 25, 2026 in Geography

Canadian Political and Physical Divisions

Provinces and Territories
Provinces: BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NB, NS, PEI, NL
Territories: YT, NT, NU
Capital City

Capital of Canada: Ottawa
Provincial Capitals
- ON – Toronto
- QC – Québec City
- BC – Victoria
- AB – Edmonton
- MB – Winnipeg
- SK – Regina
- NS – Halifax
- NB – Fredericton
- PEI – Charlottetown
- NL – St. John’s
Major Water Bodies
Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic Oceans
Bays and Seas: Hudson Bay, Gulf of St. Lawrence
Rivers and Lakes: St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)

Oldest Geological Era: Precambrian
Major Geological Regions
- Canadian Shield: Biggest/oldest region (oldest rocks on Earth)
- Western Cordillera: Mountains formed by plate tectonics

Types of Urban Land Use
- Residential: Homes, apartments
- Industrial: Factories, warehouses
- Governmental: City hall, courthouses
- Institutional: Schools, hospitals
Population Structure Terms
- Developing (Expansive): Wide base
- Developed (Constructive): Narrow base, aging population
- Newly Industrializing (Stationary): Stabilizing
Key Demographic Calculations
- Birth Rate: (Births ÷ Population) × 1000
- Death Rate: (Deaths ÷ Population) × 1000
- Natural Increase: Birth Rate − Death Rate
- Rule of 72: 72 ÷ Growth Rate (to estimate doubling time)
- Dependency Load: Percentage of population under 15 & over 65
Immigration Concepts
- Pull Factor: Something that attracts people (jobs, education, safety)
- Economic Immigrant: Moves mainly for work
- Family Class Immigrant: Sponsored by close family
- Refugee: Forced to flee danger (war, persecution)
- Permanent Resident: Allowed to live & work long-term
- Benefits of Immigration: Fills jobs, economic growth, diversity

Climate Terminology
- Climate: Average weather over 30+ years
- Climate Graph: Line = temperature, Bars = precipitation
- Total Precipitation: Sum of monthly precipitation
- Total Snowfall: Sum of winter precipitation
- Growing Season: Months with average temperature above 6°C
- Orographic Precipitation: Air rises over mountains → cools → rain → rain shadow
Map and Spatial Concepts
- Compass Directions: North, South, East, West
- Degrees: 0° = N, 90° = E, 180° = S, 270° = W
- Contour Interval: Height difference between contour lines
- Time Zones: Toronto → Newfoundland = +1.5 hours
Environmental Impact
- Ecological Footprint: Amount of natural resources a person uses
- Reduce Footprint: Biking, public transit, solar panels
- Thermal Energy: Heat energy (example: geothermal energy)
- Ecotourism: Tourism that protects the natural environment
- Erosion: Wearing away of land by wind, water, or ice

Climate Change Mitigation
- Renewable Resources: Solar, wind, hydro
- Reducing Climate Change: Public transit, green buildings, renewable energy
- Global Action: Paris Agreement — cooperation, weak enforcement
First Nations Context
- First Nations: Original peoples of Canada (not Inuit or Métis)
- Indian Act: Law controlling land & governance
- Residential Schools: Forced Indigenous children to attend; caused cultural loss & trauma
- Key Issues & Solutions: Clean water → infrastructure funding; Housing → increased government support