Canada

Talk on Canada

My talk is about Canada.
First I’m going to tell you something about the modern situation of Canada.

Canada is now the second largest country in the world. It is bounded by three oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. The rest of the country borders on the USA. With the exception of Alaska it covers the northern half of America. The country is so wide that six time zones lie within its borders.
Today, Canada is a British Commonwealth country. It belongs to a group of 49 nations that formerly were British colonies, but are now independent. These states recognize the British monarch as the head of the Commonwealth. The leaders of these countries meet every two years. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. Other large cities are:

- Toronto
- Montreal
- Vancouver
- Winnipeg
- Edmonton
- Quebec
- Hamilton

Further, Canada is a stable and prosperous country with vast mineral resources and a highly developed agriculture and industry. The maple leaf is used as the emblem of Canada.

Now I’m going to tell you about the history of Canada.
In the early 17th century people from France began to settle in Canada and about a hundred years later ‘New France’ covered much of North America. Quebec, one of Canada’s most industrialized provinces, was founded by the French settlers and even today people speak French there. But later they had to give up much of their ‘royal colonie’ to the British. Canada became a British colony.
Towards the end of the 19th century four provinces, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, united and declared themselves independent. Later the other provinces, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchawan, Alberta, New Foundland, The Northwest Territories and Yukon did the same.


Finally, I’m going to tell you something about the inhabitants of Canada.
Large parts of this vast country are practically uninhabited and its population density is among the lowest in the world.
Long before the country was known as Canada the Indians and the Eskimos lived here. They developed many languages and cultures and invented the kayak, canoe and snowshoes.
Now, Canada has two official languages: English and French. The French-speaking population is a minority and now and there are problems between them and the English-speaking Canadians.