# Canada - Source: Kiddle (kids.kiddle.co), CC BY-SA 3.0, Kiddle encyclopedia, adapted from Wikipedia - Reading level: Grade 5 - Subjects: Countries, Places - Topics: canada, indigenous, first, peoples, european, north - Length: 1259 words, about 9 min - Published: 2026-02-05 - Original: - Page: - Open in Sprouts: **Canada** is a large country in North America. It has ten provinces and three territories. These stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. They also go north into the Arctic Ocean. This makes Canada the world's second-largest country by total area. It also has the longest coastline in the world. Canada shares the world's longest land border with the United States. The country has many different weather and land regions. It is a sparsely populated country with about 40 million people. Most Canadians live in cities south of the 55th parallel. Ottawa is Canada's capital city. Its three biggest cities are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Indigenous peoples have lived in Canada for thousands of years. In the 16th century, British and French explorers came and settled along the Atlantic coast. After several wars, France gave up most of its North American colonies in 1763. In 1867, three British colonies joined together. This event, called Confederation, formed Canada as a federal dominion with four provinces. Over time, more provinces and territories joined. Canada also gained more independence from the United Kingdom. This process ended in 1982 with the *Canada Act 1982*. This act made Canada fully independent from the British Parliament. Canada is a parliamentary democracy. It is also a constitutional monarchy like the United Kingdom. The prime minister is the head of government. They lead the country with the support of the elected House of Commons. The governor general represents the monarch of Canada, who is the head of state. Canada is part of the Commonwealth realm. It is also officially bilingual, meaning both English and French are used by the federal government. Canada is known for its high quality of life and strong economy. It is one of the world's most diverse and multicultural nations. This is because many people have immigrated to Canada. Canada's long history and close relationship with the United States have shaped its history, economy, and culture. Canada is a developed country with a strong economy. It relies on its many natural resources and international trade. Canada is seen as a "middle power" in global affairs. It often works with other countries to solve problems. Its role in peacekeeping in the 20th century helped shape its image worldwide. Canada is a member of many important international groups. ## What Does "Canada" Mean? The name *Canada* comes from the St. Lawrence Iroquoian word *kanata*. This word means "village" or "settlement." In 1535, Indigenous people near Quebec City used this word. They used it to guide French explorer Jacques Cartier to their village, Stadacona. Cartier then used *Canada* to describe not just that village. He used it for the whole area ruled by Donnacona, the chief of Stadacona. By 1545, European maps and books called this small area along the Saint Lawrence River *Canada*. From the 16th to the early 18th century, "Canada" referred to the part of New France along the Saint Lawrence River. In 1791, this area became two British colonies. They were called Upper Canada and Lower Canada. These were known as the Canadas until 1841. Then, they united to form the British Province of Canada. When Confederation happened in 1867, *Canada* became the new country's legal name. The word *dominion* was also used as its title. By the 1950s, the United Kingdom no longer used "Dominion of Canada." They saw Canada as a "realm of the Commonwealth." The *Canada Act 1982* gave Canada full control over its own Constitution of Canada. This act only referred to *Canada*. Later that year, the national holiday's name changed from Dominion Day to Canada Day. The term *Dominion* was used to tell the federal government apart from the provinces. However, after World War II, "federal" replaced "dominion." ## A Brief History of Canada ### Who Were the First Peoples of Canada? Indigenous peoples in Canada today include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. The Métis are people of mixed descent. They came about in the mid-1600s when First Nations people married European settlers. They then developed their own culture. Scientists believe the first people in North America came from Siberia. They crossed the Bering land bridge at least 14,000 years ago. The Paleo-Indian sites at Old Crow Flats and Bluefish Caves are among the oldest places where humans lived in Canada. Early Indigenous societies had permanent homes, farmed, and traded. Some of these cultures had disappeared by the time Europeans arrived. We only know about them through archeology. ![Langs N.Amer](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-canada-85925ee133.png) Linguistic areas of North American Indigenous peoples at the time of European contact It is thought that between 200,000 and two million Indigenous people lived in Canada when Europeans first settled. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples suggests a number of 500,000. After European colonization, the Indigenous population dropped by 40 to 80 percent. Some First Nations, like the Beothuk, disappeared. This decline was due to several reasons. These include European diseases like influenza, measles, and smallpox. Indigenous peoples had no natural protection against these. Conflicts over the fur trade and with settlers also played a part. The loss of Indigenous lands also caused problems. Early interactions between Europeans and Indigenous peoples were mostly peaceful. First Nations and Métis peoples helped European explorers. They guided them across the continent during the North American fur trade. These early friendships changed over time. Treaties were signed, but Indigenous lands were often taken. From the late 1700s, Europeans tried to make Indigenous peoples adopt Western ways. This reached its peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Children were forced into state-funded boarding schools. This was an attempt to make them forget their own cultures. There was also health-care segregation and forced movement. A period of making things right began in 2008. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was formed. This group recognized past wrongs, like colonial injustices. They also worked on settlement agreements and racial discrimination. ### When Did Europeans Arrive in Canada? ![Nouvelle-France map-en](https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/media/kiddle-canada-56df5eb01b.png) Map of territorial claims in North America by 1750. Possessions of British America (pink), New France (blue), and New Spain (orange); California, Pacific Northwest, and Great Basin not indicated. The first European to explore Canada's east coast was likely Norse explorer Leif Erikson. Around 1000 AD, the Norse built a small camp at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. They stayed there for about 20 years. No other Europeans explored the area until 1497. That year, John Cabot explored and claimed Canada's Atlantic coast for England. In 1534, French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. On July 24, he put up a 10-meter (33 ft) cross. It said, "long live the King of France." He claimed the land, New France, for King Francis I. In the early 1500s, Basque and Portuguese sailors set up seasonal whaling and fishing posts. These were along the Atlantic coast. Early settlements during the Age of Discovery did not last long. This was due to the harsh climate and difficult trade routes. In 1583, Sir Humphrey Gilbert founded St John's, Newfoundland. This was the first English seasonal camp in North America. In 1600, the French set up their first seasonal trading post at Tadoussac. French explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived in 1603. He started the first permanent European settlements. These were at Port Royal (1605) and Quebec City (1608). French colonists, called *Canadiens*, settled along the Saint Lawrence River. Acadians settled in what is now The Maritimes. Fur traders and missionaries explored the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. The Beaver Wars started in the mid-1600s. These wars were fought over control of the fur trade. ## Picture credits - 맛좋은망고, CC BY-SA 4.0 () - Pinpin, CC BY-SA 3.0 ()