The Atlantic Region

Finally we come to the Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, which are also known as the Maritimes. Nova Scotia was actually the first part of Canada to be settled, in 1604, whereas Newfoundland was the last province to join Canada—in 1949. Newfoundlanders voted to join Canada. These maritime provinces are small in population and largely rely on the fishing industry for their economic wealth. They are traditionally rather poor and so money from the richer Canadian provinces is transferred to them in order to ensure they enjoy the same quality of life as the richer areas. However, they are rich in farming and forestry products, and the spectacular scenery of the region makes it a popular tourist destination.

Hammering the Last Nail into the Canadian Railway

In terms of its geography, then, Canada is very varied. Its geography is very important in understanding the different natures of the Canadian people. Canada is a country made up of largely immigrants, and it was the geography that largely dictated the kinds of immigrants which came. The Maritimes attracted fishermen, and in places like Newfoundland accents have evolved from an Irish root; the prairies contain many farm families that came from the poor regions of Scandinavia and the Ukraine in order to try their luck in a new society. British Columbia has an old, well-established Chinese population because it was Chinese workers who helped build the Canadian National Railway system. The railway was considered a vital link to hold this vast country together. In Quebec, French language and culture reflect its history as a French colony. Such distinctive regional identities are part of the reason why it is difficult to generalize about what the Canadian identity is.

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