The name “Canada” probably comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement.” In 1535, two Aboriginal youths told French explorer Jacques Cartier about the route to kanata; they were actually referring to the village of Stadacona, the site of the present-day City of Québec.
| Canada | |
|---|---|
| Motto: A mari usque ad mare (Latin) “From Sea to Sea” | |
| Anthem: “O Canada“ | |
| Capital | Ottawa 45°24′N 75°40′W |
| Largest city | Toronto |
| Official languages | EnglishFrench |
| Ethnic groups(2016)[2] | ExpandList of ethnicities |
| Religion (2011)[3] | ExpandList of religions |
| Demonym(s) | Canadian |
| Government | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy[4] |
| • Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| • Governor General | Mary Simon |
| • Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| • Upper house | Senate |
| • Lower house | House of Commons |
| Independence from the United Kingdom | |
| • Confederation | July 1, 1867 |
| • Statute of Westminster | December 11, 1931 |
| • Patriation | April 17, 1982 |
| Area | |
| • Total area | 9,984,670 km2(3,855,100 sq mi) (2nd) |
| • Water (%) | 11.76 (as of 2015)[5] |
| • Total land area | 9,093,507 km2(3,511,023 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Q1 2021 estimate |  38,131,104 [6] (37th) |
| • 2016 census | 35,151,728[7] |
| • Density | 3.92/km2 (10.2/sq mi) (185th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2021 estimate |
| • Total |  $1.979 trillion[8] (15th) |
| • Per capita | $51,713[8] (20th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2021 estimate |
| • Total | $1.883 trillion[8] (9th) |
| • Per capita | $49,222[8] (18th) |
| Gini (2018) |  30.3[9]medium |
| HDI (2019) | 0.929[10] very high · 16th |
| Currency | Canadian dollar ($) (CAD) |
| Time zone | UTC−3.5 to −8 |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−2.5 to −7 |
| Date format | yyyy-mm-dd (AD)[11] |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +1 |
| Internet TLD | .ca |
What is Canada?
Canada is a country in North America. It is north of the United States. Its land reaches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Arctic Ocean to the north. With 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), so Canada is the world’s second largest country by total area but only the fourth largest country by land area. It has the world’s longest coastline which touches three oceans. Canada has ten provinces and three territories. Most parts of the country have a cold or severely cold winter climate, but areas to the south are warm in summer. Much of the land is forests or tundra, with the Rocky Mountains towards the west. Most of Canada’s 38 million people live in urban areas near the southern border with the US, about 4/5s, the longest between any two countries in the world. The national capital is Ottawa, and the largest city is Toronto. Other large cities include Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, Winnipeg and Hamilton.
The real story behind the Canadian Flag!
The Maple Leaf flag became Canada’s flag on 15 February 1965. Before this, Canada used the British Red Ensign with Canada’s coat of arms on it. Flag experts describe the Canadian Red Ensign as being defaced by the coat of arms. In french this flag is called le Drapeau national du Canada
Flag and heraldry experts also call the design of the flag a Canadian Pale. This is because the white stripe in the middle (called a pale in heraldry) was not the usual narrow stripe but was half the width of the flag. This was the first time a design like this was used. Making the Canadian flag an odd shaped flag being twice as long as it is high.
On some days the Canadian government flies the Royal Union Flag next to the Maple Leaf Flag. The Royal Union Flag is the British Union Jack, and is a symbol that Canada is a member of the Commonwealth, and that Canada and Britain share a history and a monarch.
The Queen of Great Britain, had some say in what the flag was to be. She thought that the maple leaf greatly represents the country of Canada.
See this video on youtube to about the flag https://youtu.be/qTMdH9-kmDk
Where did the Maple Leaf come from?
The maple leaf is Canadian emblem used as a national symbol in 1868 when it appeared on the coat of arms of both Ontario and Quebec. In 1867, Alexander Muir composed the patriotic song “The Maple Leaf Forever”, which became an unofficial anthem in English-speaking Canada. The maple leaf was later added to the Canadian coat of arms in 1921. From 1876 until 1901, the leaf appeared on all Canadian coins and remained on the penny after 1901. The use of the maple leaf by the Royal Canadian Regiment as a regimental symbol extended back to 1860. During the First World War and Second World War, badges of the Canadian Forces were often based on a maple leaf design. The maple leaf would eventually adorn the tombstones of Canadian military graves.
