The total land area of Canada is 9,984,670 square kilometres (km). It is the second largest country in the world. The longest distance north to south (on land) is 4,634 km, from Nunavut to Ontario. The longest distance east to west is 5,514 km from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Yukon Territory where it borders with Alaska. To put these distances in perspective: it takes seven days to drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia. Flying from Halifax to Vancouver takes seven hours.Canada has six different time zones: Newfoundland, Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific.

Throughout Canada’s history, millions of immigrants have helped build our country. We welcome people from more than 150 countries each year. As Canadians, we are proud that many different cultural and ethnic groups live and work here in harmony. The Canadian Multiculturalism Act recognizes our cultural diversity. It states that we are all free to maintain and share our cultural heritage and to participate fully and equally in our national life. The only people originally from Canada are the Aboriginal peoples. They lived in Canada for thousands of years before the first immigrants came here. The Aboriginal peoples are an important part of Canada’s population. They are working to protect and promote their languages, cultures and traditions, and to set up their own governments.

In a country as large and diverse as Canada, equality is very important. It is so important that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of our Constitution.In Canada, we also believe in the importance of working together and helping one another. People who help others without being paid are called volunteers. There are millions of volunteers across Canada. Some people join community groups and help with local projects. Others help friends and neighbours in need. There are many different ways you can help others in your community.

Canada’s official languages
English and French are Canada’s two official languages. English- and French-speaking people have lived together in Canada for more than 300 years. This is an important part of our Canadian identity—more than 98 percent of Canadians speak either English or French or both.

Canada’s economy
Canada’s economy is made up of many different industries. There are three main types of industries in Canada: natural resources, manufacturing and services.

Natural resource industries include forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining and energy. These industries have played an important part in the country’s history and development. Today, the economy of many areas of the country still depends on developing natural resources.

Manufacturing industries make products to sell in Canada and around the world. Manufactured products include paper, technological equipment, automobiles, food, clothing and many other goods. Our largest international trading partner is the United States.

Service industries provide thousands of different jobs in areas like transportation, education, health care, construction, banking, communications and government. More than 70 percent of working Canadians now have jobs in service industries.

Canada from coast to coast
Canada is a very large country with an area of 10 million square kilometres, but it has a fairly small population. About 31 million people live here. Most Canadians live in the southern parts of Canada.

Provinces and territories
Canada has 10 provinces and three territories. Each province and territory has its own capital city.

British Columbia (BC)
B.C. is the most western province in Canada and the third-largest
Victoria, the People came from Britain, Western Europe, East and Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. -B.C. has the largest Chinese community in Canada.
The top 10 languages spoken are English, Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin), Punjabi, German, French, Tagalog, Spanish, capital city is on Vancouver Island.
 
Alberta (AB)
It is the fourth-largest province.
Edmonton (capital city) and Calgary are the largest cities.
It is known as Canada's "energy province".

Saskatchewan (SK)
located in the prairie region of Canada.
Regina, the capital city, is the home of -the R.C.M.P (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Half is forest, one-third is farmland
two largest cities are Regina (the capital) and Saskatoon.
 
Manitoba (MB)
Manitoba is one of the three prairie provinces in Canada.
It is located in the center of Canada.
"Manitoba" is a Cree name meaning "the place where the spirit (manitou) speaks."
Capital city - Winnipeg.
Second-largest city - Brandon
 
Ontario (ON)
Ontario is one of the provinces in Eastern Canada.
It is the second-largest province
Ontario's capital city is Toronto. Toronto has a large financial district and the stock exchange.
Over half of the people in Toronto were born in other countries.
Many are of Italian, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Indian, Polish and Caribbean origin.
 
Quebec (QC) - the largest province
Located in eastern Canada.
Capital city is Quebec City.
Quebec is a French-speaking province.
 
New Brunswick (NB)
New Brunswick is one of the four Atlantic provinces in Canada.
It is the third-smallest province.
N.B. has a mainland and many islands.
Capital city - Fredericton.
 
Newfoundland & Labrador (NL)
Nfld. is one of the four Atlantic provinces.
It is the most easterly province, made up of the island of Nfld. and Labrador on the mainland.

Nova Scotia (NS)
One of the four Atlantic provinces on the east coast of Canada
second-smallest province.
Also includes over 3800 coastal islands.
capital city and largest city - Halifax.
 
Prince Edward Island (PEI)
P.E.I. is one of the Atlantic provinces on the east coast of Canada.
It is the smallest province.
The capital city is Charlottetown.
 
Nanuvut (NU) - Canada's newest territory
Nunavut became Canada's third territory on April 1, 1999.
It is the largest territory and has one-fifth of the land in Canada.
Nunavut is made up of a mainland and many islands in the Arctic Ocean. Baffin Island and Ellesmere Island are two large islands.
Nunavut's capital is Iqaluit.
 
Yukon (YT)
One of three territories in Canada the smallest territory.
Capital city is Whitehorse.

Northwest Territories (NWT)
Mining, tourism and government are the key sectors in the Northwest Territories economy, located in the western Arctic of Canada. With a population of 41500, NWT is spread over 1,346,106 sq. km and has Yellowknife as the capital city.