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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Sauve, Virginia L. (Virginia Louise), 1946-

Gateway to Canada; Virginia L. Sauve. - 2nd ed.

Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-19-544335-6

1. English language-Textbooks for second language learners. 2. Readers-Canada.

3. Readers (Adult). 1. Title.

PE1l28.s368 2012 428.6'4 C2011-901414-9

This book is printed on permanent (acid-free) § paper.

Printed and bound in China.

1 2 3 4 - 15 14 13 12
Contents
To the Reader ix

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction to Canada 1
The People 2
The Land 2

Canada: Early Beginnings 8

The People 10
Exploration and Settlement 13
The Colony of New France 16
The Struggle for Power 18
The Birth of a Nation 21
Building the National Railroad 24

Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government,

and Economy 28
Introduction 30
Government in Canada 33
Elections in Canada 37
The Elements of Government 38
The Canadian Economy 41
Canadians at Work 44

Arts and Education 46

Arts and Entertainment 48
Education and Training 52

Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 60

Introduction 62
Participant Sports 62
Spectator Sports 63
Entertainment 66
Holidays 67
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler BC
t 71
iv Contents

5 The Mosaic of Canada 76

Cultures of Canada 78
A Story of Cross-Cultural Confusion 82
Celebrating Diversity 84
Aboriginal Peoples of Canada 86
One Aboriginal Voice 90
The Two Solitudes 93
Black Culture in Canada 96
Other Cultures of Canada 99
Religions of Canada 102
Religious Practices in Canada 104
Celebrations and Holidays 106

6 The Pacific Region 110

Introduction 112
Geography, Climate, and Economy 115
Vancouver 120
Victoria 124
Other Places of Interest 126

7 The Prairie Provinces 130

Introduction 132
Alberta 133
Saskatchewan 138
Manitoba 142

8 Central Canada: Ontario 146

Introduction 148
Past and Present 151
Toronto: Canada's Largest City 155
Around the Province 158

9 Central Canada: Quebec 162

Introduction 164
Geography, People, and Economy 165
The Cities 168
Other Interesting Attractions 173

10 The Atlantic Provinces 176

Introduction 178
New Brunswick 179
Nova Scotia 182
Prince Edward Island 187
Newfoundland and Labrador 190
 Contents v

11 Canada's North 196

Introduction 198
Land of the Midnight Sun 201
Aboriginal Peoples of the North 204
The Klondike Gold Rush 207
Other Points of Interest 210

12 Noteworthy Canadians 214

Introduction 216
In Science and Technology 216
In Medicine 218
In Politics 220
In Literature 223
In Music 225
In the Visual Arts 227
In Movies and Television 229
In Sports 230

13 Challenges for Canadians Today 234

Introduction 236
The Question of Our Identity as Canadians 236
New Economic Realities 239
A Sustainable Future 240
Health Care 242
Education 244
Aboriginal Issues 246
Food Safety 247
Our Changing Role in World Conflicts 248

Answer Key 250

Glossary of Words and Expressions 252
Index 256
Photo Credits 259
Text Cred its 260
 To the Reader

To those of you familiar with the first edition of this book, I offer this second edition in the hopes you
will continue to find it of value. It has been updated, not only in terms of statistics but also in terms of
the many changes that Canada has been experienced in the 13 years between editions. At your sugges-
tion, I have kept the same format and the content that is still relevant and of interest to our readers is
still there. However, one chapter has been added ("Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation")
and two others have been thoroughly rewritten. In addition, you will find on the Oxford website
(www.oupcanada.com/gateway) some teacher notes for the use of the book in differing contexts and
many more exercises which students or teachers can use to supplement what is in the book.
For those of you not familiar with the book, allow me to introduce it to you. Gateway to Canada has
been written primarily for intermediate and advanced learners of EAL/ESL, although a few teachers
have told me they use it with beginners who like the pictures and the friendly tone the book is written in.
When I asked how they can use it with beginners, they said they introduce key vocabulary before they
begin. With that thought in mind, there will be a section in the web supplement to give them a hand
with that task.
It is my hope that the book gives the reader a good helping of cultural capital that will support them
in quickly feeling like they belong in Canada and can easily converse with Canadians about things that
matter to both the learner and to the average Canadian. Many employers have told me that it is not so
much a new Canadian's English -t hat gets in the way of success in the workplace, as it is the person's lack
of cultural understandings. EAL/ESL is beginning to put more emphasis on this area and that is good.
Meanwhile, we need materials that support teacher and learner alike in understanding what Canada is
about, what our issues and challenges are, and what values define us as Canadians. I think you will find
much in this book to assist you with that learning or teaching.
Chapters 1 and 2 present some basic history and information about our government systems and how
they work. Chapters 3 and 4 cover the arts, education, sports, and recreation. Chapter 5, "The Mosaic of
Canada", is like a patchwork quilt of cultural and religious expressions across the country. Chapters 6
through 11 look at the geography, economy, and uniqueness of each of our regions: Pacific, Prairie,
Central, Atlantic, and the North. Chapter 12 attempts to acknowledge a sampling of those Canadians of
whom we are proud: inventors, scientists, doctors, literary figures, musicians, entertainers, and others.
Chapter 13 leaves us with more questions than answers as it endeavours to present some of the larger
challenges facing Canadians today as we learn to take our place at the global table.
I draw your attention also to the glossary at the back of the book. It may be helpful in finding a word
that is introduced elsewhere in the book.
Lastly, I trust that you will use this book in the ways that work best for you. That may mean starting
with what you are most interested in rather than going in the order that is given. I hope that you have as
much fun reading the book as I have had writing it. I have been privileged to see all our provinces and
spend time with people in each one. I have tried to capture the joy of that experience and my pride at
being a Canadian, in the hopes that both will be contagious. I hope you will be motivated to go and see
new parts of Canada for yourselves. There is no part of this great country where I do not feel welcome,
where I do not feel a sense of belonging. That is my wish for you.
 Acknowledgelllents

Thirteen years ago, my oldest daughter, Monique Sauve, and I wrote the first edition of Gateway to
Canada, and we have been delighted that so many people in ~anada and abroad have found the text
valuable in their studies of English and Canadian culture. Needless to say, some updates were long over-
due but I didn't realize how many until I began to research this second edition. Much has changed. I am
thankful to those educators who sent in their ideas to Oxford about the types of changes they wanted.
Mostly, they liked the format as it was, especially the lovely coloured photos and maps which the pub-
lisher so generously included in the first edition. I am grateful once again to Oxford for their support in
putting this edition out in its new and updated format. It was Jason Tomassini who initiated this second
edition and Cindy Angelini who has done a splendid job of working with me on editing it. I am deeply
grateful for her thoroughness, her support, and her patience in answering all my questions. In addition,
thanks to N adine Coderre who assisted her with the editing.
My daughter has relocated and was not involved in this edition but we owe most of the content in
the early history chapter and the Quebec chapter to Monique Sauve and I am most grateful for all her
assistance in the first edition.
Lastly, I am deeply grateful to all the learners and teachers who have told me through the years of their
joy in using the book. It is my hope that this second edition will support its readers in years to come in fall-
ing in love with this country we call Canada and being active participants in her ongoing transformation.

About the Author

Virginia Sauve is now semi-retired after a long and interesting career in many different contexts and
roles involving adult EAL learners. She has worked in public institutions and private colleges teaching all
levels from Literacy to ELT (Enhanced Language Training for immigrant professionals) . For 12 years, she
administered and wrote curriculum for a private school she initiated. Since the closure of that school, she
has worked as a consultant doing project work for funders and providers and creating workplace training
for a variety of jobs filled by EAL and literacy learners in hospitals, garment factories, and a large variety
of other venues. She also taught TESL in two universities and coordinated the Korean Teacher Education
Project (K-TEP) at the University of Alberta for five summers. She was a frequent plenary speaker at
TESL conferences across Canada during the eighties and nineties and an active member of both her
ATESL association and of TESL Canada. She has written two other books, both for teachers, and several
articles, some for journals and some as chapters in edited works. She now enjoys being a grandmother
to five lovely children.
Introduction
to Canada
Quick Facts
» Canada's land mass makes
it the second-largest country in
the world.

» Almost half of the country's land

area is covered by the rocky
Canadian Shield.

» Canada has a population of

approximately 35 million, which is
small for such a large country.
 The People
-----------------------------------------1
Persons per sq km
1

0.5
2
5
15
50
150

ATLANTIC
OCEAN

Canada's population density

There are about 35 million people living in Clock.) Canada is also a young country (about
Canada today, a relatively small population for 150 years old), and most of the population comes
such a large country. (If you want a good esti- from immigration over the last 400 years. Only
mate of Canada's population now, go to Statistics Aboriginal peoples inhabited the land before
Canada's web site and read the Population that time.

The Land
If you had to use two words to describe Canada, Prairie Provinces, Central Canada, the Atlantic
they might be large and diverse. Canada is the Provinces, and the North.
second -largest country in the world. It has a total
area of 9 970 610 square kilometres and is bor- The Pacific Region
dered by three oceans: the Pacific to the west, the
Arctic to the north, and the Atlantic to the east. The Pacific Region includes Canada's western-
Across the country, Canadians experience many most province, British Columbia. The region is
different landscapes, from ;r olling plains and known for its mild coastal climate, forests, and
mountains to the cold tundra of the North. spectacular mountains, the famous Rockies. The
Geographically, Canada can be divided Rocky Mountains are the youngest and highest
into five major regions: the Pacific Region, the mountains in Canada. British Columbia is in the
 Introduction to Canada 3

Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are

Canada's Prairie Provinces. They are known for
their rolling plains and extreme climate with long,
cold winters and hot, dry summers. Much of the
area is covered with farms producing large quan-
tities of canola, as well as wheat and other grains.
The region is also rich in oil and natural gas.
The Prairie Provinces are not only character-
ized by their rolling plains, however. Northern
Saskatchewan and Manitoba are covered by the
. great Canadian Shield-a rocky landscape with
lakes, rivers, and forests that stretches over almost
half of Canada. Southwestern Alberta has the
Rocky Mountains and some of the most spectacu-
lar scenery in the country.

Central Canada
This region, which includes Ontario and Quebec,
is not the geographic centre of Canada. The
region gets its name because, historically, it has
been the centre of political and economic power
in the country. Canada's capital city is Ottawa,
Ontario. Central Canada is the most heavily pop-
landform region called the Western Cordillera. ulated and industrialized area of Canada, partic-
(Cordillera means a system of mountain ranges.) ularly in the south around the Great Lakes and St.
Between the mountain ranges are areas of high Lawrence River.
plateaus and deep trenches. Since the landscape The Great Lakes are the largest body of fresh
is very rugged, most people live in the south and water in the world. In order of size (from larg-
near the coast. Vancouver and Victoria are the est to smallest area), they include Lake Superior,
, largest cities in British Columbia. Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake
Ontario. Some of the first settlements in Canada
The Prairie Provinces were built along the St. Lawrence River and the
Great Lakes. Today, these waterways are still an
important transportation route from the Atlantic
Ocean to Canada's interior.
 c '-~-:<->i!:<::7J- -,- - - . - - ~;

4 .. , Introduction - : " -~;:~.:

_•. ;f~v '<:+!~ / • :.<_:_~~~

Though heavily populated, the Great Lakes- The North

St. Lawrence Lowlands in the south is only a
small geographic region in Central Canada. The Canada's North includes the Yukon Territory, the
largest part of Central Canada is covered by the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, along with all
rocky Canadian Shield. In the far north we find of Canada's Arctic islands. To most Canadians this
the Hudson Bay Lowlands, which are cold, flat, region is quite remote since 90 percent of Canada's
and swampy, with very few towns or cities. This population lives in the south, within 160 kilome-
area is home mainly to Inuit and other Aboriginal tres of the Canada-United States border. However,
peoples who have lived there for centuries. the North is home to about 110 000 people, many
of them indigenous peoples, and to a great variety
The Atlantic Provinces of wildlife including caribou and polar bears.
The North covers a large area and has a var-
ied landscape which includes mountains of the
Western Cordillera, the Innuitian Mountains, the
Arctic Lowlands, and parts of the Interior Plains
and Canadian Shield. This varied landscape has
one feature in common: extremely long, cold win-
ters . It is so cold that the earth is frozen for most of
the year and never thaws more than half a metre
from the surface. This permanently frozen layer of
earth is called permafrost. It has made construc-
tion in the North a real challenge for architects
and builders.
Much of the North is treeless tundra, but in
the spring and summer the tundra plays host to
a variety of beautiful wild flowers and shrubs. In
the summer months, there is no darkness; the sun
never sets. The summer season may be short, but
The easternmost region of the country includes
it is all the more appreciated for its contrast with
the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick,
the long darkness of the winter.
Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, as well
as Newfoundland and Labrador. Fishing, ship- r-----------------------------------·-------------------------------------1
ping, and farming are important activities for the i I
people of this area. The region has many small ! j
I I
i I
coastal communities, although there are also major I i
industrial centres such as Halifax and Sydney I I
I I
in Nova Scotia. I i
There are mountains in this region, the II II
Appalachian Mountains, but they are not at all
like the grand, rugged mountains of the Pacific I <I
i "' 11
Region. The Appalachians are old, rounded I
mountains. Valleys in the region, such as the i I
Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, are important I I
farming areas producing fruit, vegetables, and
II
I
! 1
dairy products. L________________ i
 Introduction to Canada 5

~~ ~~ --- -------
-,;;-
~~~~------,

The North

PACIFIC
OCEAN

I!
I
!I
!
!
!
I
L ___________________________________________________________________ ~ ~ ............. ~ ......................... ~ ......_~ ...........................~.................... _....
Regions of Canada

_ Canadian Shield

_ Hudson Bay Lowlands

Great Lakes- SI. Lawrence
- Lowlands
_ Appalachian Region

Landforms of Canada
 -~ ~ .;:~~~~ ~~;;;-
~~ ~~~-

6 " c'. Introduction : '-:~:,;~i~'~'

- .f.;t'..w:.~ '"

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o In land area, is Canada the largest, second-largest, or fourth-largest country in

the world?
f) What is the name of Canada's newest and highest mountain range?
• What rocky landform region covers almost half of Canada?
e How many lakes are there in the largest body of fresh water in the world? What is
this group of lakes called?
o In which part of Canada do you find tundra?

VOCABULARY

indigenous born in or native to an area

inhabited lived in
colonize establish a settlement in an area, often a conquered area
conquer overcome by force
diverse varied
tundra a vast, nearly level and treeless Arctic area with a marshy surface and
underlying permafrost (permanently frozen layer of earth)
spectacular amazing, striking
plateaus high, flat areas of land
trenches long narrow cuts through some surface of the earth
l

rugged rough, broken, uneven

prairie a large area of nearly treeless grasslands
swampy consisting of wetland areas with trees, shrubs and grasses partly
t

covered with water

remote distant, far away

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.

o Soldiers dug during the war to protect themselves from enemy fire.
f) Buffalo and indigenous peoples the prairies long before the Europeans
arrived .
• Houses in the far north do not have basements because it is impossible to dig deep
holes in the _ _ _ _ _ _'
e The English ed the French in the famous battle on the Plains of Abraham
in 1759.
 Introduction to Canada 7

!------------- ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------,

I! et When one country s another, there is sometimes conflict between the

I!
!
i two peoples_ !'
I ! 0 Pine and spruce trees are both to the Rocky Mountains. I

I
!

:~;~~;e~~:s
i f) Canada can seem like a location to people who have always lived in the

1'1 : display delighted adults and children alike with its colours ,Ii!

v The farmers harvested a bumper crop of wheat on the s this year.

I i ~ The land was not good for growing anything. I
I
i • Canadians celebrate the cultures within their borders. I!
I G The coastline was too for boats to land. i
I I

I G are often chosen for building sites because there is no fear of flooding. i

I FOR DISCUSSION I
I » Why do you think the majority of people in Canada live within 160 kilometres of the I
i American border? i
!III' » What are some problems Canadians face because of the country's geography? What are I
some advantages of Canada's geography? I
i
L____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________J
1
 2
Chapter Two

Contelllporary
Canada:
Recent History,
Government,
and Economy
Quick Facts
» Canada has a federal system of
government, with ten provinces and
three territories.

» Canada is a member of the British

Commonwealth, whose head of state
r
r
is the Queen of England .

» The leader of Canada is the prime

minister; the leaders of the provinces
are the premiers .

» The capital city of Canada is Ottawa.

» The Canadian Parliament has two

houses: the House of Commons,
whose members are elected, and
the Senate, whose members are
appointed .

» Economically, Canada lis rich in natural

resources such as forests, minerals,
fish, oil, and gas.

» Most Canadians work in service jobs,

such as in businesses, education, and
health care .
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 39

In fact, the Governor General is more of a figure- is to see that no laws are passed without very care-
head than an actual policy-maker, although most ful thought. Senators examine legislation passed
Canadians have a lot of respect for the men and by the House of Commons, and if they think it is
women who have served Canada as Governor not good legislation or needs changes, they send
General. The Governor General appoints a it back for further consideration.
Lieutenant-Governor in each province. The pre- While Parliament (the House of Commons
mier of each province suggests people for this posi- and Senate) makes the laws for us to follow, the
tion, just as the prime minister suggests people for courts have the power to interpret and apply those
the Governor General's position to the Queen. laws. In Canada, a person is presumed innocent
The actual leader of the country is the prime until proven guilty. It is up to the courts to prove
minister. He or she is the leader of the party that that a person is guilty. In other words, the benefit
has the most seats in the House of Commons. The of the doubt goes to the accused. Every effort is
House of Commons is made up of Members of made to ensure that innocent people are not con-
Parliament (MPs) elected by the people. The prime victed of crimes they did not commit.
minister appoints a cabinet from members of his Some laws in Canada are very controversial.
or her party elected to the House of Commons. When people are not in agreement with laws,
Each cabinet minister is the leader of a govern- they may write letters to their MPs or to the edi-
ment department such as Health Canada, Service tors of newspapers, or join in demonstrations to
Canada, Department of National Defence, or express their views. Two examples of very contro-
Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The cabinet versiallaws in Canada today are the laws on abor-
has a lot of power to influence decisions made by tion and possession of marijuana.
the government. Any Member of Parliament can Current abortion laws say that doctors may
present a bill for a vote by the House of Commons, perform an abortion in a hospital or approved
but most bills come from the prime minister and clinic as long as the pregnancy is not beyond
cabinet. Bills passed by the House of Commons four months. People who disagree with abortion
become laws when they are approved by the call their view pro-life. Others who feel women
Senate and signed by the Governor General. should be able to have abortions call their view
The Senate is an appointed, not elected, body pro-choice.
of men and women. People who are appointed Marijuana is commonly used by many people
senators can serve to age 75. They are appointed as a recreational drug and for pain control, even
by the prime minister. The function of the Senate though it is usually illegal to sell marijuana.

---------------------------------------------- - - - -- ------------------------------------------------- - -- - ----- --1

1

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
!
I1
Are the following statements true or false? !
o The prime minister of Canada is the head of state.
!
!
·8 Canada is the only country in the British Commonwealth with a Governor General i
representing the Queen.
I
• Senators are appointed, not elected .
e In Canada, someone accused of a crime must prove his or her innocence or be
I
presumed guilty. !
o Abortion and the use of marijuana are two controversial subjects in Canada. I
" Pro-choicers believe that all women who get pregnant by accident should get an abortion.
I
30 Chapter 2
···-2,1
- - ,.,ft!

.\:1~
.~ , - ~~ ~~ ~ - ~:~?f;
... /:""4;-._

Introduction
This chapter and the next provide you with a brief and entertainment. First, here is a look at some
introduction to Canada today: its government, important historical events of the past century
economy, educational and training systems, arts, that have affected life in Canada today.

Canada in the Past Century-A Timeline

1914-18 World War I
Canadians join other members of the British Commonwealth in the war against
Germany and Austria-Hungary. Canada gains international recognition for its
role in the war.
1918 Women win the right to vote in federal elections and have the right to vote in six
of the provinces.
1920 Women gain the right to run for office in the Canadian government.
1929-39 The Great Depression
A time of serious economic difficulties in_Canada and throughout the world. The
stock market collapses in 1929. The world market for wheat also collapses, hurting
farmers in western Canada badly. Many people are unemployed.
1939-45 World War II
Canada joins Britain against Germany and its allies. In 1941, following the
bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by the Japanese, Japanese Canadians are
interned and their property is confiscated. Many of these same people had fought
for Canada in World War 1.
Women join the workforce in large numbers.
1945-68 Postwar Canada
Canada's economy and population grow significantly. There is a Baby Boom
(those born in this period are called "Baby Boomers"). Many new immigrants
also come to Canada. In the 1960s, Canada introduces social programs such as
medicare and the Canada Pension Plan.
1948 People of Asian origin receive the right to vote.
1949 Newfoundland (later named Newfoundland and Labrador) joins Canada as the
tenth province.
1950 Inuit Canadians gain the right to vote in federal elections.
1959 The St. Lawrence Seaway is completed, allowing ships to pass from the Atlantic
Ocean into the Great Lakes. Canada also increases trade and economic ties with
the United States.
1960 First Nations and Metis people gain the right to vote in federal elections.
1965 Canada gets its own flag with the red maple leaf. (Up to this time, the Union Jack
of Britain had been our flag.)
1967 Canada celebrates its hundredth birthday.
1969 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his Liberal government pass the Official
Languages Act. The Act states that all federal government services must be provided
in both French and English. Funds are given to the provinces to support bilingualism.
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 31

1970 Quebec nationalism and the separatist movement gained strength throughout
the 1960s. In October of 1970, members of an extremist separatist organization
called the FLQ murder a Quebec government official and kidnap a British official.
The Canadian army moves into Quebec to settle the crisis.
1976 A separatist party, the Parti Quebecois, is elected to head the Quebec
government. The government takes action to protect the French language in
Quebec, but loses a referendum for Quebec sovereignty (political independence
from Canada) in 1980.
1982 Prime Minister Trudeau and his government bring Canada's constitution
(the British North America Act of 1867) home from Britain. Canada now has
the power to make changes to its own constitution. The British North America
Act is renamed the Constitution Act, 1982 and the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms is added. Quebec, however, is the only province that does not sign
the constitution.
1984-89 Brian Mulroney and the Progressive Conservative Party win the federal election
in 1984. The government promotes closer economic and political ties with the
United States. The Free Trade Agreement is passed in 1989 between the two
countries. The governmenCalso attempts to change the constitution to include
Quebec, but these attempts fail.
1990 The issue of Aboriginal rights and land claims receives increased attention when
Mohawks at Oka, Quebec, hold an armed standoff to protect their land.
1993 Brian Mulroney steps down as prime minister and is replaced by Canada's first
female prime minister, Kim Campbell. She loses her first election six months
later, however, and the Liberals under Prime Minister Jean Chretien take power.
1994 Canada signs the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the
United States and Mexico.
1995 Another sovereignty referendum is held in Quebec. The vote is very close, but
Quebec remains part of Canada.
1999 Nunavut is born. This is the third territory in Canada's North and gives the Inuit
more control over their own affairs.
2002 Canada hosts the G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Canada promises more
than 10 billion dollars over 10 years to eliminate the spread of weapons and
materials of mass destruction in the world. (The G8 Summit is a meeting of the
governments of the world's largest economies.)
2005 Parliament passes Bill C-38, The Civil Marriage Act, giving marriage rights to
same-sex couples. This makes Canada the fourth nation in the world to do so.
2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper commits to providing 1.5 billion dollars in
incentives over nine years to producers of renewable alternatives to gasoline and
diesel fuel.
I

2007 Prime Minister Harper pledges 7 billion dollars for the protection of Canadian
sovereignty in the Arctic.
2010 Canada hosts the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver to a rousing display
of patriotism and the winning of 26 medals, our best showing so far at
these games .
 -------- - - -- -------------------------.---------------------------------------------------------,---------------·------------------------1

COMPREHENSION CHECK

True or false?
o Women have always had the right to vote in Canada.
f) Alberta and Saskatchewan were the last provinces to join Canada .
• The Great Depression was especially difficult for farmers in western Canada because
they could not sell their wheat.
1

! e The Second World War lasted about six years .

i
I
i
o Japanese Canadians all decided to move inland from the west coast during World
! War 11 because they were nervous about the war.
!i " Canada got its own flag in 1867.

I
i
o Canada is a bilingual country.
!
i

i
o In the sovereignty referendum of 1995, the people of Quebec voted in favour of
i political independence from Canada.
I
! VOCABULARY
I
i
! run for office stand for election
i
I
collapses falls apart; fails suddenly
interned forced to live in a confined area
I
i
confiscated
i taken away
II Baby Boom the period after World War II when many people had children and the
I
economy consequently grew steadily
,!
social programs government-funded programs (such as old-age pensions or ~ocial
!
!i assistance) which help to protect people from hardship
i
1
medicare a program in which every person has equal access to basic health care
i whether they are rich or poor
!
! pension a regular payment to people who have reached a certain age (65 in
Canada), when they are no longer working
I
bilingualism the ability to speak two languages (in the case of Canada, English and
! French), a policy which is officially encouraged in Canada
! nationalism strong emotion for one's nation (usually a country, but in the case of
I
Quebec, many of the people consider Quebec their nation)
!
I referendum a vote in which the people can make an important decision about
some issue
i
i constitution an official act which sets out rules and principles for the government
!:
I
: of a nation or other organization; a set of relatively permanent laws
! about the exercise of power in a country
i
!
! charter an official agreement which grants privileges or recognizes rights (for

i _ i_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ex~~!~_~~h u =_~:=hts~__________________________________________'
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government , and Economy 33

i-----~-S-I-N-G----NEW-_;, 0 RDS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
! j
i I
I I

! Nationalism is a strong feeling of loyalty to one's people or nation. A nationalist is a I

I person who supports or demonstrates this feeling. Below are some other terms you I
! may come across which describe a person's behaviours or beliefs. Match each word I
i on the left with its definition on the right. i
I separatist a person who supports the protection of our natural environment I
I federalist a person who wants Quebec to separate from the rest of Canada and i
I become an independent nation I
j t
i activist a person who supports a strong central government [
i i
I environmentalist a person who discriminates against people of other races I
i I
i racist a person who is very active in supporting his or her beliefs I
i I
l FOR DISCUSSION I
i i
i i
! » Based on the events in the timeline( what do you think are two of the most important I
!
! issues in Canada today? Why? ii
1 i
i » Are there recent important events you think should be added? I
» Does your country of origin have social programs such as employment insurance and
i
I

medicare? Are you willing to pay higher taxes to have these programs? j
I
'--------.---~.~-. ~ ------------_.'-----------------------------------------------------._-------------------------_._----------------------------.--------------------------~

Government in Canada

The Three Levels • At what age can a person vote in your

community?
of Government The responsibilities of the different levels of
Canada is a democratic country in which our politi- government are defined in Canada's constitution.
cal representatives are elected by citizens 18 years The federal government is responsible for matters
of age and over. Canada has three levels of govern- that affect the whole country such as immigra-
ment: federal (national), provincial, and municipal tion, employment, international trade, criminal
(city, town, or rural area). Our federal representa- law, taxation, citizenship, health care, defence,
tives are called Members of Parliament or MPs. communications (including the postal system),
Our provincial representatives are called Members and transportation. The provincial governments
of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in most prov- are responsible for such matters as education,
inces. In Ontario, they are called Members of the social services, labour laws, land titles, corpo-
Provincial Parliament (MPPs), in Newfoundland rate registrations, tourism, workers' health and
and Labrador, they are called Members of the safety, highways, the sale of alcoholic beverages,
House of Assembly, and in Quebec, they are called and motor vehicle licences. Municipalities deal
Members of the National Assembly (MNAs). with local affairs such as schools, property, care of
Municipalities have their own systems of local roadways, urban transportation, business licences,
government. Municipal representatives are usually libraries, police, and fire services. Municipal coun-
called councillors. cillors also pass laws (called bylaws) governing
• What are elected representatives in your prov- such matters as speed limits, noise levels, animal
ince and municipality called? licensing, and local planning and development.
 · ,:;~~"
34 Chapter 2 ~ ;::}~\,;
: • < ~'f:'~''''-
,,_u~

.-
!

I
-~------- ----- -- - -- ---~-- ------- - -------- ---------

-- I I

I
I
I I

I
I
I
I
I

I!
I
I

Ca n ada's H ou se of Commons

All levels of government can tax the public. Political Parties

The federal government collects income tax and
GST (goods and services tax) of five percent on In Canada, most people who want to represent us
most goods and services sold in Canada. All prov- in government belong to a political party. There
inces except Alberta have also a provincial sales are many different political parties in Canada.
tax which varies in size. Many provinces have The three main parties at the federal level are
combined their federal and provincial taxes into the Conservative Party of Canada, the New
an HST (harmonized sales tax) which is some- Democratic Party of Canada (NDP), and the
times quite controversial. The combined system Liberal Party of Canada. In 201t the Green Party
of taxation means that more monies are collected of Canada won its first seat in Parliament, while the
than in previous totals of federal and provincial Bloc Qw§becois-which used to be an important
tax. Municipalities collect property taxes and party within Quebec-lost all but four of its seats.
business taxes. Each party has its own set of beliefs and policies.
There is some overlap in the responsibilities of Sometimes an individual who does not belong to
the federal and provincial governments. In these a political party runs for office. These individuals
cases, the federal government often gives money can sit in the government as Independents.
to the provinces to run the programs, but asks the Some people would show the relationship
provinces to follow federal policies on these ser- between the parties like this:
vices. A good example is medicare. The Canadian
government believes that all citizens should have Left Centre Right
basic health care whether they are rich or poor.
Since the program requires a great amount of
money, both levels of government pay for part of Green NDP Liberal Conservative
health care. Many of the provinces, for example,
collect a monthly fee called healthcare premiums. The Bloc Quebecois is not on the diagram
Do you pay a monthly fee in your province for because it is not a national party. It was formed
basic health care? to give Quebec a stronger voice in the federal
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 35

government and to work for Quebec indepen- parties, however, do not necessarily follow the
dence. It has representatives only from Quebec. same policies as the federal parties. It is important
The largest federal parties have representa- to find out what a party's policies are before vot-
tives at the provincial level as well. The provincial ing in any election.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Which level of government makes the decisions about how Canada as a whole is
governed?
8 If you are having problems with sponsoring a family member who wants to immigrate
to Canada, who would you ask for help: an MP or an MLA/MPP?
., If you and members of your ethnic community want to start a bilingual school for your
children, which level of government could you talk to?
e Would you contact the federal or provincial government to find out where you could
get a driver's licence?
" Which level of government decides how much postage stamps cost?
o If you want to become a citizen of Canada, which level of government would you
contact for information?
o Which level of government decides how fast you can drive your car in the city?
o Bonus question: What do you think will happen if you drive your car too fast and the
police stop you?

VOCABULARY

democratic governed by the people or elected representatives of the people

representatives people who speak or work for others at their request
councillors members of a council; a council is a group of people elected to work
on behalf of a larger group (such as a city council)
taxation the requirement by governments that people pay money for se rvices
(for example, income tax based on a person's income, property tax
based on the value of land and buildings owned, and sales tax based
on the value of what you buy)
corpor'a te having to do with a corporation (company, business)
registration the act of officially recording information (registration of children at
school, registration of a marriage)
tourism the business of serving visitors to a country or community
licence (n) a paper which gives permission to do, own, or use something (such EiS
a driver's licence) .
urban ofthe city (rural: ofthe country)
assess determine the value of something
overlap (n) something shared in common.
policies guidelines for decision-making in governments and other o rganizations
r----------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------ - - ---- - - - 1
i USING NEW WORDS i
I I
I I

II Fill in each blank with a word from the Vocabulary section. !

I
i 0 Jose did not come from a country. A general in the army controlled the i
I government. !
! i
! 8 is an important industry in the beautiful Rocky Mountains region of I
I Alberta. Many people like to visit the area from other countries. I
1 e If you drive your car without a , the police can fine you. !
i e When you apply for a job in a country where English is your second language, the ill

I employer will often your English language skills before he or she I

i decides to give you a job. I

I !
I et life is often more stressful than life in the country. Would you rather live I
I in a city or on a farm? i
i " Many people believe there is too much in Canada. !
i
i 0 It is important to know a party's before voting. Ii
I Unscramble the following words. Use the clues on the right to help you. I
I I
I palover There should not be an between a man's date with one i
I woman and his date with another, or he will have no dates at all! i
I !
! rocporate taxes are at a lower rate than personal taxes to i
I encourage people to go into business and to create jobs. i
! I
i nillcocours It is important for every community to have both male and female I

i in municipal government. I
! tinoratregis When a police officer stops a driver, he asks to see the driver's licence I
I and i
I
I peersentratives Each member of the United Nations has in New York to
i
!
I
I speak on behalf of that nation.
I
I
I i
! i
! !
i FOR DISCUSSION i
I I
I » Are there parties on the left and right in your country of origin? I
II » What does it mean to be a leftist? To be a right-winger? II
I }} Which groups of people traditionally support the left? The right? I
i MAKING CONTACT !
I I
I » Find out who your elected provincial representative (MPP or MLA) is. Search on line for I
I "Who is my MPP (or MLA)" and the name of your province to find a list of representatives I
I from your province. You will need to enter your address or postal code to find your local I
representqtive. i
» Find out who your elected federal representative (MP) is. I
» Telephone your city hall or municipal office and find out if your municipal j
representatives are elected on the ward system (each part of a community elects its I
i
own representatives) or for the whole community. I
Ii
1_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ._ _ __ i
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 37

f--------------------------- ------------------------------- -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - -------------- - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - ---------,

I, Bonus assignment: Ask three Canadians for the names of their federal and provincial It

Ii representatives. How many said that they did not know or were wrong in their answers? Do I
i
! you find that people in Canada are more or less interested in politics than people in your 1

I country of origin? !
I !
L_____________________________ i

.. ----------------------------- ----------- ------------ ----- ------- --------- -- ---- ------.-------------------- -- ---- --- ----- ---------------- -------------------

Elections in Canada _ _ ____ __ ___ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _________ _ ____ 0 ___ _ ______ __ _ __ _ ____________ _ J

Since Canada is a democratic country, we elect You do not have to tell anyone how you voted. You
our representatives. The candidates with the most are free to vote for the person or people you think
votes win the election. will serve you and your family best.
To vote in an election, your name must be on
a voters' list. You will receive a card in the mail
telling you where to vote. If you do not receive a
card and think you were missed, you can contact
the returning officer (search online or call 411 to
find your returning officer) who will help you to
get on the voters' list.
When you go to the polling station to vote (it is
usually in a schoot church, or community centre),
you are given a ballot. The people who work at the
polling station will show you how to vote. Be sure
to follow their directions because if you do not,
your vote may not be counted. Your vote is secret.

I:
COMPREHENSION CHECK

What should you do if you think you are not on the voters' list for an upcoming election?
I
If you are asked to mark an X beside the name of the person you want to vote for and I
instead you circle the name, will your vote be counted?
I
I
VOCABULARY
i
voters' list a list of the people who are registered to vote, who have permission '1
,1

to vote
1

returning officer the person in charge of running the election in an electoral district !
I
polling station a place where one or more polls are located; a poll is an official area !
in an election and is designated by a number. You need to vote at the I
poll in which you are registered. I
ballot the piece of paper on which are listed the names of people running I
for office or the questions being asked in the election !
L__________________________________________________________________________________J
 USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with one of the words or terms from the Vocabulary section.
Mai-Ling and her husband, John, were excited to vote in Canada for the first time. However,
when they checked the , their names were not on it and
they did not receive a card in the mail. They did not know that they were supposed to
contact the to correct the mistake. When they arrived at the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on election day, they were worried that they would not be
allowed to vote. Then they learned that they just needed to show proof of their identity and
address to be added to the voters' list. Happily, they each marked a and put
it in the box.

FOR DISCUSSION

» Some people think that their vote does not matter, and so they do not bother to
find out what the election issues are and they do not vote. What do you think of
this opinion?

» Some people who are still learning English think they should not vote because they do
not yet understand the issues well enough. If you want to learn more about an election
and what each of the candidates represent, what can you do?

The Elements of Government

•
Prime Minister

Cabinet

a a House of Commons a a

The government of Canada

In the above chart, you can see that the Queen of reality and would like to end this connection with
England is the head of state in Canada's govern- Britain.) The Queen appoints a representative in
ment. Does this surprise you? (Many Canadians Canada called the Governor General. This sys-
are very supportive of the monarchy, while oth- tem of appointing a representative for the Queen
ers believe that it is no longer relevant to today'S is used throughout the British Commonwealth.
 ·~-' ' ' ~'-·.~rt ------- . .~'-'~~~'~~i},

40 Chapter 2 ~ :~'-l~i
':';'i,' i! ' : ,~'~?t'
~" , '

r------------------------------'----'----------------·-----------------------------------------------,--,-"""---------------------------------------------:
I '

!I, VOCABULARY
monarchy a government headed by a king or queen; a government wherein
i royalty still has wealth and influence !I
: !
1
i British a group of nations formerly colonized by Britain which are now independent, !
:
I Commonwealth but have chosen to keep economic and political ties with one another !

i
I figurehead a person who appears to have power, but who really does not i
I
cabinet the group of men and women who supervise the departments of II
i
I
I - government and who make, with the prime minister or premier, the !
executive decisions of government I
I i
i
presumed thought to be true, even though you are not sure i
I !
!i benefit of an expression which means that when we are uncertain as to which decision i
! the doubt is best, we give a person the decision which is in their best interest. The l
I
! !
principle of "innocent until proven guilty" favours the accused in court. (In !
i :
some countries, it is up to the accused to prove his or her innocence.)
I
I convicted judged guilty of a crime I
I
! I
! controversial arguable; not clearly one thing or another
I
!I abortion the act of ending the life of a fetus in the mother's womb I
i !
!
!
:I
USING NEW WORDS !I
:
i
I
I Fill in each blank with one of the words or terms from the list above. !
i
o The man was by a jury of his peers. !
i
!
• The federal is chosen very carefully so that it includes representatives ii
I
from all. provinces. i
I
J • India, Australia, New Zealand, and Nigeria are some other members of the
i I
1 i
I
e Canada's immigration policy is a subject.
!

!I
@» Henry Morgentaler is a well-known Canadian doctor who challenged Canada's
I _ _ _ _ _ _ Iaws across the country and won. He believed that Canadian women !
!
should have the right to be responsible for their own bodies and that includes the right !
I i
! to end an unwanted pregnancy. I

i o The is controversial in most democratic countries today.

i
!I
i 8 A person who has little or no real power in spite of his or her position is called a I
I I
!
!I G The little girl told her rural school teacher that a cow ate her homework. Although the !
! !
1
teacher found this hard to believe, she gave the little girl the _ _ _ _ _ _' !
i I
FOR DISCUSSION !I
I !I
I » Some people do not like to be asked controversial questions because they do not want !I
I to get into an argument with others. Do you feel this way? Why or why not? With whom !
!
i do you feel comfortable talking about controversial topics such as politics or religion? i
I
I
! With whom would you feel unsafe or uncomfortable discussing such topics? i

l_ _ _,__________ _ ___,_________________,______________________________________________________________J
i
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 41

i~----------~----------------------------------------~---- ~---------- -------------------------- --:

ii » The use of marijuana is very controversial in Canada. Some people think it should be Ii
i decriminalized (made legal) while others think it is important to maintain the laws against I
: it. What do you think, and why? i

» If you were an elected Member of Parliament in Canada today, can you think of some 1
:

laws you would like to see changed? Explain why. I

L-________________________ ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~ ____ ~ _
I
________________________________________________________ j

The Canadian Economy

! ~~
I
!
!:
:
!
! PACIFIC
OCEAN
I
i
:

i
i
I
I:
,--------''----
, - .
- Prince
Edward
I Island
I
ATLANTIC
! OCEAN
I
i
!

Economic activities across Canada

Canada is a very large country blessed with many Can you think of any Canadian goods which were
natural resources. From trees in the forests across imported by your original country?
the country, we make pulp and paper. From mines, In Japanese restaurants, customers may buy
we 'extract coat gold, silver, iron, uranium, and Alberta beef and British Columbia salmon. In
many other minerals. On the prairies, we grow Russia, people sometimes eat bread made from
grain, raise cattle, and extract oil and gas from Canadian wheat. In the United States, many of the
beneath the ground. From the oceans on our east newspapers are made from Canadian pulp, and
and west coasts, we take fish and other seafood. people use Canadian oil and gas in their cars.
 Because Canada has a relatively small popula-
tion and abundant natural resources, much of our
international trade is in exporting those resources
and buying manufactured goods. The United
States is by far Canada's largest trading partner
at this time. In 2009, 51 percent of our imports
came from the US and 75 percent of our exports
went there. We imported 11 percent of our goods
from China that year and exported 3 percent of
our goods to China. The European Union is also a
Extracting oil on the prairies
significant trading partner with 10 percent of our
imports coming from the EU and 5 percent of our
exports going there. Additionally, 3 percent of our Transportation equipment such as automobiles
exports went to the United Kingdom in 2009. and automobile parts, are our most important
Canada exports a lot of food products: wheat manufactured goods, followed by food, paper
and other grains, beef and other meat oit dairy products, and chemicals.
products, sugar beets, and maple sugar products, Canada is also a world leader in the telecom-
to name a few. Copper, gold, iron ore, nickeL pot- munications industry. The Canadarm, a remote-
ash, and zinc are the minerals most often sent controlled arm used by NASA astronauts in the
to other countries. Natural gas and oil are other American space program, is a major Canadian
important exports, along with forestry products. achievement. Canadians have also developed and
Though largely dependent on natural resources, built powerful communications satellites, which
Canada also has a strong manufacturing industry. are used by countries around the world.

COMPREHENSION CHECK
I
o What-differences do you notice between the Canadian economy and the economies of
countries such as Japan or Korea l which export a lot of manufactured goods? J

I
f) Nam~ two of Canada/s most important exports .
., For what industry is Canada well-known by other nations?

VOCABULARY

pulp a semi-liquid mixture made from the wood of trees; used to make paper
extract take out
uranium a mineral element used in producing nuclear power
seafood sea fish or shellfish which can be eaten; shellfish include shrimpl
lobsterl clams, and scallops
imported bought from other countries
exporting selling to other countries
customer a person who buys goods or services from someone
sugar beets large root vegetables used for the production of sugar
maple sugar a Canadian treat made from the sap of the sugar maple tree
dependent unable to do without; needing something in order to survive
equipment machines or articles needed for a specific purpose
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 43

1------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------- ----- ---1

! satellites human-made structures sent into space to travel around the earth or !
[ another planet for research or communications I
remote-controlled moveable from a distance by radiowaves I
:
:
USING NEW WORDS
I
Here is a small puzzle to review the vocabulary words. Note that not all words are !
:
I
:
from the vocabulary list. You may want to do the puzzle with a partner and see who
!
finishes first.
,,-- I
Across !
1
2
2. what we call wheat, oats, and barley 1 1 !
!
3. wonderful! 3 !
I
4. to be fortunate; to be gifted by God 1

6. fuel for cars 5

14
1
7. what keeps moving parts moving
8. milk, butter, and cheese 6

Down
1. many cows 7

3. a very precious metal

5. a word for fish, shrimp, scallops, and lobster 8
1 1
(Find the answer to the puzzle on page 250.)

OUR CURRENCY
I
» Currency is the money system of a country. Canadians use the dollar as their basic unit I;
i
of currency. Two dollars will buy you a loaf of bread or a bottle of pop from a vending !
machine . Our dollar coin is called a "Ioonie" because it has a picture of a bird called a i
I

loon on the front. We make a lot of jokes about the loonie. Do you know why? Other :
!
coins are called the toonie (2 dollars), quarter (25 cents), the dime (10 cents), the nickel I
(5 cents), and the penny (1 cent).
I
I
» All Canadian coins have a picture of Queen Elizabeth 11 of England on the back. Can you I
explain why? i
!
» What could you buy with the following amounts of money? Match the amount on the left !:
with the item you think best fits on the right. (Prices are approximate and all prices are I
!!
before tax.)
!
o $2.75 _ _ a) a one-way bus ticket within a city I
• $350000 _ _ b) a pair of good running shoes, not on sale
I
., $0.59 _ _ c) a stamp to mail a letter within Canada !
i
e $12.50 _ _ d) a ticket to see a movie in the theatre I
!
o $150 _ _ e) a new three-bedroom house I
o $35000 _ _ f) a new mid-size car I
o $1.80 _ _ g) a cup of coffee i
l.___________________________________________________._______________________________________________________._____________________________________J
 Canadians at Work
Employment is of great concern across the coun- categories in the chart means? Can you give exam-
try as young people look for jobs when they finish ples of jobs in each of these categories?
school and as new immigrants seek to become One thing that is important to know if you are
independent as soon as possible. The employ- going to work in Canada is that all provinces have
ment picture in Canada is changing. It used to laws which tell us the rights and responsibilities of
be that a person could expect to learn one set of employees. They may be called labour standards
skills for a job and work in that job all of his or or employment standards in your province. Each
her life. That is no longer true. Most people can province has a minimum wage and there are laws
expect to have several different kinds of jobs in about how many hours an employer can ask you to
their lifetimes. There is less full-time work and work before he or she must pay overtime. You must
more part-time or casual work available. The be paid vacation pay and you must have deduc-
number of jobs in high-tech industries and in tions taken off your paycheque for employment
communications is growing and, with them, insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and Canada
the amount of training workers need. Most jobs Revenue Agency taxation, unless you are a self-
require some computer knowledge today. The employed contract worker and not an employee.
size of the workforce has also increased. Whereas There are also laws about discrimination. It is
in our grandparents' generation, most women against the law to discriminate against someone
did not work outside the home, now most women based on such differences as race, gender, age, or
have paid jobs. High school students also often religion, for example. If you think that you have
look for part-time work and take an extra year to been denied a job because you are a woman,
complete high school. because you are Black, or because you belong to a
Another change is in the number of people particular religion, there may be laws to help you
who are starting their own small businesses. In fight that decision. For starters, you have to know
part, this is because many services which used to what laws are there to protect you-they vary
be provided by the government are now provided from province to province.
by contracted businesses. --------------------------------------- ---

I
Perhaps, when you are looking Forestry, fishing , mining,
r quarrying , oil, and gas
for a job, you might think about I, 2%
starting your own business Public
instead of applying for work Other Admin istration
Accommodation
with an employer. Some small and food

business owners even work

from their own homes. If you
want to do this, you will have
to ask about the zoning restric-
Health care
tions in your community. Some and social
assistance
kinds of business can be run 12%

from anyone's home, while I

others have to be located in
services
areas whicp' are intended for 7%
Business, building, Finance , insurance,
that business purpose. and other real estate
support services and leasing
If you look at the chart to the
I 4% 6%
right, you will see that most jobs 1______-------
today are in the service sector.
Employment in Canadian industries
Do you know what each of the
 Contemporary Canada: Recent History, Government, and Economy 45

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o How is women's role in the workforce in Canada different from women's role in the
workforce in other countries you know?
8 How has privatization (the shift from government services to private businesses)
affected the kind of work available to some people who are ambitious and creative?

VOCABULARY

casual not regular or permanent; work which varies from week to week as the
employer needs you (for example, one week, you might work full-time and
another week, not at all)
deductions money taken off an employee's paycheque before he or she receives it
(including money for Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, and taxes)
self-employed working for oneself; a worker who is not an employee of a company or
other business and therefore does not have employee benefits, but who
can deduct self-employment expenses from his or her income tax

USING NEW WORDS

Match each word on t~e left to its opposite on the right.

self-employed regular
casual additions
deductions employed by a company or business

MAKING CONTACT

» ~Find out the minimum wage for workers in your province. Are there different rates
for different jobs? Are there any jobs which are not covered by the minimum wage
guidelines? Are there different rules for youths and adults? What are they?
» What is the legal vacation pay in your province for an employee of less than one year?
More than ten years?
» Talk to a Canadian worker about the differences between the Canada Pension Plan and
company pension plans. Ask that worker if he or she expects to see any changes to the
Canada Pension Plan in the near future and why.

» Talk to a self-employed person and ask what benefits there are in being self-employed
rather than being an employee .

CHAPTER REVIEW
l"
I

Name the following.

o Canada's head of state " two major manufactured goods in Canada
8 the current prime minister o Canada's most important customer for exports
• the Governor General
o the mayor of your community
 3
Chapter Three

Arts and
Education
Quick Facts
» Canadians enjoy a wide variety of arts
and entertainment from ballets and
symphonies to winter carnivals, fiddling
contests, and street performers.

» The Canadian Broadcasting

Corporation (CBC) is Canada's
government-owned national
television and radio network that
provides programs created and
produ.ced by Canadians.

» From a group of 20 street performers

at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du
So/ei/®is a major Quebec-based
organization presenting different shows
simultaneously around the world.

» Education in Canada is a provincial

responsibility and programs vary
from province to province .

» In addition to elementary, secondary,

and post-secondary education,
programs are available to teach
heritage languages, English as a
second language, and job skills.

» Education from kindergarten to

Grade 12 is free to everyone . Further
education requires the payment of
tuition but is still heavily subsidized
by governments.
 Arts and Entertainment

Rick Mercer and Jian Ghomeshi both host shows on the CBC

National Arts Companies the most remote northern communities. Many

Canadians set their morning alarm clocks to CBC
Canada has produced many gifted artists and radio and eat their breakfast listening to the most
entertainers. While many of these people choose recent news. Travellers adjust their car radios so
to stay in Canada, others have moved to the United they can listen to a variety of documentaries and
States. Some of these artists felt that to advance musical programs as they drive from one area
their careers, they had to expand their horizons to another. CBC television documentaries have
beyond Canada. Canada is a large country with revealed aspects of the Canadian experience
a small population, and this can create problems. many people knew nothing about.
One problem is the difficulty we have in keeping The National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
our cultural identity beside a very large and pow- is another organization which · has supported
erful neighbour, the United States. Canadian talent. NFB films continue to win
One national institution that works to main- international recognition for their excellence.
tain a distinctive Canadian culture is the Canadian The films are also used in schools from coast
Broadcasting Corporation (CB C) . The CBC is our to coast to teach students about issues facing
government-owned national television and radio Canadians today.
system, which offers programs in English and Nonetheless, Canadians are heavily influ-
French across the country. The Canadian Radio enced by American popular culture. There are
and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is many more American TV and radio stations than
the government organization which decides how Canadian ones, and American programs are very
much programming must be Canadian. The CRTC popular in Canada. Some people purchase satel-
has complex rules about how much Canadian con- lite dishes to get as much American programming
tent is required in order to be licensed as a TV or as possible. Others believe it is very important
radio station in Canada. These rules are intended to maintain a distinctive Canadian identity by
to support and protect Canadian culture. controlling the amount of entertainment we get
The CBC helps Canadians on one side of from the United States. Many parents are also
the country stay informed about the lives of concerned about the amount of violence on some
Canadians in other parts of the country, even in American TV programs.
 Arts and Education 49

But the arts are alive and well in Canada. celebration's organizers to put on the show. The
More and more entertainers, musicians, actors, artistic company soon attracted other talented
writers, and artists are gaining recognition artists and creators to work with them and their
internationally for their work and still calling imaginative, grand productions have become
Canada home. In Chapter 12, you will learn well-known all over the world. The company
more about a number of individuals who have now makes its home in many countries outside
distinguished themselves as singers, musicians, Canada as well as within it. There are no animals
and artists in Canada. in this circus and yet the audience instantlyrecog-
nizes that they are in an imaginative circus-style
Cirque du Soleil production. More than 100 million spectators in
more than 300 cities on six continents have seen a
In 1984, Quebec City was celebrating the 450th Cirque du Solei! show. Their creations have earned
anniversary of Canada's discovery by Jacques them many awards including multiple Geminis
Cartier, and they needed a show that would and Emmy Awards. Canadians are very proud of
carry the festivities out across the province. Guy this talented group who have always been proud
Laliberte presented a proposal for a show called ambassadors of Quebec and Canada in each city
Cirque du Solei!, and succeeded in convincing the and country they have visited.

Canadian Voices
r-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

! I
! Rita MacNeil is a popular singer from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. She sings a variety of songs that I
I can be described as folk and country music. Although she spends a lot of time travelling and giving I
I concerts outside the country, Canada is still home for her. She is well-known for her Christmas f
I concerts across the country with the miners' choir called Men of the Deeps. This is what it means to f
i her to be a Canadian: f
: I
! I
! I
I The place where we are born or where we establish our roots affects us all our lives. I have I
I a deep appreciation for Canada because I've been able to travel from coast to coast :
I getting to know the landscape and the people. I feel safe here and proud when I hear the I
I national anthem, {(a Canada." It can't be summed up in a word-it's a feeling inside when I
i I
! you can say I am from Canada. t
i I
L ~~---------cr.~---------------.-J

Local Arts and Entertainment countries of the world and brought many famous
international dancers to Canada. There are also
Every major city in Canada has its symphony many smaller music, dance, and theatre groups,
orchestra and theatre companies. There are also which offer a wide variety of performances from
many fine ballet companies across the country modern to traditional in communities across
including the National Ballet based in Toronto, the country.
the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Les Grands Canadians enjoy a number of popular fes-
Ballets Canadiens from Quebec, to name a few. tivals, especially in the summer months when
These companies have sent dancers to many people flock outdoors to enjoy the warm weather.

~s; ~-~~~ i-~';!. ~

• y. .... "S?!-s,,,,~i',- -
 In late August in Halifax, for example, crowds of
people go to the docks to watch the International
Busker Festival. In Winnipeg, Toronto, and many
other communities, people go to the park to
enjoy outdoor theatre such as Shakespeare in
the Park and outdoor concerts. The waterfronts
in Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax are home to
a number of performances of various kinds. In
mid-August, over 200000 people flock to English
Bay in Vancouver to watch the final night of
the Celebration of Light, an international fire-
works competition. We love our fireworks! Some
small communities also offer high quality theatre
and music productions by visiting performers or
local groups.
During the winter months, many communi-
ties organize winter carnivals with ice sculpting
contests, skating, cross-country skiing, skidoo-
ing, and even dogsled races. There are also con-
certs in the cities' concert halls, plays in theatres
and dinner theatres, and various performers such
as bands and singers in small clubs and lounges
throughout the country. In rural areas, parties
and other social gatherings are held in commu-
nity centres and church halls . Some traditional
Stratford Festival: Seana McKenna as King events include square dances, fiddling contests, .
Richard Ill.
and First Nation powwows.

-------------- -- - - --- - - - -- - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,

COMPREHENSION CHECK i
!:
:
i
o What do some people think threatens Canada's cultural identity? !
i
f) What is the name of Canada's national radio and TV broadcasting company? !

l:
• If you wanted to see an outdoor concert or play, where could you go? !
1
8 What are some events at winter carnivals?
!
VOCABULARY
i
1
gifted talented, able to do something well which most others cannot do !
!:
expand their horizons increase their opportunities !
maintain keep in good condition I
_____ ________________________________________.J
 Arts and Education 51

f--------------- --------------------------------------- - --- -------------------------------------------------- -1

! :i
i documentaries films or other programs made to communicate factual information
i about a particular topic I
I
flock go in great numbers to see or do something i

buskers street entertainers such as jugglers, unicycle riders, and comedians,

i
!
who perform for donations (small amounts of money) from people I
who watch
I
square dances group folk dances performed to the music of a fiddle with rapid
spoken instructions given by a caller I

powwows celebrations of First Nations peoples usually including Aboriginal

dancing, feasting, and other ceremonies I
i

volunteer a person who does work without expectation of pay

i

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each of the blanks below with one of the words or expressions above.
• Those who cannot read and write sometimes learn well with the help of a
_ _ _ _ _ _ tutor.
• When people see fire engines, they often to watch the fire.
• People who take courses in the evening are usually trying to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

e A car or an appliance will last you for a long time if you _ _ _ _ _ _ it in good
condition.
est When some Koreans visited the Stoney near Banff, they felt a kinship !
with their Aboriginal "cousins" who share common ancestral roots. !
i
o Several people from visible minorities are working with a film crew to prepare a number
of on racism . I
i
FOR DISCUSSION i
I
I
» Volunteering is very popular in Canada. Men and women who have time often volunteer
their talents because they enjoy it. Some people who are unemployed volu ~teer to I
learn new skills, get Canadian work experience, and make contact with employers. i
!i
Volunteers do a lot of very important work in Canada. However, from time to time, they
are exploited. Have you ever volunteered? What did you gain from that experience? Do I
you know anyone who has been exploited as a volunteer? I
» Name some popular Canadian artists, actors, or musicians you know. Are they also I
!i
popular outside Canada?
!
i
» Do you think that Canadians should try to protect their culture from American culture? 1
Why or why not?
I

» Is the culture from which you come in danger in any way? Has it been in the past? I
I!__.• __________ ~ _______ ,_____ __ _ _ _ _ _______ _ _ _ __ __ i
________ ___._ _ _ _____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________._____ .__.____ ____ ____________ _1
I----o-p~-I-O~~~-~~~~~--~-G-~S-S G-~MI E~ T - -- - - - - ---------------------------------------1

I » Write a short report on a Canadian movie, play, TV show, or other arts production you I
j have seen recently. Describe the production and comment on its quality. How does it I
, compare to similar productions you may have seen in another country? I

l_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________J

Education and Training

Elementary and part of the costs. Many, but not all, private schools
are religious. Increasingly, school boards in some
Secondary Schooling parts of the country are offering alternative kinds
Schooling in Canada is free and universal. of schooling. (They may be called charter schools
That means that it does not cost money to go or special programs.) This gives parents more
to a public school and everyone can go if they options in communities where there are open
are between the ages of 6 and 18. Schooling is boundaries and children can go to any school in
a provincial responsibility. In most provinces, the community as long as it is not full.
the government provides kindergarten through Teachers in all schools must be licensed. Most
Grade 12. Schooling is compulsory from the ages often, they have a university degree called a B. Ed.
of 6 or 7 to 14 or 18 (depending on your prov- (Bachelor of Education) and a teacher's certificate
ince). After that, children can legally drop out of which they get from the province after two years
school if they are considered to be adults in their of successful experience in an approved school.
province of residence. In many communities, Schools are described as elementary (or pri-
home schooling is also an option with a teacher mary) and high (or secondary) schools. Elementary
assigned to supervise and provide resources. schools are usually ~rom Grade 1 to Grade 6 or 8,
Most provinces have public schools, separate while high schools may be from Grade 7 or 9 to
schools, and private schools. Separate schools are Grade 12. Some provinces have junior high or
usually, but not always, Roman Catholic pnd are middle schools for Grades 7 to 9 and senior high
funded with public (tax) dollars. In communities schools for Grades 10 to 12. The system, how-
where Roman Catholics are in the majority, the ever, varies across the country. For example, in
public school board may be Roman Catholic and Quebec, students take six years of elementary
the separate school board Protestant. Property education followed by five years of secondary
owners are asked if they wish to support the pub - studies. Then students have the option of taking
lic or separate school board, and their tax money two years of pre-university studies or three years
then goes to the school board of their choice. The of technical studies at a CEGEP (college). Public
provincial government makes decisions about education from kindergarten to college is free for
teacher qualifications and curriculum, while local Quebec residents. How are schools organized in
school boards make decisions about the building your community?
of schools and how money is to be spent. The hours for schooling also vary greatly.
Private schools are generally not supported by Most schools are closed for two months in the
public money. Usually, parents have to pay to send summer (July and August) and have short breaks
their children to private schools. In some prov- at Christmas and in the spring, usually in March.
inces, public money is available to support private Older children generally have longer hours at
schooling, but parents usually still pay at least school than very young children. An average
 Arts and Education 53

school day for a high school student might be

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a one-hour lunch
break and a one-hour spare. Kindergarten chil-
dren often go for only half a day.
All of the older children and some of the
younger children are expected to do homework in
most schools. This might be reading, mathematics
(often called arithmetic in the younger grades), or
worksheets of some kind. Teachers expect parents
to make sure that their children do their home-
work. Parents are generally invited to the school
for parent-teacher interviews, home and school
nights, or other special events. Parents can also
make appointments to see teachers if they wish.
Students working in an elementar y class room
As for discipline in the schools, it is against the
law for teachers to hit students. Disobedient chil-
dren are normally punished by being given extra specialized education for their children might
assignments, detentions, or time outs. Children choose from the available alternative schools.
who are disruptive on a regular basis can be sus- There are schools with special programs in art,
pended or expelled from the school. theatre, ballet business, and community involve-
In some areas, schools or programs are avail- ment, for example. Correspondence schools are
able for children who want part of their educa- also available for children who live too far away to
tion in their heritage language. In Edmonton, for attend a regular school. Each province has its own
example, children can attend bilingual programs curriculum and materials for these students, who
in French, Ukrainian, German, Creel Mandarin, return their lessons by mail.
Spanish, and Arabic, in addition to English. In Extra-curricular programs are an important
Winnipeg, immigrant families can send their chil- part of schools, especially high schools. These
dren to after-school language programs located programs may include sports, drama, yearbook,
in their schools. In Vancouver, bilingual French school newspaper, debating, band or orchestra, or
programs are so popular that there is a lottery to any number of interesting and educational oppor-
decide who can get in. Other parents who want tunities of a voluntary nature.

.- ------------------------------~------------------~----------------------------------------------1

COMPREHENSION CHECK i

I
I • Who must go to school in Canada?
I
1
I
fj What choices do parents have about their children's schooling?

I
., If a child is five or six years old, is it necessary for the parents to send that child
I to school?
I
i
e Who can send their children to school for free?

I o What qualifications do public school teachers need to have?

What opportunities do parents have to talk to teachers?
I
i

"
t_____._________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________ _
VOCABULARY

universal available to all

compulsory required; without choice
qualifications the necessary training and experience for a job
curriculum the program of studies in a school
spare (n) a supervised or unsupervised period of time when a student can
choose what work to do at school
discipline a means of correcting unacceptable behaviour
disobedient not following the rules
detentions extra time a student is required to stay after normal school hours; a
form of punishment

disruptive creating disorder; preventing others from working

suspended " not allowed to attend school for a specified period of time (e.g.,
one week)
expelled not allowed to attend a particular school in future
alternative a different choice

correspondence having to do with mail or email, with writing back and forth

yearbook a book of individual photos of all students, pictures of school events,

and other memorabilia for any given year in high school

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in the blanks with one of the words from above.

o The boy's parents were very happy that their son had been rather than
_ _ _ _ _-J; at least he had a second chance to improve his behaviour.
l

f) A child who often starts fights may be described as at school.

., What _ _ _ _ _ _ are necessary to do your job in Canada?
e A good ESL must include opportunities for listening speaking, reading,
l

and writing.
o A driver's licence is _ _ _ _ _ _ for anyone who wants to drive a car in Canada.
e Basic health care is a right in Canada. No one should go without proper
treatment due to a lack of money.
G When you move to a new address, be sure to ask the post office to forward your
_ _ _ _ _ _ to the new location.
o are sometimes used by the schools to ensure that children follow the
rules of the school.
(such as early childhood education or mixology), than Canadian students. It is generally about
and general interest courses. three times the regular tuition.
Technical school: an institution which offers The primary function of all of these institutions
programs in the trades and technical areas (for is to prepare people for the workplace. However,
those pursuing careers as electricians, plumbers, they also have a continuing education function.
denturists, draftspersons, computer technicians, Many Canadians are believers in lifelong learn-
and so on). Technical schools also have appren- ing. They continue to take courses to learn and
ticeship programs. adapt to a quickly changing world. Many people,
What does it cost to go to one of these for example, return to school to update their skills
post-secondary schools? Tuition varies across to meet the changing demands of their jobs.
Canada, but in all cases is highly subsidized by
the government. For example, the program of Federally Funded Training
study for a university student might actually cost
between $12 000 and $20000 per year. Students Two areas where the federal government has taken
may pay tuition of about $3500 per year; the rest some responsibility for training are in employment
is paid for by the government. Students, how- and in English as an additional language (EAL).
ever, pay for their own books, supplies, and liv- School boards, universities, community colleges,
ing expenses. Sometimes parents pay for some and various non-governmental organizations offer
of their children's higher education, but often, EAL (often called English as a Second Language,
the students work during school vacations to or ESL). Most of these charge a fee. Citizenship
pay their expenses or take out a student loan. and Immigration Canada has a program called
The loans must be paid back after the students LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to
have graduated. Canada), which is for new immigrants to Canada.
The post-secondary school year is generally Citizens, visitors to Canada, and refugee claim-
eight months long, from September to the end ants are not eligible. LINC is free and is offered by
of April, and the year is usually divided into two many different schools. To apply, you must go to
semesters of four months each. Between April and an assessment centre and take a test. LINC pro-
September, most students try to get summer jobs grams teach only the beginning levels of English.
to save money for their winter courses. Students Some provinces prefer to design their own immi-
can also choose to take courses in the spring ses- grant language programs and do not offer LINe.
sion (May-June) or summer session (July-August). Immigrants can go to their local settlement agen-
For the many international students who cies to get information about the type of programs
come to Canada from other countries to study, they are eligible to take.
most institutions require a score of at least 80 Service Canada pays for many different job
on the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a training programs. These programs are available
Foreign Language). This test is held monthly in for people on Employment Insurance (El). You
all urban centres, and there are courses and books can check with your local Canada Employment
available to help students prepare for the TOEFL. Centre (CEC) !o find out what is available in
International students usually pay a higher tuition your community.
 Arts and Education 57

COMPREHENSION CHECK
I
! • If you wanted to become an apprentice carpenter, where would you take courses?
!
f) What can a student do if he or she wants to go to university, but has no money?
I
e If you were born in another country and learned English as a second language, what test
I must you pass before you can go to university in Canada? What score do you need?
i
I
i
e How long is the usual school year at a university?
I

I VOCABULARY
I

I apprenticeship a teaching-learning relationship between a master tradesperson

!
I
i and someone wanting to learn that trade

I tuition the money paid to take a course of studies

I subsidized partially funded or paid for
loan (n) money lent which must be repaid at some time in the future
semesters the periods of time over which a course or set of courses
I is completed
I
i
primary most important
I
charge 1. expect money in return for something
2. formally accuse someone of a crime

I
fee money paid for a service
I
I
refugee claimants people seeking refugee status
! eligible having the right qualifications or attributes to participate;
II
acceptable to participate in a program
i
settlement agency an organization that exists to help immigrants, often in their first
I
languages, get the kinds of support they need, especially in the
I early months of their settlement in Canada

I USING NEW WORDS

Fill in the blanks below with the best possible word from above .
I

I
!
i
!
• Gillian really wanted to take swimming lessons, but even after saving her babysitting
money she was still short $10, so her parents the fee for her lessons.
f) Most people have to get a when they buy their first new car.
e Juan was very frustrated because he could not get his papers as an electrician in
Canada until he could find an employer who would give him an _ _ _ _ __
I
II
I
e When young people in Canada decide to get married, their _ _ _ _ __
I! consideration in choosing a partner is usually love.
l_____________ ~~_P~_.___ ______._._________~___ _ _ ______ ____ ____ _____ _________________~
o High schools usually have two I fall and winter.
8 The to take one English course was $325.
8 They paid $120 for the hotel room , but the hotel did not for parking.
(;) are in a very difficult situation because they are not eligible for many
government services .
o The girl was not for the training program because she was not a citizen
or landed immigrant of Canada .
~ A volunteer from the came to the airport to meet the
new refugee family and take them to an apartment where they could stay for a couple
of weeks until they found their own apartment.
• Immigrants are often surprised to learn of the many licences they need to buy, each of
which requires a : fishing licence, driving licence, permit to do renovations in
your house, and so on.

An acronym is a word formed from the first letters of other words and used to stand
for those words. What do the following acronyms stand for?
ESL
LINe
CEC
EAL
El

(You can find the answers on page 250 at the back of the book.)

FOR DISCUSSION

» Many students who borrowed a lot of money to go to university have not been able to
find a good job when they finished. Some think they made a big mistake to borrow so
much money. What do you think?
» Compare our system of higher education to that of another country. What are some of
the differences?
» Do you know anyone who has taken a federal job training program? Did that person
get a job?
» What other services are available in your community to help p,eople who are
unemployed?
 Arts and Education 59

I---------MAK~N-G--CO-N-TA-CT-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

I » Find the names of some settlement agencies in your community and some of the I
programs they offer to immigrant adults or children. I
» Go online to look at the programs for one of the post-secondary institutions in your I
province. If you have questions that are not answered online, phone someone in the
appropriate department and ask your questions. II1

CHAPTER REVIEW

» By searching online o r asking Canadians, find out who these famous Canadians are and
what they are known for.
Karen Kain Bryan Adams Oscar Peterson
Graham Greene Nikki Yanofsky Tom Thomson

At which kind of post-secondary institution would you most likely study the following:
» to become a doctor?

» to become a welder?

» to become a massage therapist or professional dancer?

» to do the first two years of a B.A . program? I'

"__________________________________________________________________________________________J
 4
Chapter Four

Canadians
Enjoying Life:
Sports and
Recreation
Quick Facts
» Hockey is Canada/s favourite sport with
many children learning to play at a young
age . It originated in Canada .

» Skiing l skating l and curling are favourite

winter pastimes fo r many Canadians.

» The Stanley Cup is awarded to the best

hockey team in North Ame rica annuallYI
after a playoff se ries in the spring .

» The Grey Cup is awarded to the best

Canadian football team after a playoff series
in November.

» Lacrosse is Canada/s official summer sport;

it was first developed by the Algonquians l
an Aboriginal people.

» The inventor of basketball l James Naismith l

was a Canadian .

» The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and

Whistlerl BC not only showed Canadian
I

winter athletes at their finest but showed

Canadians at their patriotic best. We came
away with 26 medals in total 14 of which
l

were gold meda lsl Canada /s best yet in the

Winte r Olympics.

» There are only four statutory holidays

that are common to all Canadians: New
Yearls DaYI Canada DaYI Labour DaYI
and Christmas.
 Introduction

In English, we have an expression, All work and no enjoyed during summer and winter. Because dif-
play makes Jack a dull boy. Canadians take that to ferent provinces have different statutory (legal)
heart and enjoy their recreation time either par- holidays, a chart is provided that shows which
ticipating in a variety of sports and other inter- holidays people get off from work in the different
esting activities, or observing them with great provinces. The chapter closes with the highlights
enthusiasm. This chapter looks at popular sports, of the 2010 Winter Olympics, hosted in British
entertainment, festivals, and typical activities Columbia (BC).

Participant Sports
r ----- - - - ------ ----------------- --=-c=
- _-=::--::=----~

The kinds of sports enjoyed depend somewhat on i

where one lives and what season of the year it is.
In most parts of Canada, children learn to play
hockey or to figure skate. Cities have indoor and
outdoor skating areas for both hockey and figure
skating and they are well-used. Most towns of any
size have an arena which is used as an ice rink
in the winter and a place for agricultural displays
and 4-H events in the summer. Some parents in
rural areas either make a backyard ice rink for
their children to skate on or use nearby lakes and
ponds as skating rinks during our long winters. In
the cities, children line up to get onto the various
Downhill skiing
leagues for their age groups and ice time is at a
premium, with some teams having to play late in
the evening or on Sunday mornings. world-class ski resorts such as those at Whistler
Another popular winter sport is skiing, both in BC; in Banff, Alberta; and Mont Tremblant in
downhill and cross-country. Canada boasts some Quebec. Canadian downhill skiers have become
well-known internationally for their skill in com-
petition. A popular event for cross-country skiers
is the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival which
takes place in the countryside east of Edmonton
on the second Saturday of February. It is a family
event with varying distances, or, for the serious
cross-country skier, a 55 -kilometre competition
with full pack in often very cold weather.
Curling has been the adult winter sport for
rural Canadian adults and many urban Canadians
too, and the popularity of this sport increased
after our success in the 2010 Winter Olympics
held in Vancouver, BC, where the Canadian men's
curling team took the gold medal and Canadian
Cross-country skiing
women's curling team took the silver medal. The

f
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 63

rest of us were glued to our TV screens watching

a game which many of us had previously known
little or nothing about.
Basketball and volleyball are often played in
schools and occasionally for fun in gyms across
the land. The original rules of basketball were
typed out on two sheets of paper by inventor
James Naismith in 1891. A doctor and educator
from Ontario, Naismith had moved to Springfield,
Massachusetts, for a job and it was there that he
invented the game of basketball. His original doc-
uments were sold in 2010 at an auction in New
York for almost $4.5 million.
Summer participant sports include swim-
ming, soccer, golf, baseball, beach volleyball,
tennis, and badminton, among others. Cities
and towns across Canada have indoor and out-
door swimming pools where large numbers of
children take lessons in summer. Organizations
such as the YMCA and YWCA, and many large
urban high schools also have swimming pools
available for recreation and classes, as do univer-
sities and colleges.
While few Canadians played soccer 50 years
ago, most children now learn to play soccer at
G olf is a ver y popula r s p ort
school and it has become a popular team sport,
due in no small part to the growing number of
immigrants to Canada from countries where soc- very beautiful and much less expensive to play on
cer is the sport of choice. than courses in smaller countries where land is at
Golf is a very popular sport, especially among a premium. It is not unusual for tourists to come
business people. Canadian golf courses are often to Canada primarily to play golf on their vacation.
11

Spectator Sports

Professional Hockey goalie, two other defensive players, and three

--------~-------------- offensive players. The offensive players' job is to get
Canadians love cheering for their professional the puck into the opposing net while the defensive
sports teams, especially those in the NHL players' job is to keep the other team's puck out of
(National Hockey League) and CFL (Canadian the net. It is a fast, aggressive game and crowds
Football League). Canada is home to only seven fill the arenas shouting for their favourite teams.
of the NHL's 30 teams but the Stanley Cup play- Canadian teams include the Montreal Canadiens,
offs are one of the most-watched TV series in Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton
Canada each year. The NHL has both Canadian Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks.
and American teams. For those unfamiliar with In addition, Winnipeg has been granted the
hockey, it is a game played by two teams of six return of a home team to their city after losing the
members each on the ice at any given time: the Jets to the Americans. They are rejoicing! Players
such as Wayne Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Alexander
Ovechkin, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and
Jonathan Toews are role models for a lot of young
players who aspire, one day, to be good enough to
play in the NHL. Scouts are always on the lookout
for Canadian talent and many Canadians play on
American teams as well. Each player is assigned
a number which is on his jersey. The really good
players' numbers are "retired" and not reassigned
after the player retires. Virtually every Canadian-
born person knows that number 99 belongs to
"The Great One/' as Wayne Gretzky is still called.
Hockey is also an Olympic sport and Canada
selects its best players from the NHL teams to
play for Team Canada. While the Soviets were the
team to beat in previous years of men's hockey,
in recent years the competition has been fiercest
between the US and Canada. Canada also has a
champion women's hockey team that has won the
gold or silver medal at every Winter Olympics in
which they have competed. We are proud of our !
L____________
talented hockey players, both men and women.
Number 99 belongs to The Great One
Professional Football
Another popular spectator sport is professional the Calgary Stampeders, the Saskatchewan
football, played by teams in the CFL (Canadian Roughriders in Regina, the Winnipeg Blue
Football League). Canadian football is played a lit- Bombers, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Toronto
tle differently than American football so Canadian Argonauts, and the Montreal Alouettes. The play-
teams play with one another and not with the ing season culminates in the fall with the ever-
American teams. One difference is the size of the popular Grey Cup follow ing a series of playoffs.
playing field. The Canadian field is longer and The final Grey Cup game is held in a different
wider than the American field. In a Canadian Canadian city each year and is a big tourist attrac-
game, there are 12 players from each team on the tion, with people travelling from across the coun-
field at any given time, while an American team try to see the best of the best vying for the cup. The
has 11 players on the field. There are also many final game is normally played in late ovember
differences in the complex rules of play. on a Sunday afternoon but the festivities begin as
There are eight teams in the CFL. They are the early as Wednesday and it is seen as one big party
BC Lions in Vancouver, the Edmonton Eskimos, by the host city and all of its guests.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o What is the highest award professional hockey teams can win in Canada?
I & What is the highest award professional football teams can win in Canada?
t ., How many gold medals did Canadian athletes win in the 2010 Winter Olympics?
i
L___________________________________________ _
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 65

e What already-popular winter sport became even more popular as Canadians watched
their own teams play their way to one gold and one silver medal in the 2010 Winter
Olympics?
o Why do some foreign travellers come to Canada to play golf in the summer?
o Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby are well- known for their skills as _ _ _ _ _ __
players.
o How many professional football teams are there in the Canadian Football League
(CFL)?
(;) What nickname was given to Wayne Gretzky in recognition of his excellent skills as a
hockey player?

VOCABULARY

take (something) to heart take (something) very seriously, to recognize the importance
(of something)
highlights main points or events
playoff series a series of games that comes at the end of a season of play
and determines the winner or winners
at a premium hard to find because it is (or they are) popular
boast speak of with pride
glued to our TV sets feel compelled to keep watching something of great interest;
to watch with few interruptions
role models people who others can learn from and want to imitate
on the lookout (for) searching (for something)
culminate finish or be at the end of something
vying competing

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in the blanks with one of the words or expressions from above. (Note, in one of
the phrases, you have to change the possessive pronoun.)
• Parents need to be good _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ for their children.
@ Auniversitydegreeprogram _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _---'swithagraduation
ceremony and a celebration of some kind .
• The NHL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ happens in the spring, after a
winter of hockey games across Canada and the us.
e I am always for a comfortable, wide
pair of winter boots because I have trouble finding the right size .
o The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) sponsored a TV series in which well-
known Canadian figure skaters were matched together with hockey players in a
pairs skating competition . This program became very popular and many people were
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to watch these big strong men
learn the complexities of figure skating .

. ,..~ ~"''-:''f' - ~

~ ~ !L ~ ,;::t- .:
!~ ~~~-- - ---------- --~f ::and ::~er' s y~a~~ r~-~::sp::a~i~~ss: - -----1
i enjoys with her grandchildren. I
fj It is not good to too much or people will think you are !
arrogant. 1
i
• When the playoffs are on, tickets are and scalpers
I
sometimes sell their tickets at much higher prices than they paid for them. !
f) The parents told their children it was very important to _ _ _ their education I

G> When the Flames and the Leafs were both for the Stanley Cup in
I
the final playoffs, Calgarians and Torontonians alike watched the game with anxious !i
excitement. !
i
i
!
FOR DISCUSSION

» In Canada, hockey is the most popular team sport for spectators, so newcomers often
j find that they are lost in social discussions when they do not understand such terms as
!
"a shutout" or "a hat trick." What are some ways you can learn about the basic rules of
i
i
hockey and some of the terminology used to describe the game?
i
i » The Birkie or Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival can be very dangerous when the
i temperatures are well below zero degrees Celsius. Why do you think some men and
1 women would compete in a competition that is both difficult and dangerous? Can you
. think of other sports that people do in conditions that are dangerous? Do they do them
i for similar-reasons?

I » Hockey is an aggressive sport, and at times a violent one. Professional hockey players
: are often admired as role models by young children. Do you think this is a good thing or
I . a bad thing? Why?
1_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ J

Entertainment

Canadians feel very lucky to enjoy many forms summer, folk festivals, jazz festivals, fringe festi-
of cultural expression in our cities, and in the vals, and other special events keep us very busy
country as well. We enjoy world-class sympho- during the long, hot days of summer. The Big
nies, ballet companies, and opera companies Valley Jamboree, in central rural Alberta, is a huge
across the country. In addition, there are both gathering of country music fans who camp by
professional theatre troupes and amateur theatre night and cheer to big-name performers on stage
groups across Canada. In a country whose winter by day, for several days.
is regarded as far too long by many of us, we enjoy Different regions of the country have favou-
the opportunity to attend performances indoors rite forms of entertainment that are not widely
during the long winter months. In the summer, available to everyone. People in rural areas are
people in some cities enjoy special outdoor theatre often partial to country and western music and
or symphony presentations at local parks. entertainers in local bars provide this music to
Younger Canadians enjoy large concerts the public. Singers such as Gordon Lightfoot,
with performers from all over the world. In the Anne Murray, and Shania Twain are well-known
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 67

in the United States as well as Canada. The MacNeils' lively music is rooted in Celtic origins,
Atlantic provinces are well-known for the excel- but is also mindful of northern Atlantic history.
lent folk music which has developed there and And while comedy clubs may be found in all
for musicians such as fiddler Ashleigh MacIsaac, the major cities, Winnipeg is probably the best
singer Rita MacNeil, and folk group the Barra known for producing people skilled at the art of
MacNeils, all from Cape Breton Island. The Barra making people laugh.

Holidays

There are a number of statutory holidays in fathers and mothers with cards, gifts, or a night
Canada but these differ from one province to out. Valentine's Day is a day when we celebrate
another. As we can see below, only New Year's love and people give a gift, candy, or flowers
Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas to their loved one or take them out for dinner.
Day are federal statutory holidays in the whole Halloween is a time when many costumed chil-
country. dren go door-to-door to get gifts of candy from
Other special days are not official days off. the homeowners, while others enjoy dressing up
Mother's Day and Father's Day, in May and in costumes and going to a party at their school,
June, respectively, are days when we honour our local shopping centre, or friend's house.

New Year's Day January 1 ./

a./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
1~~'1·:.I:::1I~~I·I~III~l'.
./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Islander Day February 14 ./
Family Day Third Monday in February ./ ./ ./
Valentine's Day February 14 Not an official holiday
Three days before
Good Friday ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Easter Monday
Easter Monday Varies (March/April) ./
Mother's Day Second Sunday in May Not an official holiday
Victoria Day Monday before May 25 ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Father's Day Third Sunday in June Not an official holiday
Saint-Jean-Baptiste
June 24 ./
Day
Canada Day July 1 ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Civic Holiday First Monday in August ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Labour Day First Monday in September ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Thanksgiving Second Monday in October ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Halloween October 31 Not an official holiday
Remembrance Day November 11 ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Christmas Day December 25 ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./ ./
Boxing Day December 26 ./
 Not all special days are on the chart. Many Usually, there is a fee charged to use these parks
people celebrate St. Patrick's Day, especially if they for camping purposes or even to visit them during
have Irish origins, while others celebrate Robbie the day. You can buy a yearly pass that includes
Burns Day, particularly if they are from Scotland. unlimited use for all national parks, although
Many of Canada's first immigrants came from the cost for using the campgrounds within those
Scotland, England, and Ireland. The Lunar New parks is extra. Camping is a wonderful way to see
Year in early February is a popular celebration for the country at a low cost and a wonderful way to
the Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese people liv- meet a lot of nice people. But whatever you do, do
ing in Canada. Ukrainians and Coptic Christians not feed the bears or other wild animals. They may
celebrate their Christmas about two weeks after look cute but they are very dangerous! And never,
the rest of the country. And the growing Muslim ever get between a mother bear and her cub.
population celebrates Eid at the end of their 30-day If you do go camping, be sure to give your-
fast period, which is called Ramadan. As more and self time to do some stargazing. In the cities, we
more people from other cultures come to make seldom see many stars but out in the countryside
Canada their home, we are coming to see more or mountains, the stars are bright and beautiful
celebrations that were previously unknown to us. because there is no competition from city lights.
For those who prefer to travel in luxury, there
Summer Recreation are usually some nice hotels and motels in, or
close to, many of our parks. You can also stay in
In a country with long winters, as you can imag- one of the many youth hostels throughout the
ine, Canadians want to spend as much time as country, in both urban and rural areas. This is an
possible outdoors when the weather is good! And inexpensive way to travel all over the world and
many of us like to leave the cities and spend time many travellers also find it a good way to meet
in the great outdoors. Camping is a favourite sum- people from many different countries.
mer pastime for many. Some go in their trailers or Another popular activity in the summer is to
motorhomes, but most like to pack a tent, some spend time on Canada's many lakes and rivers in a
sleeping bags, and a camp stove and go to their canoe or kayak. Sometimes these boats are avail-
favourite park. Canada has wonderful national able for rent at popular lakes, but many people
parks and there are also many provincial parks. prefer to buy their own and travel wherever they
want. Many people like to go for fishing weekends
in the mountains or at one of the many lakes across
the country. Summer is also a good time to ride a
bicycle. City dwellers often enjoy an evening bike
ride after dinner while others go for a long walk.
We all enjoy our long summer evenings where the
sun doesn't set until as late as 10 p.m .
Summer is the best time to enjoy our many
large city parks. Because many of our cities have
been built along river valleys, there are some
beautiful urban parks at which one can hike,
picnic, or paddleboat. Many of the lakes in these
parks become big skating rinks in the winter
and are available for good cross-country skiing,
tobogganing, or snowshoeing.
Possibly the most popular summer activity for
the majority of Canadians is barbecuing! Whether
you have a barbecue at home in your backyard
Camping in Banff, Alberta
or prefer to barbecue in a park over a wood fire,
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 69

fresh vegetables, local meats, organic eggs, honey,

homemade bread, and a multitude of other things
including arts and crafts. They are also friendly,
fun places to be!
If it's a rainy day in summer, you can always
go bowling, roller-skating, or to a museum or art
gallery. There is no shortage of things to do in the
city. And don't forget the small-town rodeos and
annual exhibitions with rides for the children and
agricultural contests for mom and dad.
Last, but not least, people in many cities enjoy
some sort of multicultural festival in the summer.
Kayakers can get a g reat view of killer whales
Edmonton hosts the three-day Heritage Festival
at Hawrelak Park and typically has as many as
nothing makes meat taste better than grilling it 250 000 visitors at more than 60 pavilions where
in the fresh air. Many people cook most of their one can see ethnic dancing, enjoy ethnic foods,
meat and vegetables on home barbecues in sum- and buy small cultural artifacts from all over the
mer and, if the mosquitoes are under control, also world. Winnipeg's Folklorama festival is spread
eat with friends outside in the warm evening air. out over the city and you can visit each commu-
If you happen to live along one of our coast- nity's pavilion in its own location. Toronto boasts
lines, you have special treats in-store for you in a large annual Caribbean festival and everyone
the summer. From Vancouver, for example, you enjoys a colourful parade and several days of
can take a ferry over to the Gulf Islands to spend wonderful steel-drum music and dancing. First
time exploring the area, and there are also many Nations communities across Canada host pow-
islands on the Atlantic coast. On either coast, you wows where people from various Nations perform
can go whale-watching on a large boat for the day Aboriginal dances and celebrate their history and
or rent a kayak and possibly visit with the whales culture together, and visitors are always welcome.
or dolphins up-close and personal. But be careful Be sure to try some bannock baked over a camp-
of the waves from other boats! fire-it 's delicious!
Hiking and mountain climbing are popular
sports for many people. Just remember to sign in
and sign out before and after you go on any hike
[----------------------1
overnight in the national parks. That way, if you run i i
into problems, someone knows where to look for !! i
I

you. And be sure to read the fire-hazard signs. If a

sign says "No fires," this is because in dry weather,
it only takes one spark to start a huge forest fire . I !

! I
For many Canadians, flower and vegeta-
ble gardening is a favourite summer activity.
Apartment dwellers can often rent small plots in Ii I
I
neighbourhood gardens, both public and private, f j

or they can grow some things in pots on their bal- J I

conies or sundecks. Serious gardeners sometimes ! i
rent a large gardening space on a nearby farm so
that they have produce to freeze or store for winter
and give their friends any surplus. People in cities
i __ _____.._ . . . . . . .____ . . .____ . . . 1

who don't garden themselves love to go to farm- Da ncers at the Edmonton Heritage Festival
ers' markets. These are places where you can buy
, - - - - - -.- -
' ,- - - - - -- -- - -- - - - --------~ - - - --- - - - - -- ~\-~~~~;

--"*'
70 . Chapter 4 ~_~;.
,.'";1 ~:', 0["- _ _ :.~;-=-~~

.~

COMPREHENSION CHECK

• What is the difference between an amateur theatre group and a profess ional
theatre troupe?
8 What kind of music do people listen to at the Big Valley Jamboree in rural A lb erta
during the summer?
., What are the four statutory holidays that are common to all Canadian provin ces?
e When do children wear costumes and knock at the doors of neighbours, asking
for candy?
CB What is the name of the celebration that ends the period of Ramada n for Muslim s?
o What summer activity gives people the opportunity to experience fres h air and
exercise, stargaze, sleep in a tent, and eat their food cooked over a ca mpfire?
f) If you wanted to rent a kayak and go whale-watching, where would you g o in Ca nada?
G During the summer, where could you go to buy fresh produce, eggs, and lo ca lly
produced meats from the farmers who produced them?

VOCABULARY

fringe festival a festival of new, unpublished, and often experime nta l p lays
powwow a First Nations celebration of dancing, d rumm in g , and sing ing
usually held on reserves during the summer
heritage our history as a people, nation, or race
up-close and personal the opposite of from a distance
Labour Day the first Monday in September, which is a day off for most
workers in celebration of the work they do for t he cou ntry
Thanksgiving a celebration started in the late 16th century to ce lebrate an
explorer's homecoming, and later to celebrate the harvest
season. It is a time now when families gather and usually eat
turkey and other special foods.
Good Friday a special day for Christians to remember the cr ucifixion of Jesus
I
I USING NEW WORDS
I
I Fill in the blanks with the words from above:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ weekend is usually a time for fam ilies to g ath er and
I 0 enjoy good food and one another.
i 8 When the Korean students came to Canada in the summer, their teache r too k th em to
i a big at the Morley Reserve and the Abo rigin al d ance rs
! invited them to come up on stage and dance with them.
!
i ., We all want to be proud of our _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and share it
I with' others.
I
L_. ___. _ __.._____. ____. __ .. _._. __._.__.._ ._._...._._ .........._._..___..._..______ _ ________.
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 71

[------~------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- ----------1

i i
i e The first festival happened in Edinburgh, Scotland, and actors from I
I all over the world still love to go there and tryout their new plays. I
i 43 marks the death of Jesus, while Easter i
I marks his resurrection. I
, 0 While we love to read about our heroes and heroines, it is always more fun to meet !
them !
I
8 is on the first Monday in September. i

I
FOR DISCUSSION I
» You will notice that Quebec is the only province that has a statutory holiday for Saint- I

Jean-Baptiste Day. While they call it a national holiday, no other province celebrates this 1
,1

1
day. Why do they call it a "national" holiday?
1
» In the winter, Canadians enjoy the outdoors when they toboggan, ski, skate, or I
snowshoe. Do you think you would enjoy any of these activities? Why or why not? !

» There is a strong influence of Celtic music in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in '
particular. Why do you think that is? (If you are not sure, look up information on early ,1,1

immigration to those provinces and see where the early settlers came from.)
!
» In Canada, weather has a big influence on the activities people choose to do at different I
times of the year. What other factors influence the kinds of activities people enjoy in !
, their free time? I
L __~____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________J

The 2010 Winter Olympics

in Vancouver and Whistler, BC
When the people of Vancouver heard that the way by crowds lining the roadways. They also lis-
Olympics were going to be held in their city, there tened to Nikki Yanofsky, the young singer from
was as much grumbling as there was joy, because Quebec who enchanted the country with the
they knew that taxpayers pay higher taxes for words of "I Believe."
many years after such an expensive undertaking. Canadians who could not attend the Olympics
However, when the big day arrived, that grum- in person were glued to their TV sets for 17 won-
bling was nowhere to be heard. Both Vancouver derful days. In their homes and in local bars and
and the whole country were caught up in the stores, people watched the world's best athletes
excitement of hosting the world in a beautiful city, compete for medals, and they watched the joy and
the only area in Canada that is unlikely to be cov- enthusiasm of everyone who was in attendance at
ered in snow in February. the Olympics.
Canadians watched the Olympic Torch relay We were enormously proud of our athletes
before the games began, as torchbearers ran for their skill, courage, and positive attitude. We
across the country, cheered on every step of the watched the opening and closing ceremonies

" ~ '-:-~~ . ~ -
=~~~f::~~~~~~~ ~,.
 Top Three Countries
in Medal Wins
Medals Gold Silver Bronze
US 37 9 15 13
Germany 30 10 13 7
Canada 26 14 7 5

Sad and Courageous Moments

• The death of Georgian luge athlete Nodar
Kumaritashvili on a training run at Whistler
before the games began
• The fall and consequent injuries of Slovenian
cross-country skier Petra Majdic and her
The Olympic torch burns in Vancouver determination to do her race in spite of seri-
ous injuries during the training run (She was
hospitalized for some time afterwards.)
with tears of pride. We held our · breath when • Joannie Rochette's bronze-medal-winning
the weather at Cypress Mountain threatened the short program performance, two days after
downhill skiing events planned there. We gritted the death of her mother
our teeth as British journalists complained about
nearly everything at the beginning of the games, Proud Moments for Canada
and we silently cheered all the hard-working vol-
unteers who worked night and day to combat cold • The first gold-medal win of the 2010 Olympics,
and rain and get everything running smoothly. by Quebecois skier Alex Bilodeau
Every time we heard "0 Canada" sung as a gold • The first gold-medal win ever by Canada in ice
medal was awarded to Canada, we sang along dancing, by Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
with joy in our hearts. We looked on as Joannie
Rochette made the decision to skate her short pro-
gram only two days after the death of her mother,
her biggest fan. Through her tears, she won a
bronze medal and the admiration of everyone
who watched her skate, no matter what country
they came from.

Quick Facts about the Vancouver

2010 Winter Olympics

• 17 days of Olympic events

• 2566 athletes from 82 countries participated
• 10 000 media representatives were there to
Kevin Martin's curling team shows off their
record events Olympic gold medals.
• 3 billion people watched on TV
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 73

• The gold-medal win by Canada's men's curl- • The gold-medal win for Jon Montgomery for
ing team, skipped by Kevin Martin skeleton (His exuberance won the hearts of
• The silver-medal win in women's curling, many watchers.)
skipped by Cheryl Bernard • Sidney Crosby's overtime goal, which won the
• The gold-medal win in women's hockey, our Canadian men's hockey team a gold medal
third in a row at the Olympics and a 3-2 win over the US

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o ll
Who sang the theme song III Believe for the 2010 Olympics?
& Why did some of the people of Vancouver protest hosting the Olympics before the
games began?
• During the Olympic Games, how did most Canadians feel, and why?
e How did Joannie Rochette gain the respect of all Canadians?
o How many people are believed to have watched the Olympics on TV?
" What kind of game do you think the Canadians had against the Americans in the gold-
medal men's hockey game? Was it one-sided or very close? How do you know?

VOCABULARY

grumbling complaining
get caught up in become part of something
(something)
enchanted delighted or fascinated by something
grit (one's) teeth an expression of determination to do something one doesn't want
to do but thinks one should
fan a person who greatly admires the achievements of another
media television, radio, newspaper, or other communications
luge a small sled that runs a snow-covered track
exuberance expression of extreme joy and excitement
overtime to play beyond the time limits of a game, until there is a clear winner
(curling) rock a very large rounded granite stone with a handle on top, used in the
game of curling
puck a small black rubber disc that is dropped on the ice in a hockey game;
the goal is to get this puck into your opponent's net
as often possible in a game
skipped led a curling team (as its captain)
USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the Vocabulary section.
o In curling, while one person is throwing his or her towards the
house, two other people are often sweeping the ice with their brooms .
fJ Many athletes showed great when they
realized they had won a gold medal for their country.
6) There were representatives from all over the world
recording the events at the Olympics . They were assisted by many volunteers from
Vancouver who interviewed the athletes and gave their material to the journalists
afterwards.
e Nodar Kumaritashvili died while on a training run on his _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
before the competition began . This was a sad and tragic accident for the people of
Georgia and for all the athletes preparing to compete in the games.
o Sometimes when children do not like to eat a particular food that is good for them,
their parents tell them to their and eat it anyway.
o It would have been difficult not to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
all the patriotism that was being expressed with such pride and joy by the Canadians
present at these games.
o I have always been by the beauty of figure skating, and
nowhere is that more true than in the Olympics.
«) Sidney Crosby is the captain and centre of his team, so it is his job to hit the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (before the opposing centre can) when the referee drops it
onto the ice at the beginning of the game.
(=) Justin Bi~ber is a young Canadian singer who has a lot of young female
_ _ _ _ _ _ _s.
~ The Olympics is a time to celebrate the hard work and excellence of athletes from all
countries and there is rarely any heard, even when
people are disappointed in their results .

FOR DISCUSSION

» In some countries, athletes are given a lot of financial support from their governments
so that they can train and compete in events such as the Olympics. In other countries,
they only get support after they win major events and, even then, the support they get
is nowhere near what is needed to cover the costs of such preparation and competion.
How much support do you think world-class athletes should get and at what point in
their careers?
 Canadians Enjoying Life: Sports and Recreation 75

1-- - -- -- - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I
i :
I i
! » It is extremely expensive to host the Olympic Games. If you were a taxpayer in a I
I community whose leaders wanted to host the Olympics, how would you decide whether !

I to support or not support such a project? I

i I

i » There is an expression in the introduction to this chapter: All work and no play makes I
! Jack a dull boy. How would you express this line in plain English? Can you think of I
i expressions in other languages that are used to teach children the value of work or play? i
iI » Before the 2010 Olympics, many people from other countries did not see Canadians as
i
i
: patriotic because we were very quiet about our feelings about our country. During the ,I",:

2010 Olympics, however, the whole country was excited and proud of our athletes, our
i country, and our people. Think about another country you know well. How do people I
I there express their patriotism, or their love of their country? I
I I
j
CHAPTER REVI EW
ii
!
~
Match each item on the left with the item on the right that best fits. i
I
1. football a) a game played originally by the Algonquians i
2. hockey b) cross-country ski competition I
3. lacrosse c) a popular winter game played with a large "rock" i
!
4. golf d) sport that is played with clubs and small balls
5. basketball e) sport whose athletes compete for the Stanley Cup I
i
6. 14 gold medals f) paddle
I
7. Big Valley Jamboree g) a holiday for workers t

i:
8. powwow h) sport invented by James Naismith, a Canadian i

9. farmers' markets i) sport whose athletes compete for the Grey Cup
!
ii
:
10. Valentine's Day j) a place to buy fresh, local produce
11. Labour Day k) a day for lovers I
I
12. fringe festival I) a gathering of country and western-music lovers
13. Shania Twain m) what Canada won at the 2010 Olympics
14. canoe n) Aboriginal dancing and drumming celebration
15. curling 0) artist who sold 39 million copies of Come on Over
16. Birkebeiner p) a showcase of new theatre work
I
I
L____________________________________________________________._____________________________________________________________J
 l 5
Chapter Five

ThE! Mosaic
of <:anada
Quick Facts
» Them are well over one million
people in Canada who claim
Aboriginal ancestry.

» The word Canada comes from

the Iroquois word kanata which
means villages.

» Approximately 22 percent of
Canadians speak French as a first
language while 59 percent speak
English as a first language.

» Toronto is one of the largest

centres of Italian-speaking people
in thE2 world.

» Canada is a multicultural, multiracial

country with people from all over
the world.

» Some religions are on the decline

in Canada as our society becol'T!es
increasingly secular; however many
t

non-Christian religions are gaining

more of a presence in the country.

» The diversity of Canada is both a

strength and a great challenge as
we seek to maintain harmony and
identify our common values.
 Cultures of Canada
r-----------------·----------------------------·-------.- ----------- ------ ---.------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- - - - ----1
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The New Canadian Centre Peterborough's float in the Canada Day Parade 20 10

Unlike many countries, Canada does not have one 1996 and 2006 as compared to 8 percent for the
culture. When someone asks, "What do Canadians non-Aboriginal population. They speak many dif-
do when ... ?" most often the answer is, "Welt it ferent languages, but also speak English or French,
depends . .." Because Canadians find their origins except for a few (generally older people) who live
in so many different countries around the world, far from the cities.
there are many accepted ways of doing things. Approximately one-fifth of Canada's popula-
Some people eat meat; others are vegetarians. tion does not speak English or French as a first
Some women wear western clothing; others wear language.
saris or other ethnic dress. Some Islamic women
cover their heads, while most women do not. Some Immigration to Canada
people play mahjong, while others play bingo.
Who are the people of Canada? Welt you Prior to the early twenty-first century, the largest
saw in Chapter 1 that the first people of Canada group of immigrants to Canada had come from the
were the First Nations and Inuit. Just over one United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern
million Canadians have Aboriginal origins. The Ireland, and Wales). In 1991, more than 15 percent
Aboriginal population grew by 45 percent between of immigrants to Canada said the UK was their
 The Mosaic of Canada 79

country of birth. The second-largest group at that Most Canadians appreciate the multicultural,
time was the Italians (8.5 percent of immigrants), multiracial character of the country. Most large
followed by the Chinese (7 percent of immigrants Canadian cities have a multicultural festival of
were from China or Hong Kong). Now, however, some sort during the year. Edmonton's Heritage
this has all changed. Annually, nearly 15 percent Festival, for example, draws up to 400 000 people
of immigrants come from China or Hong Kong over a three-day period in August.
and only 2.3 percent come from the UK. China and In the graph below, you can see that Canada's
Hong Kong now top the list of source countries fol- immigration has not been steady through the
lowed by India (11.6 percent of new immigrants), years. People have come in waves with low immi-
the Philippines (7 percent), and Pakistan (5.2 per- gration levels during the world wars and high lev-
cent). Next is the United States, with 3.5 percent of els immediately after the wars and according to
new immigrants coming from our neighbour to the other world events.
south each year. South Korea, Iran, and Romania Typically, we have had several different
each make up roughly 3 percent of our annual types of immigrants. In 1978, the Canadian
immigration total. Our diversity grows. Immigration Act recognized the need for what
Does it surprise you that so many people (cur- we today loosely call economic immigrants: those
rently totalling more than one quarter of a mil- who gain entrance because of the economic con-
lion) chose to leave the US to come to Canada? tribution they can make to the country. The act
Some chose to leave during the Vietnam War in also recognized refugees, people to whom Canada
the late 1960s and early 1970s. (They were called offers safety from situations where their lives are
draft dodgers at the time.) Others like the lifestyle in danger. Refugees are most often fleeing either
in Canada. Safer cities, less pollution, less racism, war or governments which severely persecute cit-
and better social programs are some character- izens who do not agree with their views.
istics of Canadian society that American immi- The Immigration Act in fact defined three
grants sometimes mention as reasons for coming classes: family class (wives, husbands, chil-
to Canada. dren under 22, and parents or grandparents of

450000

400000

350000

300000

250000

200000

150000

100000

50000

o
1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Immigration levels in Canada over the last 150 yea r s

immigrants already here and able to sponsor their Then, in 1968, Czechs came when Soviet tanks
relatives); independent class (entrepreneurs and moved into their capital city. In 1972 and 1973,
those who gain entry on the point system which many Ugandans immigrated when ethnic per-
varies according to the labour-market needs in secution in their country made life difficult, if
the country); and refugee class. not impossible. Between 1973 and 1979, people
Immigration policy is always changing. In the arrived from Chile and other Latin American
1990s, eligibility narrowed to include only close countries, where many were facing torture and
relations such as spouses and dependent children death because of the political situation.
under the family classification. There is also a From 1979 to 1980, Canadians opened their
trend toward allowing more immigrants who have hearts to the Vietnamese boat people and to
money to invest. Those who are allowed in because those escaping the horrors of the Khmer Rouge in
of their skills can be required to live in parts of the Cambodia. Other refugee groups have included
country where their skills are needed. Before, they Poles, Lebanese, Iranians, El Salvadorans,
could choose where they wanted to settle. There is Guatemalans, Sri Lankans, Ethiopians, Somalis,
a processing fee of $550 per adult with each per- and Bosnians and others fleeing the terrible war
manent resident visa application, as well as a fee of in what used to be Yugoslavia.
$490 for the Right of Permanent Residence (except- In the twenty-first century, several large-
ing refugees and children, who do not pay this fee). scale conflicts have led many refugees to seek
out Canada as their new home. Wars in Iraq and
Refugees Afghanistan prompted thousands of refugees
from each country to come to Canada. In addi-
Canada has a tradition of welcoming refugees tion' Canada has welcomed a large number of
from all over the world. In the 1880s, many people Burmese refugees who had fled from their gov-
fled from famine. They included potato farmers ernment's army and were living in Thai refugee
from Ireland and farmers from Ukraine. They camps for years or, in some cases, decades.
were not called refugees in those days, but they It is important for us to recognize both the
were nonetheless fleeing for their lives. In 1956 difficulties refugees experience making the tran-
Hungarians arrived in large numbers, after the sition to a new and different country, and the con-
Hungarian Uprising was crushed by the Soviets. tribution they make to our society.

Canadian Voices

Below is a story written by Vu Nhat Nam, who says, "I am a boat person. I came to Canada on
March 9th, 1990. I am working now so I can study English on Saturdays only now."

Because I was born and grew up in a hot country> I had never seen snow before except
in movies. But I saw it in the winter of 1990. It was also my first winter in Canada. It was
said that the winter of 1990 was the coldest winter in 10 years in British Columbia.
Since I still didn>t get used to cold weather, I stayed in my room to see the snow
falling. How beautiful it was! The snowflakes were falling down lightly. After about three
hours> everything outside was covered with snow. The view looked like a perfect picture
of nature.
 The Mosaic of Canada 81

COMPREHENSION CHECK

• Who were the first people of Canada?

• What is the first language of 59 percent of Canadians?
ll
• From what country did the IIboat people come?
e In what ways did the family class in Canada's immigration policy change in the 1990s?

VOCABULARY

mosaic a picture or pattern created by many variously coloured pieces; a

diversified thing
racism treating people differently-usually worse-because of their race
or colour
pollution the introduction into the environment of substances which are harmful
to it; dirtying the environment (for example, air pollution or water
pollution)
persecute treat an individual or group unfairly and harshly
entrepreneurs people who set up and manage their own businesses to earn their
livings (make money)
trend a general direction of events, opinions, or fashion
famine starvation of a large number of people in a geographic area; a lack
of food in an area
transition a change from one way of being to another

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.

• It is not acceptable in Canada to people for their religious beliefs.
• The from a tropical country to one with freezing cold winters is a very
difficult one for many people.
• To believe that one group of people will do a job less well than another because they
are a different colour is an example of _ _ _ _ __
e take risks .
et People who suffer from asthma or other breathing problems are not comfortable in
cities which have a lot of air _ _ _ _ _ _.
o Many Irish people came to Canada when the potato crop failed in the late 1800s and
there was a major in Ireland.
o Most Canadians believe that Canada is not a melting pot in which people
from different cultures become like one another; rather, they see Canada as a
_ _ _ _ _ _ in which each small piece can keep its identity within the whole.
G There is a _ _ _ _ _ _ toward greater concern for the environment in the twenty-
first century.
j--Ac:rIVlrv-----········. - - . . . - ...--------- .. ...· ·-- - -1
I Newcomers may find it interesting to learn that there are some myths about '
I immigration in Canada. Myths, in this sense, are strongly held beliefs which are not i
I based in fact. See if you can connect each myth on the left below with the statement I
1 that refutes (disagrees with) it on the right. I
1 1
1 • When our economy is a) Immigrants who cannot speak English or French often !
I weak, immigrants take take very low-paying jobs such as cleaning or factory I
valuable resources away work and study language at night. Many make a great ,I ,

from Canadians . We effort, and sacrifice time with their families to fit in to
!
should cut the number of Canadian society and do well here. i
i
immigrants we allow into b) Criminals come from all classes of society. In fact,
i

Canada until our economy !

immigrants are under-represented in Canada's prison I
I
is healthy once again. population according to the report "Canada's Changing !:
f) Immigrants are too often Immigrant Population 1994." Recently, immigration rules !i
on welfare when they do have tightened up to make it more difficult for criminals I
not need to be. to enter the country with false papers. I
!
• Fifty percent of immigrants c) According to a study by the Economic Council of !
i
do not speak English when Canada, immigration produces a net benefit to the !
they arrive and therefore country. More people create the need for more
I
can't find work. services and therefore for more jobs. Our future
e Canada's immigration depends on immigration to replace retiring workers I
system lets in too many and to make up for a declining birth rate. I
criminals who commit d) An Economic Council of Canada study shows that
violent crimes here and immigrants are clearly less likely than native-born
I
I
!
endanger our citizens. Canadians to be on welfare. I
I

I
i
FOR DISCUSSION j

I
» What do you think is most difficult for newcomers to Canada? What has been the most i

difficult for you? 11

L________________.___________________________________________________________________________________________________,_____________________________________________-=-____1

A Story of Cross-Cultural Confusion

In Canadian Voices on page 80, we saw how differences experienced by newcomers and those
simple everyday things like snow can require who get to know them. The following story comes
some adaptation on the part of new Canadians. from an ESL teacher.
More difficult, perhaps, are some of the cultural

Three of my Vietnamese-Chinese students had When I entered the apartment, there were
invited me for dinner one Saturday evening. I a lot of people, old and young, male and
was looking forward to going. I put on a nice female . Everyone was speaking Chinese so
dress, bought some nice flowers for the hostess I did not understand what they were saying.
and arrived promptly at six o'clock as invited. One thing worried me, however; the men were
When I got out of my car, the three students in wearing their undershirts-white sleeveless
my class came running across the grass of the cotton shirts. Some wore them with trousers
apartment building eager to greet me. but two men just had on their boxer shorts. I
 The Mosaic of Canada 83

felt very strange and wondered if those two the weekend. I felt quite silly, but I had a good
men were sick and had just gotten out of bed time because everyone was very friendly to
to get some food . me. I was especially impressed that everyone
I asked one of the students if the men were took care of a baby with Down's syndrome. The
sick. She looked very surprised and said, "No, mother was busy cooking but she did not have
why?" I told her my fear and she laughed and to worry because everyone took turns with this
said that they were just relaxing because it was child, even though he was crying a lot.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Why did the visiting teacher feel uncomfortable?

8 What were the men wearing? Why?
e Who looked after the baby?

VOCABULARY

adaptation a change to fit in better or make more suitable for a purpose;

an adjustment
hostess a woman who receives or entertains guests
promptly right on time

USING NEW WORDS

Write a sentence using each of the words above.

FOR DISCUSSION

» Have you ever felt embarrassed because you misinterpreted something in another culture?
» What do men in your culture wear to relax at home? What do women wear?
» Whose responsibility are the small children when a group is together in your culture?

ACTIVITY

We make everyday decisions based on our cultural values and beliefs. Answer the
following questions and then discuss them with people from other countries to see
what their answers are. You may be surprised. Try to ask one or two people born in
Canada and compare their answers to your own.
• You have been invited to a Canadian home for dinner. When you asked what time, your
host said, "6:30 p.m." What time is it okay to arrive? What time is it okay to leave? If we
tell you that your host was born in Chile or Ethiopia, will that change your answer? Why
or why not? Would you take anything with you to the dinner? If so, what?
8 You are in the store shopping and you meet an old dear friend you have not seen for
a long time. You are very happy to see her. How do you greet her? Do you say hello,
shake hands, hug her, kiss her on one cheek, kiss her on two cheeks, kiss her three
times, or something else? If you kiss her, which cheek do you kiss first? If you are a man,
is your answer different than if you are a woman? If your friend is from your country, is
your answerdifferent than if she is from Canada?
r----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------1
i
, !I
i • You are going to the wedding of someone you work with. What do you take for a i
I wedding gift? Do you give money or buy a gift? Are there some gifts that would be i

I considered inappropriate for a wedding? I

I e You are going to the home of someone whose husband died two days ago. You want to I
i take her some flowers and maybe something else. What else would you take? Does it !
i matter what kind of flowers or what colour they are? Does it matter if the woman is born i
! in Canada or if she comes from an Asian country? What colour of clothing would you !
! wear to the funeral, or does it matter? !
I 43 You have been invited to your boss's house for dinner. Your boss said, "Would you and
I your husband like to come for dinner this Saturday evening?" You agreed to go. Do you
I1
take your two children with you or leave them with a babysitter?
i
L-______________________ _ _ __________________________________________________________________________1

Celebrating Diversity
You may wonder how Canadians feel about hav- do not like it and think that everyone should
ing many different cultures in the country. Most become the same as English Canadians when
feel lucky and find it interesting. Some people they move here.

Canadian Voices
1------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
i I
I Here is what an Edmonton journalist had to say on Canada Day, July 1st, 1995: I

The true meaning of being Canadian) surely) is to embrace and celebrate diversity.
People who come to that insight always find reward. Don)t take my word for it. Ask Pansy
Strange) who celebrated her 90th birthday a few days before Canada turned 128. For the I
past 30 years) Pansy and her husband George) 92) have offered not just a second home
but a new family to dozens of Canadians who first arrived here from India.
When I asked permission to write about her:, she hesitated-she does not wish it to
seem as though she is seeking to draw attention to herself.
('I've had 51 for Christmas dinner,)) she told me at a recent gathering which
included some of her ({children)) and ({grandchildren.)) The love within that family does
not need to be demonstrated. It is evident in every gesture) in the small acts of kindness
people do for those they care about. Pansy and George made the act of becoming
Canadian all that much easier for those they adopted) and Pansy says their lives have

_J
been filled with a richness in return.
I cannot think of a more affirming symbol of what Canada ought to mean.
 The Mosaic of Canada 85

COMPREHENSION CHECK

• How old is Pansy Strange?

f) How old was Canada in 1995?
f) From what country did Pansy and George's adopted family come?

VOCABULARY

embrace (v) hug or come close to; to accept willingly or gladly

celebrate be very happy about
insight a view which goes beneath the surface; a deeper understanding of
something
reward something of value given in return for a deed or service
turn (an age) become an age (for example, "She turned 21 (years old) last week")
permission someone's "okay" to do something
hesitated paused for a short time before acting
demonstrated shown or showed
gesture body language; a body movement which has meaning
affirming supporting of what one says or thinks; in agreement with
symbol something that represents an idea or quality
ought to should

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.

• Children normally need their parents' to visit their friends' homes and to .
stay out later than usual.
8 It feels very to have support for a cause you believe in .
f) You _ _ _ _ _ _ call someone if you are going to be more than 15 minutes late for a
dinner invitation.
e Usually, having a good friend is the for being a good friend.
o Getting to know people from many different cultures can sometimes give us
_ _ _ _ _ _ into our own culture.
" Many Canadians do not ~_ _ _ _ _ one another when they meet unless they are
lovers or very good friends.
f) Holding up the third finger with the outside of the hand facing toward someone
is considered a very rude and usually expresses both anger and
disrespect.
(3 Many people _ _ _ _ _ _ their birthdays with a party, especially when they
_ _ _ _ _ _ a significant age such as 16,18, or 65.
o A flag is a _ _ _ _ _ _ of a country.
----------------------------------- - - - -------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,

Cl> The woman so that she could think for a moment before explaining her I
concerns . !
4D With a hug, the child his affection for his father. l
!I
i
FOR DISCUSSION

» What gesture means "go away!" in Canada? Is that gesture considered rude o r
acceptable?
» What gesture means "come'l in your culture? Is it the same or different fro m t hose use d
by most Canadians?
» What is a friendly gesture that people of most cultures know? What gestures a re
considered rude?
L____________________________________ _

Aboriginal Peoples of Canada

r--------------------------- - - - - -- - -------------------j
More than one million people in the most recent
I I
census declared Aboriginal origins. Most of these
II Ij said they were First Nations (sometimes called
! i
I i
North American Indian), but 30 percent are Metis
and 3 percent are Inuit.
i
I,
I! You will hear many different words to describe
I

people of Aboriginal origins. Years ago, people

II I
I
talked about Indians and Eskimos, but toda these
I i
words are considered inappropriate and most
people no longer use them. The term Indian was
I I
originally used to describe Aboriginals because
i i
i i the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus
II II
i I
thought he had sailed to India and, b mistake,
i I called the first people he saw Indians. That term
II II persisted for many years . owadays, we usu-
I1 !1 ally refer to people of indigenous origins gener-
I ! ally as Aboriginals . First ations people living
I i
I I in the northern boreal forest and Arctic regions
I
,
I
I
refer to themselves as Dene people and speak
i I
Athapaskan languages.
II i
I
There are also legal terms to describe the sta-
II i
I
:
I
tus of Aboriginal people. The term Status Indian
I '
applies to an Aboriginal who is registered with
iI II
I I the federal department of Aboriginal Affairs and
i
~ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________.Ji Northern Development Canada under the Indian
Act. A Status Indian in Canada is entitled to free
A p owwow celebrating Aboriginal herit age medical care, education, and training. Those
 The Mosaic of Canada 87

whose ancestors signed treaties with the Canadian do not enjoy the same rights and privileges that
government also receive a small amount of money Status Indians do.
each year from the government of Canada (treaty The Inuit are the founding people of northern
money). All Status Indians have the right to live Canada, those who used to be called Eskimos.
on special lands set aside for Aboriginals. These Inuit means people in their language. They prefer
lands are called reserves and are found in vari- this term over Eskimo, which means meat eater
0us regions across the country. Reserve lands are in the Algonquian language. The lives of the
owned by the bands which occupy them. Inuit, like those of other First Nations peoples,
Metis are people who have at least one-quar- have changed dramatically in the past 200 to
ter First Nations ancestry together with European 300 years. Whereas Aboriginals once grew crops
ancestry. Many Metis were born as a result of or followed the animals which provided them
marriages between French-Canadian or Scottish with food and other needs, many lost their old
settlers and First Nations people long ago and, as ways when European settlers arrived and took
a consequence, the Metis have developed a dis- over the land. Many Aboriginals lost their liveli-
tinctive culture which combines traditions from hoods and their sense of control over their lives.
their founding cultures. One well-known tra- The result was devastation for many communi-
dition is the colourful dance called a jig which ties that now face social problems they did not
involves rapid foot movements to the music of have before.
a fiddle. Many Metis live in the cities and rural The transition to a completely different way
areas of Canada. A few live in communities called of life has been traumatic for many, but the
colonies in rural areas. Whereas the rights of people are resilient and are reclaiming their
Status Indians are clear, the rights of many Metis strengths once again. Thanks in part to the natu-
are not. Metis can be Status Indians only if one ral resources found on some reserve lands, many
of their parents was a Status Indian. Other Metis communities have developed industries which

The Metis Fiddler Quartet

, "(~~;J'~.~:> ) ~ .~~:'f' -
88 ~ ..F Chapter 5 ~<~~"
--~ • c ~~~;_~
;..~.k.f(O.:J~_

give jobs to their people. In addition, people from part of nature. They had a respect for nature and
many First Nations are beginning to rediscover recognized that they depended on all parts of it.
the value of their Nations' traditional religions, Many people today feel that our modern cultures
which had declined after Christian missionaries have neglected and even abused nature. They feel
moved into their communities. Their ancestors we have much to learn from Aboriginal cultures if
lived with an understanding of themselves as we want to save our environment.

-----~ ~----~-- --------------------- --- -----------------------------------------------------------------_._------------------------,

COMPREHENSION CHECK I

o Why is the term Indian no longer used by many people today?

• What are the lands set aside for and owned by Aboriginal people called?
f) What are two heritage cultures of many Metis?
e Where do most Inuit live?

VOCABULARY

indigenous born in or native to a particular region or area (such as indigenous plants)

persisted lasted for a long time
status 1. the legal standing or position of a person, allowing him or her
certain rights
2. position or standing in relation to others
entitled to having the right to do or have something
ancestors one's predecessors; generations of people who gave birth to one's family
treaties legal agreements signed between two groups or nations, often for
peace or land
distinctive particular to; different from others
founding original, as in founding cultures, founding peoples
fiddle a stringed instrument also called a violin (We call it a violin when used
for classical music and a fiddle when used for rapid folk music.)
privileges special rights enjoyed by a person or group
devastation destruction; upset and shock
traumatic very upsetting and painful; totally disorienting
resilient strong and flexible; resistant to decay or destruction
reclaiming taking back; asserting ownership over something one had lost
or abandoned
relevance meaning, importance
missionaries people who teach their beliefs to others with the hope that they will
adopt those beliefs too; usually associated with religions
neglected failed to pay attention to something, usually at the cost of its well-being
abused hurt physically or emotionally
I
L ___________________________________________________________________________J
 The Mosaic of Canada 89

USING NEW WORDS

e The following words have something in common. What is it?

persist reclaim neglect abuse
If you said that all of these words are verbs, you are right! Use each one in a sentence
below.
1. The Ethiopian refugees promised that they would _ _ _ _ _ _ in fighting for
their country even though they could not safely live there now.
2. It is not acceptable for men to their wives in Canada.
3. He had to his suitcase at the airport when the flight landed.
4. Children who _ _ _ _ _ _ reading do not usually do well at school.
@) What do these four words have in common?
distinctive indigenous resilient traumatic
If you said that they are all adjectives, you are right again! Use each one in the most
appropriate sentence below.
1. The famous singer has a very voice. No one confuses her singing
with that of anyone else.
2. Many immigrants find it quite to leave the country they have known
all of their lives and settle in a new country.
3. Even though it is difficult to adapt to living in a new country, those who succeed
are and can overcome many obstacles.
4. Grizzly bears and Rocky Mountain sheep are to the Rocky
Mountains of Canada; elephants and tigers are not.
@ Lastly, what do these words have in common?
status ancestors relevance
Right again if you said that they are nouns. Fill in each blank below with one of
these words.
1. Nova Scotia means New Scotland because many of the people who first moved
to that province came from Scotland . Therefore, people who live there now often
say that their are Scottish .
2. Many well-educated immigrants feel that they lose a lot of _ _ _ _ _ _ when
they immigrate to Canada.
3. It can be very boring to read material that we think has no _ _ _ _ _ _ to
our lives.
@) What word is used to refer to each of these groups of Canada's Aboriginal peoples?
1. people who Columbus referred to as Indians, assuming they came from
India _ _ _ _ __
2. people who speak Athapaskan languages and live either in the Arctic or northern
boreal forest _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
3. other people who live in the Far North _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
4. people who were born of mixed blood, some of which was First Nations
 » What do you know about Canada's First Nations? How did you learn this? Do your first
impressions tell the whole story?

» How many different races and people have lived in your first country?

ASSIGNMENT

Using a library or an encyclopedia, searching online, or asking someone, find out what
! the following are and how you could learn more about them.
I
!
1. potlatch 4. moccasins 7. pemmican
!
2. powwow 5. mukluks 8. bannock
!
! 3. totem pole 6. kayak
i
!
In your notebook, write one or two of the following beside each of the words above.
You can wear these. You can eat this.
I
! You can watch or look at this. You can travel in this.
t__________________________ ____ .._________________________________________________________________________ _________________.________________________ !

One Aboriginal Voice

To begin to understand the feelings of many First the sense of betrayal many have felt from the time
Nations peoples today, we need to try to understand that the first settlers arrived on the land.

Canadian Voices
r-------·-------------------------·-----------·----------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------0

I The following quotation is from a speech given by Dr. WaIter Currie, a Potawatomi Ojibwa and
I educator from Ontario.
1
As an Ojibwa Indian, one of the many Indian peoples of Canada, one of this country's three
founding races, I would like on behalf of my people to officially welcome you to our shores. We
11

1"",1

hope and expect that your stay here will be pleasant and memorable, that while you are here
I you will not only take note of our customs and beliefs but will respect and honour them. In turn,
I we will not try in any manner to impose upon you our ways, nor to change yours.
' You smile when I say these words, and yet, over the past few hundred years, my
forefathers by word and deed expressed these feelings to your predecessors. As a matter of
fact, examine the writings of those early explorers along either coastline, and you will find
that my people greeted the newcomers graciously and made them welcome; that in no case
I

were my people hostile. That did not come until later, until after sad experience taught us
!
I that all newcomers were not worthy of trust and brotherhood.
I Further to this, it was our forefathers who taught the Europeans how to survive and
how to live in this land. Now it is true, the Indians accepted and adopted some of the
I
 The Mosaic of Canada 91

technical advantages of your culture-the killing stick} the iron pot} the steel blade} the steel
traps} the blankets ... the liquor-but only to improve upon their physical way of living. It was
the Indians} way of life-which animals to kill and how to killj which plants} fruits} and nuts
to eatj which herbs to use for medicinal purposeSj how to build the canoe to travel great
distances} to make portages easily} to explore around the next bend in the river-it was the
Indians} way of life that made it possible for those first Europeans to survive and prosper.

---- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------j

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
I o Were relations between Aboriginal peoples and the first explorers usually friendly ,I

or unfriendly?
I
• Who helped the early settlers to live off the land? 1

8 What are some examples of knowledge that the early Aboriginals had? I
I
VOCABULARY ,1
,,1

11

memorable worth remembering

I
take note of notice, to pay attention to 1

I impose force on another that which he or she does not want

forefathers ancestors
I
predecessors those who came before
I
hostile very unfriendly, dangerously unwelcoming
II worthy deserving
I brotherhood a close relationship, as between brothers
I
I adopted took as one's own
I
1 liquor alcoholic beverages with more alcohol than wine or beer
i herbs plants which are used either to flavour foods or to make medicine

I
1
;:r~~:::1 ::rr~i~~i:1 ::~:o:::; ::~;~:~:~erland
to another
from one body of water

1,' prosper be successful in a material way

1 Note: The term brotherhood is considered politically incorrect because it excludes women. •

i A term more in keeping with our efforts to equalize the relations between men and women

L_ ~~:raf:r:~;t~~~a~:~~:~I~~e~:~e~~~~~~i~~mmu:ty. The term ancest~rs_:so preferred •

• ~:t'-~,~-
-rrJ~:':;~'1- .' .
USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the Vocabulary section.
o The of the Liberals under Jean Chretien's government were the
Conservatives under Brian Mulroney.
• Some people grow _ _ _ _ _ _ outdoors or indoors, while others buy them from
the store.
o In the days of the early settlers, alcohol was often used for _ _ _ _ _ _ purposes
as well as recreational ones.

e To be of my trust, you must not lie to me.

o A grizzly bear can be to people in the wilds.
o To , young children need affection as well as water, food, and shelter.
8 For many people, their wedding day is one of the most days of
their lives.
9 You may on people you do not know very well if you do not call ahead
to let them know you would like to visit.
f) When you park your car in a large parking lot or parkade, it is important to
_ _ _ _ _ _ exactly where you left it.

4@ The young man does not look like his parents because they _ _ _ _ _ _ him
as a baby.
4D The group made several _ _ _ _ _ _ on their canoe trip.
@ Drinking too much has ruined many lives.

FOR DISCUSSION

» Why do you think First Nations peoples could feel betrayed? Do you think the early
settlers always realized the effect they were having on the Aboriginals' lives?

» Have you ever felt betrayed? How did you feel at that time? What did you want to do?
» Have you ever hurt someone without fully realizing what you were doing? How did you
feel and what did you do?

» Have you ever had someone try to impose his or her values and beliefs on you? What did
that feel like?

» What do you think that the government of Canada can do to solve the problem of
alienation and injustice experienced by First Nations peoples?

Resource: If you wish to learn more about Canada's First Nations peoples, you could visit
the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada website and view some of the
available documents and videos. These resources are free and give you an introduction to
the topic. To understand the feelings and experiences ofthe people, however, you need
to meet and talk to some. Many communities have a Native Friendship Centre where you
would be wekome to talk to people.
 The Mosaic of Canada 93

The Two Solitudes

Percentage of the population with

knowledge of both English and French

Sparsely
populated areas

I
I
I
I
i

I
L ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1

Bilin gualism in Canada

As you read in the first chapter, two other found- than there are in the rest of Canada. It has often
ing cultures in Canada were the English and the been difficult for anglophone and francophone
French. Canada is officially a bilingual country. Canadians to truly understand one another. The
While this has created wonderful opportuni- battle on the Plains of Abraham in 1759 may have
ties not found in countries with only one official been a victory for the English, but it did not end
language, it has also created problems. In most the bitterness many French-speaking Canadians
of Canada, the anglophone and francophone felt about their situation.
communities live relatively separate from each Many Quebecois see themselves as one of two
other. This is why they are often referred to as nations in Canada, but they do not feel treated as
the two solitudes. a nation. They believe they are different from the
Although there are pockets of French- other provinces. Quebec has its own legal sys-
speakers throughout the country, the majority tem, language laws, and education system, but
live in the province of Quebec. People of French the Quebecois feel at risk. They believe their cul-
heritage in Quebec call themselves Qw§becois. ture is threatened by the dominant anglophone
On the map of bilingualism shown above, you culture in North America. This is why some
can see that relatively few areas have large num- were fighting for a distinct society clause in the
bers of people who are fluent in both languages. Canadian constitution to protect once and for all
There are certainly more bilinguals in Quebec those institutions which are unique to Quebec
 ;;"2;l:"'~~' ~__'{;~ -

94 "",:,':, Chapter 5 :"c;t

,~~~,

and which protect the language and culture of an official policy of bilingualism, which means
Quebec's French-speaking majority. that all federal government documents must be
For some time now, there has been a separat- published in both French and English and all
ist movement in Quebec. In 1970, some terrorist federal government services across the coun-
activities were carried out by one separatist group try must be offered in both French and English.
called the FLQ (Front de Liberation du Quebec). This policy has protected the rights of French-
The federal government under Pierre Trudeau speaking Canadians outside Quebec, but it h as
responded by declaring a national emergency also cost a great deal of money. Some Canadians
and jailing many people without charge. This think there must be a better way for English- and
action angered many people in Quebec. In a 1995 French-speaking Canadians to assert their rights
referendum, a little less than half of the prov- in Canada.
ince voted in favour of sovereignty (of becoming Whereas many parents have supported bilin-
a country separate from Canada). In 2006, the gualism by sending their children to bilingual
Canadian government announced that because schools so that they could speak both official
of the province's distinct culture, it would recog- languages, anglophones w ere generally very
nize Quebec as a "nation within a nation." Not unhappy when, in 1977, the Quebec legislature
all Canadians-or all Quebecois-were happy passed a law saying that all signs in the province
about this. of Quebec must be in French. 0 signs could be
While many people celebrate Canada's bilin- in English or any other language. Since signs can
gual status, others resent it. They feel that the be posted in any language in the rest of Canada,
French language is irrelevant to their lives and many Canadians felt this law was un fair to
that too much money is spent on preserving English-speaking citizens of Quebec and speak-
the language across the country. Canada has ers of other languages. This one action cost the

20000000

17882775

15000000

§
o
-S-
§ 10000000

~ 0..
o
a.

5000000

98625 240005 43 335 10790

0

English French Non-official English and English and Fren ch and Engl ish, French,
language French non-official non-official and non-official
language language language

Languages spoken by Canadians (based on infor mation from the 2006 census)
 The Mosaic of Canada 95

Quebecois a lot of support from Canadians who In the graph shown on the previous page, you
had, up to then, been sympathetic to their cause. will see that although the percentage of people
Quebec's language law has been changed so that who speak both French and English is low, the
signs can be English as long as French signs are number of people who speak a different first lan-
larger, but the issue is still a controversial one. guage is relatively high.

- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------,:
:

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
I

o In which areas of the country do you see the most bilingual (English and French) I
speakers?
I
!
:
• Why are the English and French in Canada sometimes called the two so/itudes? i
• What do separatists want for Quebec? !
!
et How do you explain an increase over the past several decades in the number of people i
who claimed a language other than English or French as their mother tongue?
I
,
VOCABULARY

solitude a feeling or state of being alone :

i
!
anglophone (adj) English-speaking; (noun) English-speaker !
francophone (adj) French-speaking; (noun) French-speaker
i!

I
terrorist a person or group that commits violent actions to gain attention for i
its beliefs I
It
referendum a vote held so that citizens may vote on an issue of great importance
!
sovereignty legal control over one's own governance !:
USING NEW WORDS I
Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.
I
I
o The people of Quebec have indicated that they do not want another _ _ _ _ _ ---1

instead, they want the government to do something about the other problems the I
!
province is facing.
• 'When a person is around people and noise at all times, a little _ _ _ _ _ _ is
I!
!
:
appreciated,
!!
:
., Canada, Australia, India, and the other countries of the British Commonwealth all have !
i
_ _ _ _ _---1; none are still colonies of Britain. :

e It was a group that claimed responsibility for the bomb that killed Ii
several people in Northern Ireland. i
I!
o The population of western Canada is mostly _ _ _ _ _ _ while the population of
Quebec is mostly _ _ _ _ __ I
i
L________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1
 FOR DISCUSSION

» Based on the few insights you have been given into French-Canadian culture t do you
thinkyour own culture is more similar to English or French culture in Canada?

» Do you know of other countries in which two or more language groups have problems?
Which countri'es are they?

» If you were (or are) a citizen of Quebec and were asked to vote on sovereigntYt how
would you vote and why?

» Many Canadians feel very passionate about the subject of Quebects separation from
Canada. What is something you feel very passionate about and why?

Black Culture in Canada

Th e Caribbean Carnival in Toronto, Ontario

Usually we think of culture as something asso- often do not identify with a particular ethnic
ciated with a country, but sometimes culture can community like those who were born in Ethiopia
be bigger than a country. Many people who live or Jamaica do, for example.
in Canada but have African or Caribbean ori- There are Black Canadians living in all parts
gins want to recognize a Black culture in Canada. of Canada. In Toronto there are many people
They feel that what they have in common is more from the various Caribbean islands, in particular
important than any differences they may have. Jamaica and Trinidad. Many of these people are
This common culture is especially important active in the Caribbean community there, just as
for people whose ancestors were Black, but who other groups such as the Italians and Portuguese
themselves are born in Canada. These people have active communities for their members. Some
 The Mosaic of Canada 97

Black Canadians, such as those in the Halifax- as a school in the early years. This community
Dartmouth area of Nova Scotia, come from fami- had problems. Factories, a prison, and a garbage
lies that have lived in Canada for generations. dump had been located in the middle of the
Some came as slaves or runaways from American community and railway tracks ran through it.
slavery. Others, like many of Canada's immi- Although residents paid taxes and in many cases
grants, came in search of new opportunities and owned their land, houses, and businesses, the
freedom . Life here has not been easy for many city did not provide the water, sewage, and police
Black Canadians. In some cases, property owners services which other residents had. The decision
refused to sell or rent them homes, and govern- was made by the majority of city council to move
ment policies made it difficult for them to bring all Africville residents into public housing and
their families to Canada. Segregated schools to destroy the community. People were further
existed in some parts of the country as late as the humiliated by the use of garbage trucks to move
second half of the twentieth century. them out. They were dispersed throughout the
One of the great Canadian scandals was the area and the land was cleared. It sits now as a
destruction in the 1960s of Africville in the north flat, barren park-a national historic site and a
end of Halifax. The centre of this community of cold reminder of this embarrassing and painful
400 was the Baptist Church, which also served chapter in our history.

Canadian Voices
r --- - --- -- --- - - - - - - ---------- - - ----- -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------------------1

I Black Canadians still face problems of racism in many parts of the country, but they are working !
i together to recover their history, to conquer these problems, and to showcase their achievements I
I for the rest of the country. Henry Bishop, curator of the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth, Nova 11

, Scotia, explains what it means to him to be a Canadian:

I I
I Born and growing up as the youngest of fourteen siblings in Weymouth Falls) Digby I
: County) Nova Scotia) I began to develop a keen interest in becoming an artist) cultural I
i worke0 and visionary at an early age. I
i Realizing the significance of African heritage) it became my passport and i
i
i foundation to security in my future as a Canadian citizen. The contribution and II
I meaningful achievements would be my salvation. I knew by comparison that everyone I
I needs equal opportunity to succeed. My determination would not be destroyed by I
I
I
racism. Pride in my heritage would be an example to all Canadians. I would be an I
I
i ordinary person doing extraordinary deeds that would reflect the purpose of a positive I
! I
i approach to life in the land where my forefathers settled and died. I
! We) as Canadians) live in one of the greatest countries in the world. Thus) we must I
I strive to understand the cross-cultural composition around us) learn to appreciate the I
I beautiful mosaic of Canada from sea to sea) and from east to west. Let usjoin in the I
I,' spirit of respect and dignity for all thus creating a proud identity as we stand on guard I
i for these principles) 0 Canada! I
i I
i Henry Bishop is also an artist and student of Black history and culture. He works hard with other I
I members of his community to teach Black youth that they are a part of history and that they can I
I make a difference, too. I
I
_ ,_ - . - _ _ _____ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ._. _ _ _ _ _ _ _J ~ I
 : " ' '\"4:'~~~
, Chapter 5
-;~;J-
.-:'~-,~:!"
98
;~... "-,~f~
,~

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Why did many Black people come to Canada?

f) What was the name of the Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the 1960s?
.., Does this community still exist today? What happened to it?

VOCABULARY

identify with feel a sense of belonging to; to feel a lot in common with
segregated kept apart or separate (Black children went to separate schools)
humiliated very embarrassed; made to feel very small and unimportant
dispersed spread out over an area
barren lifeless
reminder that which causes us to remember
achievements things one has done which one feels very proud of; successes
siblings brothers and sisters
visionary a person who has an image of the future
identity that to which one feels a sense of belonging; character or nature
principles strongly held ideas or truths which guide our decisions in life

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above. The first letter of each word is given
to help you.
o Sometimes we tend to forget things which are important; we may need a

f) The Canadian i_ _ _ _ _ _ is not easy to describe because Canadians are a very

diverse people.
• No one likes to feel h _ _ _ _ _ _.
., Our society needs v_ _ _ _ _ _ people to help us create new and better futures.
" Most of us have failures which embarrass us, and a of which we can
be proud . _
" The p of truth, justice, and freedom are universal.
f) In Canada, men and women work, eat, and socialize together, but in some cultures they
are s from one another.
G To find the missing child, the searchers d _ _ _ _ _ _ over the area where she was
last seen .
f) Many people think of northern Canada as a b _ _ _ _ _ _ place, but it is rich in plant
and animal life.
 The Mosaic of Canada 99

ACTIVITY

The following Black Canadians are very famous for their achievements. See if you and
your classmates can match the person with his or her accomplishments.
Rosemary Brown first Black cabinet minister in the government of Canada; first
Black Lieutenant-Governor (Ontario, 1985-1991)

Oscar Peterson first female editor of a North American newspaper (Chatham,

Ontario, Provincial Freeman, 1853)
Lincoln Alexander first Black woman elected to a provincial legislature (BC, 1972)

Mary Ann Shadd a journalist and the 27th Governor General of Canada
Michaelle Jean famous jazz musician
(You can find the answers on page 250 at the back of the book.)

FOR DISCUSSION

» What difference, if any, does skin colour make in your first country?
» Do you know of any other groups of people who have been unfairly treated because
of their skin colour?
» What do you think that we can do to create a country in which all people feel proud
of who they are and can live freely without fear of injustice?

Other Cultures of Canada

English is the first language of nearly 60 percent of foods used in Chinese cooking, large sacks of rice,
Canadians, but there are many different cultural and other goods imported from China and Hong
groups living in Canada. Two-and-a-half percent Kong. Chinese New Year in February is a popular
of the population, for example, speak Italian as annual celebration and everyone looks forward to
their first language. Many large Canadian cities the colourful celebrations at this time. Even many
have a "little Italy" where you can shop for Italian small rural communities have a Chinese restau-
products like pasta, black olives, gelato, cappuc- rant or Chinese grocery store.
cino, and supplies for making wine. Toronto has Germans have also settled throughout Canada,
by far the largest Italian population of any city in both urban and rural areas. Some communi-
in Canada, and in fact has more Italians than ties still have large numbers of people who speak
any city outside Italy. Italy used to be the larg- German, but others have blended into the English-
est source of immigrants to Toronto, but in recent speaking culture. The children and grandchildren
years, most immigrants to the city have come of immigrants sometimes do not learn to speak
from India or China. Approximately 17 percent of their heritage language and do not follow all of the
people in the City of Toronto claim Chinese as cultural traditions of their ancestors. Like several
their mother tongue. other groups, however, the German people often
There are many Chinese immigrants who now have their own radio and TV programs, private
call Canada home. Large cities such as Toronto clubs, and restaurants serving their own commu-
and Vancouver have lively Chinatowns with res- nity as well as others who enjoy German cooking
taurants and shops selling fresh vegetables, dried and cultural events.
 1------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------, / j

I i

II i
:

i i
i I
I i
i I
I
I
I
I
I !

I
I
I
:

I I
II I!
iI i'
I !
i I
i i
L_________________________________ ____~____________J

Spanish soccer fans in Toronto celebrate their team's World Cup victory in 2010

Cultures and languages from every part of the programs where half of their studies are in English
world form the fabric of Canada. Each cultural and the other half in their heritage language. In
group that has come to call Canada home has con- other cases, they can attend heritage language
tributed much of value to this country. Immigrants classes after regular classes, in the evenings, or
have opened small and large businesses. They on Saturdays. Adults organize huge annual heri-
have contributed to the arts and sports communi- tage festivals in their ethnic communities and get
ties. The multicultural nature of Canada is seen in together regularly to celebrate or discuss issues
every supermarket, school, and government office. common to their members.
Although people of every origin have blended It is important to understand that many peo-
in with the communities in which they live- ple have come to Canada in search of a better life.
working side-by-side with people from other cul- Many were refugees running away from religious
tures, living in neighbourhoods where they may or political persecution. Others were living in
be the only family on the street that speaks their poverty or famine and decided to take a chance in
language-many still find ways to keep their cul- a new, developing land. Many came to join family
tures and languages alive in Canada. In urban members who were already here. Few found the
centres, children can choose to go to bilingual transition easy.

--------------------- - ---------- - - ---------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - ----------.1

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
I
o What is a 13-letter word that describes the diverse cultural nature of Canada? (Clue: It I
!
starts with an m .) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
!
• What is the name of a colourful celebration in February where Chinese people present
their traditional dances and sometimes have fireworks?
., What are two things immigrants sometimes do to preserve their culture in Canada?
i______________________________
 The Mosaic of Canada 101

VOCABULARY

gelato Italian ice cream

cappuccino a popular strong Italian coffee served with foamed milk on top
looking forward to excited about something which is coming
blended in mixed together harmoniously
heritage one/s ethnic background; the culture of one/s ancestors
huge very large

USING NEW WORDS

.,
Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above .
She is
to Canada .
having a good job so that she can sponsor her parents to come

•., Learning English can be a

come to Canada .
problem for many people when they first

Many Canadians have a very mixed . Monique/s ancestors come from

England Scotland Holland Ireland and France for example.
l l l l l

e It is fun to meet a friend for a at a cafe on the weekend.

As soon as they went out to plaYI the new children well with their classmates.
"
ACTIVITY

In the following puzzle, the names of 21 countries from which people have come to
live in Canada are listed. Circle them. The words may appear from right to left, left
to right, top to bottom, bottom to top, or on a diagonal (slant). Have fun!

F M E Z P C E B 0 N T C V Z X R
I J A P A N H 0 P Q K 0 R E A B
U S A C U Y T I N D I A V R F S
X R L E B A N 0 N Q G E L U T N
N B E P Y T I E B A E S D S C C
M R T P 0 L A N D N R M X S C A
G R E E C E P G V Y M A N R
D Z E B H 0 R L 0 V E K I A K G
R A T Y U P B A N M N C H L E
E M V V I E T N A M Y G M N X N
T B Y Z Q
A S D P L R E G Y P T
A D 0
B M A C H T A R E S D I
D A C I A M A J N M G H P X F N
E B C S T H A I L A N D L R S A
F P L K Q V E N E Z U E L A B G
p A K S T A N 0 P H E C S Y

(You can find the answers on page 251 at the back of the book.)
 -=-==~~- ~
It ' 10
Chapter 5
~
,,~'---
\:;.:
~;¥~

_"""':'!J" ....

Religions of Canada
The picture of religion in Canada has changed not asked which religion they practise, but rather
rapidly in recent decades, in part due to the large with which religion they identify. In other words,
number of immigrants from different parts of growing numbers of people were born into a reli-
the world, and in part, due to a growing decline gion that they no longer practise. The difficulty in
in religious interest in many of the Christian assessing religious trends is compounded by the
churches. In addition, it is difficult to assess the fact that the government has stopped asking any
true picture from census data because people are questions about religion on the census.

- --
2006 Percentage Change
thousands 0/0 thousands 0/0 2006-2031
Roman Catholic 13830 42.5 15389 36.6 -13 .9%
Protestant 8970 27.6 8973 21.3 II -22.8%
Christian Orthodox 566 1.7 978 2.3 +35.3%
Other Christians* 974 3.0 1944 4.6 +53.3%
Muslim 884 2.7 2870 6.8 +151.9% Ii
Jewish 348 1.1 421 I 1.0 -9.1%
Buddhist 358 1.1 607 1.4 +27.3%
Hindu 406 1.2 1024 2.4 +100.0%
Sikh 384 1.2 906 2.2 +83 .3% I

Other Religions 122 0.4 185 0.4 +0.0%

No Religion 5680 17.5 8780 20.9 +19.4% I

*Includes those who reported "Christian," "Apostolic," "Born-again Christian," and "Evangelical."
Note: 2006 data on religious denomination were projected from 2001, as questions about religion are no longer
asked on the census.
Source: Adapted from Statistics Canada, Projections ofthe Diversity ofthe Canadian Population, 91-551-XIE201 0001,
March 2010.

The chart above shows some interesting pro- recent years and will continue to do so. Many of
jected trends in religion in Canada. Most notable, these churches find themselves with pews filled
perhaps, is the anticipated increase in the per- with aging parishioners, and they struggle to
centage of Muslims. Between 1991 and 2001, understand where all the young people have gone.
the number of Muslims in Canada increased by Over the last few decades there has been an
almost 129 percent; those numbers will continue increase in the number of Canadians who claim
to rise over the coming decades. This is due to the no religion, and that trend looks to continue,
many immigrants coming from the Middle East although at a somewhat slower pace. Many people
and East African countries, as well as the groups' who no longer attend a church still express a desire
high birth rates. Likewise, Hindus and Sikhs will to honour their spirituality and are searching for
see large increases in numbers. new ways in which they can do that. There is also
The Catholic and the Protestant churches- a growing interest in interfaith studies, as we strive
considered to be the mainstream churches in to see our commonalities in various religions and
Canada in generations past-have declined in to understand our diverse country better.
 The Mosaic of Canada 103

: ~:-:;~;~~~~~~;~~~~::aa~::~~~;~~ion~------------ ---- 1
• Which religion is expected to grow the most in Canada between 2006 and 2031? i
VOCABULARY
I

declare say openly; say that something is true

I
misleading not totally true; confusing !

synagogue the building in which the Jewish community worships ,i

temple the building in which the Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh communities worship !

mosque the building in which the Islamic community worships I!

pews wooden benches for sitting in many older churches
I
USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above. I

o When you purchase goods from another country and bring them into Canada, you
must their value at the customs office .
• The vandalism of a , or by those who I
hate people of religions different from their own are hate crimes and are against the
law in Canada.
.

• Salespeople who are not honest will sometimes give you very _ _ _ _ __ I:
information about a product so that you will buy it. !
:
j

!
ACTIVITY
I
i
Try matching each of the religions listed below with the appropriate sentences. You :
I will have to use some religions more than onc~. I
i Islam Hinduism Buddhism Christianity I:

I Judaism Shamanism Sikhism

I 0 The founder of this religion was known as Jesus, a Jew who lived in what is now known I
,
1
as Israel. I
1,
v People of this religion communicate with their ancestors, asking for their help with
1 A 1,
1 problems, and they find much wisdom in using the medicine wheel, _ _ _ _ __
i
• Members of this religion were seriously persecuted during the Second World War in I

Germany. _ _ _ _ __ !!
e Men of this faith often wear a turban and carry a ceremonial dagger. _ _ _ _ __
!
I
!:
o People of this faith often pray five times daily by kneeling and facing Mecca . :
I
!

I___ ~ People of this faith do not eat beef as they believe that :~w ~_ asacre~_ani~~__ 1
f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------ - - - ----------------------- ------1
: I

! 8 People of this relig ion often burn incense and have a large golden statue representing I
i j
! their founder at the front of their centre of worship. i
I 0 A spiritual leader of this faith is called an imam. I
i e A spiritual leader of this faith is called a rabbi. i
I Q) A spiritual leader in this faith is often also a healer. He or she is called a I
! shaman. I
! I
I (You can find the answers on page 251 at the back of the book.) !
!:
l _________________________________________._ _ _ _ ~ _________________________________ ~ _____________
!:
~

Religious Practices in Canada

In Canada, we believe in religious freedom.

Everyone should feel safe following their own
religious practices as long as they do not cause
harm to others. What countries do you know of
where there is no freedom of religion? i

Sometimes, there are problems because some-

one's religious practices conflict with the practices
of the majority, but most people try to find solu-
tions agreeable to everyone. For example, different I
religions have different feast days. In some cases,
people have to work on their religious feast days, I
but sometimes they are able to negotiate the day off. I
Members of Sikhism ran into some problems I
when they wore their turbans in places where
most Canadians remove their headgear. Sikh stu- I
1

dents faced some difficulties when they wore their

ceremonial daggers in high schools because some
people felt this practice could be dangerous. Sikh I
members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police I;
are now permitted to wear their turbans instead i
!
of the usual Mountie hats, and Sikh students in I;
many high schools have been given permission i
to wear their ceremonial daggers. These religious I;
rights have not come easily to the Sikh community, !
but many Canadians have supported them in this I
struggle to have their religious practices recognized. I
I
1_ _ _ __ =================================
Christianity: The Majority
Sgt. Baltej Singh Dhillon, a Sikh Mountie
Religion in Canada
While all members of the Christian churches Therefore, there are many different kinds of
express a belief in Jesus as the son of God, there Christian churches in Canada with various beliefs
are many different understandings of this belief. and practices.
 The Mosaic of Canada 105

: --------------
, ---------------------------------1
The largest denomination, by far, is still the
Roman Catholic Church, despite its decreasing ! !
membership. The head of the Roman Catholic I
Church is the Pope, who lives in Rome. Roman
Catholics represent more than 40 percent of I
Canada's population. The second-largest denom-
ination is the United Church of Canada, a union
of four smaller denominations including the I
Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist
churches. Like many of the other Protestant I

churches such as the Anglicans and Lutherans,

the membership of the United Church has been
I
- -- - _ _ _ _ _ _1
in steady decline over the past years. While the
Catholic and many Protestant churches are suf-
Hutterites in southern Alberta
fering from general decline, some evangelical
Christian denominations are showing strong
growth and are expected to continue to do so. cultural makeup as a country. Members of these
Historically, Canada has seen many groups three groups live in very close-knit communi-
of religious refugees come to its shores in search ties-in fact, Hutterites live in colonies where
of religious freedom. Mennonites, Hutterites, all property is communal. Their community-
and Doukhobors have settled in various parts of centred way of life is one way that their religion
the country, adding richly to the mosaic of our is preserved.

-\-------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------- ---------- -----------1

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Fill in the blanks. Use a dictionary if you need help.

• A dagger is a small _ _ _ _ _---' I
• A turban is a long piece of fabric wound around the head like a _ _ _ _ _ _' I
I
., A Mountie is a federal _ _ _ _ _ _'
II
e Mennonites, Hutterites, and Doukhobors were ________ refugees who came
to Canada searching for the freedom to practise their religion . •

VOCABULARY

denomination a branch of a religion with its own beliefs and practices

union a coming together
evangelical (adj) of or denoting a branch of Protestant Christianity emphasizing the I
authority of scripture, personal conversion, and the doctrine of faith in
the Atonement; zealously advocating a cause
I
market (v) try to sell someone something; to try to convince someone of something
I
I
~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __
I
_ _ ___ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _________ !
. . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,

USING NEW WORDS ,.!

Fill in each blank with a word from the Vocabulary section. i

o When you are looking for a job, you have to yourself your skills, and I
your attitude to employers. !
!
• A marriage is sometimes described as a of two people.
• Each within the Christian church has its own beliefs and practices.
• The minister was a very persuasive speaker.
I
1
i FOR DISCUSSION
I » Some people believe that it is important to be part of a religious community, while
I I
i
others believe that spirituality is a very personal thing. Which of these views do you think !
is growing and why?
I
I
» It has been very important for many immigrants to Canada to find not only their own I

I religious community, but one which worships in their own language. What are the I

I advantages and possible disadvantages of active membership in a religious community

.
I which worships in your first language in Canada?
L ___________.-J i

Celebrations and Holidays

Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving are the ethnic groups will have their own special items.
major holidays. They are traditionally days when On Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, many
family members gather to eat, visit, and relax people rush to the stores to shop because there
together. They are also days of religious celebra- are lots of bargains on this day.
tion for active members of the Christian faiths.
On Christmas Eve (the night before Christmas),
many people go to church and then return home
to have a feast and open gifts. Others wait until
Christmas morning when they gather around
the Christmas tree, empty their stockings,
and then open their gifts. Then, in late after-
noon, the family gathers for a turkey dinner
with the traditional stuffing, cranberry sauce,
mashed potatoes and gravy, Brussels sprouts,
and sweet potatoes, and plum pudding for des-
sert. Families have their own special menus on
these days, but these are menu items which are
very common on Christmas for many families.
Ukrainian families will add cabbage rolls and
A table set for Thanksgiving dinner
perogis to that menu, for example, and other
 The Mosaic of Canada 107

Easter, too, is both a religious celebration for

Christians and a secular celebration for every-
one. Children love Easter for the treats they get.
Small children believe that, just as Santa Claus
comes to leave them gifts at Christmas, the
Easter Bunny comes to leave them their basket of
chocolate eggs at Easter. The traditional meal for
Easter Sunday is roast ham with sweet potatoes.
Easter Sunday is a special day for Christians who
are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the
dead. Easter, as we experience it in Canada, is
actually a mixing of the Christian festival with
old pagan rituals which celebrated the spring
solstice. In pagan rituals, eggs are the symbol of
life and rebirth.
Another traditional meal is served on Thanks-
giving when, once again, many families enjoy
a large turkey together. The meal is topped off
with delicious pumpkin pie and whipped cream.
Thanksgiving began in the sixteenth century as
a celebration of an explorer's homecoming, and
later to celebrate the harvest season. Americans
A Muslim man prays during Ramadan
also celebrate Thanksgiving, although their holi-
day had a different origin. The American holiday
falls in November, while the Canadian celebra- Other celebrations are an excuse for a party,
tion is in October because the Canadian winter but not for a day off. On Valentine's Day, lovers
starts earlier. and children send heart-shaped cards to those
There are also many other days of celebra- they love. Husbands and wives, boyfriends and
tion for particular ethnic groups and religions girlfriends, and others also exchange flowers or
in Canada. The Jewish religion, for example, chocolates. The flower shops and candy stores do
celebrates Purim in March, Rosh Hashanah a big business on Valentine's Day each year.
in September, Yom Kippur in October, and On Halloween, children dress up in cos-
Hanukkah in December. Muslims, too, have tumes and knock on doors shouting "Halloween
special feast days, as do the Orthodox Christians Apples" or IITrick or Treat." The homeowner then
who celebrate Christmas later than the other puts a treat of some kind in their bags. Parents are
Christian churches. Muslims have a 30-day fast- cautioned to examine their children's treats care-
ing period called Ramadan during which they fully, however, to make sure they are safe to eat.
only eat after sundown-much more difficult At school or at home, children carve pumpkins
in our summers with their long days than near into jack-o'-lanterns with a candle in the middle.
the equator when the sun sets about 6 p.m.! The The scarier it is, the better!
Chinese New Year in February is well-known Remembrance Day in November is a time to
and is enjoyed throughout the Chinese commu- remember those who died in wars to defend their
nity. Those who celebrate these holidays often countries. Many people wear a poppy as a sign of
take time off work on these special days. respect for those who died.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------ - - -------------------- -- ---1

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
i
I
o On which two days do many Canadians eat turkey for dinner? !

8 On which day do neighbours give out candy to children and how do the children ask I
for this candy? i
I
• What is the date of Canada's birthday? i
I
e How is Christmas celebrated in Canada?
!
II
o What is the name of the special day for lovers? Is this a day off from work?
I
I
!
i
I
VOCABULARY !
!
!
I
gather come together Ii
stuffing a filling (usually for chicken or turkey) made with dry bread crumbs, I
!I
chopped vegetables, herbs, and sometimes meat or fruit
gravy a sauce made from meat juices, flour, spices, and water, and served on I
potatoes and meat I
plum pudding a rich, heavy dessert made from dried fruits and other ingredients (served I
hot, it is normally eaten only at Christmas by people of British ancestry) I
bargains cheap prices; good value for one's money
I
rush go quickly I
secular not relig ious I
!
bunny a child's name for a rabbit
i
sweet potatoes orange-coloured root vegetables
fast (v) go without food
topped off completed
civic belonging to the people of a municipality (city or town) •

i
i excuse a reason given when one needs a reason and cannot think of a good one
I I
costumes clothing, out of the ordinary and made for a special purpose, (at !:
Halloween many children wear costumes to look like a ghost or cat) I
:
Ii !
I
treat- something unusually nice to eat
I
cautioned told to be very careful; informed of danger
I
examine check very carefully •

I poppy a small, red flower we associate with a battlefield in Europe called

I
i Flanders Field •

i: ii
L ---~
 The Mosaic of Canada 109

I
~i~ :a~hE:::::~=:~t~e VOC~bu~ry-s~ction.-- · --------- --·------1
i:

COUld
: ;~~~~~~~Ong with it :I::~~~ncga~~;~~:~:~~~eh::: ~~yc~~~n!ahk:::r:\~~: ~~m? ! ,I:

., If you see a thief breaking into a house, you should to the nearest

o ~~:~:oh:::: :::~9:~r:ol;t:~: ::I~::, we all like to give ourselves a ,:1

sometimes .
{3 Some young children like to sleep with a stuffed toy such as a I
o The workers were to wear hardhats and steel-toed boots on the I
work site . I
• We elect our mayor and city councillors in a election. I
!
G Boxing Day is a , not a religious, holiday. 1I

f) The children made to wear fo r their school play.

I
G> Some people for religious reasons, while others _ _ _ _ _ for health !

reasons. (same word used for both blanks)

I
!
FOR DISCUSSION

» What holidays does your fam ily celebrate each year? How do you celebrate these?
» When you have a special religious holiday and you do not want to go to school or work
I
I
on that day, when is it appropriate or not appropriate to take time off? If you don't know,
how can you find out?

» Christmas can be very expensive for many Canadians. If you decide you want to celebrate I
Christmas, what are some ways you can do so without spending a lot of money?
I
» Fortunately, there are very few people who do not respect the rights of children.
I
Nonetheless, parents have to be very careful with whom they trust the care of their !
children. Is this a problem in the country you come from, too?

CHAPTER REVIEW I
I

Write a few paragraphs or a letter to a friend telling about some of the peop le from
other cultures you have met in Canada, the experiences you have shared, and what you
have learned. I
I
i
!
___~___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________J
Chapter Six

The Pacin
Region
Quick Facts
» British Columbia (B
Confederation in H

» Today, British Colur

third-largest provin l
in both area and pc
Ontario and QuebE

» The province's pop

than 4.5 million, wit
living in the Greate

» The capital of Britis

Victoria, located or
tip of Vancouver Isl

» The provincial flowE

dogwood; the prov
the Steller's jay.

» The average tempE

Vancouver in Janua
zero degrees Celsil
an umbrella!
 Introduction
1-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------}----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
I i
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! !
i
I
Yukon ,I
i

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1
:
,Il
i

I
j
i
!
I
~I
i

British
Haida~
I
'-. . . . ,.... !
Columbia I I
i
~Q
I
GWaiir Rocky i
I i
I I

/ !
o / I
PACIFIC / I
OCEAN
Alberta / I
I

/ I
/ I

/ i

/ !
/ 1

J
I I
! I i

/ Saskatchewan
IL ____________ ~ ___
~ ______________________ ___ ___________________________ _
~

Southwestern British Columbia (BC) is often after Toronto and Montreal. It is also an unques-
referred to as the jewel of Canada. It boasts the tionably beautiful city.
most idyllic climate, if you do not mind rain, Just west of Vancouver are the Gulf Islands and
and some of the most spectacular scenery in the then Vancouver Island, the site of BC's capital city,
country. The hub of British Columbia is Greater Victoria. Victoria is a favourite retirement spot for
Vancouver, a metropolis surrounded by the sea Canadians mainly because of the mild winters. In
on the west and mountains on every other side. the summer months, the traffic is unbelievable as
Vancouver is the third-largest city in Canada, tourists come from all over North America and
 The Pa ,

r----~~----------------
other continents to enjoy the sunshine, the ocean,
and the charm of this area.
When Canadians think of BC, they think not
only of the mountains and the sea, but also of tall,
ancient rainforests, fresh salmon from the rivers, I
and apples or grapes (which make great wine)
from the Okanagan Valley. These are resources
of the vast interior, which has a landscape and
climate very different from the coast. Or, if they
are artists, they may think of Emily Carr or Bill I
Reid and the beautiful west coast art for which
they are famous. Others may think of the mys-
terious totem poles carved by Aboriginals of the
Pacific Northwest. These are carved to tell the
I
stories of a clan or extended family. Each symbol
on the pole has meaning and purpose to those
who understand it.
Business people may think of Vancouver
I
!
Harbour filled with ships or downtown office
I
towers soaring into space. Air travellers look for-
I
ward to stepping off the plane to that unique smell
of salt water and damp cedar, a welcome aroma i
indeed for a traveller seeking to escape from the ~-------------------

cold of winter elsewhere in the country.

Totem poles in Vancouver, J
People of Chinese ancestry may remember the
many Chinese who lost their lives building the
national railway through the mountains or work- Vancouver, which used tc
ing in the mines of BC's interior during the 19th now has a very large and di,
century. Others will remember those Canadians lation from all over the wor
of Japanese ancestry who, in the Second World richness is largely due to t
War, were taken from their homes and sent to who have made their homE
the interior of BC or to the beet fields of southern ing countries from every par
Alberta. These events are part of Canada's history, through the streets of Var
an embarrassing part, but nonetheless important sensation of passing throu@
events in our coming of age. same feeling you get in Tore
BC has grown and changed. Once mainly The Chinese populatic
British, the province had its first Cantonese- always been high, but has J
speaking Lieutenant-Governor, the Honourable years due in part to the ch,
David Lam, from 1988 to 1995. In 2001, BC's first Hong Kong. In 1997, Hong
female Lieutenant-Governor, the Honourable tory of China after a long
Iona Campagnolo, was appointed. Campagnolo Leading up to 1997, many pi
was a Member of Parliament in the Trudeau years chose Vancouver as their r
(1974 to 1979). In 1991, Rita Johnson became the of so many Chinese-speaki
first female premier in Canada, and served until denly was a little shocking t
her party was defeated in an election six months who saw their neighbour
later. In 2011, Christy Clarke became BC's second quickly. Now, people are l
female premier. and most welcome the dive

:_~_~~-r. -
_ ., .. f,." ..
 ----- ----------------------- --------------------- - - --- --------------------------------------------------------------------- l
!
!
COMPREHENSION CHECK !
!
!
• Where do most people in British Columbia live?
!
f) What geographical features border Vancouver? ii
i

• What is the capital city of British Columbia? !

e Who are Bill Reid and Emily Carr?
!
!
:
!
o Which ethnic group was very important in the building of Canada's national railroad? 1

o What do we call a person who lives in Vancouver? I

!
!
i
VOCABULARY

boasts is proud o{ and likes to tell people so

idyllic perfect, as if made in heaven
mind (v) be bothered by; dislike
hub centre of activity
metropolis large city
unquestionably without doubt
retirement the stage of life when people stop working, usually at about age 65
charm the power or quality of giving pleasure or delight
ancient very, very old
interior the inner part of a region, not near the sea
totem poles tree-sized wood carvings made by First Nations peoples
soaring reaching high into the sky
cedar evergreen tree with very aromatic needles and wood
aroma pleasant smell
coming of age growing up; maturing

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
• The person who too often is not usually popular.
f) Penticton and Kelowna are two cities in the of BC.
• The of old communities is the marketplace_
e Some people want their to begin at the age of 55 so that they are still
healthy enough to enjoy their freedom.
I
! 0 A person's can often win him or her many friends_
Ii 0 Many people like to store woollen clothing in chests because there, the
I wool is safe from moth worms.
i 8 For many people, it is difficult to learn to speak another language well.

L_______ _______ ___________________________________________________ J

 The Pa

o The pyramids of Egypt are _ _ _ _ _--', as they were built many the
years ago.
e Because the cafeteria was very crowded, the young woman approachE
woman who was sitting alone and asked, "Would you _ _ _ _ __
down here?"
(@ perf~ e is not a pleasant if you are allergic to its smell.
6) To Ca \ adians, the climate of the Caribbean islands seems
G Like Va \ couver, Toronto is a busy .
G At the air s ~ ow, people were watching the planes acro~
0) Most cultur~s have ceremonies for their young people
become aduh s.
6' You can see b autiful Aboriginal at the Museum of Ani
(MOA) in Vanc uver.

FOR DISCUSSIO

» Most Canadians are embarrassed at the injustice done to Canadians of J

ancestry during the econd World War. Can you think of other examples
other countries, wher people have suffered greatly because of their eth

» Prices of real estate in ~ancouver and the Gulf Islands have gone up so
years that it is difficult fo\ young families to buy a home there now. Som
this is in part due to the ~umber of people from other countries who bu
investment. What do you t hink? Should Canadian real estate be limited
Canadian buyers, or shoul ~anyone be able to buy land in Canada?

» Retirement is the common p'~actice in North America for most people '"
Is it a common practice in otP\er countries? If not, what is different?
» English speakers use a lot of ao\onyms (abbreviations where each letter ~
to replace names of things. BC i ~ an acronym for British Columbia and M
for the Museum of AnthropologJ\ What are some other acronyms you kn
\

Geography, Climate, and Economy

Visitors to Vancouver need to remember to tak e Whereas the coast enj'
their umbrellas unless they want to get wet, the climate of British Colun
because it rains a lot in the city. Most people dGl and gets a lot of snow in se
not mind the rain, though, because the weather is interior is mountainous wi
so warm. In summer, the temperature averages 22 rivers run. The northeast, 1
degrees Celsius during the day. Even in January, ation of the Great Plains
the average daytime temperature is six degrees, In the southern interior, tl
while at night, it hovers just above zero degrees. which remain warmer tl
Visitors to Vancouver and the Gulf Islands are mountain areas and provid
amazed to see rose bushes in bloom for six months fr'nit fa rming, an important
of the year! The Okanagan Valley is thi
 Logging trucks t ransport lumber from BC forests

orchards and everyone looks forward to the cher- related ind~stries are a central part of BC's econ-
ries, peaches, apricots, plums, and apples grown omy. Lumber is used for the construction industry
there, as well as the grapes which support a thriv- in Canada and is also exported. Pulp and paper
ing wine industry in the province. The warm tem- are also produced for domestic and foreign use.
peratures in this area have also made it a popular Conservation of the forests, however, is a
retirement area and vacation spot. The communi- growing concern. Most of the large forestry com-
ties of Kelowna, Penticton, and Salmon Arm are panies are now making an effort to replenish the
also popular tourist centres. forests and are replanting trees in areas where
The area around Kamloops in the southern they have been cut down. Many people agree with
interior is hot and dry in the summer and pro- ecologists that we should be extremely concerned
vides land for some of the best ranching in the about overlogging Canada's forests, especially the
province. Here, as in the Okanagan Valley, farm- ancient rainforests of BC. People have held dem-
ers and ranchers depend on irrigation to provide 0nstrations to protest logging in areas such as
the water needed for successful agriculture. Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island, one of the
About 55 percent of British Columbia is cov- largest remaining areas of rainforest in Canada.
ered by forest. The trees that grow in the mild, An infestation of pine beetles in recent years has
wet climate on the coast are the tallest trees in killed a great many of the trees in the Rockies and
Canada. They include the towering Douglas fir, is very worrisome to the forestry industry. The
Sitka spruce, and western red cedar. Forests also only way to kill these beetles is to have sustained
cover large areas of the interior. Forestry and and very cold weather.

/
 The Pac

Mining, tourism, fishing, and manufacturing been concerned that their 1

are the other large industries in BC. As on Canada's changed forever. In 2010, n
east coast where fish stocks have declined, large people rejoiced to see the :
numbers of salmon in British Columbia have also spawning salmon in many, I
disappeared. Many fishing industry workers have hopes to see this trend conti

MPREHENSION CHECK

r In which rovince would a gardener have the longest growing season ir

j

! Which area of BC is most famous for its fruit orchards?

I
I ., What is BC's \argest industry?
I e What is the si ~nificance of Clayoquot Sound?
{3 What has recen, ly concerned people in BC's fishing industry?

I VOCABULARY
\
\
I
i
! balmy m ild and pleasant
gorge narrow opening between hills or mounta ins, especiall~
walls and a stream or river at the bottom
I

i ranching raising and breeding cattle

I thriving growing, prospering
irrigation means of moving water from natural areas (such as lak
to dry arE; as for agricultural purposes
domestic local, in one's own country; as opposed to foreign
conservation protection, particularly of the natural environment or ;:
I replenish put back in ~bundance that which has been taken awa
\
I
ecologists people who st udy the relationship between humans a
environment, ~ ..nd who are concerned with the well-be
I

II demonstrations visible political 9ctions by a group of people to make .

against an issue
ii
declined reduced in number
livelihoods ways of making a living, of being self-supporting

USING NEW WORDS

I
Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.
II o Canada put a moratorium (allowed no fishing) on cod-fishing in the Atl;
_ _ _ _ _ _ the fish stock.
I
I • All of us can participate in by recycling and reusing thin
I and paper.
I 8 Farmers earn their by growing crops or raising livestock
L______________________________________________ _ _ _ ~--- __________________ ___ _
e The number of people who stay married to one person all of their adult lives has
_ _ _ _ _ _ in Canada.

43 Hawaii has a climate, while the Arctic has a harsh climate.

o Canada does not need to import wheat because it has a large _ _ _ _ _ _ supply.
f) Vegetable farming in the dry areas of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia and southern
Alberta depends on I

G Standing on the side of the mountain looking down into the river at the bo1tom of the
_____-1, the tourist took a wonderful photograph. /
_ _ _ _ _ _ want to put an end to pollution and the wasting of natural resources .
~ The students held to protest cuts to education.
G} Many farmers combine grain farming with to ensure financial stability.
G Japan and South Korea both have economies that have greatly
improved the standard of living in their cities.

MATCHING

Match the words on the left with their opposites on the right. All of the words on
th~ left are used in the text above and some are in the vocab,ulary list. Refer to a
dictionary if you need help. I

conservation a) foreign
domestic b) narrow; sma ~ around
broad c) waste; destruction of the environment
declined d) towering
_ _ protest e) cold, harsh
_ _ balmy f) exterior
interior g) flat, low-lying land
mountainous area h) support; encourage
,
_.__ short, low to the ground i) increased

DEBATE

» As we use more of our natural resources, conflicts between those who want to preserve
these resources (such as forests and fish) and those who make their living by making use
of them (including those in the lumber business and fishing industry) have increased. To
examine this issue further, read the following short article and then choose to be either a
forestry worker or a conservationist. Make a list of reasons why, from your point of view,
large-scale logging should or should not continue in British Columbia.
 The Pa.

..----..

I
r--~------~-- ·---~-------~·-- ·~----------·--·-------.-~---------------- ----------------------------~---~------- --------.------

» Then get together with students who have chosen the same position an
I a debate. Discuss your arguments and choose a spokesperson to prese
i students may wish to be moderators, asking questions of both sides.

I Clayoquot Sound 1--------------

1 Vanco~er Island's southwest coast I

I receives \ the heaviest rainfall in North I1

! America and the woodlands are as ''''''-'''-- It • ..-

I dense and jungle-like as the famous i

i' ~a:~:~es~i n~~r:~~t:f Ac~a~~~~o:h ~o~~d I

, has developed over 14000 years and I

i today is home to a vast variety of plant I

1 and animal life. Conservationists are
1
determined to save the complex web of
I life in this forest.
' Logging has been going on in
I Clayoquot Sound since the beginning
1
,1

,1
of the twentieth century, but the cam-
I, paign against it has bee n strongest over
the past 20 years. The BC government
I has set aside some areas as parkland
I and has limited logging, but this deci-
i sion pleased neither the 'conservation-
ists nor the loggers. Immediately after
the government announced its decision,
people (including students, parents,
grandparents, business owners, pro-
fessionals, and others who rarely take
actions against the law) staged demon-
strations and blocked loggers' access to 1______-------------
the forest along the Pacific Rim Hi g hway. Old-growth red cedar in CIa
The demonstrators' main concern was
clear-cutting, where all the trees in an
area are cut down, leaving little of the irreplaceable old-growth t
original forest. standing far into the futur,
For the loggers, the issue is their live- ers need them today.
lihood. There are families who depend Adaptation of "Clayoquot: WhE
on the forests of Clayoquot Sound and Falls " from Beautiful British Coil
people who feel they have a right to the ir zine , Vo!. 36, No. 2, Summer 19S
! jobs. While conservationists want the permission of Bruce Obee .
I
I
L _______________________ ,_____________________________________________________ ~ ______________._, _________________.__________________________ _
 Vancouver

Vancouv er Harb our at night

Vancouver is a busy, thriving city. Bordered by the itself. To the north is North Vancouver, and to
Pacific Ocean, the Coast Mountains, and the Fraser the west of North Van, as the locals call it, is West
Valley, it has an ideal location for many reasons. Vancouver or West Van. West Vancouver is home
With its excellent harbour, it is an important port to many of the wealthier citizens of the city and
for ships coming in from all over the world. The has an exclusive area called the British Properties.
railroad also brings grain from the prairies, iron Immediately east of Vancouver, you find munici-
ore and coal from mines in various provinces, and palities including Burnaby, Coquitlam, New
lumber from BC and Alberta lumberyards. These Westminster, and, further south, Surrey. Some
goods are then loaded onto ships for transport to areas to the south of Vancouver are Richmond,
Japan, Russia, China, and other destinations. White Rock, and Delta. Half the population of the
The same trains load manufactured goods for province lives in this Metro Vancouver area.
shipment to the rest of Canada. Vancouver is one of
Canada's main centres for exporting and importing. Culture and Sightseeing
Vancouver has grown remarkably in recent
years. Today Metro Vancouver includes many dif- In addition to having a healthy labour market for
ferent municipalities in one large area. Surrounding those in search of work, Vancouver has much to
the harbour to the south is the city of Vancouver offer its visitors including museums, art galleries,
 The Pa,

theatres, parks, and unique neighbourhoods. most striking works of art i:

Granville Market in the False Creek area of the and the First Men, a huge wc
harbour is an attractive place to shop or visit. It has ing an image from a Haida c
many little gift shops and galleries in addition to If you like flowers, t
the market. The market features great quantities of Gardens has beautiful gal
fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, seafood, and baked around a restored quarry. v
goods. You may even want to rent a kayak there can go into the greenhOUSE
and see the si~ts from a different perspective- there. On Saturday mornin~
on the sea. So e people drive their cars into the do their Tai Chi together in
area, but parkin is difficult. Other visitors pre- Another attraction is Ca-
fer to come on water taxis, the tiny boats which originally built for Expo 86
shuttle back and forth across the harbour to the structure. The architect w
West End. elled it after an ocean linE
Both visitors and Vancouverites like to visit lowing white sails and a c
Stanley Park and see the dolphins and whales in Place houses a hotel, store
the Vancouver Aquarium there, or walk on one Convention Centre.
of the many trails through the old cedar forests.
Many people also stop and have tea at the tea
house on Ferguson Point. This is a great place for
photographers to take pictures of the Lions Gate
Bridge, the swans on the lagoon, or the ships in
the harbour. If you want a more active approach
to sightseeing, you can go walking or jogging on
the seawall which surrounds the park.
Want more shopping? Try Robson Street with
its many different shops for tourists and locals
alike, or Granville Street which passes through
the centre of the city. Some like Gastown with its
steam clock and interesting boutiques. Those who
cannot afford Gastown go a little further into one
of the best Chinatowns in Canada, where there
are bargains everywhere and many interesting
cultural displays. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical
Chinese Garden in the Ming dynasty style, for
example, is the only garden of its kind outside
China. The neighbourhood is also lively during the
Chinese New Year celebration with the Vancouver
Chinese Lion Dance, a parade, and many deli-
cious traditional foods in the restaurants.
If shopping is not your interest, visit the
Museum of Anthropology (MOA) on the grounds
of the University of British Columbia (UBC). In this
very beautiful building, you will see one of the best
collections in the world of art and artifacts from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Cl
various Northwest Coast First Nations. One of the
 While Vancouver has as many cars as any large
city, many Vancouverites and tourists alike appre-
ciate the SkyTrain system for getting around.
These trains fly over the city. The Canada Line
was built in preparation for the 2010 Olympics, to
carry visitors from the airport to the athletes' vil-
lage or many other destinations in Vancouver. It is
a fast and inexpensive way for anyone to get from
the airport into the city.
If you are a skier, Whistler is a very popular
spot north of Vancouver that attracts many during
the winter ski season. Sailing is another popu-
lar sport in this coastal city, and it is a beautiful
sight to sit on the beach at English Bay and watch
people sailing and kayaking. For a different rec-
reational activity, many places in and around the
city have hiking trails and beautiful parks and
beaches for all, including the well-known Wreck
Beach just below the UBC campus. At this beach,
Whistler, British Columbia
clothing is optional. ,---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------

'------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------,

COMPREHENSION CHECK I

i
o Name one important export which leaves Canada from Vancouver. !
i
• What are two locations where tourists to Vancouver might like to shop for gifts? I
I

e What happens at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens on Saturday mornings?

i
!
e Name some recreational activities Vancouverites and visitors enjoy in and around the city.
I
VOCABULARY I
:

I
port a city where ships can load and unload
I
!
exclusive upper-class
galleries places where works of art are displayed and sold
perspective a way of seeing
shuttle (v) move people or things from one location to another and back again
lagoon a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank, coral
ree{ or other barrier
I
boutiques small shops which generally specialize in one type of merchandise, such I
as women's fashions or household decorations I
L_______________._________________________._____________________________________________ ____________________________________________J
 The Pac

'l

anthropology the study of humankind, how it developed, its societies, c

artifacts human-made objects
quarry an open-air excavation (dig) where stone is removed fO I
optional not required

USING NEW WORDS

\
Fill in each blank with a word from the Vocabulary section.
o The ferry\was used to cars across the small river becaus
no bridge.
• Many conflicts are easily resolved if both people try to see the _ __
other.
_ _ _ _ _ _ are often more expensive than department stores becc
are unique.
Et Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto are Canada's other large _ _ _ _ __
o It is more expensive to buy original paintings from than
directly because galleries take a percentage of the sale price.
" The stones for this old building were taken from the nearby _ _ __
f) While sunscreen is for sunbathers, it is highly recommel
you from UV rays.
fa) Every city has at least one (very expensive) neighbourh(
is yours?
f) The calm was a perfect place for a swim.
~ Margaret Mead is well-known for her studies in _ _ _ _ __
4D Stone Age tools are a few of the which teach us
early ancestors.

ROLE PLAY

You work in the tourist information office in Vancouver. A visitor comes ir

about what there is to see and do in the city. The visitor is interested in t
» art galleries, especially Northwest Coast First Nations art
» whale-watching
» sampling some fresh Pacific salmon
» photography, especially photos of interesting sites of the city
» gift shopping

Roleplay the conversation. Work in pairs. Find a map of Vancouver online. L

out and discuss some of the interesting sites.
 - -~--- ~. l- ~L it

: ~~~j:T"
Chapter 6 - ~'€~~;"';
~:3~~ __
-- ~ <.

MAKING CONTACT

If you live in Vancouver or you visit there, here are some other suggestions for how you
might want to,get to know the city and its people a little better.
» Walk the seawall in the west end starting at English Bay and going towards Stanley Park.
Sit down on one of the many park benches and talk to others who join you. Ask them
what there is to see and do in Vancouver.

» Take a drive out to Steveston Harbour on a Sunday morning and buy fresh fish from the
fishermen right off their boats. Ask them what it is like to be a fisherman on the west
coast. Try the sablefish (also called Black Cod) if they have it. It is very delici~us .
» Buya cup of coffee at one of the many coffee shops in the city and talk to someone
else who is alone. You will see many people sitting outside the coffee shop watching
everyone go by. Many will be happy to speak with you.
» Visit the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and ask the staff
there questions about Aboriginal art, or go to the nearby UBC Botanical Garden and ask
about flowers native to the area.

Victoria
Approximately one and a half hours by ferry from It is located near the legislative buildings in the
Vancouver is the capital city of Victoria. A rela- harbour area.
tively small but busy city of a third of a million Another aspect of Victoria's British origins are
people, Victoria is definitely one of the warmest its bed and breakfasts (often called B & Bs). These
cities in Canada's cold winters. If you want to be a are homes which rent out bedrooms, many with
gardener, enjoy whale-watching, or just plain do their own bathroom, and give the guests whole-
not like cold weather, this is the place to be. some and delicious breakfasts in the morning.
The ferry rides to the city are an experience in The homes chosen to be bed and breakfasts are
themselves. The large ferries can take you, your very often large, antique homes with each bed-
car, and several hundred other people and cars room decorated in a unique manner, quite unlike
per trip. The ride across the channel is a scenic hotels. Bed and breakfasts allow you to meet and
one as the ferries pass by many of the beautiful talk to your hosts and other travellers during your
Gulf Islands. The ferry ride is also a pleasant way stay. They are a great way to learn about an area
to meet some interesting people. In summer, res- as people are generally very willing to share what
ervations are recommended for the ferries. they know. (Bed and breakfasts are also some-
Victoria was originally a British settlement times less expensive than a hotel and you have
and its British origins are still very evident in the opportunity to share breakfast with some very
the architecture, shops, and polite atmosphere interesting people.) Bed and breakfasts are also
of the city. In the summer, visitors line up to take available in many other parts of Canada.
high tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. High Just to the north of Victoria is one of the city's
tea is an old English custom which includes main attractions, the Butchart Gardens. These
the serving of tea, dainty sandwiches, scones, may be the most beautiful gardens in Canada and,
and sweets in the mid to late afternoon. The like the Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Vancouver,
Fairmont Empress Hotel is one of the magnifi- have been designed in what used to be an old
cent old hotels built by the railway companies quarry. While summer may be the best time to
to attract tourists in the early 1900s. The hotel see the flowers, the gardens are beautiful at any
was built in 1908 and has recently been restored . time of year and are even lit at night for those who
 The Pa

Butchart Gardens

prefer to go in the cool of evening. Midday in July Near the Butchart Gar
looks like a photographers' convention as bus- Butterfly Gardens, an in
loads of tourists come to this special spot. There where birds and butterfliE
are Japanese and Italian gardens, a rose garden, dance. They say it is good 11
and a spectacular sunken garden. on you!

- - - - - - -------------------.--------------.- ----.- ------ .- -

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Complete the following sentences.

o Victoria is a good place for whale-_ _ _ _ __
• Victoria is one of the cities in Canada .
., In order to get to Victoria, you can fly or take a _ _ _ _ __
e In the summer, visitors enjoy having at the Fairmont En
o If you want to meet people and learn about the place you are visiting,
stay at a _ _ _ _ __
" North of Victoria are the very beautiful _ _ _ _ _ _ Gardens.

VOCABULARY
channel a body of water which flows between two separate b ,
least one of which is usually an island
wholesome natural and healthy
abundance great quantity

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above. You will have to cap
the words. Do you know why?
o Fresh air, sunshine, and exercise give one a _ _ _ _ _ _ appetite .

• Four hundred years ago, there were buffalo in

there are only a few in wildlife preserves .
on the ~

., The water between England and Europe is called the English _ __

 FOR DISCUSSION

» Some Canadians are able to retire to communities where the weather is less harsh than
where they have always lived . It may mean leaving their families behind them. What do
you think of this idea and why?

» Meal times and customs vary c~nsiderably from culture to culture. Compa re your
eating customs with those of your classmates. In what ways are these customs most
appropriate to the climate and cultures from which they come?

Other Places of Interest

Haida Gwaii (formerly known as

the Queen Charlotte Islands)
Just off the coast of central BC are the beautiful
Haida Gwaii islands, the home of ancient rain-
forests and Aboriginal people who have lived in
harmony with nature on the islands for centuries.
Haida Gwaii means islands of the people. These
beautiful islands are the homeland of the Haida
Nation, and you .c an still see the remains of some
of its ancient villages today. Cruise ships make
a brief stop at the islands on their way north to
Alaska, while many young people prefer to take
their bicycles on the ferry so that they can cycle
through these lovely islands. Emily Carr, a well-
known west-coast artist, painted many of her
pictures here and in them you see the ancient
rainforest as we can see it today.

The Kootenays
In the extreme south and centre of the province,
you can find a number of very interesting commu-
nities along the Kootenay Lakes. The small city of
Nelson, surrounded on all sides by the majestic
Rockies, is an old railway town which has become
a chosen home for many diverse groups of people.
Nelson, like many other areas of BC is home to
Cedar, by Emily Carr
a Doukhobor community. Today's Doukhobors
 The Pa(

are descendants of immigrants who came from to vast numbers of tourists

Russia in search of religious freedom many years tourists come to frolic on thE
ago. Some are very conservative in following their large, cool Okanagan Lake. -
old religious customs, while others are indistin- the Ogopogo monster (a ver
guishable from their neighbours. which has never been prove
At the July 1st Canada Day celebration in lake and children are warn ,
Nelson, you can also see ranchers in their cow- far away from shore!
boy boots and hats, long-haired hippies who
settled in the Slocan and Kootenay areas in the
1960s, Wiccans (modern-day witches) in long
National and Prov:
black cloaks, as well as many other Canadians BC has a number of beautih
of all ethnicities. Beside the hamburger stand the mountains. On the prov
is an equally busy stand selling veggie burgers in nearby Alberta lie Jaspe
to the many vegetarians in the area. There are Parks. Yoho National Park
many New Age communities along the Kootenay In addition there are sevel
Lakes and, as a result, you find not only good parks with lovely campsites
vegetarian food but also high-quality bookstores early if they want to pitch a
with alternative collections of books and many And Ogopogo is not BC's
small industries producing arts and crafts for mountains, we are all cautio
sale. All in all, this is a very interesting area for a Sasquatch, a large hairy ere,
summer vacation. between human and ape. _
prints have been spotted ar
The Okanagan Valley of this hairy beast, the Sasq
himself (or herself) and has
These mountain areas a:
world and mountain climb(
their peaks. Less-skilled cl
wonderful hiking areas, as 1
to protect themselves from c
or other wild animals. OVE
register with the appropriatl
are encouraged to handle f
at night, all food is well a'
hoisted high into the air OVE
hikers wear bells on their ar
they are coming. In additic
Winery in the Okanagan Valley get between a mother bear,
Campers are also asked 1
fires, as many forest fires ar
Further west and north lies the hot, dry Okanagan fires are not extinguished
Valley where so much of western Canada's economy depends on its f
fruit and wine come from. The communities of fires can be extremely cost
Penticton, Kelowna, and Summerland play host and dangerous.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
iI
COMPREHENSION CHECK i
i
I
I
i
o Canada's version of Scotland's famous Loch Ness monster is the _ _ _ _ _ _ of i

Okanagan Lake. i
I

f) Canada's version of the abominable snowman (said to live in the Himalayas) is the
i
_ _ _ _ _ _ of BC's mountain areas .
• In what community can you find Doukhobors, older hippies, and Wiccans, among i
•

others?
e How do some hikers protect themselves from bears while hiking?
" Where did the Doukhobors originally come from?

VOCABULARY

indistinguishable unable to be seen apart from other things around it; the same as
its environment
hippies the name given to people in the 1960s who left traditional working
ways to live simply in nature
frolic play in a carefree manner, like a child
venture go forth, as in search of adventure
peaks tops of mountajns
hoist lift up
warn signal danger to
cub a baby bear
extinguish put out

USING NEW WORDS

o There are three nouns in the vocabulary list. What are they?
f) Here are four verbs from the vocabulary list: venture, hoist, warn, and extinguish. Fill in
the blanks below with the best verb.
_ _ _ _ into the unknown.
_ _ _ _ that match!
_ _ _ _ your neighbours that a storm is coming.
_ _ _ _ the sack into the truck.
All of these can be considered as commands. Make them into full sentences by adding
a subject.
• There is one adjective in the vocabulary list above. Which preposition does this
adjective take after it: in, to, with, or from? Complete the following sentence with the
adjective and the correct preposition.
Salt is almost sugar, unless you taste them!
i
I
________ •_________•______ ~ _ _ _ _ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _._1
 The Pal

[ ------ - - - - - - - - -- - - - ------------ -- - - - - - -------- - ---------- - - - - - - - ---------------------------

i FOR DISCUSSION

I
» People have many different ways to travel such as flying, going by train <
I
i cycling, or walking. Which ways, in your opinion, best enable you to enje
are passing through? Why?
» The hippie generation rejected what they saw as the workaday, materia l
of their parents' generation in favour of living communally and simply in
settings. Can you think of other groups of people who have rejected thE
their culture and chosen new ways of living? Have you ever wanted to de
really different from what your parents expected you to do?

» Camping is a recreational activity enjoyed by many Canadians in the SI

you camped? If so, discuss your camping adventures with your classm,
stops you?
i
i CHAPTER REVIEW

I Unscramble the following words found in this chapter's vocabulary lis1

I given on the right.
I • march (when you have this, you can often get you what
I
! f.) buh (the centre of activity)
!
i • loocegists (people who want to save old trees)
I e dimn (I don't ~ do you?)
I et darce (an evergreen)

1 ;. :i:~~C:o (V~~~tO;:;eign)·
1 '=" shrah (a characteristic of winter on the Atlantic coast)
I f) yamlb (a characteristic of winter on the Pacific coast)
I
1

~ ropt (Vancouver and Halifax are both called _ _ citie~

i • rawn (you need to _ _ someone of danger!)
I f) pihieps (These flower children of the 'sixties sang, "All y<

I (You can find the answers on page 251 at the back of the book.)
L_________.___ ___________________~_________________
-
 7
Chapter Seven

The Prairie
Provinces
Quick Facts
Alberta
» Alberta joined Confederation in 1905.
» The province has a population of
approximately 3.8 million.

» The two major urban centres are Edmonton

and Calgary.

» Primary industries include oil and gas,

agriculture, and pulp and paper.

» The provincial flower is the wild rose; the

provincial bird is the great-horned owl.

Saskatchewan
» Saskatchewan also joined Confederation in 1905.

» It has a population of approximately 1 million.

» Primary industries are farming and mining.

» Saskatchewan has two major urban centres,

Saskatoon and Regina.

» The provincial flower is the western red lily; the

provincial bird is the sharp-tailed grouse.

Manitoba
» Manitoba joined Confederation in 1870.

» The province's population is approximately

1.3 million.

» The capital city is Winnipeg, the only large city

in Manitoba .

» Primary industries are manufacturing,

agriculture, food production, and mining.

» The provincial flower is the prairie crocus; the

provincial bird is the great grey owl.
-T --
13

Introduction

I--J-
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- -- - ---~-----=~~:~e:-I -- ----------D - I
I I
i : I
! British : I
I Columbia ' I
i !
1 I
i i
I·I i
i

Ii I!

I I
! I
! i

i·"
I "',·" 0",,00
~I
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I
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IL _ _ _ _ ____________ .______________________________________________ _ _ _ ______________
0 ii
i'

The Prairie Provinces are often thought of as the and Calgary. These centres, along with
"bread basket" of Canada because of the amount Winnipeg in Manitoba, and Regina and
of wheat and other grains grown in their southern Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, are thriving cit-
regions. While the word prairie calls forth images ies with immigrants from every land counting
of dry, flat, monotonous lands, these three prov- themselves citizens. The rural areas were also
inces actually have a variety of landscapes ranging settled by people from many different countries
from the mountains bordering western Alberta, to such as Germany, Ukraine, Iceland, Denmark,
the tundra in the north, to the forests and streams Scotland, England, and Ireland where agricul-
of the Cypress Hills which straddle the Alberta- ture had played a large role in people's lives .
Saskatchewan border in the south. The forests in There are still communities where these cultures
the northern regions have not changed much over remain strong and intact. These immigrants
time, but the grassy hills of the southern prairies, came seeking freedom and opportunity. The
once covered with buffalo, have been turned to prairies of the west gave them both. Recently,
agricultural use. immigrants from many other countries have
Alberta is the most populated of the three added to the cultural mix.
provinces with two large urban centres, Edmonton
 The Prairie Provinces 133

Alberta
--- ------------------ - - --- - - - - - ---- - -- - -- -- ------- -----------------------,

Geography and Economy

Bounded by the Rockies on the west and the plains
of Saskatchewan on the east, Alberta is the prairie
province that has the greatest variety of geograph-
ical features . A visitor can find treeless prairie in
the south, spectacular ice-capped mountain peaks
in the west, rolling foothills east of the mountains,
and parkland of grass and trees in the north.
Alberta's climate is typical of the Prairie
Provinces: long, cold winters and short, hot sum-
mers. In the southern half of the province, the
much-appreciated chinook winds bring warmth
in the middle of winter to melt the snow. Spring
comes later than in most of Canada, usually not
Cattle r anching takes place t hroughout Alberta
until late April and May. September and October
are fall months and are enjoyed for good temper-
atures, gentle weather, and-after the first frost economy in Alberta and in Canada. The oil sands
comes-no mosquitoes! contain enough crude oil to make Canada sec-
With the variety of landscapes in the province ond only to Saudi Arabia in supplying oil to the
comes an equally diverse economy. There is grain world. On the one hand, the province receives a
farming in south and central Alberta. Vegetable lot of income from royalties on the oil extracted
farming in southern Alberta includes a large in Alberta. Many Albertans have jobs related
sugar-beet industry. Cattle ranching takes place to this resource and Americans get 15 percent
all over the province, but is on a particularly large of their oil supply from Alberta, much of which
scale in the High River area south of Calgary. The is from the oil sands. On the other hand, many
pulp and paper industry creates the bulk of the people are concerned about the environmental
jobs in the Hinton-Edson area west of Edmonton. damage done to the land and to Alberta's water
Lumber is cut from the vast stands of timber in supply due to the process which has been used
the north and west of the province. to extract the bitumen from the oil sands. This
Alberta's most important industry, however, is is a constant challenge for the industry and for
oil and gas. Since the first major oil discovery at the Alberta government. The industry keeps the
Leduc in 1947, the industry has grown and been a public informed as they continue to find and
major factor in the prosperity of the province. Today, use better ways to protect our water supply and
Alberta still has the lowest provincial income tax restore our land.
rate of any province in Canada and is the only prov- Manufacturing, such as food and chemi-
ince to remain free of a provincial sales tax. This is cal processing, and tourism are other important
a popular factor for tourists who come here from industries in the province. Greater Edmonton is
other parts of Canada for holidays and shopping. home to manufacturers of many chemicals and
The oil sands near Fort McMurray are a sig- plastics made from the material taken from the oil
nificant and controversial feature of today~s sands, as well as several oil refineries.
 Tourism is a major industry for Albertans, too, submarines, aquatic animals, a large hotel, and
as millions of tourists come to visit the Rocky over 800 shops and services with parking for
Mountain parks, such as Jasper and Banff, and 20 000 cars. If you drive there, you do not want to
Alberta's cities each year. forget where you parked! This unusual mall is the
amazing achievement of an immigrant family, the
The Sister Cities: Ghermezians, who came to Canada from Iran in
Edmonton and Calgary the 1960s and opened a carpet business.
Visitors to Edmonton in summer can also enj oy
Alberta's two largest cities are Edmonton and the many summer festivals held throughout July
Calgary, both healthy communities of similar size. and August, including the Edmonton Folk Music
They are sister cities, and like many sisters, they Festival and the Edmonton International Fringe
are always competing with each other. Both cities Theatre Festival (showcasing alternative theatre) .
are fiercely supportive of their hockey teams, the The Art Gallery of Alberta attracts many to the
Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. When city's downtown with its unique architecture, and
the Stanley Cup playoffs begin in the spring, Edmontonians enjoy the quality of the frequently
Albertans are glued to their TV sets to watch the changing exhibitions there. The Winspear Centre
games and cheer on their favourite team. hosts the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and
Edmonton, located in the centre of the prov- many other performers who appreciate a fine
ince and divided by the North Saskatchewan concert hall.
River, is Alberta's capital city. It is also the heart Calgary's crowning achievement was the host-
of the oil-refining and petrochemical industries ing of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Canada watched
in the province. The metropolitan area has a with pride as thousands of Calgarian volunteers
population of 1.3 million and is an ethnic mosaic. made the world feel welcome. A city of 1 090000
People from all over the world have come to live people, Calgary has a thriving business commu-
in Edmonton. One of the earliest groups- who nity with head offices for m any American firms
came in the late 1800s and early 1900s-the doing business in Canada. It is also the location
Ukrainians, still have a major presence in the for many Canadian industries concerned w ith oil
city and its surrounding area. Thanks to them, and gas or agriculture.
Edmontonians are all familiar with cabbage rolls
and perogis!
Edmonton has many features of a large and
thriving centre. It has the largest of Alberta's uni-
,-------
I
I
,

versities, the University of Alberta, which has a !

full-time enrollment of nearly 40 000 students. I
In 2009, Grant MacEwan College, also located in
Edmonton, became Grant MacEwan University.
i
The city plays host to the Edmonton Oilers hockey
team, which won the Stanley Cup four times in II
five seasons from 1984 to 1988 with the leadership
of the now-legendary Wayne Gretzky or "Number i
99." The other team of which Edmontonians have I
been proud through the years is the Edmonton
Eskimos football team, which plays in the
Canadian Football League (CFL) .
A favourite spot for visitors to Edmonton is I
the West Edmonton Mall, one of the largest shop- ------------~
ping centres in the world. It has an indoor water
Th e Art Gallery of Albert a in Edmonton
park, an ice rink for skating, an amusement park,
 The Prairie Provinces 135

The people of Calgary still enjoy the excel- and Peace River in the northern part of the prov-
lent sports facilities built for the 1988 Olympics, ince. Fort MacMurray joins these smaller centres
such as the famous Olympic Saddledome. The as a rapidly growing service community for the oil
National Hockey League's Calgary Flames play in sands industries in Alberta's north.
this unique arena, which has a roof in the shape
of a saddle to reflect the city's cattle driving his- Rocky Mountain Parks
tory. The Stampeders football team also draws
many fans to its CFL games. Visitors interested Alberta is fortunate to have many national and
in history can go to the Glenbow Museum, which provincial parks, including the world-famous
has an impressive collection on the history of the Jasper and Banff National Parks. Jasper is a four-
Canadian west and its Aboriginal peoples. hour drive from Edmonton or a pleasant stop on
Like Edmonton, Calgary boasts two fine uni- the train west to Vancouver. Motorists can drive
versities' the University of Calgary and the newer the breathtakingly beautiful stretch of high-
Mount Royal University, formerly known as way between Jasper and Banff and stop at the
Mount Royal College. Columbia Icefield or Lake Louise, only two of
For years, a source of celebration and tourist dol- many exceptional places to visit. Lake Louise is
lars for Calgarians has been the Calgary Stampede, famous for the lovely green colour of its waters.
a large, old-fashioned rodeo where cowboys and The Columbia Icefield is 325 square kilometres
cowgirls compete for prizes in steer-riding, bull- of glacial ice and snow formed over thousands of
riding, and chuckwagon racing. Meanwhile, the years. Visitors to the Icefield take the trip across
public welcomes the opportunity to wear cow- the large glacier in specially designed buses with
boy hats (called stetsons) and enjoy country and gigantic tires. In the winter, the ski slopes of Banff
western music and dancing. The Stampede, as it's and Jasper attract skiers from all over the world.
called by Albertans, has stood the test of time, and Further south near the American border is
honours the ranching roots of southern Alberta. Waterton Lakes National Park, a smaller but
Calgary's proximity to Banff (it is only one and equally lovely park in the Rockies. Waterton bor-
a half hours by car), as well as its lovely riverside ders Glacier National Park in the US, home to a
parks, make it a pleasant city in which to live. significant number of grizzly bears. Grizzlies are
Spruce Meadows is an internationally known known for their unpredictability and are consid-
and very popular equestrian show-jumping facil- ered the largest and most dangerous of the bears
ity that attracts the finest riders and their horses in Canadian parks.
from all over the world. It is located on the south-
west fringe of Calgary. The track is beautifully i--------------------------------------------l
! I
laid out and spectators come year round to visit
this facility.
Calgarians elected Canada's first Muslim
I i

I I
mayor, Naheed Nenshi, in 2010. A former pro- I
I
!
I
fessor at Mount Royal University, N enshi had a I i
strong message and packaged it in diverse social I I
i I
media, which many feel may have won him the I I
election. He reached out to the younger genera-
tion' many of whom had never before bothered to
vote, and they said, "Yes!"
Other cities of importance in Alberta are
Lethbridge (Alberta'S southernmost city and the
site of the University of Lethbridge); Red Deer, half-
way between Edmonton and Calgary; Medicine
L_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _J
Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Lakes
National Park
Hat in the southeastern corner; and Grande Prairie
Dinosaurs, Badlands, r
1 " : - - - - - - - - - - -- - ----I
and Hoodoos
I
Archaeologists think of dinosaurs when they I I
think of Alberta. The badlands area in south-
1 I
ern Alberta around Red Deer and Drumheller is ,:

;,!

one of the largest sites of dinosaur fossils in the I

world. The story of these ancient dinosaurs is told i I
at the famous Royal Tyrrell Museum northwest of
Dinosaur Provincial Park. When you see the hoo-
doos-tall, thin sandstone pillars-in this area,
you can easily imagine these large reptilian crea-
tures wandering about the land. Two large valleys
1__________________= ===_ _=:
in this area also provide spectacularly unusual Dinosaur skelet on at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in
scenery for tourists. Drumheller

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Ask a question that will give you each answer below.

0 oil and gas

•e Ghermezian family
the 1988 Winter Olympics
0 Wayne G retzky
0 a rodeo
0 Dinosaur Provincial Park

VOCABULARY

be glued to (the TV) watch (the TV) for hours at a time

monotonous with little variety, boring
bounded by bordered by; on the boundary of
foothills low, rounded hills found between mountain and lowland or prairie
landscapes
frost white, frozen dew coating the ground at night and found on windows
on a large scale in large measure; usually referring to human activity
bulk of majority of
vast of very great size, or many in number
timber trees destined to be cut for lumber
prosperity state of wealth and success
roughly approximately, about
straight without interruption
 The Prairie Provinces 137

:~------------------------------------------------------I

1 I
! perogis small Ukrainian boiled dumplings with a flour pastry on the outside and I
: various fillings such as cottage cheese or potato and bacon. They are I
usually served with sour cream. I
legendary famous for extraordinary achievements I
proximity to closeness to I
breathtakingly surprisingly, amazingly; enough to take o.ne's breath away i
t
!
exceptional unusually good, outstanding I
glacier large, slowly moving, ancient body of ice i:
I
gigantic huge, unusually large in size
I
slopes hills and mountainsides with trails for skiing
dinosaurs very large reptiles of the ancient past which are now extinct (have died out)
I
badlands flat, dry, desert-like land in the prairies; often with hoodoo land
formations near old, dried-out riverbeds
fossils the remains or impressions of a plant or animal hardened in rock I
I
USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above. I
o During spring break, those high-school students who can afford it often go to the ski I:
_ _ _ _ _ _ in Alberta and BC.
8 There is a lot of ranching done in the _ _ _ _ _ _ of Alberta. I
i
8 Canada is three different oceans to the north, east, and west, and by i
the United States (US) to the south.
e Giving birth to a child can be _ _ _ _ _ _ painful.
o Canada has _ _ _ _ _ _ areas of wilderness .
I
o One cabinetmaker can make relatively few cupboards, but a factory can produce them I
I
I
8 The person who owns the land also owns the _ _ _ _ _ _ growing on that land. i
I
G The three Prairie Provinces are _ _ _ _ _ _ similar in size. I
o The man had gone 15 years _ _ _ _ _ _ without having a drink of alcohol.
G Be sure to pick your tomatoes before the first _ _ _ _ _ _'
I

FOR DISCUSSION 1
!
!I
» Why do you think that dinosaurs became extinct? i
!
» Wh at are some advantages and disadvantages of having a mega-mall in your city?

» Most communities have some sort of summer celebration such as a rodeo or a festival.
I
Wh at is the main purpose of these events? Does your community have one? What about
th e community you used to live in? Compare your experiences of these celebrations with II
those of your classmates. i
I

I
» As w ater becomes a more and more precious commodity, some business people want
to bottl e water from the glaciers in _~_~~ar~:~~:~~hat ~o yo~~~~~ of th~~__~dea?__ J
 - - - ~,~7-~
,"~~~$"'''

13 Chapter 7 . - _'Ct1fi~"
,, - ~:!~~~'-

Saskatchewan
- - - - - - ------i
When people think of Saskatchewan, they think
of golden fields of grain blowing gently under
blue summer skies. They think of peaceful small
towns with the inevitable grain elevator beside
the railroad track, although the old wooden grain
elevators are fast disappearing. Saskatchewan is
defined by its farming communities. The number
of farms, however, has been declining since the
beginning of the century. Falling prices, rising
costs, and challenges such as BSE (bovine spon-
giform encephalopathy, a disease cows can catch)
were all difficult and discouraging for farmers . In
Saskatchewan, everyone cares about the farmers
because, if the farmers have a bad year, everyone
has a bad year! The Qu'appelle Valley in southern Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is one of the largest wheat pro-
ducers in the world and definitely the largest in
Canada. Other seeds and grains of importance Celsius, while in July it is 26.3 degrees. That is
to the economy are canola, rye, oats, barley, and quite a difference! Saskatoon, which is a little fur-
flax. These grains are grown on the fertile prairie ther north, is slightly cooler in summer, and one
land in the southern third of the province. Oil and degree colder in the winter.
potash, which is used in the production of fertil- The seasons on the prairies are very dis-
izers, are also important resources. Saskatchewan tinct, and Saskatchewan's weather is much like
is the largest exporter of potash in the world. In Alberta's, although the south can get hotter in
the rugged Canadian Shield of the north, valuable summer, as it is further from the mountains.
minerals such as gold, copper, and uranium are In the Prairie Provinces (and across Canada),
mined. The recent exploration and development of two temperatures are often gi en in the weather
oil fields in Saskatchewan is the new and exciting report during the winter- the temperature on
change in the economy. The government is moving the thermometer and another, hich includes the
slowly to avoid mistakes, for this huge resource in wind chilL If there is a strong wind blowing in
Saskatchewan promises bounty in the years ahead. cold weather, the temperature feels much, much
The province has some beautiful parkland colder than what it sa s on the thermometer. If the
area as welL The Qu'Appelle Valley in southern temperature is minus 2 degrees, the wind chill
Saskatchewan has some pleasant green hills and might be minus 32 degrees if it's a little windy.
lakes, a welcome respite from the flat, dry south- Canadians get used to dressing warmly for prairie
ern landscape. Various other prairie lakes dot the winters because, on a cold da , exposed skin can
province and provide pleasant camping areas for freeze in minutes !
city dwellers who want to relax in the country. Saskatchewan has a personality all its own.
Most people are surprised to learn that 12 percent Shaped perhaps b the harshness of the Depression
of the province's area is covered by freshwater years, when everyone was poor, the people of
lakes, streams, and rivers. Saskatchewan learned how to stick together, to
Like its neighbours, Saskatchewan has a con- help one another. During the "Dirty Thirties,"
tinental climate: hot in the summer and cold in as those hard years were called, the cooperative
the winter. In the city of Regina, the average day- movement was strengthened by the creation of the
time temperature in January is minus 11 degrees Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Farmers had not been
 The Prairie Provinces 139

getting fair prices for their crops and so they agreed Saskatoon is the province's largest city with
to sell their wheat to a Wheat Pool at a fair price and more than 265000 people. The South Saskatchewan
then the Wheat Pool would sell it to buyers. This River, which passes through the city, is spanned
was the foundation for Saskatchewan's election of by seven bridges and so Saskatoon is often called
the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the The City of Bridges. In fact, the city gets its name
first socialist government in North America, in from the Cree word for the delicious wild berries
1944. Tommy Douglas, premier of Saskatchewan that grow in the area, known as saskatoon berries.
from 1944 to 1961 and then leader of the newly (If you have never tasted saskatoon pie and saska-
created New Democratic Party from 1961 to 1971, toon jam, you do not know what you are missing!)
was also the champion of public healthcare and is Saskatoon is also the business and service centre
known by Canadians as the Father of Medicare. for the central and northern parts of the province.
Both the minerals from the north and the farm
Regina and Saskatoon products of the south pass through the city.
Like Regina, Saskatoon is a cultural centre with
Saskatchewan's two main cities are Regina, the theatres, art galleries, music halls, and museums,
capital city, and Saskatoon. Regina has a popu- including two museums dedicated to Ukrainian cul-
lation of over 215 000 and is the corporate cen- ture. A museum on the grounds of the University of
tre of the province. Because Regina is located Saskatchewan celebrates one of the province's most
in such a dry area, a reservoir was deepened to famous citizens, John Diefenbaker. Diefenbaker
create Wascana Lake. Today the 920 hectares of was prime minister of Canada in the 1950s. An
lake and park area are the heart of the city, and attractive, well-planned city, most residents agree
the Wascana Centre includes the Legislative that Saskatoon is a very good place to live.
Building, the University of Regina, an arts centre,
art gallery, and museum.
All Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
The Cypress Hills:
officers in the country receive their basic training An Oasis in the South
in Regina. Canadians commonly call these police
officers "Mounties." The RCMP Musical Ride is
famous all over the world. In their scarlet dress
uniforms, the officers make a magnificent pic-
ture as they put their black horses through their
paces to the beat of lively music. Regina also has a
museum that traces the history of the RCMP.

i
I

i_____________ _ _ __ _ _ _ _____~!

One surprising little corner of Saskatchewan is

the Cypress Hills in the extreme southwest of
the province. This is a pleasant oasis of green
hills and valleys. The area is home to some spe-
cies of plant and animal life not found anywhere
else in Canada-a small scorpion, for example.
Unlike the dry prairies which surround the area,
Saskatoon is often called the City of Bridges the Cypress Hills region has many fresh water
springs which nurture its green slopes.
 COMPREHENSION CHECK

8 Why are grain elevators located beside the railway tracks in Saskatchewan?
8 If the farmers have a bad year, why does everyone in the community have a bad year?
• What happens to exposed skin on a very cold winter today if a person is not dressed
appropriately?
e How did the difficult conditions of the "Dirty Thirties" prompt political change in
Saskatchewan?
o Where does Canada's federal police force receive its training?

VOCABULARY

inevitable sure to occur; unavoidable

livestock animals which are raised for food
canola a plant used for making edible oil
respite rest or relief
continental climate climate with wide seasonal variations in temperature
wind chill the temperature which takes into account the additional feeling
of cold created by winter winds
expose reveal or leave uncovered
put through paces an idiom which means to require to perform a series of actions
spanned extended across
oasis 1. a fertile spot in the midst of a dry, inhospitable area
2. a place of calm in the midst of chaos
springs flows of water rising naturally from the earth
medicare the name Canadians have for universal healthcare as a right of
all Canadians

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
8 The first thing John wanted to do on Christmas Day was _ _ _ _ _ _ his new
computer its . (an idiom)
8 By law, Iranian women must not their hair in public; they must cover
theirhair~
• In Banff, there are n~tural hot which smell like sulphur but are said to be
very healthy to bathe) in.
e
o
world. 2
One's home should tJe an

In most \c~ are not allowed to raise

away from the pressures of the workaday

in your yard.
o Success is almost for the person who believes in himself or herself, is
honest and kind to others, and works hard.
 The Prairie Provinces 141

fj When the mother turned on the radio and heard what the factor was,
she quickly put scarves and mittens on her children before they left for school.
o Hawaii has a tropical climate while the prairies have a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

MIX AND MATCH

Match each seed or grain listed below with one of its common uses on the right.
oats used for making linen
wheat tastes great in beef soup
canola a favourite hot breakfast cereal
flax used for making whisky
rye the most common ingredient in bread
barley used fo r making cooking oil

FOR DISCUSSION

» How can you protect yourself from frostbite in the cold winter months?
» Read sentence number 6 in the Using New Words section. Do you agree or disagree
with this statement? Why?

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

How do places get their names? Often, a name tells us about a place's history, its
environment, or its people. How did the Qu'Appelle Valley get its name? Qu'appelle
is French for who calls. The story behind the name comes from an Aboriginal legend.
Paddling his canoe across Katepwa Lake, a young warrior heard his dying lover call his
name. When he was told of her death, he was so stricken with grief that he drowned
himself in the lake. People say their voices can still be heard in the wind that blows
through the valley.
» Find o~tb.alQllowing prairie places got their names and then share the story with a
part9-er. The book Prac~Names of Canada and the Canadian Encyclopedia website are
useful resources for this e)~ rcise .
Regina, Saskatchewan Selkirk, Manitoba
Medicine Hat, Alberta Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Winnipeg, Manitoba Portage-la-Prairie, Manitoba
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

» There is a large First Nations population in Saskatchewan and they have a very
interesting history. You may want to go on line and research Big Bear (Mi~tahimaskwa)
and Poundmaker (Pitikwahanapiwiyin). Both were highly respected Cree chiefs in the I
days when the treaties were being signed and the Northwest Rebellion was underway
I in the late nineteenth century. i
l__________._______.______.__._______________.________________________.___________.___________________._________________.______.____._______~
 Manitoba
Manitoba is the oldest of the Prairie Provinces, Manufacturing is Manitoba's largest industry and
and while it is similar to its neighbours in some products include foods, transportation equipment,
ways, it is very different in others. The province clothing and textiles, and machinery. Agriculture
has a colourful history and is well-known for its is the second-largest industry, followed by the food
Red River settlers and the Red River Rebellion in industrJ" mining, and construction.
1870. Louis Riel is remembered as a hero by the Manitoba has a population of 1.2 million,
Metis people for standing up for their rights. He with 760000 people living in Winnipeg, the capi-
was hanged as a traitor by the Canadian govern- tal city. Located only a short distance from the
ment, but is remembered with respect for gaining United States border, Winnipeg is nonetheless the
Manitobans rights they might not otherwise have heart of Manitoba.
had: the official use of French and English, the
right to Catholic and Protestant schools, and the Winnipeg: Heart of Manitoba
right of the Metis people to vote.
Prairie landscape makes up only about one-fifth Like Canada's other large urban centres,
of Manitoba and is found in the south and south- Winnipeg is an ethnically diverse city. More than
west. Much of the north is Canadian Shield, and 38 000 people of Filipino origins live in the city,
there is tundra in the far northeast. Agriculture, for example, and the Filipino community is not
while still significant, is perhaps a little less the only one in Winnipeg to maintain a strong
important in the province than peopl&may think. sense of its ethnic heritage. Approximately 40
000 people in the Winnipeg region identify
themselves as francophone. The Mennonites,
a religious group originally from Germany, are
another strong community in southern Manitoba
and have their national Mennonite Central
Committee offices in Winnipeg.
Many countries have consulates in the city,
and there is strong support for learning heritage
languages. The University of Manitoba offers
credit courses for teachers wanting to learn how
to teach heritage languages. In many schools,
children can participate in heritage language pro-
grams after regular school hours.
The city supports two dynamic universities, the
older University of Manitoba in the south of the
city, and the newer but very successful University
of Winnipeg located in the downtown area.
Like Regina, Winnipeg has very hot summers
and very cold winters. The average temperature
in January during the day is minus 13.2 degrees
Celsius, while at night it is minus 23.6 degrees-
and that is without the wind chill! In addition, it
is often very humid in Winnipeg due to the pres-
ence of Lake Winnipeg to the north. The humidity
makes it seem even hotter in summer and colder
Statue of Louis Riel in Winnipeg
in winter than it actually is.
 The Prairie Provinces 143

Lake Winnipeg is a popular place during the billions of dollars in rebuilding. The 1950 flood
summer months when thousands ofWinnipeggers caused a state of emergency to be declared and
escape the heat to go to their cabins on Grand led to the building of this spectacular engineer-
Beach or just drive up to spend the day at the ing feat. It extends a distance of 47 kilometres and
beach. Some people say you will not see nicer fine, cost 63 billion dollars to construct when com-
white sand dunes anywhere. The park there gets pleted in 1968. It is estimated that the floodway
so crowded that it sometimes has to be closed to has saved over 10 billion dollars since it was built.
additional visitors. There are many other lakes and It is second only to the Panama Canal in terms of
parks in Manitoba for summer recreation. the amount of earth that needed to be moved to
The city of Winnipeg also has many parks and build it. In 2008, an expansion project was begun
three rivers passing through it. Unfortunately, to widen the floodway and dramatically increase
most of the land around~ ~;ers is privately the level of flood protection.
owned with no public acc_~~~~he city's largest
park is Assiniboine Park, which Has a zoo, botan- Other Areas of Interest
ical gard~ns, and bike trails. OICler than other
prairie cities, Winnipeg has some wonderful his- Manitoba's second-largest city is Brandon, located
toric architecture. on the Assiniboine River in the south. The city is a
A favourite gathering place for Winnipeggers service centre for the fertile farmlands of southern
year-round is The Forks. This downtown spot Manitoba, has a small university, and is close to
has been a gathering place for over 6000 years. many lakes and parks in the surrounding region.
Archaelogists have found evidence of Aboriginal To the south of Brandon on the Canada-US bor-
encampments and there is an interpretive centre der is the International Peace Garden, which is
onsite for those interested in this early history. meant to symbolize good relations between the
There is also a marketplace, hotet restaurants and two countries.
coffee shops, a children's museum, and year-round A community of special interest in the north is
attractions of interest to the whole community. Churchill, a port on Hudson Bay. This is Canada's
Winnipeg has gained recognition as a major only seaport on the Arctic Ocean and is open
cultural centre in the country, though it is smaller for navigation just three months of the year.
in population than Canada's other large cities, Adventurous tourists who go there may see polar
including Edmonton and Calgary. Winnipeg has bears, beluga whales, and other interesting wild-
not only Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, but life. The beluga whales feed at the mouth of the
also an active symphony association, a thriving Churchill River, and the polar bears gather in the
theatre community in both English and French, fall to wait for the bay to freeze before they go out
and a lovely concert hall. Folklorama is a summer onto the ice to hunt.
festival celebrating the diverse cultures which
make up the city.
Have you ever wondered where Canada's money
is made? The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg
makes the coins we use every day. Winnipeg also
has the distinction of being at the geographical
centre of Canada, in spite of the fact that most peo-
ple think of Ontario as "central" Canada.
One other very interesting feature of
Winnipeg is the large floodway that diverts water
excess from the Red River and channels it back
into the river east of the city. Winnipeg sits flat
at a low elevation, and has suffered major spring
Polar bear s in Chur chill
and summer floods many times at a cost of
 ----- - -~-------- . :>,,~~;;.ti'

• _ _ -l- .!ii"'"
.' ~- }',.~

14 Chapter 7 . ~)~"
. ,,;-:;:
T.

.
,~.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.-----------1
I

COMPREHENSION CHECK

I
8 Louis Riel was a member of what community? I
I
f) What is the primary industry in Manitoba? II
!
1 o What major project was completed in 1968 and has saved over 10 billion dollars since
i
its completion?
What is the name of the place where Canadian coins are manufactured? I
0 !
43
I1

i What is the name of a port in Manitoba and how many months of the year is it open !i
I
i for ships?
Ii
I VOCABULARY ii
I
i traitor a person thought to have betrayed the government or the people
I
Mennonites a religious group which originally fled persecution in Germany
i I
I dynamic very alive and active
I humid warm and damp; humidity describes the degree of moisture in the air
I access a means of approach or entrance I!
i
i shifting moving !
Ii
I fertile productive !
I symbolize represent I
l navigation the activity of setting a course, as for shipping on water
I

USING NEW WORDS

"il

I Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.

! 8 Only the bank manager and her assistant had _ _ _ _ _ _ to the safe.
I f) Once a person is known to be a , people do not trust him or her.
The air was so that his glasses became steamy.
The _ _ _ _ _ _ Iand produces vegetables and fruits, which are not only tasty but
11" : also healthy.
ii 0 A individual is more likely to succeed in a job interview than a person
1 who shows no energy at all.
Ii 0 There is usually a _ _ _ _ _ _ of values from generation to generation because the
, world is always changing .
I 8 The colours of a country's flag are always meant to _ _ _ _ _ _ things that will
i inspire citizens to patriotism (love of country).

I FOR DISCUSSION
I
1
1 » Louis Riel was hanged as a traitor and yet most people today regard him as a hero. Why
1 was he regarded as a traitor in the past? Can you think of other situations where time has
I changed public opinion about a person or event?
I:I » Do you think that lakeshore and riverside property should belong to private individuals
or be available for use by all the people in a community? Why?
!
L_________
 The Prairie Provinces 145

RESEARCH AND WRITE

» The following people are all famous Canadians from Manitoba. Choose one and do
some research to find out more about the person and why he or she is famous. Write a
short profile about the individual's life and accomplishments.
Evelyn Hart Margaret Laurence Ovide Mercredi
Gabrielle Roy Arthur Meighen Edward Shreyer

CHAPTER REVI EW

What is an animal you might find in Alberta's Rocky Mountain parks? Find the answer
by completing the following puzzle.
i

1· _ _ 0 ___ _
2. -0- _____ _
3.
-----0-
0
4· _ _ _ _ _
5· _ _ _ _ _ _ 0 __ ,

6·0 __ _ ,
,
7. -0--
8· _ _ 0 __ _
9· _ _ _ _ _ 0 __ _
-0---
10.
11. 0 ____ - - _

12. --0-
Clues
1. Canada's western most Prairie Province
2. ancient extinct reptiles
3. a university town in southern Alberta
4. Saskatchewan's most important export after wheat
5. a prairie city named after a wild berry
6. a Metis hero
7. Canada's oldest national park
8. another popular Rocky Mountain national park
9. a popular place for polar bears in Manitoba
10. animals that campers need to beware of
11. the hometown of the Oilers hockey team
12. a popular pastime of Canadians in the wilderness

(You can find the answers to this puzzle on page 251 at the back of the book.)
-
 8
Chapter Eight

Central Canada:
Ontario
Quick Facts
» Ontario was one of the original four
provinces in Confederation in 1867 .

» With over 13.5 million people, it is

the most heavily populated province
in Canada.

» The capital and largest city is Toronto.

» The Greater Toronto Area has a

population of 5.8 million, making it
the largest city in Canada .

» In 2010, 50 percent of the population

of Toronto had been born outside
Canada.

» Toronto produces more than half of

the country's manufactured goods.

» The provincial flower is the white

trillium; the provincial bird is the
common loon.
-------------------- ---------------- ---- ------------------- ----------- ----- -- ------------------- ------
 Introduction
r--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------y-------------------------------!

1 ~~oo i
i Bay !

iI 1
I

I !
! 1
I, I
[
I
, I'
Ia I
! I
I I

I I
II I'
,
I I

I I

I
I Ontario
II
I i
I

I
I

I
I
I

I
I
!
I

l_ _ _ ____
___ _ _ _ _ _
_ __
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ______~~_ _ _ ~____________________________'
Ontario may not be at the geographical centre Landscape and Climate
of Canada, but in other ways we can say that it
deserves to be part of the region called Central Although Ontario has the second-largest area
Canada. It was one of the first parts of Canada to of any Canadian province, only one-third of the
be settled, after Quebec, and has a rich history. land is considered truly hospitable. The remaining
From its early days, when it was known as Upper two-thirds is the rough terrain of the Canadian
Canada, to the present southern Ontario has been Shield with its great forests and rocky outcrop-
at the economic and political centre of the country. pings, including some of the oldest rock on the
 Central Canada: Ontario 149

face of the earth. While this rocky landscape is not in the McMichael Collection outside Kleinburg, a
good for agriculture, the land in the small south- small community north of Toronto.
ern area of the province is rich and fertile. The The Group of Seven is a very significant group
majority of Ontario's population of over 13 mil- of artists who did most of their work in the 1920s
lion people lives on the fertile plains in the south- and early 1930s in Canada. The following words
ern part of the province around the Great Lakes. come from a 1920 catalogue of their work:
One great dilemma in this area is the contin-
The Group of Seven artists, whose pictures
ual pressure the ever-growing population places
are here exhibited, have for several years held
on the valuable agricultural land. With more than
a like vision concerning art in Canada. They
a third of the country's people squeezed into this
are all imbued with the idea that an art must
relatively small area, it is increasingly difficult to
grow and flower in the land before the coun-
protect the farmland against the demand for more
try will be a real home for its people .... The
housing and services.
artists invite adverse criticism. Indifference is
Ontario actually enjoys tremendous variation
the greatest evil they have to contend with.
in its climate and landscape from north to south.
In addition to the Canadian Shield, there are the Tom Thomson, who painted the beautiful fall
Hudson Bay Lowlands in the far north. This is a scene shown below, was not actually a member
strip of flat marshy lowland around Hudson Bay of the group. He died in 1917 before the group
and James Bay. Although very few people live in was formed, but he was one of the first to paint
this area now, Moose Factory, the first English the rugged northern Ontario landscape in a bold
settlement in Ontario, is located there. First style. The picture by A.J. Cas son shown on the
Nations peoples also still inhabit the area. South next page expresses with eloquence the wind-
of the Canadian Shield is the region known as the swept loneliness of the great Canadian Shield that
Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Lowlands. This is a covers so much of Ontario. Like the others in this
beautiful area with rich farmlands, orchards, for-
ests, and lakes. Also in the south is the Niagara
Escarpment a steep limestone ridge which runs
northwest from the Niagara River to Lake Huron.
Given the size of Ontario, it is not surprising
that the climate varies greatly from place to place.
Southern Ontario is a gardener's delight with
a longer growing season than either the Prairie
or the Atlantic provinces enjoy. Needless to say,
the north is colder and has more snow in win-
ter. When spring blossoms have come and gone
on trees in the south, the ice is just beginning to
break up on the rivers flowing into Hudson Bay
and James Bay. Like most of the country, Ontario
has four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer,
and fall. Many people would argue that fall is the
most beautifut when the maple leaves turn their
awesome red colour.

Some Famous Artists

The beauty of Ontario's landscape has been cap-
tured by some of the artists in the famous Group of
Algonquin, by Tom Thomson
Seven. Many of these artists' paintings now hang
 group of painters, his art is expressive of the land
in which we live. In addition to Ontario's land-
scape, the Group of Seven painted scenes from
many other areas of the country.
The original members of the Group of Seven were
Lawren Hanis, A.Y. Jackson, rE.H. MacDonald,
Frederick Varley, Arthur Lismer, Frank Johnston,
and Frank Carmichael. Four others later joined the
group. Not everyone liked the work of these paint- ·
ers when they began, but they are now very famous
and well-respected. They formed the beginning of a
larger group called the Canadian Group of Painters,
which took in artists such as Emily Can from the
west coast. Canadians are proud of these early art-
White Pine, by A.J. Casson ists who took it upon themselves to forge a distinctly
Canadian style of painting.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Why is Ontario often called Central Canada?

f) What landform region covers two-thirds of the province?
o What problems does the rapidly growing population of southern Ontario create?
e Was Emily Carr a member of the Group of Seven artists?

VOCABULARY

hospitable welcoming
terrain landscape
outcroppings large sections of rock that have broken through the surface of the earth
dilemma a problem in which a choice has to be made between two equally
strong alternatives
ridge a long, narrow hilltop
awesome awe-inspiring, amazing, wonderful
imbued filled with feelings or qualities
adverse negative
indifference not caring; not paying attention to; apathy
eloquence a highly effective manner of communicating reason or emotion
forge shape or make
 Central Canada: Ontario 151

1-------- --------- ------------------------- ---- ---------------------------------------------------------------~,

I USING NEW WORDS I

i I
! Fill in each blank with a word from the Vocabulary section. !
i i
i G The parents had just enough money for the new roof they needed for their house, i
I !
I but they also desperately needed a new car. What a ! i
I 1
i • Canada has traditionally been very to refugees. I
!i • No politician who is running for office wants any publicity at I!
i election time.
i e My friend's mother-in-law, penniless refugee that she is now, is nonetheless
1;,:, with an air of quiet dignity which hints of a time in which she enjoyed
much wealth and was held in high esteem.
1

! (3 Canadians are often accused of being apathetic because of their _ _ _ _ __

i to politics.
!
; 0 Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Canada's controversial former prime minister, spoke with
I! A ______ of the need for Canada to see itself as part of a global community.
v It is truly to realize that an artist of many beautiful paintings painted
I with his feet because he had no arms.
I 0 Many people feel it is necessary to _ _ _ _ _ _ a lasting peace in areas such as
i the Middle East and Northern Ireland.
i:

I FOR DISCUSSION
I
I
j
» Why do you think a maple leaf was chosen for Canada's flag?
I » 00 you see anything in common between the two paintings shown on pages 149 and 150?
1
1

,1
MAKING CONTACT
1

! » Go on line and search The Group of Seven, or go to your public library and look for a
i book on them. Examine their paintings and see how their images compare to your own
: images of nature in Canada. In your opinion, do the paintings represent the Canada you

l~~~:~r:~:~~O~~~:~I~~~~i::~~:::~~:e~:?n~~~nm;~:~~hoe~~differ:t? Discuss y_o_u_r _ _---'

Past and Present

A Peek into the Past the old brick farmhouses built by United Empire
Loyalists who left the United States in great
Ontario has a fascinating history, and if you leave numbers following the American Revolution,
the freeways of southern Ontario and choose the covered bridges, and the quaint shops with
instead to drive along the picturesque country their architectural details from another time. To
roads, you can see clearly the signs of the past: go back even further, reconstructed Aboriginal
 The West Montrose covered bridge near Waterloo, Ontario

villages-such as Sainte-Marie among the Hurons of morality, and a sense of being responsible
near Midland-remind us of the times when the citizens, all of which have become an impor-
First Nations peoples lived on these lands. tant part of what it means to be Canadian.
Whereas the prairies of western Canada were
not cultivated until the European settlers came He believed that the most important change
and plowed the land, the rich earth of southern in Ontario, and one he very much celebrated,
Ontario was first cultivated by the Algonquian was the ethnic diversification of the population.
and Iroquoian peoples. French explorers were He felt that the city of Toronto was a much richer,
the first visitors to the area, but settlement was more interesting place because of all the different
not widespread until the United Empire Loyalists people who now live there. What he did not like
arrived. Most Loyalists were of English, Scottish, was the tremendous crowding he experienced,
or Irish origins. which had resulted in pollution, among other
A descendant of the United Empire Loyalists, things. People of his generation recall with fond-
who was born in Toronto in 1917 and lived there ness the days of swimming in Lake Ontario and
until his death in 2009, was asked what influence in the Don River. The Don Valley now has the Don
he felt the Loyalists had on the development of Valley Parkway (a freeway for north-south traffic
the Canadian identity. His name was Len Black in Toronto) running through it, and Lake Ontario
and this is what he had to say: is much too polluted for swimming. For men and
women of older generations, the changes have
The United Empire Loyalists had a major been tremendous. Most younger Canadians can-
influence on this country. They instilled in not begin to imagine how it must feel to experi-
their descendants a pride of family, a standard ence such changes in the space of one lifetime.
 Central Canada: Ontario 153

- - - --- --------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,

Maple trees in North Bay, Ontario, in the fall

------ ---------------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------,

The Economy and Sudbury, the silver mines at Cobalt, gold in the
Red Lake area, and iron ore at Wawa have all been
the Environment
important in Canada's economy, but not without
The heart of Ontario's economy has traditionally a price. Mining, massive hydroelectric plants, and
been its manufacturing industry, and while that other industrialization have all taken their toll on
remains very important, technological innova- Ontario's environment. We need only look in vain
tion is taking on increased importance as well. for the clear skies we see further west to realize
One example is the Waterloo-based Research in that air pollution is becoming a serious problem
Motion company (RIM) which markets the well- in Ontario's urban areas.
known BlackBerry smartphone and PlayBook While of growing concern, the problems of air
tablet. Industries such as steel and automobile and water pollution have not completely marred
production are very important to the economy the beauty and charm of Ontario. Our Canadian
of the province and the country. The factories flag with its large red maple leaf in the centre is a
of Toronto, Hamilton, and other areas, while reminder of the beautiful red maple leaves which
highly successful, have also produced a number cover Ontario's countryside in the fall, stunning
of the environmental problems which now plague all who see them. The maple trees in both Ontario
Ontario. The destruction of ecosystems in the and Quebec provide much more than beauty.
Great Lakes is an example. Wood from the trees is used in producing fine
Further north and west in Ontario, the mines handcrafted furniture, kitchen cabinets, and floor-
of the Canadian Shield contribute much to ing. The sap is used for the delicious maple syrup
the Canadian economy. The nickel mines near that Canadians love to put on their pancakes!
 COMPREHENSION CHECK

Ask a question that will give you each answer below.

• Algonquian and lroquoian peoples
8 United Empire Loyalists
• nickel, silver, gold, iron ore
e maple syrup
o Blackberry smartphone

VOCABULARY

peek (n) a quick look at (something)

fascinating extremely interesting
picturesque scenic, pleasant to look upon
quaint pleasantly old-fashioned
cultivated used to grow crops
instilled introduced with the intention that it will stay present; usually referring
to a feeling or idea
fondness affection, happy feelings
plague (v) trouble, torment, create big problems for
ecosystems the systems of natural, biological life
take a toll on cause damage to
look in vain for look with no success for; to fail to find
marred spoiled, damaged

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above. In one, you will have to add
the -ed ending for the past tense.
• The young man was terribly upset about the used car which continued to _ _ _ _ __
him with one problem after another.
8 The community _ _ _ _ _ _ for the lost child . Unfortunately, she was never seen again .
• The car's shiny surface was in the accident.
e Any time we are really interested in something, we find new information about that
subject to be _ _ _ _ __
et The young men who had _ _ _ _ _ _ marijuana in their basement were sent to
prison for five years.
" Most of us have _ _ _ _ _ _ in our children the same or similar value's as those
which our parents taught us.
o The landscape of Canada's Rockies is very _ _ _ _ _ _'
o She felt a real for her new friend.
 Central Canada: Ontario 155

1------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------_._-------]
i
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FOR DISCUSSION i!
i
I » When the nature of the population changes rapidly in an area, what kinds of problems ii
I can arise between the original population and the new population? What steps can be i
! taken to understand and deal with these problems? i
i :
!: » What difference does it make whether the Great Lakes are polluted or not? Why is i,i:

I it important?
I I

I » What can ordinary people do to reduce air pollution in industrial centres? I

! i
i ACTIVITY !
t !
1 !
! » It is one thing to talk about what we can do to make our world a better place and i
i another thing to make the necessary changes. After discussing the last question above I
I with you r classmates, choose one thing that you will do differently from now on to i
ill improve the environment. You may want to make a chart on which you each list your ill

commitments to change. When you put your commitments all together, you may see
I that each individual does make a difference.
L_______________________________________________________.____________________________________________________________J

Toronto: Canada's Largest City

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Produce for sale in Kensington Market Skating at Nathan Phillips Square

Toronto is a vibrant, exciting city where it is hard identified themselves as belonging to a visible
to believe that anyone with an ounce of curiosity minority. It is also home to Canada's largest uni-
could ever be bored! With nearly 6 million people, versity, the prestigious University of Toronto, or
it is a world-class centre of finance, sports, and U of T as most people call it.
culture, as well as a true multicultural mosaic. You could start your explorations with
More than two million people in the last census Kensington Market on a Saturday morning. This
is a large marketplace reminiscent of old-style At dinnertime, you might want to take a street-
European markets . People of various cultural car to one of Toronto's many excellent ethnic res-
origins sell their produce, meats, seafoods, and taurants. There is great Greek food along the
breads to crowds of customers of equally diverse Danforth, Indian and Pakistani foods in Little India
backgrounds. When you have completed your on Gerrard, and excellent Chinese food at the many
shopping, you can sit down in a small cafe and restaurants on Dundas or Spadina in Chinatown.
enjoy a cappuccino, which may be served by the In Chinatown, Little Italy, Little India, or the
smiling daughter or son of the shopkeeper. Greek neighbourhood along the Danforth, you
Or maybe you would rather go shopping for can see store and street signs in the heritage lan-
something other than food. The stores seem guage of the community. Even more impressive to
endless in Toronto. One popular shopping area, the casual tourist is the fact that the shoppers on
especially in the winter, is the covered, multi- these streets are just as likely to be speaking their
level Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. Eaton's first languages as English!
department store used to be the keystone of this Evening has come and there are many oppor-
mall, but this popular and uniquely Canadian tunities to go to live theatre or one of the other
store closed its doors for the last time in 2002, performing arts centres. You may choose some-
the end of an institution. Timothy Eaton started thing at the luxurious Sony Centre or the Royal
this large chain of department stores in Toronto Alexandra Theatre. Or, if it is summer, you may
in 1869, and left a legacy of quality products _and be able to catch an outdoor ballet or other dance
service now missed greatly by older Canadians. or theatre production down at the Harbourfront
If shopping is not for you, and it is winter, then or Yonge-Dundas Square.
perhaps you would like to take a pair of skates to If you are not all that interested in the arts, then
Nathan Phillips Square. Many Torontonians enjoy you might be interested in seeing one of Toronto's
the freshness of winter by skating in front of the professional sports teams play. The Toronto Maple
distinctive curved buildings which are City Hall. Leafs of the NHL (N ational Hockey League)
At other times of the year, this popular square have been popular for many years. The Toronto
becomes the setting for concerts, art and cultural
festivals, and a large New Year's gathering. When
it gets too cold for skating, you could travel a few
blocks south and take an elevator to the top of the
CN Tower. It is a pricey trip but one which gives
you a great view of the city, at least on a clear day.
The CN Tower was, until 2007, the tallest free-
standing structure in the world.
Next, you might enjoy the Royal Ontario
Museum. If so, you will need more than a couple of
hours. It is a huge, beautiful building in the down-
town area with many regular and special displays.
Another popular attraction is the Ontario Science
Centre, where children and adults alike discover
how much fun it can be to experience the wonders
of science and technology firsthand. Visitors are
encouraged to participate in the demonstrations
and play with the objects in many of the exhibits.
Bring a camera-you may want someone to take a
The Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays
photo of you when your hair stands on end!
 Central Canada: Ontario 157

Argonauts are a well-known football team, the Exhibition (CNE) in the summer or the Royal
Toronto Raptors are Canada's only professional Winter Fair later in the year.
basketball team on the NBA (National Basketball Most of all, Toronto is about people-people
Association) circuit, and the Toronto Blue Jays are from all over the world. When you ride the sub-
Toronto's professional baseball team. way, you see people of every race, religion, and
Depending on when you are in the city, you culture. Each brings something special to the
may want to visit the famous Canadian National quality of life in this city.

- -------- ---- - - -- -------------------- ---------- - -- - ------------ ------------------------- - - -------- -- ----------------------- -1

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
i
• Name two kinds of public transportation in Toronto (government-owned transportation I
you pay to ride on). I
I
.,
• Danforth and Dundas are the names of two _ _ _ _ _ _ in Toronto.
Who was Timothy Eaton?
i

II
e What kind of display do you think could make a person's hair stand on end? I
i
43 What is the name of Toronto's professional (NHL) hockey team?
i
i
VOCABULARY !i

II
vibrant lively, filled with life i
!
reminiscent of which reminds us of, which makes us think about
i
legacy inheritance, that which has been passed on from someone in the past
pricey expensive
I
firsthand directly
.1
stands on end sticks straight up
streetcar a form of public transit which runs on railway tracks and is powered by
electricity from an overhead cable
I
USING NEW WORDS
I
Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
• Staying in a hotel is too _ _ _ _ _ _ for many young travellers.

• Those who fight against oppression anywhere leave their descendants with a
_ _ _ _ _ _ of respect for freedom and dignity.
i ., The young woman attracted attention wherever she went.
I e Romantic love cannot be experienced by reading a book; it must be experienced

1.1 0 s have automated announcements that call out the name of the streets
as they come to them so that people know where to get off.
I " The scent of that perfume is
:

roses in the springtime. I

L_____________________________-'___________________________________________________________________________________________________J
r-------'-----------·--------------------------------------------------------------------------.---------------------'-----------"1
i I
I FOR DISCUSSION I
I » The expression That makes my hair stand on end is often used to describe a situation I
I which is particularly upsetting or stressful for someone. Can you think of some situations I
i where you might use the expression? I
!
I » Where would you rather shop for food, in a marketplace or a grocery store? Why? I!
I I
j i
! OPTIONAL ACTIVITY i
! I
I » In your class, there are probably people of many different ethnic backgrounds. As a
i class project/ prepare a multicultural cookbook with one or two favourite recipes for
! each country represented in your class. If you are not a cook, be sure you ask someone
I
i who is about quantities! In addition, have two other people read your recipe before it is
I published to make sure that your directions are clear.
I
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Around the Province

Ottawa
Ottawa, a city of 900 000 people, is our nation's cap-
ital. It is a pleasant well-planned community with a
number of distinctive features. Needless to say, the
Parliament Buildings are one of the first images that
come to mind when Canadians think of Ottawa.
These beautifut old, and elegant structures remind
us of our heritage and our proud origins. The city
is divided by the steep banks of the Ottawa River
and the lovely Rideau Canal. The canal system is
one of the more delightful features of Ottawa and is The Ottawa Tulip Festiv al
enjoyed by boaters in summer and skaters in win-
ter. When the canal is frozen, it is one of the longest
skating rinks in the world. Some citizens even skate with its thousands of tulips. Canadians owe these
to work on the canal in the winter season. colourful spring flowers to Queen Juliana of the
Close to the Parliament Buildings, but across Netherlands, who arranged to have tulips sent
the river in Gatineau, Quebec, you find the unique to Canada every year in appreciation for the
Museum of Civilization. This museum is a national Canadian soldiers who helped free her coun-
treasure house, designed by Douglas Cardinat one try from the Nazi occupation during the Second
of Canada's finest architects. Cardinal's designs World War.
often feature smooth curves and circular move- Other tourist attractions in Ottawa include
ment and this beautiful building is no exception. the Canada Science and Technology Museum and
The circle is a very important shape and symbol the National Gallery of Canada, with its excel-
in Aboriginal cultures, and Cardinal brings this to lent collection of paintings by Canadian artists.
his work from his indigenous origins. In addition, no visit to Ottawa is complete with-
We also cannot think of Ottawa without think- out an afternoon in the ByWard Market. This is
ing of tulips. In the spring, this city is splendid located in Lower Town, just below the gracious
 Central Canada: Ontario 159

Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel. It features an

open-air market as well as boutiques and a variety
of restaurants.
One of the most wonderful aspects of Ottawa
is its truly bilingual nature. About 40 percent of
the city's population said they were bilingual in
the 2006 census. When you walk down the streets
in the downtown area, you are likely to hear peo-
ple speaking in French and in English.

Hamilton
This city of 700000 people is Canada's major steel A rainbow over Niagara Falls
producer, accounting for 60 percent of the coun-
try's total steel production. Hamilton is a major
industrial centre and has many factories in addi- tourist season. Niagara Falls is also a popular
tion to those which produce steel. Located on destination for honeymooners .
the western end of Lake Ontario, its real growth
began with the development of a farm-equipment Other Parts of Ontario
industry in the 1850s.
The city is also home to McMaster University, Ontario is a huge province with a large popu-
a stately campus well-known for its innovative 1ation. It would be difficult to describe all of its
medical school among other things. Mohawk attractions. The Trans-Canada Highway passes
College is one of the country's larger community through southern Ontario and, if you have the
colleges and offers a variety of programs to the time and the money to travel, this is a journey
adult learning community of the region. worth taking. You can experience the rugged
One truly lovely part of Hamilton is the Royal beauty of the Canadian Shield on this route and
Botanical Gardens, over 1200 hectares of gar- also visit other cities in the province, such as Sault
den spread over 15 kilometres of shoreline along Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. For those who can
Lake Ontario. The gardens are well worth the travel by boat, there is a series of locks extending
visit in the summer season, but wear comfortable up the St. Lawrence River. This 306-kilometre
walking shoes! section of the St. Lawrence Seaway is regarded
as one of the most challenging engineering feats
Niagara Falls in history, enabling large ships to lift to 75 metres
above sea level.
Many tourists who come to Canada from other One destination for many tourists in the
countries make a point of visiting Niagara Falls. summer months is the small town of Stratford,
From kilometres away, you can hear the sound home of the famous Stratford Festival, a drama
of these falls, a sound which becomes a deafen- festival that takes place in theatres throughout
ing roar as you get close. More than 14 million the town each summer. (Stratford is also the
visitors per year come to this site, which straddles home of Justin Bieber!)
the Canadian-American border. The Horseshoe Others head for the Kitchener-Waterloo
Falls, as they are called on the Canadian side, area where they can experience firsthand the
are three times the width of the American Falls. Mennonite culture of the early settlers in that area.
If you do not mind getting wet, the Maid of the You can still see horse-drawn carriages and enjoy
Mist boat tours venture out into the Niagara River the cooking of these people, many of whom choose
and go close to the bottom of the falls during the to keep their old lifestyle as much as possible.
 Those who live in Ontario's large cities also
like to get out into the country on weekends.
Some go to the many beautiful parks of Ontario,
the largest of which is Algonquin Provincial Park.
If you wish to experience a camping adventure,
reserve your space early because the campsites fill
up quickly. Others may have cottages in the scenic
rural areas such as the Muskokas north of Toronto
and the Kawarthas northeast of Toronto around
Peterborough. Those who escape to cottage coun-
try may go to ski, skidoo, or ice-fish in the win-
ter. In the summer, cottagers swim, waterski, go
Paddling in cottage country
boating, or just relax.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Why does a visitor to Ottawa see a lot of tulips in the spring?

• Where might a visitor go to learn more about the history of Canada?
• What are the two languages most often spoken in Ottawa?
e Which city is Canada's major steel producer?
et Which city has long been called the honeymoon capital of Canada?

ACTIVITY

Rather than give you definitions of new words, here are some clues to help you
find them:
o Find a verb which rhymes with paddles and means to be situated on both sides of
something. Clue: Check the Niagara Falls section.
• Find a four-syllable adjective which means new and different and contains the root noVo
Clue: Check the Hamilton section.
• When older people are surprised about something, they may say, Goodness
_ _ _ _ _ _ .1Clue: Check the Ottawa section. The word could also be used to
describe Queen Elizabeth 11 .
e This three-syllable word starts with d and means very special. Clue: Check the Ottawa
section. I

I
et This noun means an exciting experience. The three-syllable word is made by adding a I
I
prefix and a suffix to the root vent. 1
!
(You can find the answers on page 251 at the back of the book.) !
I

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 Central Canada: Ontario 161

FOR DISCUSSION

» If you had three days to spend in Ontario, where would you spend your time and what
would you do?
» Most immigrants settle in the urban areas of Canada. Why do you think that is? What
advantages might there be for those who choose to settle in smaller communities?

CHAPTER REVI EW

Here is a brief review of some of the vocabulary used in this chapter. Match each
of the words below to its synonym (a word with the same or a similar meaning)
on the right.
1. legacy a) unusual
2. firsthand b) dynamic
3. vibrant c) costly
4. pricey d) heritage
5. hospitable e) friendly
6. indescribable f) directly

Match each of the words below to its antonym (a word with the opposite meaning)
on the right.
1. distinctive a) ugly
2. cultivated b) boring
3. dilemma c) wild
4. fascinating d) ordinary
5. picturesque e) solution
 9
Chapter Nine

Central Canada:
Quebec
Quick Facts
» Quebec was one of the original four
provinces in Confederation in 1867.

» It has a population of 8 million,

making it the second-most populated
province, after Ontario.

» 88 percent of the population was

Roman Catholic, compared to
49 percent of the country's population
as a whole, in 2001. (Religion
questions were not included in
the census after 2001 .)

» 59 percent of Quebec's population

speak French only; 35 percent are
bilingual, and only 6 percent speak
English only.

» The capital is Quebec City.

» The largest city is Montreal, Canada's

second-largest city, with a population
of 4 million .

» The provincial flower is the white

garden lily; the provincial bird is the
snowy owl.

» Manufacturing, hydroelectric power,

and mining top the economy.

» Separatism has traditionally been

a controversial topic in Quebec.
 Introduction

Hudson
Bay

Quebec

.Rouyn-Noranda

ATLANTIC
OCEAN

La belle province (the beautiful province), as The Quebecois Identity

Quebecers like to call their province, is rich in
Canadian history. Quebec is the site of Canada's The majority of Quebec's population is French-
beginnings. A walk through the old parts of speaking and Roman Catholic. This dates back
Quebec's largest cities, Montreal and Quebec City, to Quebec's beginnings as a French colony. As
gives us a glimpse of what life must have been like a result of this history, the Quebecois, as they
in earlier times: cobblestone streets, horse-drawn prefer to be called, have a culture quite distinct
carriages, fiddlers playing their music, and old from that of other Canadians. The Quebecois
stone buildings. feel strongly about preserving their language,
 Central Canada: Quebec 165

1 ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------_._-------------------------------------:

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Cobblestone streets in Old Montreal

religion, and heritage because they have long English Canadians. Some Quebecois feel that,
feared assimilation by the dominant anglophone in remaining part of Canada, they will lose their
culture of North America. A look at Quebec's French heritage. Some therefore wish to separate
licence plates tells us how strongly the Quebecois from Canada. If Quebec were ever to separate,
feel about their history. The plates say Je me many Canadians feel that it would be a very sad
souviens, which is French for I remember. They day for Canada because, not only would it hurt the
remember their culture, and many Quebecois country economically, it would be a great loss to
struggle to ensure that the rest of the country Canada's identity as a country with two dominant
also remembers. founding cultures. Most Canadians have a strong
This strong desire to preserve their distinct desire to see these tensions resolved in a way that
identity has led to tensions between French and does not destroy the country.

Geography, People, and Economy

Geography and Climate during the summer and very cold and damp in
the winter. You may be surprised to know that
Quebec has a total area of 1 540 680 square Quebec City is as cold in January as Murmansk
kilometres, making it the largest of Canada's in Russia, which is north of the Arctic Circle.
ten provinces. The major cities, Montreal and Quebecers would say it feels even colder, because
Quebec City, lie along the St. Lawrence River, of the humidity. The far northern part of Quebec,
which empties into the Gulf of St. Lawrence which stretches up to Hudson Bay, is subarctic.
and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. These cities This area gets very cold in the winter and the
are therefore very humid. It is very hot and wet winters are long.
r---
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Mont-Tremblant, in the Laurentians, is a popular destination for skiers

The vast majority of Quebec (80 percent) is fact, only Montreal has a significantly large num-
covered by the Canadian Shield with its lakes, ber of people whose first language is not French.
rivers, forests, and mineral deposits. There are Therefore, people immigrating to Quebec who
also two mountain ranges in the province: the do not speak French tend to settle in Montreal,
Laurentian Mountains north of the St. Lawrence where they can choose English as their working
River and the Appalachian Mountains south of language. All immigrant newcomers, however, are
the river. The Laurentians are home to some of given their language training in French, and their
North America's best-known ski resorts as well as children are automatically sent to French schools.
many other tourist resorts that are open in both Quebec's population also includes 10 First
summer and winter. Nations, the majority of whom live on reserves.
The St. Lawrence River is important not only Aboriginal grievances are especially strong in
for Quebec, but also for the rest of Canada. It is Quebec because most of the Aboriginals speak
a major route for shipping goods between the English, not French. They are particularl anx-
Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. Grain from ious about the desire of some Q uebecers to sepa-
the prairies travels by rail to Thunder Bay and is rate from Canada because they fear their rights
then placed on large ocean-going vessels for trans- may be ignored in an independent Quebec. First
port to Europe, Russia, and other parts of the globe. Nations people are also concerned about their
unresolved land claims, which still co er a large
Population area of Quebec in the north and east. SloV\. I ,
agreements are being reached, some giving land
Quebec has the second-largest population of the to the First Nations claimants and others giving
Canadian provinces. Seventy-nine percent of them fishing and hunting rights and involvement
Quebecers speak French as their first language. In in the areas' development.
 Central Canada: Quebec 167

Economy In 1963, all electric power was nationalized in

Quebec. Hydro-Quebec then became the leading
Quebec has one of the most diversified econo- producer of hydroelectric power in North America.
mies in Canada. Both primary (natural resources) With this power, Quebec produces about one-
and secondary (manufacturing) industries are quarter of all manufactured goods in Canada.
strong. The area along the St. Lawrence River in Forestry and pulp and paper are other major
southern Quebec and Ontario is the industrial industries. Forests cover about one-half of
heartland of Canada. the province. Many of these trees are ·used in
Mining and electric power are major indus- Quebec's pulp and paper industry. The province
tries in the province. There are iron-ore deposits is one of the North American leaders in the man-
in northern Quebec that geologists believe to be ufacture of paper.
among the largest in the world. Metals refined in Also important to Canada is Quebec's aero-
Quebec include bauxite (the source of aluminum), space industry, the fifth-largest in the world.
copper, zinc, and iron. Annual sales from this industry top 12 billion dol-
Quebec is also the only province in Canada lars. Originally concentrating on the manufacture
which has no fossil fuels (coal or gas) and is there- of planes and aviation equipment, several compa-
fore dependent on hydroelectricity for power. nies are now expanding into satellite technology.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

• What do Quebecers call their province? (Hint: It's a French phrase.)

f) Nowadays, we have pavement on our streets and roadways. What covered the streets
of old Quebec long ago?
• What do many Quebecois fear most of all?
e Do the majority of First Nations peoples in Quebec support Quebec separatism or
not? Why?
" Quebec is the leading North American producer of what type of power?

VOCABULARY

separatism a political movement in which people want to separate from a larger

body and become independent
glimpse (n) a short look at, or a brief view of, something
cobblestone a smooth, rounded rock used for road surfaces in the days of horse-
drawn carriages
assimilation absorption into a larger whole, thus losing one's own distinctive
characteristics
anglophone :(adj) English-speaking
resolved settled; no longer a problem
damp slightly wet
grievances serious complaints of injustice
nationalized changed from private to government ownership
l------------ -------- -----------------------------~~------- -- ------------------ -------- - -----1

I USING NEW WORDS i

I !
I Fill in each blank with a word from the Vocabulary section. 1

I • Canadians have seen multiculturalism as a way in which there could be integration I

1 rather than of the cultures which make up Canada. I
I 8 The children forgot to take their umbrellas to school and, when it rained, they came i
i i
I home feeling very !

I
I
0 Those who support want Quebec to have its own government I
:
I independent of the federal government in Ottawa. I
. e Where there are streets, you can expect a very bumpy ride! I
o The opposite of privatized is I
o The couple their problems and no longer considered getting a divorce. I
i
f) The settling of the Nisga'a people's land claim in northwestern British Columbia i
is a sign that the federal government is making a serious attempt to resolve the i
_ _ _ _ _ _ of Canada's First Nations. I
o Devout Roman Catholics are extremely happy to catch a of the Pope i
when he visits their community. ,i,:

" Montreal has many as well as francophone citizens.

i
!I
FOR DISCUSSION
I
» What would Canada miss economically if Quebec separated?
» What might Quebec miss economically if it separated from the rest of Canada?
» The Aboriginals of Quebec voted against sovereignty in the 1995 referendum. Now, I

some are saying they will separate from Quebec if Quebec separates from Canada. If I
!
you were the premier of Quebec, what would you say to convince the Aboriginals to stay i
with Quebec if it separated? !
!
I

l_~___~_________~____~_~_________________~__~____~__~________~_~___~_~_______~___________~._~__~j

The Cities

Montreal Montreal is Canada's second-largest metro-

politan area with 4 million people. Two-thirds
If British Columbians can argue that Vancouver of the population is French-speaking, making
is the most beautiful city in Canada, Montrealers Montreal the second-largest French-speaking
can possibly claim their city is the most exciting! city in the world! The other third of the popula-
Montreal is a modern, bustling metropolis with tion is made up of native English-speakers and
old and new side by side. While highrise office various ethnic groups (including Chinese, Greek,
towers reflect the important role the city plays in Italian, and Arab), most of whom speak English.
finance and business, old limestone houses, cob- Montreal is one place in the province of Quebec
blestone streets, and quaint old shops and hotels where someone who speaks English, but not
remind us that it is one of the oldest cities in the French, can go and not have difficulty communi-
country. It is a beautiful city and popular with cating. Many Quebecers who live in Montreal and
both Canadians and foreign tourists. whose first language is French also speak English.
 Central Canada: Quebec 169

In the city of Montreal, there are so many Boulevard is also a popular place for nightlife,
different things to do that it is difficult to know with its many cafes, bars, and clubs. St. Laurent
where to begin. If you like history, you can visit is where many of the young, trendy people of
Old Montreal or one of the museums in the city Montreal go to "see and be seen."
such as the McCord Museum of Canadian History. Montreal is also home to four different uni-
If you are interested in Catholic churches, versities, two French and two English. The French
they are everywhere in the city. You can visit universities are the Universite de Montreal and the
the Notre-Dame Basilica or the impressive Universite de Quebec a Montreal (UQAM). The
St. Joseph's Oratory. The basilica is one of the Universite de Montreal is located in the Mount
largest and most beautiful churches in North Royal area. Mount Royal is a mountain in the cen-
America. Its outstanding architecture adds to the tre of the city with a beautiful park at the top. It is
magic people experience when they attend sym- a popular spot for Montrealers in both summer
phonies and other concerts there throughout the and winter. The English universities are McGill
year. St. Joseph's Oratory is a pilgrimage site that and Concordia. Many Canadians and Americans
people visit from all over the world in the hope attend McGill University, a very prestigious uni-
that they will be healed. St. Joseph is the patron versity with high entrance requirements.
saint of healing. Montreal is also famous for its summer fes-
If you like shopping, St. Catherine and St. tivals. In late June, the Montreal International
Denis are both good streets to visit. At night, St. Jazz Festival is held downtown. This is North
Catherine Street is a favourite place to go danc- America's largest jazz festival and jazz musicians
ing at one of the many nightclubs. St. Laurent come from all over the world to play here. Many
of the concerts are free. In July, Montreal hosts the
Juste Pour Rire (French for Just For Laughs) festi-
val. This is the largest comedy festival in North
America and is held in charming Old Montreal.
Montreal is also a city which takes its sports
seriously. It is the home of the famous Montreal
Canadiens, one of the country's oldest profes-
sional hockey teams. Other sports fans speak with
pride of the Grand Prix auto and bicycle races held
annually and of the Montreal Marathon, in which
runners from across the country and around the
world compete.
,- - ---- - -------------------- - ------------------------------------- - ~--

St. Joseph's Oratory in winter Place Jacques-Cartier

 Many people like to come to Montreal to shop city with 400-year-old stone buildings, houses
because there is so much choice in clothing, fur- with their characteristic steep roofs, narrow wind-
nishings, and art to name a few. In fact, Montreal ing streets, and caleches (horse-drawn carriages)
is considered the fashion capital of Canada. One taking tourists through the streets. There are sev-
of the most popular centres for shoppers is the eral museums as well where you can learn more
glamorous Place Ville Marie. The nearby Latin about Canada's early history. A walk through the
Quarter on St. Denis Street attracts students, old part of Quebec City reveals a lot about what
artists, and tourists to its many coffee shops and life must have been like in New France. Parts of
bookstores. Also popular with tourists is Place the old fort walls that guarded the city still stand.
Jacques-Cartier, the location of one of the city's Quebec City is the only walled city in North
oldest markets. Now surrounded with hotels and America. It is a very beautifut romantic place to
restaurants, the square is filled on summer eve- visit and, as a result, has a thriving tourist indus-
nings with street musicians, people selling flow- try especially in the summer months.
ers, and outdoor cafes where people come to enjoy For those who love shopping, la Rue du
the all-too-short summers in the outdoors. Petit-Champlain in the Lower Town is a must.
Crowded during tourist season, the street is filled
Quebec City with beautiful boutiques and quaint little cafes.
Many of the shops sell good-quality local or
Quebec City is unique in that it is the seat of 1------------------------------
-~I
the only French-speaking government in North
I
America. The Quebec Legislature made French ! j
the province's official language in 1974. Quebec
City is home to more than 700 000 people. I i
Even more history can be found in Quebec City
I
than in Montreal. Quebec City is the oldest city in
Canada. A good place to begin a tour is on the
I
Plains of Abraham. This is where the French and I
the English, in 1759, fought over what was then I
New France and is now Quebec. The battle was
one of the most significant events in Canadian I
history. Today, the Plains of Abraham are not only I
a beautiful park area in the centre of Quebec City,
but are also the site of many large gatherings such
as concerts and political demonstrations.
L'Universite Laval is a respected university in Ii
the city where many students from other coun-
tries, in addition to Quebec students, study. As
welt it has a large summer program for English-
speaking Canadians who are eager to improve
their French and enjoy the ambiance of this lovely
city while they learn. ! ;
!
Old Quebec is so distinct that the United
Nations Educationat Scientific and Cultural
b_________________________________________________.i
Organization (UNESCO) has made it a World
The walls of Quebec City
Heritage Site. It is a most interesting part of the
 Central Canada: Quebec 171

international arts and crafts at reasonable prices.

And when you get tired, you can take the funicu-
1ar up to the Fairmont le Chateau Frontenac Hotel,
which towers above the street.
For those who enjoy fine dining, Quebec City
offers many quality restaurants including several
with excellent French and Quebecois cuisine.
And, for people who love the nightlife, the city's
Grande Allee has many lively bars and nightclubs.

Carnaval de Quebec
Cold winters do not stop Quebecers from enjoying
life! Every year in February, Quebec City puts on
the Carnaval de Quebec. It is a wonderful winter
festival attended by people from all over the world.
Huge ice sculptures are built and contests are
held to judge whose sculpture is the best. A char-
acter named Bonhomme, which is French for good Bonhomme, the mascot of the Carnaval de Quebec
man, is the mascot for the festival. He looks like
a large human snowman and wears a red ceinture
(a sash worn by the voyageurs) and a red toque, winter or early spring, maple trees are tapped and
both of which are characteristically Quebecois. pails hung on the side to catch the sap as it slowly
During the carnival, people enjoy Quebecois drips out. Then, this sap is collected and cooked
treats such as tourtiere (a meat pie made with to make maple syrup, a sweet, tasty treat used on
pork, vegetables, and spices), habitant pea soup, pancakes or for candy. Delicious!
and maple syrup. The habitants were the original Some people working at ca banes asucre (sugar
French farmers in what is now Quebec. You can go shacks) pour the hot maple syrup over snow con-
online and find recipes for these delicious foods. tained in a trough. They then roll wooden sticks
Have you ever tasted maple syrup? It comes into the syrup as it cools on the snow and eat
from the sap of sugar maple trees. The trees have it off the sticks. If you like sweets, you will love
exceptionally beautiful red leaves in autumn. A this Quebec specialty! Quebec is famous for its
red maple leaf is on our national flag. In t~e late maple syrup.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o What two languages can visitors feel comfortable speaking in Montreal?

8 Which city is known as the fashion capital of Canada?
.., Name one university in Montreal that has an excellent reputation throughout the
country and high standards of enrolment.
e Who is Bonhomme?
{3 Name three foods that are distinctly Quebecois.
VOCABULARY

pilgrimage a trip or journey made to a sacred place as an act of devotion

patron saint the saint which Roman Catholics believe gives a person or group
special protection
trendy modern, contemporary, popular
prestigious highly respected
cuisine the French word for cooking, usually used in English to describe fine
cooking or ethnic cooking
mascot a thing, animal, or person supposed to bring good luck to an event or
group of people, such as a sports team
sash a wide, cloth belt
voyageurs travellers (from the French word voyager, meaning to travel); in
Canada, refers to the early French explorers who travelled by canoe
toque a knitted winter hat often with a long wide "tail" which can be used
like a scarf to keep your neck warm
trough a long, narrow, open container, usually used for water or animal feed
funicular a mode of transportation for carrying passengers up and down a
mountain or large hill; similar to a tramway except the ascending and
descending cars are pulled on counterbalanced pulleys

USING NEW WORDS

Five of the words above have a word within a word. See if you can find them. For one
of the new words, you will have to add an e. Here are some clues to help you find the
new words within the words.
o a person who goes on a long trip of special meaning
8 great respect

•e something which is popular now but probably will not be in the near future
a iong trip o n water
o not easy or not smooth

Bonus Questions: Which of the vocabulary words describe two pieces of clothing? Which
one is commonly worn in winter?

(You can find the answers for this activity on page 251 at the back of the book.)

FOR DISCUSSION

» Ask two of your classmates how they would spend two days in either Quebec City or
Montreal and share with them how you wou ld spend those same two days. Which city
would you choose to go to and why?
» Imagine that you are a small ch ild from the pra iries visiting Old Quebec or Old Montreal.
What are five questions you might ask your parents about the unusual sights you are seeing?
 Central Canada: Quebec 173

Other Interesting Attractions

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day loaf-shaped ice cone known to Quebecers as the

pain du sucre (French for sugarloaj).
Carnaval de Quebec is one big festival in Quebec. Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre is also a
Another famous Quebec festival is held on very popular attraction. It is located in a town of
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, on June 24. For many the same name, 40 kilometres from Quebec City.
Quebecois, this day is a more important celebra- Many people from all over the world visit this
tion than Canada Day. People parade the streets basilica each year because it is known as a place
with provincial flags and paint fleurs-de-lys on of miraculous healing. Inside the church many
the roads and sidewalks. Four fleurs-de-lys are crutches and braces hang on the walls, left there
portrayed on Quebec's provincial flag. They rep- by people who no longer needed them because
resent the coat of arms of the French King and they had been healed.
have come to stand as a symbol for Quebec and Perce Rock, located on the coast of the Gaspe
its French identity. Peninsula, is one of Canada's most famous nat-
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day has been a legal holi- ural sites. It is almost 500 metres long and rises
day for the people of Quebec since 1922. It began 100 metres out of the water-an impressive sight.
as a religious festival celebrating Saint-Jean- Indeed, the entire Gaspe Peninsula is one of the
Baptiste as the patron saint of Quebec. In the sec- most charming areas of Canada and is popular
ond half of the twentieth century, it came to be with tourists during the summer months. The
strongly associated with Quebec nationalism and shores of this mainly agricultural area are dot-
the separatist movement ted with small, old villages, each with a church
spire rising into the sky. The spire marks the local
Roman Catholic Church, at one time the centre of
village life in each community.

Celebrating Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day on the Plains

of Abraham
Perce Rock (or pierced rock) on the coast of the
G aspe Peninsula

Around the Province

Quebec's Relationship
The Montmorency Falls are a scenic place to visit with the Rest of Canada
in summer or winter alike. These waterfalls are
located not far to the northeast of Quebec City. Many Quebecois have long felt misunderstood
They are actually 50 percent higher than the and undervalued within the broader context of
world-famous Niagara Falls in Ontario. In the Canada. At Confederation, they believed they
winter, they freeze and create an interesting were a nation joining together with another
 - 1- -j~!.~~~
'":~~~
17 Chapter 9 __ ~i~;k
:":k~'-_.
~

nation, English-speaking Canada. While many Whereas many Canadians are supportive of
people in the rest of Canada accept that Quebec Quebec's unique position in relation to the rest
has its own language and culture, some resent the of the country, the National Assembly of Quebec
tension created by Quebec's demands to be treated took a step in 1977 which cost it a great deal of
differently from other parts of the country. support in the other provinces. It decided to make
To improve French-English relations in the it illegal for anyone to display signs in any lan-
country, the federal government has supported guage other than French. Shop owners could not
many young people who want to participate in have English signs on their shops and were fined
exchange programs. In these programs, junior if they did so. At this point, many anglophone
and senior high school students from Quebec go Canadians began to wonder if the much-pro-
to another province for one to two weeks and then moted federal policy of bilingualism was a one-
take their partners back to Quebec with them for way street which applied to the rest of Canada but
the same length of time. These programs have not to Quebec. There was a sense of unfairness
provided participants with a wonderful oppor- in this action. Since that time, the government of
tunity to see the country from a totally differ- Quebec has changed the law so that signs can be
ent perspective. In addition, bursaries have been in English as long as French signs are more notice-
widely available for university students to take able, but the issue remains very controversial.
part of their studies in Quebec, either in the sum- In October of 1995, the government of Quebec
mer months or for longer periods. This is but one held a referendum asking the people of that prov-
aspect of the tremendous effort and money which ince if they wanted sovereignty association. In
has gone into supporting bilingualism in Canada. effect, did they want political separation from the
In many ways, the province operates according rest of Canada while still keeping economic ties
to its status as a nation within a nation, as opposed with the country? By a very, very small majority, the
to a province. In Quebec, the provincial govern- people of Quebec said no, but almost half said yes.
ment is called not a legislature, but a national Some groups who were against the idea included
parliament. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is called a the anglophone community of Montreal, many of
national holiday, not a provincial one. School his- the newly arrived immigrants in the province, and
tory and geography textbooks refer to Quebec the First Nations peoples. Since that time, the sep-
and Canada, not to Quebec as part of Canada and aratist movement has weakened, and Quebecers
teach these subjects very differently from the way appear to be more interested in achieving other
they are taught in the rest of the country. goals while remaining a distinct part of Canada.

- - ------------------------------------- - --------------- ---------------------- --- ----------.,

I
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I
o What do most Quebecois consider the most important holiday of the year?
I
! 8 Why do you think the people of Quebec call this a national holiday when it is
j
! celebrated only in Quebec?
! ., Which saint is said to work miracles in a large church near Quebec City?
!
i
! Cl What has the government of Canada done for many years to increase understanding
I
i
I between the young people of Quebec and the rest of Canada?
i
I CB What was the purpose of the referendum in Quebec in October 1995?
iI
!
L_~ ________________~___________________________~____________~___~__ ____~___~_________~_~_____~____ __.J
 Central Canada: Quebec 175

1------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------,
i VOCABULARY i
1 1

i fleurs-de-lys lilies which symbolize the French people; found on the Quebec flag I
!
i miraculous supernatural, incredible, astonishing; beyond what we understand to
I
i

;1 be natural and possible ;1

1
i
1
bursaries gifts of money for study purposes I
I tremendous great, requiring a lot of energy or power I
I referendum the process of referring an important political question to the general I
1 I
:.' electorate (the people) for a vote ill

context the surrounding environment in which something finds its meaning

! !
! :
I USING NEW WORDS I
! I
I I
i I

,:.
I: ; " i:f::;: 1~~;~:i::~o::~I~n=s:~:::~::::::e
doctors could not explain.
a recovery which the 1
:

I 8 In the past, students could more easily get to help them with their I
i studie's; now, they are more likely to get loans. !
i I
I • There must be a amount of co-operation if those of all races and I
i ethnicities are to live and work together to make Canada a great country for all. i
I i
I e The flag of Quebec has a blue background with a white cross and four white I
I " Politicians are generally hesitant to hold a if they think the people will !
i
not support their view. Ii
" We can sometimes understand the meaning of new words from their

I
!
FOR DISCUSSION
I
» If you were living in Quebec and were asked to vote in a referendum on the question of
separation from the rest of Canada, how would you vote and why?
» , What can Canadians do to indicate that they understand the Quebecois' fear of
assimilation and their desire to remain a distinct and vibrant culture? I

iI
» Should Quebec have a different status and different rights and privileges from the other
!
Canadian provinces? Explain your views.
» What can all Canadians do to learn more about the French-English realities in Canada?

CHAPTER REVI EW

» Imagine that you have just come back from vis iting the province of Quebec. Write a letter
I
to a friend describing your activities and your impressions of the province and its people. I
L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___________________________________________ I ~

:;lJ!1:tir.~2lk ,
""=.. r~~:::'~ { ...\r-
 10
Chapter Ten

The Atlantic
Provinces
Quick Facts
» Canada's Atlantic provinces include the three
Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
and Prince Edward Island) and Newfoundland and
Labrador. (Maritime means having to do
with the sea.)

» Newfoundland and Labrador includes the island

of Newfoundland and the mainland territory of
Labrador.

» New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were two of

the four founding provinces at Confederation in
1867; Prince Edward Island (PEI) joined Canada in
1873; Newfoundland was the last province to join
Canada, and did so in 1949.

» The populations of the provinces are

New Brunswick 750 000, Newfoundland and
Labrador 510000, Nova Scotia 950000, and
PE1145000.

» New Brunswick is the only province of Canada that

is officially bilingua l and has a large proportion of
people fluent in English and French .

» Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest province

with a land area of 5660 square kilometres.

» The capital cities are Fredericto n, New Brunswick;

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador; Halifax,
Nova Scotia; and Charlottetown, PEI.

» The provincial flowers and b irds are New

Brunswick-purple violet and blackcapped
chickadee; Newfoundland and Labrador-pitcher
plant and Atlantic puffin; Nova Scotia-mayflower
(no provincial bird); and Prin ce Edward Island-
lady's slipper and blue jay.
 Introduction
i----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------l

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!, i
i A.
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i
i
i

I
i

Labrador Sea I
i

ffi I
!
!i
i

!
!
!
!
i

St. Pierre and i

Miquelon (France) !
1
i
i

!
i
I
!
i
l
.:.......fIt i
o ATLANTIC !
~ OC~N I
fit I
~ I
<Q~ ~o , I
IL ________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________._______________________________--'!
~

The four Atlantic provinces on Canada's east coast Trait and Peggys Cove. These are only some of the
without doubt make up one of the most appealing interesting people and sites from Canada's east
areas of the country. When we think of Atlantic coast. Maritimers and Newfoundlanders have a
Canada, we think of lobster traps and fishing boats, reputation for warmth and joie de vivre that makes
singers Anne Murray and Rita MacNeit the Cabot most come from aways mildly envious.
 The Atlantic Provinces 179

New Brunswick

The People and History

If you walk into a tourist office or visit a market
in New Brunswick, you are likely to hear both
English and French being spoken, sometimes
both in the same conversation! While over half
of the province's population speak English only
and about one-tenth speak French only, many
are bilingual. In fact, New Brunswick is Canada's
only officially bilingual province. Like the city of
Ottawa, this province gives you the experience of
both French and English cultures.
The French -speaking Acadians are an impor- The old mill in the historic village of Kings Landing, :
New Brunswick
tant part of the province's history and still make
up a vital community in New Brunswick today.
They were the first European settlers in the region.
The Mi'kmaq and Maliseet had already been be surprised by the lack of visible minorities. New
there for centuries. In 1755, after the British took Brunswick has one of the lowest levels of immi-
over the region, the Acadians were asked to swear gration in Canada. For example, in 2005, only 3.1
an oath of allegiance to the British king. When percent of people living in the province had immi-
they refused, they were deported. Some fled to grated there. Of those, 40 percent come from the
the American colonies, to France, and to Quebec. US or the United Kingdom (UK) .
Many later returned in the 1770s and 1780s and New Brunswick still has many reminders of its
re -established themselves in different parts of the rich history. Kings Landing on the St. John River
country. Some resettled in New Brunswick, along is a charming reconstructed Loyalist village from
with British and American settlers, including the 1850s with a sawmill, pub, general store, the-
thousands of United Empire Loyalists who came atre, and traditional musicians. To the north at
from the United States (US) after the American Hartland you can see the longest covered wooden
Revolution. Later, many Scots and Irish settled in bridge in the world, dating from the days of horses
the province. and carriages. About an hour's drive farther north
The Acadians are Cl. proud, independent peo- is Grand Falls, a town with an impressive water-
ple and have not only succeeded in maintaining fall at its centre. At Caraquet on the northeast
their cultural identity, but have in fact increased coast is Acadian Historical Village, recreating
in number. New Brunswick's French popula- early Acadian life.
tion rose from 16 percent of the total popula-
tion in 1871 to a high of 40 percent in 1961. That The Picture Province
percentage has since decreased. When tourists
visit the many reconstructed forts and villages New Brunswick is known for its vast forests, sce-
throughout New Brunswick, the guides often tell nic coastline, and Bay of Fundy tides. In Moncton,
you proudly of their ancestors, the Acadians, and a city near the Nova Scotia border, you can join
their achievements. the tourists in watching the daily ritual of the tidal
On the other hand, if you walk the streets of bore. Moncton is located on the Petitcodiac River,
the province's capital city, Fredericton, you may sometimes called "the chocolate river" because at
low tide, it looks very much like chocolate milk.
However, when the tide comes in, a wave up to 1--- ~
a metre high rushes upriver. This wave, the tidal
bore, brings the water level of the river up to 8
metres. When the tide is out in the Bay of Fundy, I
•

you can see the flowerpot-shaped rock islands,

watch the birds come to feed, or walk on the wet
sands and search for the remains of interesting
sea creatures.
Another wondrous phenomenon in Moncton
I
is Magnetic Hilt where you drive to the bottom _.______________._____________ .____________________________J
of what seems like a hilt put your car in neutrat
and enjoy the sensation of gradually falling up the The Hopewell Rocks, in the Bay of Fundy, were
shaped by tidal erosion
slope. You are not really being pulled up. In fact
you are experiencing an optical illusion created by
the contours of the surrounding hillside, but you
certainly feel like you are going up! important products, but overfishing has caused
In Fredericton, known for its tree-lined streets serious concerns and fish farming is becoming
and nineteenth-century mansions, you can visit more popular. The province is also rich in minerals
the famous Beaverbrook Art Gallery, see a play and there is some agriculture, with more emphasis
at the Fredericton Playhouse, or admire the on livestock than crop farming. A lot of money has
interesting Legislative Assembly Building, con- gone into developing hydroelectric power plants.
structed in 1882. Recently, the province has also benefited from a
fast-growing telecommunications industry. The
The Economy three small urban centres have different econo-
mies. Saint John has heavy industry. Fredericton
New Brunswick's economy is largely dependent is dominated by government services, universities,
on forestry and forestry products. Fish and shell- and the military; and Moncton is a commerciat
fish including lobsters, crabs, and scallops are also retail, and transportation distribution centre.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Which of the Atlantic Provinces is not part of the group called The Maritimes?
f) Which of the Atlantic Provinces has a relatively large French-speaking population and
what does that group call themselves?
• How are immigration patterns in New Brunswick different from those in othe r provinces?
o What happens during the tidal bore phenomenon?
o What are three important industries in New Brunswick?

VOCABULARY

joie de vivre a French phrase meaning joy of living

come from aways a Newfoundland expression for people who come to Newfoundland
from elsewhere
envious jealous; desiring something that someone else has
oath of allegiance promise of loyalty
 The Atlantic Provinces 181

- --------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - ------------.

I
deported sent out of a country or region
influx a continuous entry of people I
!

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marked
consistent
noticeable
in the same pattern as previously; in agreement with
!
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ritual a sequence of actions followed repeatedly without change I

i
j phenomenon an event we can observe, but for which we don't always know the i!
i
cause; an extraordinary event or fact
[ I
I optical having to do with the eyes i
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illusion an appearance which is not real, but which seems real

contours outlines, especially of a natural feature such as a hill or mountain I
I
mansions large houses !

USING NEW WORDS !

!
:

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above. !

I
8 When Newfoundlanders hear the accent of someone from outside the province, they !

often smile and say, "Oh, you're a _ _ _ _ __ I

!
8 Some newcomers feel obligated to create the that they are very happy I
in Canada when, actually, they may be experiencing a lot of difficulty and pain after !
leaving their first country. !:
!
8 Heritage language education is _ _ _ _ _ _ with the desire of minority groups to !
i
preserve their cultural identity. i
e Many visitors to Canada from smaller, heavily populated countries are _ _ _ _ __
of Canada's large/ open spaces and relatively small population.
o After returning from a vacation in Hawaii, the couple had suntans.
I
o The of European settlers to North America marked the end of a way of
I
I
life for the Aboriginal peoples of the continent.
i
f) The freezing of water is a simple/ commonplace _ _ _ _ _ _ that still fascinates us,
I
adult and child alike.
I
o T he criminal was _ _ _ _ _ _ from the country to stand trial in the country where he
had committed the crime.
o Her m orning _ _ _ _ _ _ was to get up, take a shower, dress, and eat breakfast-
always in that order. I
•

FOR DISCUSSION I
!
» Their cultural identity is very important to the Acadians . What steps can cultural minorities I
i

take to protect their cultural identities? How important is cultural identity to you?
I
» Do you think that people who belong to visible minorities would feel more comfortable !
settlin g in a province with few visible minorities or in a province with people from many II
racial backgrounds? Explain your reasoning. !
!
» New Brunswick attracts many tourists who want to see the tidal bore and Magnetic Hill. !
1

What other unusual phenomena do you know of in Canada or in other parts of the world? I
!
» Communities need to attract industry and small business owners to create employment. I
_~ha~ do you think a community needs to be attra~~~~~_ to_~ew ind~_st~~~~~____________________ J
 Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has retained a relaxed, comfortable the Annapolis Valley of ova co ·a. The expe-
atmosphere unusual for a modern, industrialized rienced the same deportation or er as the French-
province. The hustle and bustle you would expect speaking Acadians in what is nm -_-e\ -Brunswick
in a busy seaport like Halifax is just not there. when Acadia was taken 0 er by the British. W hen
Instead, you find friendly people who still think it some Acadians returned in the 1 /05 and 1780s,
is important to take the time to "shoot the breeze." they found that their farms had been given to
British settlers and they had to tart all over again.
Culture and Heritage It is not surprising that the haye v -orked so hard
to preserve their heritage. Many of the British set-
Settled largely by Scots in the 1800s, Nova Scotia tlers were United Empire Lo ali ts, who were fol-
actually means New Scotland . The Scots, how- lowed by Scots in the 1800s.
ever, were not the first Europeans to reach the Today, you can find the province's Scottish
province's shores. Like New Brunswick, Nova heritage in the bagpipers, fiddlers, and highland
Scotia has a large and thriving Acadian commu- dancers who perform in communities around the
nity. Most are the descendants of French peasant province. Acadian festivals also include traditional
families who arrived in the 1630s and now live in Acadian dancing and other e ents. In celebration
of days gone by, Nova Scotia has also developed
thriving cottage industries with craftspeople pro-
ducing and selling items such as quilts, handmade
clothing, household linens, soaps, and candles.
These goods are sought after in many parts of the
country for their quaint beauty and high quality.

Halifax
Though it still has some beautiful historic build-
ings, the city of Halifax was largely rebuilt after
the famous explosion of 1917 during World War 1.
Two ships collided in Halifax Harbour. One of
those ships was carrying 227 000 kilograms of
TNT, a powerful explosive, as well as other muni-
tions. The explosion was so forceful that 2000
people were killed instantly and over 120 hectares
of the city were flattened. Fires destroyed much of
the remainder. Windows were shattered in Truro,
over 80 kilometres away. The Halifax explosion
goes down in history as one of the worst human-
caused disasters.
Halifax is a significant port for ships crossing
the Atlantic. On the streets and in the bars, you
can meet sailors from all over the world enjoy-
A bagpiper celebrates Scottish tradition in
Peggys Cove ing a few days of shore leave in this relaxing and
picturesque city. During the Halifax International
 The Atlantic Provinces 183

1------------------ 1
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====-------------------------------~.
Halifax Harbour

Busker Festival in the summer, part of the fascina- industries. Dartmouth is also home to many Black
tion in watching these entertainers from all over Canadians, some of whose families were forced
the world lies in their backdrop: a parade of ships out of Africville as we saw in Chapter 5. The Black
slowly passing behind them_ The sailors on the Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Dartmouth
ships are as fascinated by the entertainment as is an interesting place to visit. Its exhibits help
the crowds on the waterfront are_ visitors understand the important role Black
Halifax boasts more universities than any Canadians have played in our country and the
other city in Canada. It has five universities and obstacles they have faced.
three colleges. Some are world-famous for their There is also a large Black community in
highly specialized programs. One such university Halifax and racism has been a problem in this city,
is NSCAD, the Nova Scotia College of Art and as in many large urban areas in the country. In the
Design. Students come from all over the world past, members of the Black community have not
to study at these fine institutions. Many of these had the same opportunities as their white neigh-
universities began with religious affiliations and bours. Partly as a result of that reality, a Black
have survived because they had the quality to culture has emerged complete with a different
attract students from far beyond the borders of dialect of English that is not easily understood by
their communities. many other Haligonians. Efforts are b-e ing made
Across the harbour from Halifax lies Dartmouth, by many people to create equal opportunities for
the second-largest community in Nova Scotia members of this community in the school and in
with 90 000 people and several manufacturing the workplace.
 ~ .~~ ~~f-_
~:w· Chapter 1 0 ~~~_
~ ~T~

The Cabot Trail gives t ourists a scenic trip around

The colourful t own of Lunenburg Cape Breton

Around the Province you will see an image of the Bluenose, one of the
most famous schooners ever built. While the
While relatively flat in its geography, Nova Scotia's original Bluenose no longer exists, you can see a
forests and interesting shoreline provide some of replica (copy) of the original ship in Lunenburg
the most beautiful scenery in Canada. Tourists Harbour or at festivals in other ports around
like to take the secondary highway southwest of the province.
Halifax and travel along the coast stopping at such
well-known sites as Peggys Cove, Lunenburg,
The Economy
and Mahone Bay, a scenic town which reminds
passersby of what Canada was probably like a Fishing has always been an important industry
century ago. in Nova Scotia. The decline in cod stocks on the
Another popular destination for tourists and Grand Banks, however, has created major con-
the home of many of Canada's best-known folk cerns for fishery workers. The federal government
artists is Cape Breton. Cape Breton is actually an has spent a lot of money to provide retraining pro-
island linked to mainland Nova Scotia by a cause- grams, but unfortunately unemployment remains
way. The people of Cape Breton Island are very high, especially in the rural areas.
rooted to their homeland and have remained rela- Coal mining is another important industry in
tively distinct in their dialect and customs. Their Nova Scotia. When Canadians think of this prov-
Scottish heritage may be found in the lively fid- ince, some will remember the Springhill mining
dling music and dancing which are trademarks of disaster which claimed the lives of several men
the area. Alexander Graham Belt the creator of the in 1958. Springhill also calls to mind the ever-
telephone, spent his summers at Baddeck on the popular Anne Murray, a folk and country singer
island and a museum there is named after him. from this small town. Originally a physical edu-
The Cabot Trail makes a 300-kilometre circle cation teacher, Anne Murray sang on national
around the island and provides tourists with some television and from then on soared to the top of
of the best scenery in Canada. The trail follows the charts. Her recordings are now sold all over
the coastline through fishing villages, farmlands, the world. The many gold albums she has earned
and rugged headlands. Cape Breton Highlands attest to her popularity.
National Park would remind a visiting Scot of the Eager to find new ways of stimulating a slow
highlands of Scotland. economy, the province is promoting tourism and
Nova Scotia has a proud history as a ship- filmmaking. It would also like to attract high-tech
building centre. If you look at a Canadian dime, industry to the area.
 The Atlantic Provinces 185

COMPREHENSION CHECK

• What disaster destroyed most of Halifax in 1917?

I • Name three ethnic groups from Europe whose members settled in early Nova Scotia.
., What is one way in which Halifax is quite different from other urban centres in Canada?
I e Why is Anne Murray famous?

I o What problem do people who have gone through retraining programs in Nova Scotia
j face at this time?
I
I VOCABULARY
I
I retained kept the same
I
I hustle and bustle busyness; a lot of activity I
I shoot the breeze an idiom meaning to converse casually, to chat !
iI cottage industries industries which can be operated out of a home, usually arts and
i
.
I crafts of some sort I
i collided bumped into each other !
I i
I munitions ammunition; explosives to be used with weapons I

1, :~;~::;:~s ~~I:~:nn~~~:::;~::~:::ions I
1 dialect a version of a language used by one group of speakers but not others :
Haligonians people who live in Halifax I
causeway a raised road across a stretch of water . !
!
headlands points of land extending out into the water
i
attest to offer proof or evidence of
•

USING NEW WORDS

i
:

I Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above. I
! • When her husband left her and their new baby, her heart felt as if it had been !
I into amillion pieces. '
! " The Gulf Islands off British Columbia are also noted for their strong III

i such as pottery, weaving, and soap-making. .

., The expression blood is thicker than water means that the you feel with 1:

1 1
1 members of your family are stronger than the loyalty you feel to people outside your
1,1

I family. I
I e When the young couple did the renovations on their old house, they :
I the style of the original. I
I :
I " His fine reputation would to his good character. !

I ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________._ _ _ ____________J

o Sometimes, when people hear someone speak a of English they are not
familiar with, they think English is not the speake r's first language.
fJ It's great fun to _ _ _ _ _ _ if you are not too busy.
o The man's insurance rates went up a lot when his car _ _ _ _ _ _ with a bus.
t) Rush hour in Toronto is a good example of the _ _ _ _ _ _ one finds in most big
cities in Canada.
~ are lucky to have a large number of small universities and colleges
located in their city.

FOR DISCUSSION

» What advantages and disadvantages can you see to living in Halifax rather than some
other capital city?

» Some people look for high quality of life in deciding where to live, while others look for
the best economic advantage . What is most important to you in deciding where you
want to live?

» The explosion of 1917 was a terrible disaster caused by human error. What other disasters
do you know of which were caused by human beings, either on purpose or in error?

» The rise of cottage industries is often a response to the fact that other kinds of
employment aren't available. If you could not find a job, what skills do you or you and
your friends have which could be used to create a cottage industry?

FOR FUN

People from Halifax are called Haligonians. What do you think people from these
cities and provinces are called?

Toronto
Calgary
Alberta
Edmonton
Quebec

Montreal
Winnipeg
Newfoundland
Vancouver
Prince Edward Island

(You can find the answers for this activity on page 251 at the back of the book.)
 The Atlantic Provinces 187

Prince Edward Island

The setting for Anne of Green Gables is a National

Historic Site

A Visitor's Delight and quaint accommodations on the island. Some

tourists return annually to the same bed and
When we think of PEI, as Canadians often call breakfast and find there people they met in previ-
the country's smallest province, two things most 0us years. The owners are often happy to open the
often spring to mind: Anne of Green Gables and kitchen to their guests, who happily cook up a ket-
potatoes. While there is much more to this prov- tle of lobsters and eat them with a nice white wine
ince, there is no doubt that Anne and potatoes as they chat into the evening. Many bed and break-
are the driving forces behind the local economy. fasts overlook the waves of the Atlantic Ocean
Anne of Green Gables is a novel written by Lucy washing over the coastline. There is also Prince
Maud Montgomery. Canadians and people in Edward Island National Park which runs along the
many countries of the world fell in love with the north shore and offers warm, white, sandy beaches
red-haired orphan named Anne who, adopted by in summer. From the beaches you can see the spec-
a rather strict older couple, captured their hearts tacular red cliffs which are especially picturesque
and ours with her simple but humorous ways. at sunrise and sunset. The lobsters from PEI are
Anne has become a multi-million dollar industry well-known throughout the country for their tasti-
in PEI. Every year tourists come by the thousands ness, as are the oysters from Malpeque Bay.
to visit Cavendish, the home of the author and the As in Nova Scotia, some strong cottage indus-
setting for her novels. The Japanese have a par- tries have sprung up to meet the demands of
ticular affection for this freckle-faced character. tourists who want souvenirs of their visit to the
Before Anne became so popular, potatoes were province. Tourists have been especially impressed
virtually the mainstay of the economy. They grow with some of the fine woodwork done by local
in abundance in PEI's unique red soil. craftspeople. The dyed porcupine quills and strips
Anne of Green Gables may be the centre of the of ash used by the Mi'kmaq to make baskets in
tourism industry, but that industry is also well-sup- the same beautiful designs of their ancestors are
ported by the scenic shoreline, delicious seafood, another valued craft.
Culture and Heritage his father 's political footsteps, was elected pre-
mier of PEI.
Islanders know their roots. At one time, the The capital city ofthe province is Charlottetown,
Acadians formed the majority of the popula- best known historically as the place where the
tion' but now make up a small percentage. first conference on Confederation was held. Now,
Nevertheless, the Acadians' language, literature, it is a growing city, the seat of government for the
music, dance, cooking, and crafts are enjoy- province, and the centre of hospitality for visiting
ing a popularity which is growing rather than tourists. A place popular with residents and guests
shrinking. The Celtic roots in the area are also alike is the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Not
apparent in the number of redheads you can see only does the centre house one of Canada's fin-
staffing the shops· on the island. Eighty per cent est museums, but its art gallery hosts a number
of the island's population trace their heritage to of important Canadian works of art along with
the British Isles. We see that connection still in visiting exhibitions which change regularly. The
the popular highland dancing from Scotland, centre's production of Anne of Green Gables in the
the Irish folk songs, and the English architec- summer months is a popular one with tour groups
ture throughout the island's capital city. There and sells out well in advance.
are also some people of Lebanese origins on the How do you get to the island? In the past,
island. Most of their ancestors came in the late people flew in or came by ferry from Nova Scotia.
1800s and early 1900s as peddlars who travelled Now, they can drive across the Confederation
from house to house selling their wares or who Bridge which links the mainland with the island.
opened small corner stores. The success of the This 12.9-kilometre-long bridge is considered a
Lebanese merchants led to their playing a sig- feat of modern engineering. It was completed in
nificant role in the economy and politics of the 1997 after four years of work at a cost of one bil-
island. Most Canadians today would recognize lion dollars. Travellers are advised to check the
the name of Joe Ghiz, who was premier from status of the bridge in bad weather because it is
1986 to 1992. In 2007, Robert Ghiz, following in closed in high winds or storm conditions.
[------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
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Charlottetown City Hall

 The Atlantic Provinces 189

- - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - -- - - -- ------- .--------- --------------------------- ------------

ii
COMPREHENSION CHECK !
I
I Are the following statements true or false? I
i 0 Lucy Maud Montgomery was the character in a famous book written by Anne Cavendish .
! • The shoreline of PEI is rugged and beautiful in places, with red cliffs and white sandy
I beaches .

I ., There are no indigenous peoples living on PE!.

I
i o There is a large cottage industry (local handicrafts) on the island.

I
I
«3 Joe Gh iz is a famous baseball player from PE!.

ij VOCABULARY
!
i orphan a child whose parents have died
ii freckle-faced having small brown spots on the cheeks, often as a result of being in the
I sun a lot
I virtually as far as the essential facts are concerned
mainstay of the most important support to
1
,1 souvenirs objects you buy to remind you of a vacation or place you visit (from the
I French word for to remember)
! porcupine quills the needle-like protrusions covering the skin of the porcupine
I Celtic of the Celts, an ancient people whose descendants include the people of
Scotland and Ireland, among others. Red hair was common in these people.
peddlars people who sell things from door to door or on the street
character the unique and special qualities of a person, place, or thing

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
o _ _ _ _ _ _ all people feel the need to be treated w ith respect by others.
• A strong _ _ _ _ _ _ is a valuable asset for anyone to have .
., Agriculture is the _ _ _ _ _ _ of Saskatchewan 's economy.
e It seems rather strange to buy _ _ _ _ _ _ in one country, only to find that they
were manufactured in anothe r country.
«3 The very name of Nova Scotia tells us that many of its citizens are descended from
_ _ _ _ _ _ roots.
o An ----,,--_ _ _ _ in Canada seldom has difficulty finding an adoptive family.

FOR DISCUSSION

I » The Anne books, as they are often called, are so popular that they have become part of
I our Canadian identity and culture. Can you think of books in your own culture that most
i people think of with affection? What is it about such books that makes them so popular?
I » What do you think of the practice of buying souvenirs when you go on holiday to a
special place?
L_______________________________________.__._______________________________________________________________________ _______________---1

I·~' -----
 Newfoundland and Labrador

To Join or Not to Join Cheap tea and molasses they say they will give,
All taxes take off that the poor man may live;
Newfoundlanders are a proud people who clung Cheap nails and cheap lumber our coffins to
to their independence for a long time before make,
they agreed to join the rest of Canada. Many And homespun to mend our old clothes when
Canadians recognize Joey Smallwood, long- they break.
time premier of Newfoundland, for the role he
If they take off the taxes how then will they meet
played in bringing Canada its tenth province.
The heavy expense of the country's upkeep?
He was premier from 1949 until 1972, a total
Just give them the chance to get us in the scrape
of 23 years. The words of the following anti-
And they'll chain us like slaves with pen, ink
Confederation song speak poetically of the strong
and red tape.
feelings pre-Confederation Newfoundlanders
had towards Canada: Would you barter the rights that your fathers
Hurray for our own native isle, Newfoundland! have won,
Not a stranger shall hold one inch of its strand! Your freedom transmitted from father to son?
Her face turns to Britain, her back to the Gulf, For a few thousand dollars of Canadian gold,
Come near at your peril, Canadian Wolf! Don't let it be said that our birthright was sold.

Ye brave Newfoundlanders who plough the Then hurrah for our own native isle,
salt sea Newfoundland!
With hearts like the eagle so bold and so free, Not a stranger shall hold one inch of its strand!
The time is at hand when you'll all have to say Her face turns to Britain, her back to the Gulf
If Confederation will carry the day. Come near at your perit Canadian Wolf!

COMPREHENSION CHECK

8 What are the main feelings behind this song?

• What is Canada compared to in the first verse of this song?
., What is the chief benefit in joining Confederation, according to the song?
e What are the main disadvantages in joining?
o What expression is used in the fourth verse which refers to bureaucracy?
o Explain how verse four expresses a distrust of the Canadian promises.

VOCABULARY

clung to held on tightly or closely to

strand shore; land bordering the sea
peril acute or serious danger
j
!
molasses a thick, brown, sweet substance made from either sugar cane or sugar i
beet and which comes before granular sugar in the refining process; II
normally used for flavour and sweetness in baking i
!
L -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ __ _____________ Ji
 The Atlantic Provinces 191

, --------- - - -- ---- --------------------------------- - - --- -- - - - - - ------ ----]

I! homespun a rough, inexpensive cotton fabric
I

I in the scrape an expression which means in difficulty I

red tape an idiom which refers to the bureaucratic delays often experienced in
!
!i dealing with government I
i

barter exchange
I
transmitted to passed on or given to I

I
i
I
I! USING NEW WORDS
!
i » Working with a partner or in groups of four, see if you can come up with a fictional story
I
!
i
using at least six of the words and expressions above, Then, read your story aloud to
the rest of your classmates and listen to their stories, Which group wrote the best story?
How did you decide?
I
I
FOR DISCUSSION
i
i

» From what the song says, which ethnic group do you think was primarily responsible for I
settling Newfoundland? I
» Newfoundland has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country today and i
has had one of the highest rates for some time, Why do you think that Newfoundland Ii
i

finally did join Confederation? I

i
» Do you know of other countries where people did not believe it was in their best I
interests to join others around them and become or remain one country? i
I
, » What are the advantages in unity? What are the advantages in independence? I
L ___ _________________________ _ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ _ ____________1

Newfoundland and "This is Michael O'Flaherty, the manager of

Labrador Today our local bank," Newfoundlanders would be
more likely to say, "This is Michael O'Flaherty,
N ewfoundlanders have retained a distinct iden- the son of John O'Flaherty and Molly Malone,
tity. Their Irish-like accent is well-recognized you know,"
across the country and there are in the Newfie More than in any other part of Canada, people
dialect many expressions which other Canadians take time to visit with one another. Some still con-
do not understand. People, for example, fall into sider it quite rude to pass a person on the street
one of three groups: townies if they live in the city, without having a little chat. People will even stop
baymen if they live in the outports, and CFAs or their cars on the street for a brief "how are you?"
come from aways as strangers are called, and few get upset at the temporary halt in the
People raised in Newfoundland and Labrador traffic. In the outport communities, it is beyond
are often identified by their family relation- understanding to lock your door since people
ships, as they are in many other cultures outside drop in unannounced on a regular basis,
Canada, For example, instead of introducing a Perhaps it is this strong sense of commu-
stranger to someone in the community by saying, nity which has enabled Newfoundlanders to
 Unique architecture in St. John's, Newfoundland

triumph over adversity through the years. Where Today's Newfoundland and Labrador, in
unemployment in other parts of the country spite of a strong pulp and paper industry and
has sometimes led to depression and all its ugly some mining, is not as prosperous as many of
consequences, you do not have that sense in its neighbouring provinces, a fact which some
Newfoundland. Rather, people celebrate their Newfoundlanders blame on their decision to join
blessings, share with one another, and make do in Confederation by a narrow majority in 1949. The
the time-honoured tradition of strong communi- land is mostly rocky Canadian Shield and the
ties everywhere. sea, which sustained the people so generously
Newfoundlanders enjoy a wealth of folk for centuries, has lost its abundant stocks of cod.
music, like their neighbours in Nova Scotia. Their The situation is so serious that the people are no
folk music tells stories of their lives at sea and in longer allowed to fish off the Grand Banks. The
the harsh Atlantic climate. Their songs of struggle closure of the cod fisheries has brought much
with survival as well as the joys and humour of hardship to the people of Newfoundland and
romance are reminiscent of old English and Irish Labrador, many of whom were dependent on the
ballads, the ballads of their ancestors. Played with cod for their livelihoods. They are very angry at
a fiddle and a button accordion, the ballads were foreign fishing boats which come close to their
never written down. They were passed along waters and deplete the ocean of cod even fur-
orally and thus varied from village to village. Two ther. Unemployment rates in the province remain
very popular groups in the province today are high, and some Newfoundlanders have chosen
Great Big Sea and the Irish Descendants, both of to look elsewhere in Canada for jobs. Albertans,
which have revived the old music and given it new for example, all know of N ewfoundlanders who
life for younger generations. have come to Alberta for work in places such as
 The Atlantic Provinces 193

Fort McMurray or Edmonton. Most plan to return There have been over 700 documented shipwrecks
home when they retire. off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. The
Even the climate of this province is distinc- most famous of these was the Titanic which sank
tive. While moderated by the ocean! the weather is on its first voyage from England in 1912. More
nowhere near as mild as that of our western prov- recently, Canadians recall when the oil rig Ocean
ince by the sea! British Columbia. The Labrador Ranger sank in 1982, killing over 80 people.
current brings the Arctic cold to Newfoundland
and Labrador. Spring comes late because of the ice Building a New Economy
brought south by the current. It is also the windiest
of the four Atlantic provinces. Winds can reach up Newfoundlanders realize how important it is to
to 180 kilometres an hour and have been known to find other sources of income for the population!
blow trains off their tracks. Newfoundlanders brag especially in light of the moratorium on cod fish-
that you can experience all four seasons in one day ing. The Institute for Marine Dynamics shows
on their island because the weather can change so leadership in marine research and many new
dramatically in a short time. Freezing rain and fre- companies are manufacturing goods which range
quent fog are commonplace in this province. from metal products to satellite communications
N ewfoundlanders have two unexpected equipment. There is also a lot of interest in the
neighbours to the south: the tiny islands of Saint- production of computer software, medical care
Pierre and Miquelon. These islands are still under innovations, and aerospace equipment. Business
the jurisdiction of France! yet are but a short ferry people are also looking for ways to create markets
ride from Newfoundland!

The Toll of the Sea

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador have
lived for centuries from the bounty of the sea!
but it has not been without a price. The following
poem by El Pratt expresses this fact.

Erosion
It took the sea a thousand years!
A thousand years to trace
The granite features of this cliff!
In crag and scarp and base.
It took the sea an hour one night
An hour of storm to place
The sculpture of these granite seams
Upon a woman!s face.
Source: Pratt, E.J.: "Erosion" from E.]. Pratt:
Complete Poems, ed. Sandra Djwa and R.G. Moyles,
© University of Toronto Press, 1989. Reprinted with
permission of the publisher.

The Atlantic is a wild! cold ocean and both fish-

ermen and sealers lead a hard life. Many folk songs
Ma ny Newfoundlanders made t heir living fr om the
have been written about those who were lost in ocean, but fish stocks have declined
storms or fogs, or who were killed by shifting ice.
19

for sea products which are not well-known, such own university, called Memorial University of
as seaweeds and less popular kinds of fish and Newfoundland. Visitors like to go to the park
shellfish. N ewfoundlanders are open to adapting at Signal Hill from which the first trans-Atlan-
to a changing world. tic wireless signal was received by Guglielmo
Marconi in 1901.
St. John's, Capital by the Sea Visitors to the city can stay in a first-class
hotel if they choose or in one of the lovely old
St. John's is a small but interesting city to visit. bed and breakfasts overlooking the harbour.
Built on the hillside rising up from the har- The weather is extremely variable in this city so,
bour, old and new buildings host businesses, regardless of the time of year, dress in layers and
shops, and government offices. The city has its take a good raincoat!

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o In what ways do many Newfoundlanders sound different from other Canadians when
they speak?
f) What are the roots of Newfoundland and Labrador's folk music?

VOCABULARY

outports small, remote fishing villages

triumph (over) conquer or overcome
adversity difficult, sustained problems
make do use what you have and make the best of it, even if more would be desirable
revived brought back; given new life
sustained maintained continuously over a long period of time
moratorium a temporary ban or suspension
deplete reduce in number or quantity
moderated made less extreme
toll something paid, lost, or suffered; a charge for or cost of using something
granite a hard rock
sealers those who hunt seal
documented proven and written about
delicacy something very special to eat; sometimes appreciated by those who
are accustomed to it but not by strangers
j urisd iction authority or administration

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term f~om the list above.
o Many people living in Newfoundland and Labrador's _ _ _ _ _ _ have known one
another for generations.
f) You can _ _ _ _ _ _ over _ _ _ _ _ _ if you have faith, hope, and determination.
 The Atlantic Provinces 195

The city charg ed a _ _ _ _ _ _ of 50 cents to cross the new bridge.

The city place d a on new commercial developments until it had
completed its new d evelopm ent plan.
The people on t he b each th ought that the child had drowned until she was
_ _ _ _ _ _ bya lifeg uard .
There are few of us who have not had to when money was scarce.
_ _ _ _ _ _ is ve ry good for use in the construction of small buildings because it is
very hard and lasts a long time .
When life is by artificial means t it is difficult to know when to allow a
person to die without further interference.
Snake meat is conside red a _ _ _ _ _ _ in many parts of the world .
His kind t gentle words her anger.
The man was a convicted thief and his crimes were well _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

FOR DISCUSSION

» What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in small communities where
everyone knows everything about you? Which do you prefer-life in a small community
or in a large city?

» Newfoundlanders seem to have found t for the most partt a way to be happy in spite of
their economic woes . How do you think they do this? What can you learn from them?

» What is the function of folk music in a society?

CHAPTER REVIEW

Divide your class into four groups. Each group represents one of the four Atlantic Provinces.
Nowt imagine that your group has been selected by the provincial government to participate
in a regional development think tank. It is your job to argue on behalf of your province and
to work cooperatively with the rest of your class to decide how 100 million dollars can best
be spent over the next five years for the economic development of your province. I
i
Consider I
Ii
» your provincets natural resources and human resources
» your history of employment
» your relationship to the other provinces t which also want and need this money II
» your values as a people
» the location of your population
I » the needs of the global and national communities

l
I

» your commitment as a province to becoming fully independent economically

!
i
_ _ _ _ _ _.-1
 11
Chapter Eleven

Canada's North
Quick Facts
» Canada's North includes Yukon, the
Northwest Territories (NWT), and
Nunavut. "

» The NWT joined Confederation in 1870;

Yukon joined in 1898. Nunavut was
carved out of the eastern NWT in 1999.

» The capital cities are Whitehorse,

Yukon; Yellowknife, NWT; and Iqaluit,
Nunavut.

» Canada's North is often called The Land

of the Midnight Sun .

» The estimated population of Yukon

is 36000; the population of the NWT is
44000; and the population of Nunavut
is 33 000.

» The flower of Yukon is the fireweed and

the bird is the common raven; the flower
of the NWT is the mountain avens and
the bird is the gyrfalcon; the flower of
Nunavut is the purple saxifrage and the
bird is the rock ptarmigan .

» Nunavut has three official languages:

English, Inuit (Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun),
and French. (Inuinnaqtun is written in
roman letters like English while Inuktitut
is written in syllabic symbols, each of
which represents a syllable.)
r------
Introduction

~~~~; -----~-------~-~--~------~--------~-~------(f) l
Be;::rt I

,I
Baffin Bay Cl
I
I

I
(;) 1
I
Q 11
!

Hudson
Bay

Considering the relatively small population of Today because of the harsh climate and the
Canada's northern territories, there is a remark- relative isolation of the area, most people who
able interest in Canada's North and a great deal live in the North year round are the Native people
of folklore about the area. Many Canadian school and those serving the needs of miners and tour-
children have studied the challenging lifestyle of ists in the communities. With long hours of win-
the early Inuit, formerly called Eskimos. Their old ter darkness and bitter cold, life is seldom easy in
way of life was unlike any other in the country. Canada's northlands.
In addition, there are numerous poems and sagas Miners, geologists, and construction work-
telling of the gold rush days in the 1890s, when ers often venture temporarily into the North for
the discovery of gold in Canada's North sent employment. The pay is excellent and the normal
many people scrambling to find their fortunes. work routine is to spend a period of time in the
 Canada's North 199

North, followed by a rest period in the South. [ -- - -- -1

For example, workers may spend one month in,
two weeks out. There is little recreation in these
I:' I
work camps, so people tend to work long days and 1

take no days off until they leave the area for their I 1
I I
break.
Edmonton has often been called the Gateway to
the North since flights into Yukon and Northwest
Territories (NWT) most often come from that
city, and off-duty workers frequently take their I I
I I
leave there. Ottawa and Montreal, meanwhile, iL__•_ __•_ _ ___ _•____ _ _ _ _ __ __ !
~

are the main departure points for those heading

to Iqaluit. Perishable supplies are often flown into Tourists view an iceberg up close
northern communities, while non-perishables
are driven in over the two main highways serv-
ing much of this vast area. All supplies are flown interest to many who come from the South to
in to Iqaluit, as there are no roads connecting it visit. These include walruses, polar bears, caribou,
with the South. The distance makes supplies very muskox, beluga and bowhead whales, and the
expensive to buy in the North. That is one rea- famous narwhals with their long tusks protrud-
son salaries tend to be much higher there than in ing up to three metres from their upper-left jaws.
other regions of Canada. Due to the cold, it is also The narwhal is the source of some controversy.
very expensive to heat the homes. In other words, The Inuit have hunted it for years for its meat and
the cost of daily living in the North is high. While also exported the long tusks for as much as $450
there are doctors and nurses to serve the every- per metre. The federal government has made it
day healthcare needs of the people, the small illegal to export the tusks in order to protect these
size of the population means that people often animals that are said to be overhunted.
have to fly out to Edmonton or Montreal if they
need specialists or other services not available in Nunavut
their communities.
Small airlines such as First Air serve a grow- In 1999, Canada's newest territory was created in
ing interest in tourism in the North. In winter, what used to be the eastern part of the Northwest
tourists travel to Yellowknife and other centres Territories. This territory, Nunavut, covers about
to view the Aurora Borealis or ride in a dogsled. 14 percent of the total land area of Canada.
In the long days of summer, they may choose Nunavut means our land in Inuktitut. It is home to
to experience the vast and beautiful scenery or approximately 17 500 Inuit. In exchange for direct
attend a festival where they can listen to throat ownership over 18 percent of the territory and 1.15
singers and watch some of the unique Inuit games billion dollars over 14 years, the Inuit gave up any
which traditionally are co-operative rather than other land claims in what remains of the territory.
competitive. Other activities include kayaking, ,In some ways, it seems to be a very good arrange-
canoeing, rafting, and seeing some of the gigantic ment for the Inuit; in others, it may not be. The
icebergs whose rapid melting is thought to be con- Inuit used to have hunting, fishing, and trapping
tributing to rising water levels all over the world. rights over a much larger area, but mineral rights
Yearlong, tourists enjoy the warm hospitality of over only 22 500 square kilometres of the 219 000
their northern hosts and the storytelling abilities square kilometres in question. The creation of
of the Inuit elders. Nunavut made the Inuit the largest single land-
The animals unique to the North are also of owning group in the world. On the other hand,
the Inuit still do not have full self-government. like the governments of Yukon and the Northwest
The territorial government remains under the Territories. Still, the Inuit have more control over
jurisdiction of the federal government in Ottawa, their land and resources than they did previously.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Ask a question that will give you each answer below.

e gold

• Inuit
• miners, geologists, and construction workers
e Iqaluit
o 44000 people (Hint: Check the Quick Facts at the beginning of the chapter to help you
with this one.)
o Nunavut

VOCABULARY

remarkable worthy of notice; unusual

folklore the traditional customs, beliefs, songs, and stories of a people preserved
in primarily oral form
sagas narratives or stories of heroic achievements
scrambling struggling hastily in competition with others for something
venture risk loss or injury in pursuit of some advantage
perishable naturally subject to speedy decay (for example, fresh foods which
spoil quickly)
specialist doctor who specializes in one kind of medicine (pediatricians work with
children; obstetricians work with pregnant women)
throat singing a type of singing unique to the Inuit cultures

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
o Only the top student would win the scholarship, so everyone was _ _ _ _ _ _ to get
the best mark on the final examination .
f) foods are normally kept in the refrigerator until they are to be eaten.
• When the boy was young, he loved to sit with his grandfather and listen to him tell
_ _ _ _ _ _ of the old Norwegian heroes.
e Canadians are familiar with some of the of many different cultures
because people in Canada come from so many different places.
I
I 0 An orthopedic surgeon is a _ _ _ _ _ _ who operates on bones.
L________________________________________________________________________________________________-.l
 Canada's North 201

1------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - - - - - - - l

11 " Terry Fox is considered a Canadian hero because of his feat of running I

, across much of Canada with cancer and an artificial leg. I

I G Children are urged not to outside after dark by themselves, especially I
I in the cities . i
I I
I FOR DISCUSSION I
I i
I » Why do you think the North is often called the Land of the Midnight Sun? 1

II » Why do you think most Inuit choose to stay in the North rather than move south?
'
1

i » Have yo u ever considered living and working in Canada's North? What do you think I
I some of t he advantages and disadvantages would be? I
I » Is the deal between the Inu it and the government of Canada regarding Nunavut a good I
i deal for b oth? Why or why not? I
I I
1______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________J

Land of the Midnight Sun

A lake along the Ing raham Trail in the N or t hwes t Territories

When Canadians who have never visited the North ensures that everything deeper than half a metre
think of it, images of snow, ice, and the Northern in the ground stays frozen all year long.
Lights most often come to mind. While those are One of the most amazing spectacles to outsid-
all part of the northern experience, they are not ers is the splendour of flowering meadows dur-
all of it. For people who flyover the North for the ing the short but intense summers in the North.
first time, the almost overwhelming impression is Because there is so much sunlight in the summer
of the vast size of the forests and lakes, uninter- months, gardens grow quickly and the wild flow-
rupted by towns, roads, and other signs of people. ers show off their brilliance, as if they know they
It is so very beautiful and so peaceful. It makes you have little time to do so. In the summer it is truly
imagine what the earth may have been like thou- the land of the midnight sun-areas near the
sands and thousands of years ago before humans Arctic Circle and northward experience 24-hour
began to dominate the planet. daylight during part of the summer months-
The North covers one-third of Canada's land whereas in the winter it feels like the land of end-
mass and has a great variety of landforms. In addi- less darkness.
tion to vast stretches of forest and even more vast
areas of ice and snow, you can also find moun- The Aurora Borealis
tains' lowland plains, and the rocky Canadian
Shield. One of the most interesting areas is the The North is well-known for this unusually
lowland tundra. People who live there say they beautiful phenomenon, otherwise known as the
live above the treeline because there are no trees. Northern Lights. In the cold of winter, Canadians
It is too cold for trees to grow, but there are lichens, can look up and see dancing ribbons of coloured
mosses, grasses, and low shrubs. The permafrost light rippling across the sky. The colours vary from

1 ---------------------- - - ---·· · ····-··········_··_-·_·-- 1

! i

The Aurora Borealis

 Canada's North 203

almost fluorescent blues and greens to intense but the currently popular theory is that they are
pinks, mauves, and other colours. Whereas caused by radiation. Scientists believe that light
Edmontonians and other southerners can see these is given off when atoms in the upper atmosphere
lights from time to time, they are best observed in are hit by fast-moving electrons and protons. The
the North between December and March. Many lights are most active two days after intense activ-
theories have been advanced to explain them, ity on the surface of the sun.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o What is remarkable about the northern landscape in the summer?

• What do we see when watching the Northern Lights?
• What do scientists believe causes these lights?
e Can people living in the cities of southern Canada see them?

VOCABULARY

lichens small, short plants which spread over the surface of land, rock, or
trees; many lichens have small flowers
spectacle an unusual or dramatic event or presentation
splendour beauty on a large scale
fluorescent describes colours with an unusual sense of light in them
atoms the smallest particles in any element which still contain all the
! properties of that element

II USING NEW WORDS

I Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.

I • Physicists have learned to divide into protons, electrons, and neutrons.
I • Clothing with stripes is used for safety reasons because these stripes
can be seen in the dark.
• What can compare with the _ _ _ _ _ _ of a summer sunset over the lake with a
loon calling in the background?
e We are often surprised to see _ _ _ _ _ _ growing on rocks with no visible soil to
nourish them.
o The sight of 10000 people cheering for Gilles Vigneault, the Quebecois folk singer, was
a the students will never forget.

FOR DISCUSSION

I » What do you think that the ancient Aboriginals may have believed about the meaning of
I the Northern Lights?
L_________ _
 Aboriginal Peoples of the North
I---~-----~------ --~------- --~------------~-----------------~----~----~------------------------------~--~- -----~-~---------~--------.--------.------- -------~------ -~--------~---!

i I
I I
! i
! I
! I
Ii I
I

I
:

I
I
II
I
i
I
I
!
I
I ,
L ______________ ___________________________________ ______________________________________________._____________________________J

Inuit hunting for walrus

There are three groups of Aboriginals in the the natural resources came to the area, the Inuit
North. The Inuit are the people of the tundra. lived in harmony with the animals and the sea-
Inuit means the people in their language, a term sons. Their homes were igloos, small domed
they prefer to Eskimo which means meat eater in houses made from blocks of ice cut to size. The
the Algonquian language. The Dene are the peo- seals and whales, as well as the occasional polar
ple of the inland forests and river valleys. There bear, provided their food and clothing, and the
are also many Metis living in the North. In con- blubber they used to heat and light their homes.
trast to the cold land in which they live, the people They travelled over the icy land by way of dogsleds
generally have warm hearts and welcome visitors and hunted in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean
with great hospitality. They have survived their in kayaks made from the skins of animals. Even
harsh environment because they understand the the bones of animals were used to make weapons
importance of community. They share what they and tools. Communities were small and people
have with one another. took care of one another. A seal or whale caught
The Inuit have lived in the Arctic for a very by one meant sustenance for all. Shamans served
long time. Before people interested in developing not only as spiritual leaders and healers of the
 Canada's North 205

community, but also as dreamers who "dreamed" as textbooks were about the history and geogra-
the location of the next day's catch at sea or on phy of the South, not of the North. Formal educa-
land, in the tradition of shamans everywhere. tion reflected the values of European cultures, not
The Dene people live in the forests of the the values and beliefs of the Aboriginals. In short,
Mackenzie Valley, which stretches from the the Aboriginal cultures were being decimated

I Alberta border north to the Beaufort Sea. These

people speak seven different languages and share
a cultural heritage with people as far away as New
Mexico. While many are hunters and trappers,
others-like many Metis-are joining the profes-
by their collision with a larger dominant culture.
With such drastic changes, the Inuit lost control
over their lives. Some turned to alcohol or drugs,
and crime increased. There is no going back, but
Aboriginals are working to find their identity
sions and trades which serve their communities. once again.
In the past, caribou were the main source of Fortunately, the people of the North are resil-
food for the Dene. They followed the herds in ient and the events which have threatened their
much the same way as the Aboriginals on the traditional ways have not destroyed them. They
prairies followed the buffalo herds. When pipe- are learning new skills and adapting to a new
lines and highways were built in the area, how- way of life. Many have started new businesses
ever, they interrupted the natural path of these and formed co-operatives in which they work
herds and disrupted the lives of the peoples who together and share the profits. Some Inuit artists,
depended on them. for example, create the soapstone carvings, dis-
Trapping was also important to the Dene. tinctive prints, and weavings sought by collectors
Even today, many depend on their trap lines to and museums all over the world. Educators look
catch small animals whose pelts are valued for with deep respect to the games of the Inuit, which
fur coats, in spite of the increasing awareness that are based not on competition but on co-operation.
such luxuries are driving some of these animals The Aboriginals of the North survived because
close to extinction. Beaver, mink, lynx, and fox they understood their interconnectedness with
are still made into very expensive coats, though one another and with the earth. Many people
they are less popular than they once were. Some believe that this is something the rest of Canada
people now consider it politically incorrect to today must relearn.
wear fur coats.
Life for Aboriginals in the North has changed, ; - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1
and not always for the better. Many people died
from tuberculosis, a disease brought in by whal- I I
ers, trappers, and other workers at the begin-
i! I
II
!
ning of the twentieth century. Like First Nations
peoples south of them, the Inuit also lost many I
of their old spiritual ways when Christian mis-
sionaries came north to teach the Christian faith . II
The missionaries built schools and hospitals and I
believed they were helping the Inuit, but they dis-
rupted the way of life the Inuit had always known.
Later other schools were set up in the North, but 1 ...... _ - - -

few teachers would stay beyond their two-year

Soapstone carving by an Inuit artist
contract period. Curriculum was often irrelevant

r ,;:f.::t1~~~ ~~
_ _w~~~' •
 ---::: P:-~~~N~':~-:H-:~---_··· _ ···_---------------------- - -I

• Which two animals were very important to the Inuit and why? I
f) How did the people know where to find the animals when they were hunting? :i
., A very serious disease killed many of the Aboriginals in Canada's North. What was I
that disease? !
e How are the Aboriginals of the North adapting to a new way of life today? I

VOCABULARY
ii

domed in the shape of a half-sphere or half-ball

blubber the fat of a large sea animal such as a whale
I
i sustenance that which enables life to continue; nourishment
I pelts the skins of fur-bearing animals used for making clothing or
other items
I
i the end or cessation of life of a species
extinction
I
i
irrelevant having no meaning; not important within a particular context
I decimated destroyed; killed on a large scale
I collision the abrupt and unsettling coming together of two opposing forces
I
i resilient able to recover from a shock or other difficult experience
i
politically incorrect a term used to describe language or behaviour which is no longer
Ii commonly supported by the majority of people in a society
i
!
USING NEW WORDS
i
!
! Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
i 0 structures are generally stronger than rectangular ones.
I f) The value of _ _ _ _ _ _ is dependent on their condition; those without holes or
i tears are worth the most.
I • Many people throughout the world are fighting the of various species
in the rainforests, partly because these plants provide us with medicines that a-re not
I available elsewhere.
I
i e School textbooks with pictures and information about American plants, trees, and
i
I
animals are somewhat to Canadian students who have not yet learned
i
about their own plants, trees, and animals.
Food which is fresh and locally grown normally provides healthier _ _ _ _ _ _ than
I 0
food which is frozen, canned, or dried and imported from elsewhere.
I 0 The people of Ethiopia were by both famine and war for many years.
Ii 0 The unexpected of the two cars on the icy road resulted in one death
!i and two people being seriously injured.

l_. __~_~::i;I;:~.___ burned in the small lamps provided both light and hea_t_ in_ _----'
 Canada's North 207

!---- ~------~ - ~--- - ---- -- --- ----------- -- ---- --- ----- -- -- --- - -- - ~--------------- - --------- -- --- ---- -- ~ --- ~---- I

I '

I et People knew the woman would recover from the shock of her sister's death because I
! she was very i
i G> Many people now think it is to drink from paper I
I cups instead of using china or metal cups. I
I I
! I
I WORD FAMILIES i
!i Fill in the blanks. There are three columns: one for nouns, one for verbs, and one for
II
i adjectives. Do you know which column goes with each? !
II i
I
I I
t I
! I
sustainab le I
!I
collide
I
extinguish

1. distinct I
2.
I I

(You can find the answers on page 251 at the back of the book.)

FOR DISCUSSION I
1

» In the Inuit languages, there are many words for snow. Why do you think they have so I
many words for what we cal l snow in English?

» Seldom do peop le own the mineral rights on t heir land. Usua lly, the mineral rights are I
sold separate ly. What do you think of this practice? I
» How would you fee l if someone gave you a beautiful fur coat? Do you think everyone I
would feel the same as you would? Why or why not? t

I
» Do you know of other countries in which peop le's lives w ere completely disrupted !
when other people moved onto their land? Does this sti ll happen today? Why do you
think this happens? I
!
l_____________________ ___ ___ ___________________________________________________________,____________________________________________________________________J

The Klondike Gold Rush

In 1896, the cry of "gold" was heard in the Yukon. see about a million people leave their homes for
A prospector from Nova Scotia discovered 8 cents the Yukon, hoping to make their fortunes.
worth of gold when he was panning just north of Try to imagine how difficult this journey was.
Dawson City. He and four friends kept on pan- To get to the gold fields, prospectors had to hike
ning until they had about 750 dollars worth of through difficult and icy mountain passes with
gold before they returned to town for supplies. no roads. They had to carry heavy supplies both
(In those days, five dollars would buy a piece of for mining and for living. Some built boats, only
land big enough to build a house on.) This was the to get swept away in dangerous rapids. Out of
beginning of a gold rush into the area that would the million who tried, about 20 000 actually did
, _:_ -~-;;~i:
20 Chapter 11 ~
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4~~ .. ~.;.-- _

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Discovery Day celebrations in Dawson City in memory of the gold rush

pan for gold. Some became very wealthy; oth- harsh climate, multinational corporations continue
ers did not. Nonetheless, it was an exciting time to send in their geologists to search for more min-
in Canada's history The real significance of this eral wealth. (Nowadays, it is Canadian diamonds
period was probably the effect that the gold rush that are valued worldwide for their high quality.)
had on Edmonton and Vancouver. The popula- Dawson City has a summer festival in mem-
tion of Vancouver almost doubled in a short time, ory of the Klondike Gold Rush. Men have beard-
while Edmonton likewise grew rapidly as the growing contests, women put on the old long
prospectors stocked up on supplies before they dresses of the time, and young people flock to the
headed north. lounges to drink beer and watch cancan dancers
While people are seldom lucky enough to find singing and kicking up their heels. They pay to
gold nuggets lying on the creek beds of Yukon pan for tiny gold nuggets in artificial creeks and
nowadays, we have little idea just how rich the hope-like the prospectors of those early days-
North really is in mineral deposits. In spite of the to strike it rich!

----------------------------------------------------------------;:----------------------------------------~,!

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
' 1,1 I
I,

!
!I, Are the following statements true or false?
'

,1

o Most of the people who left their homes to look for gold became rich.
1

I • Edmonton and Vancouver increased in size because of the gold rush. i

. , Dawson City in Yukon was the supply centre of the gold rush. 1,,1

,,1
e Many people still find gold nuggets in creek beds of the North today. 1

L_____________________________________________________________________________________._______J
 Canada's North 209

I VOCABULARY
I
II prospector a person who explores an area for minerals and hopes to make money
by finding them and claiming mining rights to the area
I panning a method of looking for gold by scooping sand from a river or creek
bed into a round pan with a screen at the bottom; the water passes
through while heavier substances such as gold nuggets are left
I in the pan
I nuggets small lumps of gold or other precious metals found in nature; small
lumps of something precious embedded in something larger
creek a narrow stream of water
cancan a lively dance of French origins in which women kick their heels very
high, hold their skirts, and dance on stage in a line
strike it rich get wealthy suddenly

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
o While they will probably never get rich doing it today, some people still like to go
_ _ _ _ _ _ for gold in the mountains while on the ir vacations.
8 In the innocent words of children, we often find many of truth and
wisdom.
f) During heavy spring runoff, a mountain _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ can be dangerously fast
and overflowing its normal banks .
e Today many people hope to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ by w inning a lottery such as the
Lotto 6/49.
" The well-educated city woman was an unlikely in the mountains of the
North, but she loved the outdoors and believed there was gold in those mountains.
o Many people still enjoy watch ing or other dances on stage.

FOR DISCUSSION

» What do the Klondike Gold Rush, the search for pirate treasu re, and the lottery all have
in common?

» Try to imagine what a saloon (beer parlour) during the gold rush would have looked
like. Who was there? What were they do ing and talking about? Was it an atmosphere in
which you and your friends would feel comfortable? Why or why not?
» There are many sayings in English about gold. Here is one: All that glitters is not gold.
What do you think this expression means? How is gold valued in your culture? Do you
have any sayings in your first language about gold?
 Other Points of Interest

The Alaska Highway It was a truly amazing feat of engineering and

hard work. The workers not only had to deal
The Alaska Highway is the major route to the with icy rivers, semi-frozen bogs, and rocky
North from the United States and the rest of mountainous terrain, they also had to deal with
Canada. As you can imagine, building a high- swarms of voracious mosquitoes and blackflies.
way through isolated mountains and frozen The bites of these insects have made them infa-
tundra was neither easy nor cheap. The reason mous with travellers in the North.
for building this highway was actually for self- The Alaska Highway which now gives tourists
defence! The first Alaska Highway was built in access to some of the last unspoiled wilderness in
1942 during the Second World War when the the world, was built at a cost beyond dollars. Many
Japanese began bombing the Aleutian Islands Aboriginals along the route died of epidemics as
and the United States wanted to get planes and a result of -diseases brought in by the workers.
other war supplies into Alaska. The American Many animals were killed by soldiers. In fact sev-
government made a deal with the Canadian eral species were virtually eradicated. (That was
government to co-operate on the project, and one reason for the founding of the Kluane Game
20 000 American soldiers were brought in to Sanctuary, which later became Kluane National
help with the work. They started building the Park and Reserve.) Furthermore, many of the
highway in March of that year and reached worst sections of road were assigned to Black sol-
Fairbanks, Alaska, in October of the same year. diers. These men have never been given credit for
 Canada's North 211

their work and their sacrifice on this monumental park. Located in the southwest corner of Yukon,
project. The road also made it possible for some this park is easily accessible to travellers on the
unscrupulous industries to come in and dump Alaska Highway.
their poisonous waste along the roadsides. Perhaps the most valued treasure of the North
Starting in north-central Alberta, west of is not the gold which may still be found by tena-
Edmonton, the highway goes through the north- cious gold-diggers, but the beauty of Nahanni
east corner of British Columbia, and then through National Park Reserve. The river gorges there are
Yukon to Alaska. This remarkable highway pro- deeper than those found in the famous Grand
vides a route for Americans and Canadians alike Canyon, and the Virginia Falls are twice the
to see the northern parts of their countries. height of Niagara Falls. Daring canoeists in search
of whitewater rapids can test their skills. Anyone
National Parks of the North who has gone there has found it to be one of the
most beautifully wild areas in the world. There
A surprising number of tourists take the time to is, however, one small disadvantage: you cannot
visit the beautiful piece of wilderness known as drive into the park. You cannot even realistically
Kluane National Park and Reserve each sum- hike in, as the terrain is too difficult and the dis-
mer. Hiking trails allow tourists to reach the tance too far. You can only fly in or venture in on
icefields and many other unspoiled areas in the the tricky waters of the South Nahanni River.

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Camping in Kluane National Park and Reserve

o Which two countries co-operated to build the Alaska Highway?
• Who suffered when this roadway was being built?
., Why was the Kluane Game Sanctuary established?
e How do the waterfalls in Nahanni National Park Reserve compare to the famous
Niagara Falls?
43 How do the Nahanni gorges compare to those found in the famous Grand Canyon
in the United States?

VOCABULARY

made a deal with reached an agreement with

feat a remarkable accomplishment
bogs low-lying wet areas difficult to travel through
swarms large groups of insects flying together
voracious extremely hungry
mosquitoes insects whose bites are very itchy (they may also carry disease)
infamous famous in a negative way; having a bad reputation
epidemics diseases which kill many people in an area at one time
eradicated completely destroyed; wiped out
monumental of great size and importance
unscru pu lous dishonest; without morals or ethics concerning the well-being
of others
tenacious determined

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with one of the words or terms from the list above.
o Farmers and loggers can be _ _ _ _ _ _ diners because they work very hard in the
fresh outdoors.
• The acrobats at the circus performed one amazing after another.
., Robin Hood was an hero of Old England who robbed the rich to give
to the poor.
e The landlord refused to do needed repairs to his rental properties and
never gave back damage deposits unless ordered to do so by the courts.
43 There have been many of cholera, a tropical disease which kills people
who do not have access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation.
o The teenager with his mother: he would paint the fence and she would
give him the money to get a new bicycle.
f) If there are too many _ _ _ _ _ -J' it is not fun to sleep outdoors.
L -- - Canada's North

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213

: I
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! (;) The Irish tell their children scary stories about people being lost in the i
I to frighten them from wandering off and getting lost there. i
, !
I G of killer bees have killed many people in Africa and the southern I
I United States. i

I! FOR DISCUSSION I!

il ", » You have read about some of the negative effects of building the Alaska Highway. Can I",:

you think of other examples of progress for one group of people that caused significant
I problems for other people or other living things? 1"'1

» What do you think is a suitable punishment for an industry that knowingly pollutes
the environment? !

» Why do you think that the worst sections of the Alaska Highway were assigned to I!
Black soldiers? '

» Why is it important to set aside national parks where development is restricted? Do you ,.:1

agree or disagree with this policy?

» Why do you think people go rafting in whitewater rapids knowing that this is a I
dangerous practice? What other sports do you know where people risk their lives? , 1;:,.,;1

FOR RESEARCH

I » An inuksuk has come to symbolize many things in the lifestyle of the Inuit people. Find out i

I I what the~_~e~y they are bUilt, a~d wh~~Uil~~~hem: S~ rch lonl ine for information. I

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l!, II
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I
CHAPTER REVI EW
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» Choose one of the pictures in this chapter and use it as the basis for a story about the I
North. Use your imagination and include some of the new words you have learned in I
this chapter. You could write this from the perspective of an observer, or as if you were
in the picture. .!
I~' ________ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ J

~l~;)
~Vi'~Yf~p=
 12
Chapter Twelve

Noteworthy
Canadians
Quick Facts
» The following are some of the
noteworthy Canadians mentioned in
this chapter. Do you recognize any
of them? Can you identify some of
them and their achievements before
reading the chapter?
Alexander Graham Bell
Nellie McClung
James Cameron
Sandford Fleming
David Suzuki
Joseph Tyrrell
Frederick Banting
Dr. Norman Bethune
John A. Macdonald
Louis Riel
Lester B. Pearson
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Pierre Berton
Margaret Atwood
Oscar Peterson
Terry Fox
Ryan Gosling
Wayne G retzky
Silken Laumann
Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Celine Dion
James Naismith
Sarah Polley
Tom Thomson

Featured in these photos are (top) Terry Fox,

(bottom left) Sarah Polley, and (bottom right)
Sandford Fleming
 Introduction
Canadians are justifiably proud of those individ- decide who to include in such a chapter and who
uals who have made major contributions to many to leave out. We hope that you will decide to talk
fields of endeavour. You may be surprised to dis- to a few Canadians and ask them who they think
cover that some of the following achievements are noteworthy Canadians.
are indeed Canadian! It is difficult, however, to

In Science and Technology

What would we do without the telephone? In Quebec in 1949, was Canada's first astronaut. He
1870, Alexander Graham Bell immigrated to was aboard the American space shuttle Challenger
Canada from Scotland. While most Canadians in 1984. Dr. Roberta Bondar, from Ontario, was
believe he was still living in Canada when he the first Canadian woman to travel into space. On
invented the telephone, he was not. As an adult, her voyage in 1992, she performed many impor-
he had moved to the United States (US) where tant experiments on how space travel affects the
he became a teacher of people with hearing dis- human body.
abilities. He got the idea for the telephone while A well-known Canadian scientist is Dr. David
visiting his parents in Ontario, however, and did Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki is a geneticist from Vancouver
actually place the first long-distance phone call
from his parents' home to a telegraph office a few
kilometres away. Thus, we have a telephone com-
,------------------------------------1
pany named after him: Bell Canada. I I
Bell's inventive mind did not stop with the I I
telephone! He bought land in Nova Scotia and I
continued his experiments there. One of his
inventions was a breathing mechanism that even-
tually led to the development of the artificial lung
and enabled many polio victims to stay alive. He
found a way to turn fog into fresh water and was
very interested in flying. His experiments alone
could fill a very interesting book.
Another Scot to whom we can be grateful
is - Sandford Fleming, a railway surveyor and
construction engineer. As recently as the late
nineteenth century, time was not standardized
throughout the world and this created much con-
fusion. Time was determined in those days by the
movement of the sun. When it was directly over-
head, it was noon in that place. In 1879, Fleming
suggested that the world be divided into 24 equal
time zones, with a standard time in each zone.
By 1885, several countries around the globe had
adopted this system. There are 40 time zones today,
and Canada occupies six of those time zones!
More recently, Canadians were proud to send Dr. David Suzuki, scientist and environmentalist
two astronauts into space. Marc Garneau, born in
 Noteworthy Canadians 217

who has popularized science, making it under- that disappeared suddenly from the planet's sur-
standable to a wide variety of people. Known face so long ago. The wonderful museum located
internationally for his dedication to environmental in Drumheller is called the Tyrrell Museum.
causes, he is well-recognized by Canadians from You may be familiar with Research In Motion
his many appearances on Canadian Broadcasting (RIM), the company that created the BlackBerry
Corporation (CBC) television. smartphone. RIM is a Canadian company located
If you are fascinated with dinosaurs, you may in Waterloo, Ontario, and was founded by Mike
have heard of Joseph Tyrrell. He is the geologist Lazaridis in 1984. After the BlackBerry was intro-
who discovered the large dinosaur bed in southern duced in 1999, RIM became well-known worldwide
Alberta near Drumheller. This site has attracted for its innovative technology. In addition, Lazaridis
scientists from all over the world who are inter- has contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to
ested in learning about these large ancient beasts help fund future research in science and technology.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Who did each of the following?

• invented the telephone
f) invented a system for standardizing time
6) invented the BlackBerry smartphone
e popularized science
o discovered the huge dinosaur bed near Drumheller in Alberta
o was the first Canadian woman to, travel in space

VOCABULARY

justifiably with reason

fields of endeavour areas of work and achievement
standardized made the same everywhere
astronauts people trained to travel in space
geneticist a scientist who studies genetics, the science of heredity and the
origins of living things
beasts animals, often very large animals

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
• Children often think that have very adventurous lives.
f) The woman decided to become a because she had always liked biology
and was curious to learn all she could about human traits and why they developed as
they did.
6) The young girl'~ parents were _ _ _ _ _ _ upset when she did not come home
before midnight.
e Canada and the United States have different systems of measurement;
Canadians use metric measures and Americans use imperial measures.
r~ - -- - ------ - - ----------- - ----- - - ------ ~ - ----- - -- - ----- -~ ------------ - -------------------------------------------- - -- - ----- -- -- -- -- -1

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I :0;;:~;~::.:~:~~:~~rest, watch outfor wild I

! » Do you think it has been important to explore space when there is still much to learn I
I about the earth? Why or why not? I
i » People view the telephone with a variety of emotions, some positive and some negative. I
How do you view the telephone and why? Are there moments in life when you would l
!
prefer not to be near a telephone?
» In what ways have science and technology made our lives better and in what ways worse?
» Why do you think several important and famous Canadians have moved to the
! United States?
L__ _______~_______~_____________________________________________________________________________________--------
In Medicine

Diabetics all over the world owe their lives to

those two Canadians who discovered insulin:
Dr. Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best.
Banting was a medical researcher working at the
University of Toronto and Best was one of his stu-
dents when they made their remarkable discovery.
For this important achievement, Banting received
the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923.
Many people who come to Canada from
China already know the name of Dr. Norman
Bethune, called Pai-Chui'en (White Seeks Grace)
in Chinese. He initially gained fame for revo-
lutionizing battlefield care by organizing the
world's first mobile blood transfusion service in
Spain. Then, in 1938, he went to China to help
the Chinese in the war with Japan and was rec-
ognized as a hero by the Chinese people. The
Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site
was created in memory of him in his hometown
of Gravenhurst, Ontario.
Two other important figures in Canadian med-
icine whose names are perhaps less well-known
are Dr. William OsIer and Dr. Wilder PenfieId.
William OsIer was one of the most respected doc-
tors in the world at the turn of the twentieth cen-
Dr. Charles Best and Dr. Frederick Banting, tury. His work focused on examining not only a
discoverers of insulin patient's physical condition, but also his or her
 Noteworthy Canadians 2 19

state of mind. He had an important influence on and the workings of the brain. He was one of the
Wilder Penfield, one of Canada's greatest neurolo- first Canadians to be honoured with the Order of
gists. Penfield did important research on epilepsy Canada. He died in 1976.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o What medicine is used to treat diabetes?

8 Which Canadian doctor received the Nobel Prize for Medicine?
e Why do many Chinese people respect Dr. Norman Bethune?
G Who is well-known for increasing our understanding of how the brain works?

VOCABULARY

diabetics people who have diabetes, a disease in which the body cannot break
down the blood sugars, leaving diabetics without energy (can be fatal
without treatment)
mobile capable of being moved with relative ease from place to place
transfusion the giving of one person's blood to another who needs it
neurologists doctors who specialize in the study and treatment of diseases of the
nervous system
epilepsy a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by attacks or
seizures where people may lose consciousness and have convulsions
(violent muscle contractions)

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above.

o People of the Jehovah's Witness religio.n teach their members not to get a blood
_ _ _ _ _ _ because they believe the Bible says they should not.
8 must be very careful of what they eat and how often, to maintain steady
blood sugar levels.
e The man went to see several _ _ _ _ _ _ for help with his nervous condition.
G A car used to be called an automobile because it is and moves by
its own power (that is, without horses pulling it; it was originally called a horseless
carriage).
o Though she had , the woman actively enjoyed life.

FOR DISCUSSION

» Do you think it is important for doctors to consider a patient's emotional, as well as

physical, condition? How do you think your state of mind affects your health?
» Terry Fox is a hero to many Canadians; Dr. Norman Bethune is a hero to many
Chinese people. Who is your favourite hero or heroine? What qualities do you think
heroes and heroines have?
 In Politics

Emily Murphy, suffragette

It is not easy to single out a few politicians for there were strong feelings of nationalism in both
special recognition because many deserve credit Ontario and Quebec. Many French Canadians
for their contribution to democracy in Canada. took offence at his death because most Metis were
Regardless of which party they support and what half French, and Riel had fought for the rights of
positions they take, politicians give up a lot of time the Metis to keep their French language and cul-
and energy as well as personal freedom and privacy ture. Many people in Ontario believed Riel was a
to support the practice of democracy in Canada. traitor to the Canadian government and deserved
Before Confederation, a well-known person to be hanged.
who was called a traitor by some and a martyr by John A. Macdonald is one name most new
others was Louis Riel. Riel was the Metis leader Canadians learn when they are studying for their
hanged for treason in 1885 for his involvement citizenship test. Macdonald was t,h e first prime
in the North-West Rebellion. He was charged minister of Canada and was instrumental in
with leading his people in an armed rebellion building the national railway. He served as prime
against the Queen and the Canadian govern- minister from 1867 to 1873 and again from 1878
ment. To the Metis and other Aboriginals, he was until his death in 1891.
the fiery speaker who stood his ground against Women in Canada owe a debt of gratitude to
the Canadian government and the settlers who Nellie McClungand Emily Murphy, as well as
were taking Metis and First Nations lands with- the other suffragettes at the turn of the twenti-
out asking or consulting them. When peace- eth century. These women faced humiliation from
ful means of protest were ineffective, Riel and some men at the time who did not want women to
his followers took up arms. Following his death, gain equality at the ballot box.
 Noteworthy Canadians 221

--------------------------------------------11
In 1916, Nellie McClung helped women win
the right to vote in Manitoba. In that same year,
Emily Murphy became the first female judge in
Canada and in the British Empire. Her job was
not easy. Many lawyers challenged her right to sit I
as a judge, arguing that she could not have that
privilege because women were not legally per-
sons. On October 18, 1929, women were at last I
I

declared to legally be persons. They then had the

right to serve as judges and to be appointed to the I

Canadian Senate.
A quarter of a century later a Canadian exter-
nal affairs minister, who went on to become prime I
minister, achieved international recognition
for his work in establishing the United Nations
Emergency Force in 1956. This force kept peace
in the Israeli-Egyptian border region for 10 years.
The man was Lester B. Pearson. His achievement I
won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. We also Il'___________________________________________________ ~
!
remember Pearson as the leader who gave us our
current Canadian flag. Pierre Trudeau, prime minister 1968-79 and
1980-84
The prime minister who immediately fol-
lowed Pearson was Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
Trudeau was well-known around the world for his province, and later helped to ensure everyone
his vision of a global community, his support of in the country was covered by medicare. In 2004,
developing nations, and his idea of a just soci- Douglas was named The Greatest Canadian of all
ety. Controversial in Canada for his candour and time by the CBe.
charm, Canadians seemed to either love him Canada's only female prime minister to date
or hate him. It was under Trudeau that Canada was Kim Campbell, a British Columbia politician
finally brought home our constitution, which who served in provincial politics before joining
until 1982 had remained in Britain as the British the federal government. She served as Minister
North America Act of 1867. Trudeau's govern- of Justice in the federal government under Prime
ment also worked to have the Canadian Charter Minister Brian Mulroney. Following Brian
of Rights and Freedoms made a part of our con- Mulroney's resignation, she served as prime min-
stitution, ensuring Canadians legal protection ister for five months before the disastrous elec-
for many cherished rights. Trudeau served as tion of October, 1993. In that election, Campbell's
Canada's prime minister for a total of 15 years Progressive Conservative party lost all but two
between his first election in 1968 and his resig- members in the House o~ Commons. Some say
nation in 1984. Trudeau believed in a strong cen- Canada was not ready for a female prime minister,
tral government, which he was convinced would while others say that Kim Campbell was paying
enable all Canadians to enjoy the same standard for Canadians' dissatisfaction with the previous
of living regardless of where they lived. Progressive Conservative government.
Canadians are very proud of their national Stephen Harper was elected prime minister
medicare system, which ensures that every- in 2006. He is leader of the Conservative Party of
one has free access to basic healthcare ser- Canada and makes his home in Calgary, Alberta.
vices. Tommy Douglas, a former premier He led two minority governments through the dif-
of Saskatchewan, is known as the Father of ficult times of recession, and in 2011 went on to lead
Medicare. He introduced universal health care in Canada's first majority government since 2004.
 COMPREHENSION CHECK

Match each description on the left with the correct person on the right.
8 this person brought home Canada's co nstitution from Britain a) Kim Campbell
f) this person was important in the completion of the national railway b) Emily Murphy
• fighter for women's voting rights c) Pierre Elliott Trud ea u
et Canada's first female prime minister d) Tommy Douglas
o leader of the North-West Rebellion e) Brian Mulroney
o w inner of the Nobel Peace Prize f) John A. Macdo nald
fI first female judge in Canada g) Stephen Harpe r
o Progressive Conservative prime minister in the 1980s h) Louis Riel
o prime minister of Canada elected in 2006 i) Nellie McClung
er!) named The Greatest Canadian of all time j) Lester B. Pearson

VOCABULARY

traitors people who are disloyal or who betray their country, duty, or f riend
martyr a person who gives his or her life for a cause
treason the act of betraying one's country; a betrayal of trust
instrumental of special importance; providing the way or means to accomplish a t ask
suffragettes women who fought to help women gain the right to vote
humiliation great personal embarrassment
ballot box the box in which people place their votes during an election;
symbolizes the democratic electoral process
candour honesty and openness
cherish value greatly
resignation official withdrawal from one's responsibilities (such as a job)
unanimous completely in agreement

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
8 Even as a young woman, she never forgot the of a teacher laughing at
her in front of all her friends when she made a mistake.
f) Most Canadians their country and feel terribly sad at the thought that
Quebec m ight separate and no longer be part of the country.
• When a political party loses an election, party members sometimes ask for the
_ _ _ _ _ _ ofthe party leader.
et Those caught spying for the enemy during wartime are most often convicted
of and put in prison for a long time. They are to
their country.
e It is difficult today to believe that wO,m en and First Nations peoples have only qu ite
recently gained equal rights at the _ _ _ _ _ _'
 Noteworthy Canadians 2 23

I------------·-----------·------~------·----------------~----------------------------------l

!
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0 in any country often face strong opposition as they fight for equality. I
I
! f) Although brothers t the two men were very different; one was known for his I
i while the other always said what he thought others wanted to hear. I
i I
I 0 The people of the town council were in their decision to honour their I
i local doctor of 40 years by naming the new school after her. I

! I
I f) A has the courage to die for his or her beliefs. !
!! m.
dI Ne II ie McC Iung was in gaining women t he rig ht to vote in Cana d a. Ii

FOR DISCUSSION I
!!
» Thanks to the efforts of women like Emily MurphYt women have more rights today than
they did during her lifetime. Do you think women have equality in Canada nOWt or do
I
they still have fewer rights than men in some situations? Do you know of other countries
in which women have far fewer rights than men? Do you know of any countries in which I
women have more power than they do in Canada?
!
II
» Why do you think some people like to be politicians? i
» Why would you like or not like to be a politician? II
L ________________._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.___ .J

In Literature
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l__~~~~~~~~==~~~~~~~~~

Margaret Atwood, author and poet Yann Martel, author

One of Canada's best-known authors interna- still widely read today in many different lan-
tionally is Luey Maud Montgomery, who wrote guages. The series has brought many visitors to
the Anne of Green Gables books in the early Prince Edward Island where the author lived and
1900s. The books have become classics and are wrote her stories.
 Another popular Canadian novelist is Mordecai Richler, Robertson Davies, Michael
Saskatchewan's w.o. Mitchell. Through his Ondaatje, Rohinton Mistry, Alice Munro,
novels we gain an understanding of life on the Carol Shields, and Yann Marte!. Many of these
Canadian prairies. A good example is Who Has authors have won the Governor General's Literary
Seen the Wind, a novel which can be enjoyed by Award, which is given each year to the best book
young people and adults alike. published by a Canadian author. Some have also
In 2004, Canadians lost one of their favou- won international awards.
rite authors and journalists, Pierre Berton. For A popular Quebecois author is Roch Carrier,
many years Canadians watched him on CBC's whose works have been translated into English.
Front Page Challenge, a popular TV show which His most famous story is "The Hockey Sweater."
tested panelists' knowledge of current affairs This story was particularly significant as it was
in the country. Pierre Berton has contributed written during a time of conflict between the
to Canadians' knowledge of and appreciation sovereigntists and the federalists in Quebec. In
for their own country in more than 20 books of this stor~ a young boy's mother orders a replace-
colourful Canadian history. ment for the boy's worn-out Montreal Canadiens
Canada also has many wonderful writers hockey sweater from the Eaton's catalogue. Since
who have become recognized around the world. they are out of Canadiens sweaters, they send him
Margaret Atwood is one. She has written many a sweater from the Toronto Maple Leafs instead.
novels including The Handmaid's Tale and Oryx He angrily refuses to wear it but his mother insists,
and Crake, as well as some poetry. Other award- much to his embarrassment and the amusement
winning authors include Margaret Laurence, of his teammates.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -1

COMPREHENSION CHECK

• What other word or words do you know with the same root as the word literature?
• Who wrote a very popular series of books for young girls in the early twentieth century?
• Who was a journalist as well as a popular Canadian author?
o Who wrote a French childrenls story which has become symbolic of the French-English
issue in Canada?
43 Name two authors in Canada.
o Name the famous Canadian author who wrote about the prairies.

FOR DISCUSSION

» Do you enjoy writing? If SOl what kind of writing do you enjoy? ,

» Do you enjoy reading? If SOl would you rather read fiction or non-fiction? If you do not
enjoy reading l do you know why?
I
» Some books are popular for many, many years after they are written. We call such books
classics. In your opinionl what makes a book able to stand the test of time? I
!I
i

SPEAKING ACTIVITY !
!
!
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» Choose anyone of the authors mentioned above and research his or her life and work. !
Make an oral presentation to your classmates that will make them want to read some of II
i
the authorls writing. i
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L. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________ J
 Noteworthy Canadians 2 25

In Music
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k.d. lang, musician and singer Bryan A dams, m usician and singe r

Canada boasts many fine musicians, as well as Quebec has also produced many well-known
some serious composers. Gordon Lightfoot musicians and singers. C~Hine Dion is known all
is arguably Canada's most beloved folk singer- over the world for her singing and has six dia-
songwriter. He is still a popular star in the sum- mond-certified albums, the record for Canada.
mer folk festivals across Canada. Another is Gilles Vigneault, whose patriotic
People of all ages have enjoyed the music of poems, songs, and stories have stirred the hearts
Oscar Peterson, the internationally known jazz of the Quebecois people. liMon Pays" (liMy
musician and composer who started his career Country") is one of his best-known songs.
in Montreal. He recorded more than 90 albums, Leonard Cohen is a long-time international
won awards in the US and Canada, and was hon- favourite. A poet, songwriter, and musician, he
oured with the Order of Canada for his dedication has recorded 11 albums and been honoured with
and excellence in music. Oscar Peters on helped the Order of Canada, among other awards, for his
to keep the jazz tradition of the 1940s alive and haunting lyrics.
swinging well into the twenty-first century and For decades, Bryan Adams has been an inter-
is missed by all who appreciated his love of music nationally loved singer, songwriter, and musician.
and dedication to jazz. Although he is primarily known for his singing
Shania Twain, well-known as a country and and guitar-playing, he also created The Bryan
western artist, has many awards in recognition Adams Foundation in 2006. This charity's goal is
of her achievements. Those who like country and to improve the quality of people's lives worldwide,
western music will also know the name of k.d. especially children who are in need of education.
lang, whose powerful voice and distinctive style More recently, the hip hop artist Drake has
have put the small town of Consort, Alberta, on become one of Canada's most popular entertain-
the map. ers. He started his professional career as an actor
on Degrassi: The Next Generation, but he became musicians and its innovative sound. Internationally;.
a household name when he released his first the Montreal band Arcade Fire has been very suc-
album in 2010. cessful, winning BRIT Awards and a Grammy, in
Over the years, the names of Alanis addition to numerous Juno awards.
Morrisette, Diana Krall, Neil Young, Nelly There are also Aboriginal artists whose
Furtado, Holly Cole, and Michael Buble have music is gaining appreciation from mainstream
been popular with listeners in many countries audiences. One of the best-known is Susan
in addition to our own. Justin Bieber is a young Aglukark, an Inuit recording artist. Of course,
man from Stratford, Ontario, whose baby face there are many more emerging Aboriginal artists
and youthful lyrics have young girls swooning to across Canada. The band CerAmony has gained
hear him. And we must not forget Avril Lavigne, a large following among young people of the Cree
a pop-rock singer-songwriter whose songs have Nation. Derek Miller, from the Six Nations of the
topped the charts in many countries. Grand River, plays a unique style of rock music
Canada has some very successful bands, too. that has earned him recognition and awards.
Among the most popular are Broken Social Country and western star Willie Nelson even
Scene, known for its sometimes large number of recorded a song with Miller.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Who am I? Identify the people from the statements below.

o I live in the Far North and sing some of my songs in the language of my people! the Inuit.
8 I am an Albertan who has become known internationally for my unique country and
western music.
• I was an actor before I became a hip hop star.
e I sing in celebration of my nation! the people of Quebec.
(3 I lived to play jazz on the keyboard.
" I am from the Six Nations of the Grand River.

VOCABULARY

composers people who write music

put on the map make a place famous or well-known when it might otherwise not be
innovative new! creative
haunting a quality which stays in our minds
lyrics the words of a song
emerging becoming known

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word or term from the list above.
o The teacher believed that the two young music students would one day become great

8 Often one person writes the music for a song! while another person writes the
 Noteworthy Canadians 227

l----------~--------------------------~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

I i
I !
I ~, The woman found the hbloof dy adnd violent scenes in thefmolvie very .;i::

II
v One very creative mot er oun an use or arge/ empty tomato juice
: cans: she sewed them into footstools with a cushion on top. i

ili,:I., [ 0 Many Americans had never heard of Edmonton, Alberta, until Wayne Gretzky and the 1:'1,.1

Edmonton Oilers hockey team won the NHL championship. You could say that the
1
Oilers Edmonton _ _ _ _ _-----'
[ I
[ i

I
i FOR DISCUSSION II
I I
i » Have you heard the music of any of the musicians named in this chapter? If so/ which ones/ i
! and how did you like it? If not/ you may want to search for some clips of their music online. i
1,,'1 » What role does music play in your life? What is your favourite kind of music and why? I
" ":1";'

., :
» What role can music play for a people or country?
1
1

» As a successful and popular artist who is also openly homosexual/ k.d. lang is in a
! position to make people aware of her view that homosexuals deserve equal rights and i

1__... ~a:~~;~~~~ ~~~i~i=~;? Do YO:kn:~:a ny other ar_ti:~~_:h:fi9ht for s::e m:::': __.•
I In the Visual Arts
The Group of Seven artists have already been Bateman. His originals and prints are very popu-
introduced to you in Chapter 8. In breaking away 1ar and therefore often expensive. They bring life
from the traditional European style of painting to wild animals in a ~ay that makes you look twice
popular in the 1920s, these men had a great impact to see if they are actually paintings. They are so
on Canadian art. Their depictions of Canada's realistic, you might think they are photographs.
rugged landscapes are famous. Although Tom Canada also has some excellent photogra-
Thomson was not a member of the Group, his phers. One was Yousuf Karsh, who came to
style of painting and subject matter were similar. Canada from Turkey in 1924. He made the deci-
He is often associated with the Group of Seven, sion to concentrate his work on people of influ-
though he died very mysteriously before the ence. He photographed some of the most famous
group was formed. Similarly, Emily Carr's paint- people of the twentieth century all over the world,
ings of west coast forests and Aboriginal scenes including Winston Churchill in 1941. This photo
have also sometimes been associated with the was printed on the cover of Life magazine.
Group of Seven's work, though she was not offi- Another photographer who gained interna-
cially a member. The Emily Carr University of Art tional recognition was RoloH Beny, originally
and Design on Granville Island in Vancouver is from southern Alberta. He published numerous
named after this artist. travel books with exquisite photographs. More
A very famous wildlife painter who lives on recently, Bryan Adams has become known for
Saltspring Island off the west coast is Robert his photographs in addition to his music.
 Totem Walk at Sitka, by artist Emily Carr

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Which famous artist painted west coast scenes?

8 What is the name of a university for art studies that is located on Granville Island in
Vancouver?
6) Who produces very realistic paintings of wild animals?
e Whose photographs are often seen in travel books?
o Whose death is still a mystery?

VOCABULARY

depictions representations (such as drawings or paintings)

prints artistic representations which are made in many copies from one master
impact a strong effect or influence (on)
exquisite extremely beautiful and displaying excellence

USING NEW WORDS

Fill in each blank with a word from the list above above.
o Nikki Yanofsky's song "I Believe," which she sang in the 2010 Olympics, had a big
_ _ _ _ _ _ on me, as her emotions were similar to mine.
• The child's of his parents had big faces with stick-like arms and legs.
 Noteworthy Canadians 229

• The fashion designer was very talented and his new dress designs were _ _ _ _ __
e The are limited in number and each of them is signed by the artist.

FOR DISCUSSION

» Different people have different views about what makes good art. Many artists believe
their work should be provocative, while others want to create beauty for the viewer.
What makes good art, in your opinion?
» Good photographs can teach us a lot about the world around us. Some photographs,
however, can be exploitative or .unfair to those being photographed. Can you think
of examples?

ACTIVITY

» Other famous Canadian artists include Harold Town, Jack Bush, Michael Snow, and
Joyce Wieland, to name a few. Some well-known Aboriginal artists include Alex Janvier
and Norval Morrisseau. Choose one of these artists and research his or her life and
work for presentation to your classmates. (You will find that the last artist mentioned
has an especially interesting-while somewhat tragic-story.)

In Movies and Television

Canada has produced many fine actors. All too actors were Canadians? Can you identify any other
often, these men and women find that they have famous Canadian TV or movie personalities?
to move south of the border to advance their Aboriginals are -also gaining more recog-

I
careers. Ryan Gosling, for example, is from nition in theatre, movies, and television. Tom
London, Ontario, and Michael J. Fox is originally Jackson, a Metis actor and musician, is perhaps
from Edmonton, Alberta. Paul Gross, another one of Canada's favourites. Well-known for his
Albertan is well-known throughout Canada role of chief in the North of 60 TV series, he also
I
and the US for his key role in the TV series Due received the Order of Canada in 2000 for both his
South and many other roles in plays, TV shows, music and his exceptional humanitarian work.
and movies. Gordon Pinsent comes to us from Another frequently seen face in movies and
Newfoundland and is well-known and loved television is Tantoo Cardinal, a Cree-speaking
across the country. The veteran actor Donald actress from Alberta. Graham Greene from the
Sutherland is from New Brunswick. Two well- Six Nations Reserve in Ontario is familiar to
known comedians from TV and movies, Dan us from movies such as Dances with Wolves, in
Aykroyd and the late John Candy, are from which he co-starred with Kevin Costner, as well
Ottawa and Toronto, respectively. Jim Carrey is as television programs.
both a comedian and an actor. His 2003 movie Canada has a growing number of film produc-
Bruce Almighty grossed 242 million dollars in the tion companies whose films tend to do very well at
US alone. Keanu Reeves, the handsome star of the annual international Cannes Film Festival. In
The Matrix, was born in Lebanon but has called addition, Canadian directors have given us some
Canada home for most of his life. Many other great movies, such as Sarah Polley's Away from
popular actors are Canadians, including Michael Her, Deepa Mehta's Water, and James Cameron's
Cera, Elisha Cuthbert, Rachel McAdams, Ryan films, which include classics like The Terminator,
Reynolds, and Seth Rogan. Did you know these Titanic, and Avatar.
 --------------- - - - -- - - - - ---------- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - - -- - - - -- - - - --1

I
COMPREHENSION CHECK
I
I
o Name two famous comedians from Ontario. 1
!
f) Which very well-known actor is originally from Edmonton?
• Which actor speaks Cree?
e Which popular Aboriginal actor comes from Ontario?
" Where do Canadian films receive many awards?

FOR DISCUSSION

» Canadian films win many awards at international film festivals, but are generally less
popular than American films. Have you seen any Canadian films? In what ways are they
different from most American films?

» What disadvantages do you think Canadian filmmakers have in trying to make good
films relevant to Canadians, which will also make enough money to cover costs?

In Sports

r --···--~---- · ·· ---

Rick Hansen, the Man In Motion Perdita Felicien, world-class hurdler

Canada has many athletes of whom we are proud, lower part of one leg to cancer but was determined
but if asked who they considered to be a genu- not to die in vain. His courageous run across
ine hero, many would probably choose Terry Fox. Canada attracted supportive viewers and gener-
In April of 1980, Terry Fox began running across ous donors who will always honour the courage
Canada in what was called The Marathon of Hope and determination he displayed. By September
to raise money for cancer research. He had lost the of that same year, he fell seriously ill again and
 Noteworthy Canadians 231

could not continue. He died in June of 1981 but in 2008, at the age of 18. Within three years, he
not before raising 24.7 million dollars for cancer became one of the highest-ranked tennis players
research and setting a standard of excellence to in the world. In the world of mixed martial arts,
which all Canadians still look with pride. Terry Georges St-Pierre is an important name. He won
Fox Runs are now an annual event in many cities the Ultimate Fighting Championship's welter-
and continue to raise millions for cancer research. weight title many times and was named Canadian
Others were inspired by Terry Fox's courage. Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Steve Fonyo, who had also lost a leg to cancer, A list of great Canadian athletes would not
retraced Fox's steps and completed his run in 14 be complete without mentioning our hockey
months. His journey raised another 13 million players, some of whom have become legendary.
dollars for cancer research. Rick Hansen, a man The names of Maurice "Rocket" Richard and
who is paralyzed from the waist down, set off on Gordie Howe are on the lips of many young aspir-
a world tour in his wheelchair. In 17 months, he ing hockey players. The most famous of all, how-
wheeled through 34 countries and across four ever, is Wayne Gretzky, who went on to break
continents. He did not stop at that. He returned to almost every hockey record possible. Gretzky first
Canada and in 1986 retraced the journey made by played in the National Hockey League with the
Fox and then Fonyo. After 26 months on the road, Edmonton Oilers, then a relatively new team that
he arrived back in Vancouver. The Man In Motion, captured four Stanley Cups in a row with him
as he was called, had raised 26 million dollars for as captain. Then, to the great dismay of many
spinal cord injury research and set an admirable Canadians, he was traded to the Los Angeles
example for people with disabilities. He inspired Kings and eventually to the New York Rangers.
many people not to focus on what they cannot do, Sidney Crosby is one of Canada's best-known
but at what they can do. hockey players today, in part due to his gold
One of our earliest and best-known sports medal-winning goal at the 2010 Olympics.
heroes was Barbara Ann Scott. She captured the Canadian athletes have made their coun-
hearts of the world when she won Canada's first try proud at international competitions in many
Olympic gold medal in figure skating in 1948. sports. Perdita Feli~ien is a successful hurdler
Canada has since produced many excellent figure from Pickering, Ontario. She has won medals for
skaters, not the least of whom is Kurt Browning the 60-metre and lOO-metre hurdles at numerous
from Alberta. Browning took the men's World American and worldwide track championships.
Figure Skating Championship for four years. Christine Sinclair, captain of the Canadian
We remember him for being the first to land the women's national soccer team, is an energetic for-
difficult quad-a jump with four revolutions- ward who has been named one of the players of
in competition. Elvis Stojko, from Richmond the year many times throughout her career.
Hill, Ontario, followed in Browning's footsteps Canadian athletes have been noted for
and also won the men's World Figure Skating their pluckiness in the face of difficulty. Silken
Championship. Stojko combined his skating skills Laumann impressed everyone at the 1992
with a martial arts background and gave us a new Olympics when she won a bronze medal in row-
level of disciplined performance. More recently, ing in spite of just recovering from a severe bro-
Patrick Chan won the World Figure Skating ken leg. She had suffered a serious accident prior
Championship in 2011 and his score in the short to the competition but was determined to com-
program set a world record. pete. For her endurance and strength, she was
The twenty-first century has seen many suc- named athlete of the year in both 1991 and 1992.
cessful Canadian athletes. Steve Nash is one of At the 1996 Olympics, she won a silver medal for
the National Basketball Association's (NBA) most Canada. At the 2010 Olympics, while Joannie
successful point guards of all time, and received Rochette was practising for her short program,
the Order of Canada for his charity work. Tennis she found out that her mother had died. Rochette
player Milos Raonic first began playing the decided to skate in her mother's honour, and took
game when he was eight and turned professional home the bronze medal and the Terry Fox Award.
 Noteworthy Canadians 233

1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - - ---- -- --- -----1

I 1
! CHAPTER REVI EW I
I !
I !
1 Test your memory to see which of the following significant Canadians you can 1;:

,: identify. You need to provide last names only using the following clues.
i !
! 0 G is one of the world's most famous hockey players. i
i 8 F is the young man who inspired Canadians by running across a large I
part of the country with one artificial leg. !
• B is the man whose invention people love to talk on for hours.
o S is the well-known scientist who urges us to take care of our
environment.
" R_ _ _ _ _ _ is the Metis leader who fought for Metis rights in Manitoba .
o M and M are two of the women who worked to gain I
women the right to vote in Canada.
8 T_ _ _ __ _ is the prime minister who brought Canada's constitution home I
from Britain. I
o M is the author who made Canada's smallest province famous with !
her stories of a red-haired girl. !
I
o C _ _ _ _ _ _'s movies include The Terminator and Titanic. I
1
1

Gl Emily C _ _ _ _ _ _ brings the dark, wet forests of our west coast to life in her !
!1
magnificent paintings. I

i
G B_ _ _ _ _ _ is an artist who paints wild animals.
I
o M was Canada's first prime minister.
1

(You can find the answers on page 251 at the back of the book.) i
i
L________________ ________________ ----~------.---------------~
 13
Chapter Thirteen

Challenges for
Canadians Today
Life is always changing and sometimes, it seems
like change is happening more rapidly today
than ever before. The following questions
reflect some of the changes and challenges
identified in this chapter. .

» What does it mean to be a Canadian today?

» Is Canada made up of ten provinces and

three territories, or two nations, or both?

» How does our membership in an

increasingly global economy affect the
average Canadian? .

» What are Canadians willing to sacrifice in

order to have a sustainable future?

» How can we ensure that we continue to

have a quality healthcare system to meet the
needs of an aging population?

» What values will we see shaping tomorrow's

education?

» Are Canada's oil sands an economic boon or

an ecological burden?

» How can all Canadians support Aboriginals

in enjoying a lifestyle that reflects both
their traditional cultural values and the
opportunities modern Canadians enjoy?

» How can we control our food safety when

our cold climate makes it difficult to avoid
importing most of our produce?

» What role do Canadians want to play in

international politics: the traditional role of
peacekeeper or the recent role of combatant?
 Introduction
The world has changed a lot in the past few numbers of immigrants coming from all parts of
years . Canada is increasingly part of a large the world. Our society is more diverse than ever
global community. The balance of power is before. This, together with a recent recession and
shifting as nations like China and India take a numerous other changes, has posed new chal-
larger share of power and economic activity in lenges for us as Canadians. This chapter is far
the world, while the United States (US), long from complete in identifying all the challenges,
Canada's dominant trading partner, finds itself and, as you read, it is hoped that you will ask
facing growing challenges. The demo graphics of yourself which challenges you and your friends
Canada have changed significantly, due to large find to be most urgent.

Canadian Voices

I-;~~:e~ B~;l:rd wr:t~-hiS a:~:::t~~~e ~:~:n ~::t

i
it::: t:him: be~ ca~a;:n for to
nrst edition of this book. Thirteen years later, he writes the following-a testament to the valuable I
I
I work he has done in the intervening years and an inspiring way to start this chapter. !I
Canadians are privileged to live in a country blessed with such natural beauty and
abundant resources} a productive economy} strong democratic traditions and a
commitment to pluralism and universal human rights. At the same time} we cannot ignore
the reality that not all Canadians share in the bounty this country has to offer.
For me} being Canadian means challenging the status quo and working to improve the I
lives of those left behind. We need to be aware} and critically engaged in addressing the
social and economic challenges faced by many in this country. As Canadians} we must
also look beyond our borders} to support the advancement of democratic traditions and
human rights around the world.
Being Canadian means not being complacent.

Jeffrey Bullard is the Director of Horizontal Policy at the federal department of Human Resources
and Skills Development. He has been a federal public servant for 25 years, and has worked
on a range of social policy issues in Canada, including immigrant integration, citizenship,
multiculturalism, homelessness, poverty, social exclusion, and community development.

The Question of Our Identity as Canadians

Canada, as we know it, was created by two found- hard in our federal parliament to do that. There
ing nations-England and France-and the coun- are people in Quebec who would like the province
try still reflects these two great solitudes. Keeping to separate from the rest of Canada. Fortunately,
the country together has been a challenge. The Bloc there are many others who appreciate the rich his-
Qw§becois, for years a major force in Quebec, had tory that our two founding nations have given us.
a clear agenda to defend the rights of Quebecois Our national anthem was originally writ-
to define their own cultural identity, and fought ten in French by Calixa Lavallee (the music)
 Challenges for Canadians Today 237

and Adolphe-Basile Routhier (the lyrics) in Weir gave us the original English translation,
1880. While it quickly became very popular with then changes were made in the 1980s- this
French-Canadians, it was not heard in English most-recent version is the official wording you
Canada until the early twentieth century. Robert see below.

o Canada!
o Canada! Our home and native land! o Canada! Terre de nos aieux,
True patriot love in all thy sons command. Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
With glowing hearts we see thee rise, Car ton bras sait porter h§pee,
The True North strong and free! Il sait porter la croix!
From far and wide, Ton histoire est une epopee
o Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Des plus brillants exploits.
God keep our land glorious and free! Et ta valeur, de foi trempee,
o Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Protegera nos foyers et nos droits.
o Canada, we stand on guard for thee. Protegera nos foyers et nos droits.

Translation of French Lyrics

o Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.

As you can see, the English and French versions supported a policy of bilingualism across Canada
are quite different from one another. This is sym- but this policy has become a thorn in the side of
bolic of the great differences which have always many who resent paying taxes which are used to
existed between English- and French-Canadian translate all federal documents into French, even
visions of Canada. Many French-Canadians see in regions where French is rarely, if ever, spoken.
Canada as two distinct nations. English-Canadians People in the West resent the fact that federal civil
see Canada as ten provinces with three territories, servants in Western Canada have to speak French
and respect that Quebec is certainly different from as well as English if they want to get the best jobs.
the rest of Canada in many ways. In fact both We use the term the two solitudes to refer to English
views are correct as Quebec is considered a nation and French Canada because there is so much mis-
within a nation. Our federal politicians have long understanding between these two perspectives.
!---------------------- ----~------.---- -----. ------- ------- ---- ------ ------~-l

I I
! I
!
I
II
I
!
I
j

i I

I! I
i
I i
i i
= = ===---'-"-=
- - -- - - -- - - - -'
 Increasingly, we are hearing a much larger and want to enjoy the same prosperity as the rest
question than the challenge of English-French dif- of the country. Newcomers wonder where they fit
ferences in Canada. We are hearing from Aboriginal into the national mosaic. Victims of racism wonder
and ethnic voices that they too want to have a place how they can be treated as equals. Many Muslims
in defining our identity as a nation. In addition, the in large cities are finding a newfound openness to
ways in which we identify ourselves in Canada their desire for prayer space during the workday
are more than just ethnicity or language. We may and for Friday afternoons off to go to the mosque.
also identify ourselves based on our nation, region, Chinese immigrants have created Chinatowns
race, or religion. The popular media (Internet, TV, within the larger urban areas where they can do all
radio, newspapers) show us that all these voices their business in their own language, as have other
want to be heard. Those in the West live in a dif- ethnicities in the metropolitan areas.
ferent reality than those in the East. Maritimers The face of Canada has changed and, with that,
often feel cut off from the mainland. Aboriginals values we used to take for granted are being ques-
may feel cheated of the lands of their ancestors tioned. What does it mean to be a Canadian today?

Canadians express their identities in many different ways

COMPREHENSION CHECK
[
i o Who originally wrote our national anthem?
I 8 How do some west ern Canadians feel about the national poli cy of bil ingua lism?
i
L_____________.
 Challenges for Canadians Today 239

f---------·----------.... --------·-·----------------------------.-----------.----------------------.----------.---.-.------------.----------..-------------------------------------.---------------------------------------------1
: VOCABULARY i
i i
i demographics the physical characteristics of a population such as age, gender, I
I ethnicity, or marital status 1

' ignore pay no attention to; act as if something is not there !

:
pluralism a form of society in which minorities maintain their own cultural traditions !
bounty abundance I
complacent smugly self-satisfied; calmly content I
integration the intermixing of people previous ly segregated; bringing together !
, groups of people who are different from one another
II
I social exclusion a lack of belonging, acceptance and recognition, leaving the excluded !
! ones economically and socially vulnerable I
::1 lyrics the words of a song :1,

:
solitude the state of being alone, or socially isolated
,I I
1

I FOR DISCUSSION I
i I
! » Many countries have a history of conflict among different cultural groups _English !
i and French Canada are one such example . Can you think of other examples of this !
i challenging situation? How best do you think we can work towards understanding and !
i appreciating those who are different from ourselves? I
i1,.__ ~ __ ._____ ~ __._________________________________.__.__.____._____________________________________.________________________________________ ,__________ ____________________J
l

The world slid into an economic recession in 2008, r-------:::.:::::::----

~~~ii

Stocks dropped in value_ Jobs were lost. Real estate i

plummeted in value. Unemployment rates soared. i
l
Banks went out of business. Canada was not as j

badly hit as many other countries, in part because I

our regulatory system for banks was better than in 1

!
some countries, The stock market recovered and
real estate regained its value. But governments had
I
to increase their deficits and social programs suf- i
fered as the governments that fund them strove
to lower costs and keep taxation to a minimum. I ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gone were the days when a good idea would
Your Honda may have been produced here
surely receive funding from the government. in Canada
Canada is rapidly integrating into the global
economy. What does this mean for the average
consumer in Canada? It means we are buying when we dial a Canadian company that has out-
things like clothing and household goods from sourced many of its communication functions . It
China instead of goods that have been locally means that our gasoline prices go up when the
produced. It means we increasingly speak to world conglomerate of oil companies decides
someone from the US or India on the telephone to raise its rates. It means that when we buy a

.~~'--,,-- - -
~ , <!v.-{- .' h __
so-called Japanese car, such as Honda or Toyota, countries want and cannot buy more cheaply
it was probably produced in either Canada or elsewhere. How can we maintain a moderately
the US by a Japanese company. It means that high standard of living with an economy that is
Canadian companies have to work harder and increasingly integrated with the economies of
harder to supply products and services that other other countries?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1

i
COMPREHENSION CHECK

o In what year did the most recent recession begin? I

I

• Name one way governments responded to the recession.

I!
VOCABULARY !
recession an extended decline in economic activity I
plummeted dropped rapidly !
soared climbed high I
deficit the amount by which expenses exceed income over a particular 1

period of time I
I strove · tried very hard (He strove for excellence.); past tense of strive I
i outsource assign responsibilities for job tasks to people outside a company or i

i,i outside the country, generally to save money I

standard of living a level of material comfort as measured by the goods, services, and I

i luxuries available to the average person in a large group of people I

i FOR DISCUSSION I
I
i I
! » The average Canadian family wants to have a house, a car, a computer, a TV and !
i enough money for a summer holiday each year. What do you see as essential to being I

l _ha
ppy
i~YOUr life? What~:o~ ex~ect::ve '~~ou:li~e? __________ __
. _ ____ J

A Sustainable Future

The whole world is becoming aware that human- of mercury, which is toxic to human beings. Oit
ity has done a lot of damage to the planet. Animal a very important resource in an industrial society,
species are disappearing from existence. Air and is being used up at alarming rates. It is evident to
water are highly polluted in many areas. The rain- most people that we cannot continue to live as we
forests, which have provided medicinal plants to do now and survive as a species ourselves.
humans for centuries, have been stripped of their A nation with three long coastlines and many
trees and replaced, in some cases, with concrete large lakes and rivers, Canada at one time had
and pavement. Many people no longer want to generous supplies of fish for its own population
eat tuna or other fish from the sea because they and for export. But in recent years, the Grand
have come to contain a dangerously high amount Banks off the coast of Newfoundland and Nova
 Challenges for Canadians Today 241

Scotia have been overfished, mostly by people i--==-===-=:::;=====::;;;;;;;;;;;====~

from other countries who failed to respect the i

fishing limits posted by the government. As a i
result, the people of this area have lost their liveli-
hoods as fishermen, work done by generations of I
!
their families. Many Newfoundlanders and Nova Ii
I
Scotians have migrated to other parts of Canada, !
such as Alberta and the North, where employ- !
i
ment has been growing. They miss the ocean and
the communities they came from. I
I
!
Ii ,
L_______~___________________________.___~J

Alberta's oil sands

In addition, the world's eyes are on Canada's oil

sands. Alberta and Saskatchewan both have large
areas filled with this valuable resource. But due to
the manner in which it has been extracted up to
now, there are many people in the world who think
of it as dirty oil and don't want it. They call it dirty
oil because the extraction process has contami-
nated land and water and has diminished the water
Fishing villages like this one in Newfoundland have
supply in some areas. Scientists continue to work
suffered because of overftshing
hard to find economical alternatives for extracting
the oil from the bitumen in which it is found so that
The search for alternative lifestyles that will these problems can be prevented in future.
give the planet time to heal while still sustaining a If we are all to contribute to making a sustain-
modern lifestyle for people is a quest for everyone able future for our country and for the world, we
in the world today, and Canada is no exception. have to be willing to sacrifice some of the material
Being a northern (often cold) country as well as wealth that we have come to take for granted.
a developed country, we use more resources per What would you and your family be willing to
person than most of the world does. We have to sacrifice so that the planet could be healthy once
find ways to be more conservative in our use of again and everyone could have enough to survive
resources. How can we use fewer resources? and be healthy?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

., Name two ways in which humans have damaged the planet and its resources.
• What happened to the fish off Canada/s east coast?
• Which two provinces in Canada have large areas of oil sands?
e Why do some people call oil from the oil sands dirty oil?
 VOCABULARY

rainforest a dense forest with large amounts of annual rainfall, such as the
tropical rainforest of Brazil
bitumen various tarlike mixtures of hydrocarbons found naturally or extracted
from coal
diminished decreased in size or volume
sustainable that conserves an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural
resources; capable of being maintained

FOR DISCUSSION

» A large part of Alberta's economy is dependent on the oil sands and all the jobs
connected to them. How do you think the people of Alberta feel when American
politicians say that people should not buy Alberta oil?

» Why do you think fishermen from other countries continued to fish for cod in the
Grand Banks when they had been warned that the fish supply was shrinking and would
disappear if people continued to fish?

Health Care
If you were to ask the average Canadian what Should the focus be on treating or preventing
the most important issue in Canada is, many illness? Who should be deciding which services
people would say "Health care!" We once are basic and which ones are luxuries we cannot
had a healthcare system that was the envy afford? What about patients with diseases which
of most of the world. After World War Il, the are extremely expensive to treat? And then there
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party were the costs of pharmaceuticals, which were not
in Saskatchewan brought in a radically new sys- covered by medicare unless the individual was in
tem of universal care for people of that province. the hospital at the time . Most of the money went
Then, under the leadership of Tommy Douglas, to staffing and doctors, especially specialists who
who is widely known as the Father of Medicare often need to be paid a lot of money to remain in
in Canada, the province's system of free and uni- Canada. In the 1980s, many of our doctors left for
versal care came to the whole country. The system the US because they could earn a lot more money
is enshrined in federal legislation and funding there than they could here. The whole situation
goes to the provinces, who decide how to admin- has been very challenging.
ister the system to their residents. In the 1970s, In the West, Albertan premier Ralph Klein
Canadians felt very lucky to have a system of care decided deficit reduction was the priority and,
like this when they often saw their American between 1992 and 2000, Albertans saw the qual-
neighbours going bankrupt if they had to go into ity of their health care decline significantly. Wait
hospital. In the 1980s, it became evident that this times for surgery and treatment escalated and
was an expensive system to have in Canada and people suffered as a result. Suddenly, people could
the demands on that system seemed unending. not find a family doctor. And if someone needed a
 Challenges for Canadians Today 243

specialist, he or she could wait up to a year or lon- the option of seeking private care if they want it.
ger to see one. Hospitals in Edmonton and Calgary (Canadians with enough money can go to the US,
were closed down-and in some cases demol- Mexico, or India to get the surgery they need in
ished-leaving the cities with a bed shortage and a timely manner, and some do.) At present, the
no capacity for emergency situations. Other prov- cost of treatment is taking up so much money
inces started to follow Alberta's example. that there is little or none left to research preven-
In 2001, the attacks on the World Trade Center tive medicine or alternative medicine. So, the big
injected fear into the entire world. How could question is, how can Canadians begin to take
human beings plan terror attacks of such size and more accountability for their own health? And in
brutality? Health authorities began to wonder the meantime, is some combination of private and
what would happen if there were a terrorist attack public health care needed?
in their jurisdiction. In 2003, SARS (Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome) hit Toronto and the city r-----S-i -R-S- - C-LI NIC-- -E-N-Y-R-A-NeEl
almost shut down as conferences were cancelled
and business trips postponed indefinitely. The I ;J~ ~ ~ IJij; i!f :~ PJT A D i
hospitals were unprepared for an epidemic of any
kind. In 2005, avian flu reached Canada from Asia I I

and we wondered how badly this illness would I I

i I
affect Canadians.
There is a strong public perception that our
healthcare system is broken_ The doctors, nurses,
and other staff working in the system have been
heroic in their attempts to make it work, but even
I I
they are speaking out and saying that something
I I
has to change. People value medicare and want to
I _______________________________________________________._______----..-JI
l~~

see it protected at any cost. However, many peo-

The 2003 SARS outbreak strained Toronto's
ple have been victims of this broken system and hospitals and economy
are beginning to ask whether people should have

\-~--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~-l

COMPREHENSION CHECK I

8 Who is credited with being the Father of Medicare? I

i

., How do most Canadians feel about the state of their healthcare system today? !
i
., What is the name of the epidemic that hit Toronto in 2003? 1

::::n:~LARY
pharmaceuticals
protected as if it were sacred
prescription drugs produced by the big drug companies
I
!
alternative medicine healing responses that do not include the administration of drugs Ii
that suppress symptoms (for example, acupuncture, energy I

medicine, naturopathy, homeopathy) I

I !
L __________________________________________________________________________________________________._______________________________1i
1
 FOR DISCUSSION

» The pharmaceutical industry is one of the wealthiest industries in North America. Any
attempt to limit the prices they charge in order to make drugs available to those who
need them is met with arguments that they need the money to do research to find new
and better drugs. What is the solution to this conflict of interest?

» How can we become more accountable for our own health?

» Which do you think is better: public health care, private health care, or a combination of
the two? Why?

Education

While no one doubts that education is a critical Bullying is traumatic for many children, and
service to provide to the Canadian population, some have taken their own lives in despair. Can
there is a growing perception that public edu- we find better ways of creating safe atmospheres
cation is not doing all it could be to support our for our children in schools and in the community?
children in becoming creative, ethicaL and par- A shift away from a liberal education, inclusive
ticipatory members of society. Like health care, of the arts and second languages, towards courses
education has suffered funding losses to support that are geared towards the workplace and research.
lowering government deficits and keeping people In other words, governments have decided that
employed during the recession. schools owe their primary allegiance to the econ-
For the most part Canadians can be proud of 0my. This is not to say that a liberal education is
their educational system. Public education is free not available to many students, especially in the
from kindergarten through Grade 12, and stu- larger cities, but when budgets get cut, the arts
dents get a well-rounded education inclusive of suffer first . The economy is important and we
the basics (math, science, social studies) as well as want our children to be employed in good jobs
a variety of options in most schools.
Increasingly, however, there are fees and costs
1---------------------------------------------------------------------------1
associated with education that were not pres- i
i

ent in the past. Children in many systems pay i

a yearly rental fee for the use of their textbooks,
as well as various costs for field trips during the
year. Sports and other extracurricular activities I

can also cost parents a great deal of money for

equipment and uniforms.
Changes that worry parents include the
following: I
Violence and bullying in many schools. For the I
I
first time ever, a child was murdered at school by
another child. This happened in Taber, Alberta, in •

1999. In 2006, one student was killed and 19 oth-

i
ers wounded-six critically-at Dawson College I
in Montreal. While we have read about such trag- L_______________,__________,_______________________"_______________________________________J

edies in the US, we were shocked to find them

Canadian students get a well-rounded education
happening in Canadian cities.
 Challenges for Canadians Today 245

as adults-but can we find a balance so that they been to open more private schools or to do home
can also enjoy music, art, dance, and theatre, all of schooling with their children. The latter was
which contribute to the quality of life? unheard of 40 years ago, but is increasing every
An increasing trend towards valuing only that year as parents struggle with how to ensure that
which can be readily measured with tests. From the the individual learning needs of their children are
sixties through the seventies and even eighties, met and that their values are reinforced by the
there was an appreciation for healthy self-esteem, school system. In South Korea, all children take
creativity, healthy pursuits, intercultural under- a subject called Moral Education throughout their
standing, and ethical citizenship. Those things schooling. Koreans are shocked to come here and
were not easily measurable and they seem to find there is nothing that instructs ethics and
have been replaced with skill training that more morals in the schools. How can we hope to main-
directly results in readiness for the workplace. tain strong Canadian values if we do not inten-
Standardized testing consumes an increasing tionally teach these values in our schools? How
amount of classroom time. Could some of that can we begin to name those central values that
time be better spent teaching and learning? define us a country and a culture?
Mainstreaming has become the norm for many These are controversial issues and good argu-
special needs learners, including ESL learners. While ments can be made for all points of view. Again,
teachers' aides are still provided in many cases, it is hoped that you will consider your own views
many wonder if the placement of special needs on these topics and discuss them with people you
learners in regular classes is a less-than-optimal know. If we were to summarize the issue of edu-
way to approach their learning and is also taking cation, we might ask,
time away from the needs of regular students.
How can society best serve the learning needs Is the purpose of education
and potential of all learners?
to enable individuals to reach their highest
A failure to teach values directly and openly in
potential for their own good and also for the
the school system. Teachers are cautioned against
good of the community?
teaching values in the schools because they do not
want to offend any group who may not agree. It is or
unrealistic to think that anyone can teach without
to serve the interests of the status quo,
imparting values. But when we try to hide those
ensuring that all the jobs that need to get
values or-more likely-are unaware of them,
done to maintain those interests are done?
the outcomes are not always what we would hope
for. In some cases, the response of the public has What do you think?

- - - - - - -- - - -- - -- - -- --
!i
!
COMPREHENSION CHECK

o Although education for kindergarten to Grade 12 is free in public schools, there are
I
:1:

some costs associated with it. Can you give two examples?
e In what small Alberta town did one student murder another in 1999? I
I
• What subjects does a liberal education often include? I
e What is one subject that all South Korean students study that Canadian students do !
not study? !
I 1
i i
L____________________ ____________________________ ___________________________ _______ ________ _~
I-- VOCAB~------------------------------

I bullying persecuting or oppressing by force or threats

1 mainstreaming placing students with special needs in regular classrooms for all or
.,; part of the school day
! controversial open to argument and dispute
!
status quo the existing state of affairs; the existing balance of power

FOR DISCUSSION

» What do you think are some of the values that Canadians cherish?
» There is a zero-tolerance policy for bullying in many schools now. This means children
are suspended from the school if they are found to be bullying other students. How do
you think we can best understand the cause of bullying and how can we put an end to it?

» Some people believe that Canadians have lower standards of morality than those in
other countries. Can you think of things you have seen or heard in Canada that make
you uncomfortable? What is the primary purpose of education, in your opinion? Defend
your answer.

Aboriginal Issues
. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -=1
Our Aboriginal citizens have faced far more than
their share of problems ever since people from
many lands colonized the land from coast to coast.
There are many stories of Aboriginals helping the
newcomers to face the harsh winters when they
first came here. In addition, they taught the new-
comers how to use the native herbs to cure sickness.
Imagine how angry they must have felt when told
they had to leave the land they had known and move
to some small reserve where they could no longer
follow the animals to hunt from season to season.
Their whole way of life changed radically with the
coming of the Europeans. In the Aboriginal tradi- In the Aboriginal tradition the land belonged
to everyone
tion, no one owned the land. The land was given to
everyone by the Creator. Suddenly, the Europeans
arrived and start putting coloured ribbons on lands that have living conditions which range
sticks to signify that they had bought a square from fair to appalling. Others live in poverty in
of land. The Aboriginals found that no one was the cities. And of course, others have integrated
allowed to walk on, or take anything from, claimed well into the lifestyle of the majority and are liv-
land unless they had the piece of paper saying ing well. Issues such as land claims, inadequate
they owned it. housing, health, education, and reconciliation for
Now Aboriginal citizens are struggling to find victims of residential schools continue to plague
a way to co -exist with the new populations who Aboriginal Canadians and to be disturbing to all
have taken over. Some have grown up on reserve Canadians who care about social justice for all. In
 Challenges for Canadians Today 247

addition, a far greater proportion of Aboriginals the country as a whole work together with our
are caught up in our correctional system than one Aboriginal citizens to support them in creating
would expect of the general population. How can solutions that work to resolve these problems?

COMPREHENSION CHECK

o When the first European immigrants came to Canada, who helped them to survive the
first winters?
8 Who owned the land before Europeans came?

VOCABULARY

appalling shocking, unpleasant, bad

residential schools schools run by the Christian churches for Aboriginal children who
were taken forcibly from their parents, forbidden to speak their
own languages, and lived in residences where they were taught
how to live like white people
reconciliation the process of recreating friendly relationships when these have
been destroyed
correctional system a euphemism for prisons and jails

FOR DISCUSSION

» The process of kidnapping children from their families and communities in order to
teach them how to live like white people happened all over the world: in Australia, in
the US, and in Africa. How do you imagine those who did this justified their actions to
themselves? In other words-what were they thinking?
» Can you think of other situations today where one group of people think that everyone
else should live and believe what they do?
» As humans, how can we work and learn together to accept others as they are and value
our differences?

--------------

Food Safety

While in general the Canadian food supply is the long-term effects of such foods on our health.
much safer than in many countries, we still have We are concerned when we find out that potatoes,
concerns about this topic because so much of our onions, or other vegetables imported from the US
food is imported and we have had problems in the are irradiated to prevent deterioration before we
past with contaminated foods. Local and imported buy them. We don't know what long-term effect
foods are treated with pesticides, herbicides, pre- such irradiation has on our health. We pasteurize
servatives, and various other chemicals, and some our milk and cheese products and freeze the fish
are contaminated with salmonella, other bacte- used in our sushi, and yet we read about people
ria, or parasites. We worry about GM (geneti- who suffer health problems unless they can drink
cally modified) foods since little is known about raw milk, which is outlawed in most provinces.
 The lOO-mile diet has been proposed by some their health from food. What are we willing to do
as the best way to ensure that we eat healthy, safe to ensure that our food supply is safe?
foods_ This means that, as much as possible, we The Canadian Food Inspection Agency exists
should buy food that has been grown and pre- so the government can make sure that food pro-
pared within 100 miles (160 kilometres) of where duced in Canada and abroad is safe and healthy.
we live. Then, chances are good that we know Even so, many people go to health food stores and
what is in it, how old it is, and how it has been read alternative literature on good health so they
handled before it reaches our tables. That is a can be informed and make up their own minds
challenge in a country in which we can only gar- about what is safe and what is not. And wherever
den outdoors for four to six months a year. possible, many people buy produce, meat, and
Canada's food supply is one of the safest in the poultry from local farmers' markets.
world, and yet people still worry about threats to

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ - - - - 1

COMPREHENSION CHECK I
!
o Name three things that can contaminate the food we buy in the stores. !
!
!
f) What must be done to fish before it is used to make sushi (a Japanese food) sold
in restaurants?
., What is the 100-mile diet? I
VOCABULARY

pasteurize to heat milk to kill any bacteria in it before packaging for sale
to the public
genetically modified (GM) modified in character by the manipulation of genetic
material (for example! adding the genes of a fish to a tomato
plant so it will repel insects)
i
sushi a Japanese snack prepared with rice! vinegar! salt! and sugar
and garnished with raw fish! egg! seaweed! or vegetables
I
i

FOR DISCUSSION Ii
I

» In many countries! people eat only local foods. In Canada! most of us would find this I
difficult. Why? I
» What experiences have you had of getting sick when you ate something? Could that I
i
!
have been prevented? If so! how? !
I
» Find a farmers! market in your city and go on a IIfield tripll with your classmates. How is I

the experience different from going to a grocery store? i

_ _ _ _ _ _J !

Our Changing Role in World Conflicts

Canadians have long been proud of their role recently, we have chosen to send our soldiers to
as peacemakers in situations of world conflict. keep the peace and rebuild the countries when
While other countries have chosen to send sol- a war finishes. Our priority has been on human
diers to join the fight in other countries, until rights, regardless of whether the Liberals or
 Challenges for Canadians Today 249

the Conservatives were in power. Under Brian under Harper. Child soldiers became children in
Mulroney, Canada showed leadership in fighting armed conflict. International humanitarian law
South Africa's apartheid policies and in promot- became international law. Some felt that watering
ing the Convention on the Rights of the Child in down the language of world diplomacy like this
1989_ Under Jean Chretien, Canada urged nations signalled a change in Canadian foreign policy,
to adopt the concept of the Responsibility to and they were right. For the first time since the
Protect, meaning that government's first respon- Korean War, Canadian soldiers were involved in
sibility should be to protect its citizens from intense combat (fighting alongside the Americans
exploitation and abuse. As a result, we fought in Afghanistan). While some supported this, oth-
against the use of landmines. ers are saddened that our tradition of peacekeep-
The Stephen Harper government changed ing, which we have long valued as Canadians,
our priority on human rights and on peacemak- seems to have been taken from us. How can we
ing. Diplomats in many countries first noticed the best support our global neighbours in creating a
change in terminology used by the Canadians peaceful world for us all?

- ----------- ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------1

COMPREHENSION CHECK

I 8 Who was the prime minister of Canada when we were fighting South Africa/s
apartheid policy?
@ What d id Prime Minister Chn§tien and his government believe was their first priority
I in governing the people of Canada? I
i • Under which prime minister did our soldiers change from peacekeepers into armed
I soldiers in active combat?
I
I VOCABULARY

I exploitation taking advantage of people for selfish reasons

I ~a~~S:ines
poor treatment of a person with no thought to their best interest
explosive devices buried under just under the surface of the land
which are triggered when stepped on or run over by a vehicle
!
I foreign policy the decisions made by a government to determine our relationships
with other countries
I watering down softening the language so that people have trouble seeing what is really
being said; making the language less clear so as to hide the meaning

I FOR DISCUSSION

!
» Why do you think Prime Minister Harper changed our foreign policy away from
peacekeeping and towards active combat?

Ii » What role would you like to see Canada play in international politics? Explain your answer.

,' CHAPTER REVI EW

l
» Choose the issue from this chapter that you think is the most important and present two

1_
,I
'i

different perspectives on this issue, either in writing or verbally. Ask others what they
think the solutions are to the problem or problems presented.
 Answer Key

Page 43
1 I
2A N
~~~~~--~+-~

~~~~~--~+-~
G S D

F Page 58
o
U ESL English as a second language
N LINC Language Instruction for
D Newcomers to Canada
L
CEC Canada Employment Centre
A
N EAL English as an additional language
D El Employment Insurance

Page 99

NOUN ADJECTIVE ADVERB Rosemary Brown: first Black woman elected

reinforcements reinforced to a provincial legislature (BC 1972)
threat ! threatening threateningly Oscar Peterson: famous jazz musician
bitterness bitter bitterly Lincoln Alexander: first Black cabinet minister
in the government of Canada; first Black
Lieutenant-Governor (Ontario, 1985-91)
Mary Ann Shadd: first female editor of a
North American newspaper (Chatham,
Ontario, Provincial Freeman, 1853)
Michaelle Jean: a journalist and the 27th
Governor General of Canada
 Answer Key 251

Page 101 Page 160

F M E Z P C B 0 N T e v z X R 1. straddles 4. distinctive
I (J A P A N H o P Q (K 0 R E A) B 2. innovative 5. adventure
l U""S A e U y T I"'N D I A) V 'R F S
3. gracious
~EB
N B ~ Y
A
T
N O""-N Q G E L
I E B A E S D
U T N
S e e
M R Pl O L A N D ) N R M X S e '"'A Page 172
(G R E E e E) P G V Y M A I I N R
D Z E B H 0 R L 0 V E K I A K G 1. pilgrim 4. voyage
R A T Y U P B A N M N (e H I L E 2. prestige 5. rough
r->
E M V Cv I E T N A M Y G M N X N
T B Y Z Q A S D P L R E G Y P T
3. trend
CA I D 0 B M A e) H T A R E S D I
D CA e I A M A J)N M G H P X F N Page 186
E B e S ( T H A I L A N D) L R S A
'----'
F P L K Q CV E N E Z U E L A) B G Toronto: Torontonians
ep A K I S T A N ) O p Ji E I e S Y Calgary: Calgarians
Alberta: Albertans
Page 104-5
Edmonton: Edmontonians
1. Christianity 6. Hinduism Quebec: Quebecers (sometimes spelled
2. Shamanism 7. Buddhism Quebeckers)
3. Judaism 8. Islam Montreal: Montrealers
4. Sikhism 9. Judaism Winnipeg: Winnipeggers
5. Islam 10. Shamanism Newfoundland: Newfoundlanders
Vancouver: Vancouverites
Page 129 Prince Edward Island: Prince Edward Islanders
1. charm 7. domestic
2. hub 8. harsh Page 207
3. ecologists 9. balmy
Verbs Adjectives Nouns
4. mind 10. port
sustain sustainable sustenance
5. cedar 11. warn collide colliding collision
6. ancient 12. hippies extinguish extinguishable extinction

distinguish 1. distinct distinction

Page 145 2. distinctive

1. A ~ []d lL.R.. L A...-

2. Q !II
R Q. ~ A.. .!L .R.. ~ Page 233
3. ..1..- l .L H... 1L ~ L ~[£J .L
4. L Q l A.. ~ [ID 1. Gretzky 7. Trudeau
5. ~ A ~ ~ A.. L [ill Q. l:L 2. Fox 8. Montgomery
6.b[)l ~ ~
7.1LA~LL 3. Bell 9. Cameron
8. l A []d R.- JL .R.. 4. Suzuki 10. Carr
9. ~ 1:i JL .R.. ~ [ID L ~ ~
5. Riel 11. Bateman
10. 1LC[J A B...- ~
11 . OO.!L M Q. H l Q.l:L 6. McClung and 12. Macdonald
12. ~ .!!:... M DJ L Si.- ~ Murphy
 Glossary of Words
and Expressions

The following is a list of the words and expressions found in the vocabulary lists throughout the
book, along with the pages on which they are defined.

abortion, 40 balmy, 117 casual,45 correctional system,

abundance, 125 bankrupt, 24 causeway, 185 247
abuse, 249 bargains, 108 cautioned, 108 correspondence, 54
abused,88 barren, 98 cedar, 114 costumes, 108
access, 144 barter, 191 celebrate, 85 cottage industries,
achievements, 98 be glued to (the TV), Celtic, 189 185
adaptation, 83 136 channel,125 councillors, 35
adopted,91 beasts, 217 character, 189 creek,209
adverse, 150 benefit of the doubt, 40 charge, 57 cub, 128
adversity, 194 bilingualism, 32 charm, 114 cuisine, 172
affiliations, 185 bishop, 18 charter, 32 culminate, 65
affirming, 85 bitterness, 20 cherish, 222 cultivated, 154
alternative, 54 bitumen, 242 civic, 108 curriculum, 54
alternative medicine, blended in, 101 civil war, 24 customer, 42
243 blubber, 206 clung to, 190
ancestor, 18, 88 boast, 65, 114 cobblestone, 167 damp, 167
ancient, 114 bogs, 212 collapses, 32 decimated, 206
anglophone, 95, 167 bounded by, 136 collided, 185 declare, 103
anthropology, 123 bounty, 239 collision, 206 declined, 117
appalling, 247 boutiques, 122 colonize, 6 deductions, 45
apprenticeship, 57 breathtakingly, 137 come from aways, 180 deficit, 240
archaeologists, 11 bribes, 26 coming of age, 114 delegates, 24
aroma, 114 British Common- complacent, 239 delicacy, 194
artifacts, 123 wealth,40 composers, 226 democratic, 35
aspiring, 232 brotherhood, 91 compulsory, 54 demo graphics, 239
assess, 35 bulk of, 136 confiscated, 32 demonstrated, 85
assimilation, 167 bullying, 246 conquer, 6 demonstrations, 117
astronauts, 217 bunny, 108 conservation, 117 denomination, 105
at a premium, 65 bursaries, 175 consistent, 181 dependent, 42
atoms, 203 buskers, 51 constitution, 32 depictions, 228
attest to, 185 context, 175 deplete, 194
awesome, 150 cabinet, 40 continental climate, deported, 181
cancan, 209 140 descendants, 20
Baby Boom, 32 candour, 222 contours, 181 destiny, 24
badlands, 137 canola, 140 controversial, 40, 246 detentions, 54
ballot, 37 canyons, 26 convicted, 40 devastation, 88
ballot box, 222 cappuccino, 101 corporate, 35 diabetics, 219
 Glossary 253

dialect, 185 famine, 81 grievances, 167 interior, 114

dilemma, 150 fan, 73 grit one's teeth, 73 interned, 32
diminished, 242 fascinating, 154 grumbling, 73 invaded, 24
dinosaurs, 137 fashionable, 15 irrelevant, 206
discipline, 54 fast, 108 Haligonians, 185 irrigation, 117
disobedient, 54 feat, 212 harmony, 11
dispersed, 98 fee, 57 harsh,15 joie de vivre, 180
disruptive, 54 fertile, 144 haunting, 226 jurisdiction, 194
distinctive, 88 fiddle, 88 headlands, 185 justifiably, 217
diverse, 6 fields of endeavor, 217 herbs, 91
documentaries, figurehead, 40 heritage, 70, 101 kettles, 15
51 firsthand, 157 hesitated, 85 kidnapped, 15
documented, 194 fleurs-de-lys, 175 hide, 11
domed,206 flock,51 highlights, 65 Labour Day, 70
domestic, 117 fluorescent, 203 hippies, 128 lagoon, 122
dynamic, 144 folklore, 200 hoist, 128 landmines, 249
fondness, 154 homespun, 191 legacy, 157
ecologists, 117 foothills, 136 hospitable, 150 legendary, 137
ecosystems, 154 forefathers, 91 hostess, 83 licence, 35
eligible, 57 foreign policy, 249 hostile, 91 lichens,203
eloquence, 150 forge, 150 hub,114 liquor, 91
embrace, 85 formerly, 20 huge, 101 livelihoods, 117
emerging, 226 fossils, 137 humid,144 livestock, 140
enchanted, 73 found,18 humiliated, 98 loan, 57
endurance, 232 founding, 88 humiliation, 222 look in vain for, 154
enshrined,243 francophone,95 hustle and bustle, 185 looking forward to, 101
entitled to, 88 freckle-faced, 189 luge,73
entrepreneurs, 81 Fringe Festival, 70 identify with, 98 lyrics, 226, 239
envious, 180 frolic, 128 identity, 98
epidemics, 212 frost, 136 idyllic, 114 made a deal with, 212
epilepsy, 219 funicular, 172 ignore, 239 mainstay of, 189
equipment, 42 illusion, 181 mainstreaming, 246
eradicated, 212 galleries, 122 imbued,150 maintain, 50
evangelical, 105 gather, 108 impact, 228 make do, 194
examine, 108 gelato, 101 imported, 42 mansions, 181
exceptional, 137 genetically modified, 248 impose, 91 maple sugar, 42
exclusive, 122 geneticist, 217 in the scrape, 191 marked,181
excuse, 108 gesture, 85 indifference, 150 market, 105
expand their horizons, get along, 20 indigenous, 6, 88 marred,154
50 get caught up in indistinguishable, 128 martyr, 222
expelled, 54 (something),73 inevitable, 140 mascot, 172
exploitation, 249 gifted,50 infamous, 212 media, 73
exporting, 42 gigantic, 137 influx, 181 medicare, 32, 140
expose, 140 glacier, 137 inhabited, 6 medicinal, 91
exquisite, 228 glimpse, 167 innovative, 226 memorable, 91
extensive, 15 glued to our TV sets, 65 insight, 85 Mennonites, 144
extinction, 206 Good Friday, 70 instilled, 154 metropolis, 114
extinguish, 128 gorge, 117 instrumental, 222 migrate, 11
extract, 42 granite, 194 integration, 239 mind,l14
exuberance, 73 gravy, 108 intendant, 18 miraculous, 175
254 Glossary

misleading, 103 permanent, 15 quaint, 154 sealers, 194

missionaries, 88 permission, 85 qualifications, 54 secular, 108
mobile, 219 perogis, 137 quarry, 123 segregated, 98
moderated,194 persecute, 81 self-employed, 45
molasses, 190 persisted, 88 racism, 81 semesters, 57
monarchy, 40 perspective, 122 rainforest, 242 separatism, 167
monopoly, 18 pews, 103 ranching, 117 settlement agency, 57
monotonous, 136 pharmaceuticals, recession, 240 shattered, 185
monumental, 212 243 reclaiming, 88 shifting, 144
moratorium, 194 phenomenon, 181 reconciliation, 247 shoot the breeze, 185
mosaic, 81 picturesque, 154 red tape, 191 shuttle, 122
mosque, 103 pilgrimage, 172 referendum, 32, 95, 175 siblings, 98
mosquitoes, 212 plague, 154 refugee claimants, 57 slopes, 137
munitions, 185 plateaus, 6 registration, 35 soared,240
muskrat, 11 playoff series, 65 reinforcements, 20 soaring, 114
myths, 11 pluckiness, 232 rejected,24 social exclusion, 239
plum pudding, 108 relatively, 11 social programs, 32
nationalism, 32 plummeted, 240 relevance, 88 solitude, 95, 239
nationalized,167 pluralism, 239 remarkable, 200 souvenirs, 189
navigation, 144 policies, 35 reminder, 98 sovereignty, 95
neglected, 88 politically incorrect, reminiscent of, 157 spanned, 140
neurologists, 219 206 remote, 6 spare, 54
nuggets, 209 polling station, 37 remote-controlled, 43 specialist, 200
pollution, 81 replenish, 117 spectacle, 203
oasis, 140 poppy, 108 representatives, 35 spectacular, 6
oath of allegiance, 180 porcupine quills, 189 residential schools, 247 spike, 26
on a large scale, 136 port, 122 resignation, 222 splendour, 203
on the lookout (for), 65 portages, 91 resilient, 88, 206 springs, 140
optical, 181 powwow, 51, 70 resolved,167 square dances, 51
optional, 123 prairie, 6 respite, 140 standard of living, 240
orphan, 189 predecessors, 91 retained, 185 standardized,217
ought to, 85 preserve, 15 retirement, 114 stands on end, 157
outcroppings, 150 prestigious, 172 returning officer, 37 status, 88
outports, 194 presumed, 40 revived, 194 status quo, 246
outsource, 240 pricey, 157 reward,85 straight, 136
overlap,35 primary, 57 ridge, 150 strait, 15
overtime, 73 principles, 98 ritual,181 strand, 190
prints, 228 rock (curling), 73 streetcar, 157
panning, 209 privileges, 88 role models, 65 strike it rich, 209
paralyzed, 232 promptly, 83 roughly, 136 stronghold, 20
passage, 15 prospector, 209 rugged,6 strove, 240
pasteurize, 248 prosper, 91 run for office, 32 stuffing, 108
patron saint, 172 prosperity, 136 rush, 108 subsidized,57
peaks, 128 Protestant, 20 suffragettes, 222
peddlars, 189 proximity to, 137 sagas, 200 sugar beets, 42
peek, 154 puck, 73 sash,172 sushi,248
pelts, 206 pulp, 42 satellites, 43 suspended, 54
pension, 32 put on the map, 226 scandal,26 sustainable, 242
peril,190 put through paces, scrambling, 200 sustained, 194
perishable, 200 140 seafood,42 sustenance, 206
 Glossary 255

swampy, 6 throat singing, 200 triumph (over), 194 victorious, 20

swarms, 212 timber, 136 trough, 172 virtually, 189
sweet potatoes, 108 toll,194 tuition, 57 visionary, 98
symbol, 85 topped off, 108 tundra, 6 volunteer, 51
symbolize, 144 toque, 172 turn (an age), 85 voracious, 212
synagogue, 103 totem poles, 114 voters' list, 37
tourism, 35 unanimous, 222 voyageurs, 172
take a toll on, 154 track,' 26 union, 105 vying, 65
take note of, 91 traitor, 144, 222 universal, 54
take (something) to transfusion, 219 unquestionably, 114 wagon, 26
heart, 65 transition, 81 unrest, 20 warn, 128
taxation, 35 transmitted to, 191 unscrupulous, 212 watering down, 249
temple, 103 traumatic, 88 up-dose and personal, wholesome, 125
tenacious, 212 treason, 222 70 wind chill, 140
terrain, 150 treat, 108 uranium, 42 worth)" 91
terrorist, 95 treaties, 88 urban, 35
Thanksgiving, 70 tremendous, 175 yearbook, 54
theories, 11 trenches, 6 vast, 136
threaten, 20 trend,81 venture, 128, 200
thriving, 117 trendy, 172 vibrant, 157
 Index

Aboriginal peoples. see also Dene Bishop, Henry, 97 Champlain, Samuel de, 17
people; First Nations; Inuit; Black, Len, 152 Chan, Patrick, 231
Metis; overview, 86-88; artists, Black Canadians, 96-97, 183 Charlotte town, 188
226,229; fur trade, 14; issues Bloc Quebecois, 34-35, 236 China, 42
and struggles, 246-247; in Bondar, Dr. Roberta, 216 Chinese Canadians, 25, 79, 99, 113
northern Canada, 204-205; Brandon, 143 Chretien, Jean, 249
origins and way of life, 10-11; Britain and British rule, 18-19 Christianity, 104-105, 106-107
population and language, 78 British Columbia: overview, 2-3, Christmas, 106
Acadia and Acadians, 17, 179, 5, 112-113; cities and places of Churchill, 143
182, 188 interest, 113, 120-122, 124-127; Cirque du Soleil, 49
Adams, Bryan, 225 climate, 115; culture and Clayoquot Sound, 119
Africville, 97 heritage, 120-121, 124, 126; cod fisheries, 192
Aglukark, Sus an, 226 economy, 116-117; forests and Cohen,Leonard,225
Alaska Highway, 210-211 logging, 116, 119; history, 22, colleges, 55
Alberta, 132. see also Prairie 24, 25, 113; parks, 127 colonization and colonies, 17, 19,
provinces; cities and places of British North America, 21 21-22. see also settlers
interest, 134-136; climate, 133; British North America Act, 22 Columbus, Christopher, 13, 86
culture and heritage, 134, 135; Broken Social Scene, 226 community colleges, 55-56
economy, 133-134; health care, Browning, Kurt, 231 Confederation, 22-23, 190
242-243; history, 23; parks, Bullard, Jeffrey, 236 Conservative Party, 34
135-136 court of law, 39
American Revolution, 19 cabinet ministers, 39 creation myths, 10
Anne of Green Gables Cabot, John, 13 Crosby, Sidney, 231
(Montgomery), 187, 188, 223 Cabot Trail, 184 cultural differences, 80, 82-83.
anthem, national, 236-237 Calgary, 134-135 see also English-French
Appalachian mountains, 4 Campbell, Kim, 221 relations; identity
Arcade Fire, 226 camping, 68 Currie, Dr. WaIter, 90-91
artists, 48, 149-150, 227 Canada East, 19,22 Cypress Hills, 139
arts and entertainment, 48-50, Canadarm, 42
66-69 Canada West, 19, 22 Dartmouth, 183
Atlantic provinces, 4, 5, 178. Canadian Broadcasting Dawson City, 207-208
see also New Brunswick; Corporation (CB C), 48 Dene people, 86, 204, 205
Newfoundland and Labrador; Canadian Pacific Railway Diefenbaker, John, 139
Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Company, 25-26 Dion, Celine, 225
Island Canadian Radio and discrimination, 44
Atwood, Margaret, 224 Telecommunications diversity. see multicultural
aurora borealis, 202-203 Commission (CRTC), 48 Canada
authors, 223-224 Canadian Shield, 3, 4, 5,148-149, doctors, 218-219
166 Dominion of Canada, 22
Banting, Dr. Frederick, 218 Cape Breton, 184 Douglas, Tommy, 139, 221, 242
Basilique Sainte-Anne- Cardinal, Douglas, 158 Drake, 225-226
de-Beaupre, 173 Cardinal, Tantoo, 229
Bateman, Robert, 227 Carnaval de Quebec, 171 Easter, 107
Bell, Alexander Graham, 184, Carr, Emily, 126, 150, 227 Eaton, Timothy and Eaton's store,
216 Carrey, Jim, 229 156
Beny, Roloff, 227 Carrier, Roch, 224 economy, 41-42, 239-240
Berton, Pierre, 224 Cartier, Jacques, 13, 16 Edmonton, 133, 134
Best, Dr. Charles, 218 Casson, A.J., 150 education, 52-53, 55-56, 244-245
Bethune, Dr. Norman, 218 CEGEp, 55 elections, 37
Bieber, Justin, 226 celebrations. see festivals elementary schools, 52-53
bilingualism, 93-95, 159, 168, 174, Central Canada, 3, 5. see also employment, 44, 56
179,237 Ontario; Quebec (province) English as an additional language
bills (legislation), 39 CerAmony, 226 (EAL),56
 Index 257

English as a Second Language (ESL), high schools, 52-53 manufacturing industry, 42

56 history timeline, 20th-century, 30-31 maple leaf and trees, 153
English-French relations, 19, 93, hockey, 63-64 maple syrup, 171
237. see also cultural differences; liThe Hockey Sweater" (Carrier), 224 McClung, Nellie, 220-221
identity holidays, 67-68 medicare,34,139,221,242-243
entertainment, 48-50, 66-69 House of Commons, 39 Members of Parliament (MPs), 39
Ericsson, Leif, 13 HST and GST, 34 Mennonite~ 142, 159
Eskimo. see Inuit human rights, 249 Metis, 87, 142,204,220. see also
European Union, 42 hydroelectricity, 167 Aboriginal peoples
exploration and explorers, 13-14 Miller, Derek, 226
exports, 42 identity. see also cultural differences; mining and minerals, 42, 153, 167,
English-French relations; 184,207-208
federal government, 33-34, 38-39, 56 Canadian, 78, 79, 84, 97, 165, ministers (government), 39
Felicien, Perdita, 231 236-238; peoples of the North, 205; Mitchell, W.O., 224
Fenians,21 Quebecois, 93-94, 164-165, 237 Moncton, 179
festivals, 49-50, 69, 106-107, 169, 171, Immigration Act, 79-80 Montgomery, Lucy Maud, 187,
173 immigration and immigrants, 26, 223
Filipinos, 142 78-79,99-100,132, 166, 179; policy, Montmorency Falls, 173
films, 48, 229 80 Montreal, 19, 166, 168-170
First Nations, 10-11, 86, 88, 90-91, imports, 42 movies, 48, 229
166. see also Aboriginal peoples Indians, 86. see also First Nations Mulroney, Brian, 249
fishing and fishermen, 14, 184, 192, Indigenous peoples. see Aboriginal multi cultural Canada, 79, 84, 99-100,
193,240-241 peoples 238
Fleming, Sandford, 216 international students, 56 muniCipal governments, 33
floods and floodways, 143 Inuit, 87, 199-200,204-205. see also Murphy, Emily, 220-221
FLQ (Front de Liberation du Aboriginal peoples Murray, Anne, 184
Quebec), 94 inventors and scientists, 216-217 music and musicians, 66-67, 225-226
Fonyo, Steve, 231 Italian Canadians, 99
food products and safety, 42, Nahanni National Park Reserve, 211
247-248 Jackson, Tom, 229 Naismith, James, 63
football, 64 Nash, Steve, 231
Fox, Terry, 230-231 Karsh, Yousuf, 227 national anthem, 236-237
France, 13, 16-17, 18-19 Klein, Ralph, 242 National Film Board of Canada
French-English relations, 19, 93, Klondike Gold Rush, 207-208 (NFB),48
237. see also cultural differences; Kluane National Park and Reserve, Native peoples. see Aboriginal
identity 210,211 peoples
French language, 93-95, 166, 168, 174, Kootenays, 126-127 natural resources, 41-42, 116-117,241
179,220,237 New Brunswick, 19,22,178,179-180.
fur trade, 14, 16-17 labour standards, 44 see also Atlantic provinces
Laliberte, Guy, 49 New Democratic Party (NDP), 34
Garneau, Marc, 216 land claims, 166 Newfoundland and Labrador, 178.
Gaspe Peninsula, 173 landforms of Canada, 5 see also Atlantic provinces; cities,
German Canadians, 99 lang, k.d., 225 194; climate, 193; culture and
Ghiz, Joe and Robert, 188 language, 53, 78, 166. see also French heritage, 190-191; economy,
globalization, 239-240 language 191-192,193; joining Canada, 22,
gold rush, Klondike, 207-208 Laumann, Silken, 231 23, 190; maritime lifestyle, 192-193
government levels and Lavalle, Calixa, 236 New France, 16-17, 18-19
responsibilities, 33-34 Lavigne, Avril, 226 Niagara Falls, 159
Governor General, 38-39 laws and legislation, 39,44 North, Canada's, 4-5. see also
Great Lakes, 3-4 Lazaridis, Mike, 217 Northwest Territories; Nunavut;
Greene, Graham, 229 Liberal Party, 34 Yukon; Aboriginal peoples,
Green Party, 34 Lieutenant-Governor, 39 204-205; climate, 198-199; gold
Gretzky, Wayne, 64, 231 Lightfoot, Gordon, 225 rush, 207-208; lifestyle and access,
Gross, Paul, 229 LINC (Language Instruction for 198-199; nature and landforms,
Group of Seven, 149-150, 227 Newcomers to Canada), 56 199,202-203; parks and points of
GST and HST, 34 Louisbourg,19 interest, 199, 210-211
Louis XlV, 17 Northern Lights, 202-203
Haida Gwaii, 126 Lower Canada, 19 Northwest Territories, 22, 198. see also
Halifax, 182-183 North, Canada's
Hamilton, 159 Macdonald, John A., 22, 24-26, 220 Nova Scotia, 22, 178, 182-184. see also
Hansen,Rick,231 MacNeil, Rita, 49 Atlantic provinces
Harper, Stephen, 221, 249 Manitoba, 22, 132, 142-143. see also Nunavut, 23, 198, 199-200. see also
health care, 33-34, 242-243 Prairie provinces North, Canada's
258 Index

oil sands, 133, 241 radio, 48 summer sports and recreation, 63,
Okanagan Valley, 127 railway, 21-22, 24-26 68-69
Ontario. see also Central Canada; cities Raonic, Milos, 231 sustain ability, 240-241
and places of interest, 155-160; RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Suzuki, Dr. David, 216-217
climate, 149; culture and heritage, Police), 139
149-150,156-157,158-159; recreation, 66-67, 68-69 tar sands, 133, 241
economy, 153; environment, 152, Red River Rebellion, 142 taxation, 34
153; history, 19,22, 148, 151-152; Reeves, Keanu, 229 technical schools, 56
landscape, 148-149; parks, 160; refugees, 79-80 telecommunications industry, 42
population, 149 Regina,139 television, 48, 229
OsIer, Dr. William, 218-219 regions of Canada, 2-5 Thanksgiving, 107
Ottawa, 158-159 religion and religious practices, Thomson, Tom, 149,227
102-107 TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign
Pacific Region. see British Columbia Research in Motion (RIM), 153, 217 Language), 56
Parliament Buildings, 158 Riel, Louis, 142, 220 Toronto, 155-157
peacekeeping, 248-249 Roberval, 13 trade, 21, 42. see also fur trade
Pearson, Lester B., 221 Rochette, Joanie, 231 training programs, 56
Penfield, Dr. Wilder, 218-219 Routhier, Adolphe-Basile, 237 Trudeau, Pierre Elliott, 94, 221
Perce Rock, 173 Royal Canadian Mint, 143 tuition fees, 56
Peterson, Oscar, 225 tundra, 202
Plains of Abraham, 19, 93, 170 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, 173 Twain, Shania, 225
political parties, 34-35 Saskatchewan, 23,132,138-139. 20th-century historical timeline,
politicians, 39, 220-221 see also Prairie provinces 30-31
popular culture, 48 Saskatoon, 139 two solitudes, 93-95, 237
population of Canada, 2, 3, 4 schooling. see education 2010 Winter Olympics, 71-73
Port Royal, 17 scientists and inventors, 216-217 Tyrrell, Joseph, 217
post-secondary education, 55-56 Scott, Barbara Ann, 231
Prairie provinces, 3, 5, 132. see also secondary schools, 52-53 union of colonies, 21-22
Alberta; Manitoba; Saskatchewan Senate, 39 United Empire Loyalists, 19, 152
Pratt, E.J., 193 separatism and sovereignty, 94, 166, United States, 19, 21, 42, 48,79
primary schools, 52-53 174,236 universities, 55
prime minister, 39 service sector jobs, 44 Upper Canada, 19
Prince Edward Island, 22, 178, settlers, 13, 16-17, 19, 26, 90-91,
187-188. see also Atlantic provinces 152. see also colonization Vancouver, 71-73, 113, 120-122
provincial governments, 33-34, 39 and colonies Van Home, William, 25
Seven Years War, 18-19 Victoria, 124-125
Quebec (province). see also Central shipwrecks, 193 Vigneault, Gilles, 225
Canada; French-English relations; Sikh Canadians, 104 Vikings, 13
cities and places of interest, 165, Sinc1air, Christine, 231 voters' list, 37
168-173; climate, 165; culture size of Canada, 2 voting, 37, 220-221
and heritage, 164-165, 169, small businesses, 44
170-171; economy, 167; French Smallwood, Joey, 190 Weir, Robert, 237
language, 93-95, 166, 168, 174,237; Smith, Donald A., 25 western Canada, 26
geography, 165-166; history, 19,22, sports and sportspeople, 62-64, Wheat Pool, 138-139
169,170,174; language law, 94-95, 230-231 Whistler, 71-73, 122
174; population, 166; relationship Stadacona,17 wind chill, 138
with Canada, 165, 173-174, 237; Status Indian, 86-87 Winnipeg, 142-143
separatism and sovereignty, 94, statutory holidays, 67 Winter Olympics, 71-73, 134,231
166, 174, 236 Stephen, George, 25 winter sports, 62, 63-64, 71-73
Quebec Act, 19 St. John's, 194 women's rights, 220-221
Quebec City, 17, 19, 170-171 St. Lawrence River, 3-4, 17, 19, work, 44, 56
Quebecois, 93-94,164-165,237 166, 167 writers, 223-224
Queen Charlotte Islands. see Haida Stojko, Elvis, 231
Gwaii St-Pierre, Georges, 231 Yukon, 23, 198,207. see also
Queen of England, 38 Stratford, 159 North, Canada's
 at ewa Y Second Edition

. Canada

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