Canada is a beautiful country. We are blessed with gorgeous natural landscapes that tell something about the people of the land while also reflecting the history of nature. We Canadians (including Quebecers) should be thankful that we don't live in a terribly polluted area and aren't subjected to wars. Some other countries have to face this every day. But I do have a few issues about us as Canadians. We are influenced by those people south of us too often. If we were only given the opportunity, Canada could become so much more than just neighbours of the Yankees. We are already such a great place but the threat of the States having more of an influence on us should cause us alarm. Nationally, we are a difficult people to describe, and the most we can come up with, sometimes, is "not American". Often, that is because Canadians are too busy thinking of what the Americans are thinking of us, rather than develop our own national identity! Hopefully this will change in the future. Internationally, many Americans have taken to adopting our infamous Canadian maple leaf flag sewn on a backpack to avoid unwanted, negative attention. 

For more about places to visit in Canada and links to cities, here are my travel recommendations.

Some facts about Canada:
- population of 30 million (and growing)
- owns the largest amount of land for a country in the world
- flag wasn't chosen until 1965
- was declared a country in 1867
- two official languages are English and French
- Chinese is the third most common language in Canada and is the largest minority group in Canada
- has 10 provinces and 3 territories (most recently, Nunavut territory created in April 1999)
-declared the best place to live in the world by the U.N.
for 5 straight years (now we've slipped, but still a great place to me)
- Governor General of Canada is Adrienne Clarkson (first minority to be governor general)
- plus many other regional claim to fames, too numerous to mention!

25 events that have shaped Canada (from Macleans magazine):
- Chinese Head Tax 1885-1923
- Battle of Vimy Ridge 1917
- Halifax Explosion 1917
-Winnipeg General Strike 1919
- Persons Case 1929
- Dirty 30s 1929-1939
- Creation of CBC 1936
- Liberation of Holland 1945
- Discovery of Oil at Leduc, Alberta 1947
- Newfoundland joins Confederation 1949
- Hurricane Hazel 1954
- Pearson's Nobel Peace Prize 1957
- Avro Arrow 1959
- Quebec's Quiet Revolution 1960
- Medicare 1961
- Columbia River Treaty 1964
- Canadian Flag 1965
- Centennial & Expo '67
- FLQ Crisis 1970
-Constitution and Charter 1982
- Free Trade Agreement 1988
- Montreal massacre 1989
- Demise of Cod Fish 1992
- Birth of Nunavut 1999
I would also add: Quebec referendum 1995, North West Rebellion, and regionalism (ongoing).

Now for some links!

This page was last updated May 23, 2004.