Canadian symbols

THE DOMINION OF CANADA

"Shall form and be One Dominion under that Name accordingly."

The Constitution Act 1867

The Dominion of Canada, containing four provinces -Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was established by the British North America Act on July 1, 1867. It combined features of the governments of the United States and Britain. Other provinces joined later: Manitoba -1870, British Columbia -1971, Prince Edward Island -1873, Alberta and Saskatchewan 1905, and Newfoundland and Labrador -1949. The Northwest Territo­ries were annexed in 1870 and the Yukon Territory was made a separate territory in 1898.

THE ROYAL AND NATIONAL ANTHEMS OF CANADA

THE ROYAL ANTHEM

God Save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long reign over us,

God save the Queen!

The royal anthem is performed officially in Canada in the presence of members of the Royal Fam­ily, as part of the Salute accorded to the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors, and on other occa­sions.

The anthem originated as a patriotic song in London, England, in 1745. Neither the author nor composer is known.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

О Canada!

Our home and native land!

True patriot love

in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts

we see thee rise,

The True North,

strong and free!

From far and wide,

O Canada,

We stand on guard

for thee.

God keep our land

glorious and free!

O Canada,

we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada,

we stand on guard for thee.

“O Canada" was proclaimed Canada's National anthem on July 1,1980, 100 years after it was first sang in 1880. The music was composed by C.Lavallee, a well-known composer. The lyrics were written in 1908 by Mr. Justice Weir. French lyrics to accompany the music were written by Sir Routier. The official English version includes changes recommended in 1968 by a special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons. The French lyrics remain unaltered.

THE NATIONAL FLAG

The National Flag was adopted by Parliament on October 22, 1964. It is a red flag containing in the center a white square with a single red maple leaf. Red and white are the official colors for Canada, declared by King George V in 1921 in proclamation of Canada's Coat of Arms. The maple leaf was first associated with Canada as early as the 1700s.In 1834, the first St. Jean Baptiste Society in North America Bade the maple leaf its emblem. By I860, the maple leaf was incorporated into the badge of the 100^th Regiment /Royal Canadians/ and was used in decorations for the visit of the Prince of Wales that year. Alexander Muir wrote the Maple Leaf Forever as Canada's Confederation song in1867; it was regarded as the national song for several decades. The coats of arms created the next year for Ontario and Quebec both included the maple leaf. Since 1965, with proclamation of Canada's new flag, the maple leaf has become: most prominent Canadian symbol.

THE COAT OF ARMS

The Coat of Arms displays a lion, a traditional royal symbol, holding die British flag, and a uni­corn, a mythological creature with the Flag of Quebec. On the crest there is a heraldic representation of the Royal crown. Beneath the crown is a lion wearing a red maple leaf in its front right paw, and standing on a wreath of red and white cloth. The shield represents the emblems of Great Britain and Quebec to indicate British and French background of the country. Beneath the shield there is a motto: "A Mari Usque ad Mare" The base, or, compartment, is represented with the floral emblems- a thistle of Scotland, a rose of id, a shamrock of Northern Ireland and a white lily fleur-de-lis of Quebec.

From 1921, the Coat of Arms included three maple leaves as a distinctive Canadian emblem.

THE MOTTO OF CANADA

The motto of Canada is in Latin A Mari Usque Ad Mare - From Sea to Sea.

CANADA DAY

July 1^st is Canada Day. It is the National holiday of Canada.

QUEBEC NATIONAL DAY

On June 24, French Canadians honor their patron saint Jean Baptiste. The province observes the holiday Quebec National Day.

THE BEAVER

The beaver attained official status as an emblem of Canada when an "act to provide for the recognition of the beaver as a symbol of the sovereignty of Canada" received royal assent on March 24,1975.

Ottawa

Who chose Ottawa to be the capital?

What was the present of Queen Juliana to Ottawa?

What is Winterlude?

Ottawa is the capital of Canada. It lies on hills along the south bank of the Ottawa River, 193-km west from Montreal. Attractive parks, stately government buildings add beauty to the city. Upper Town and Low Town are the oldest parts of Ottawa. In early times Indians traveled down the Ottawa River for hunting and trading. In 1613, the French explorer S; Champlain passed through the area. French fur traders used the Ottawa River as a route to the west. In 1784 the Loyalists settled in Ontario. After the war of 1812, the British feared another war with the U.S. They sought a way to send gunboats from Montreal to Lake Ontario without passing near U.S. territory. The British sent the Royal Engineers under Colonel John By to build the Rideau Canal.

In 1826, British troops formed, the first settlement in the area. The Rideau Canal linked the Ottawa River and Lake Ontario. The town around the construction site became known as Bytown. In 1841, Lower Canada /now Quebec/ and Upper Canada /now Ontario/joined to form the Province of Canada. In 1855, the townspeople of By town changed its name to Ottawa /Indian "adawe" -to trade/. Adawe was an Indian tribe that traded in the area. Ottawa was a small town when Queen Victoria chose it in 1857 to be the capi­tal of the United Province of Canada. The Queen chose the small town of Ottawa over the cities of To­ronto, Kingston, Montreal and. Quebec. Not only was Ottawa a political compromise but it also lay a more secure distance from the American border. The Dominion of Canada was established in 1867 with Ottawa as its capital.

Parliament Hill is the site of Canada's Parliament buildings. Prince of Wales /Edward VII/ laid the first stone of the Center Block in 1860. The Center Block is flanked by the East and West blocks. The 3 buildings were completed in 1865. The Central Block includes the House of Commons, the Senate Cham­ber, the Peace Tower and offices of MPs.

The House of Commons is at the west end of the Central Block. 295 representatives make law here. It is decorated in traditional green of the British House of Commons. It is constructed of Canadian White Oak and limestone from Manitoba. Visible on the stone's surface are 450-million-year-old fossils.

The Senate Chamber is at the East end of the Center block. Here 104 senators review bills passed in the House of Commons. Red carpeting and a ceiling of gold leaf create an air of regal splendour in the Senate.

The Confederation Hall and the Hall of Honour separate the Commons from the Senate. At the end of the Hall of Honour is the Library of Parliament. Dominating the domed room is a white marble statue of the young Queen Victoria.

Peace Tower rises above the Parliament Buildings. It is 292 feet789m/ high. The peace Tower was built to commemorate the end of the WWI. The Tower contains an observation area and houses 53 bells that weigh 54 tons. During July and August the Guard performs a daily changing-the-guard ceremony in 1ront of the Peace Tower.

Canada's Prime Minister has an office in the East Block.

Other Government buildings include the Royal Canadian Mint where visitors may watch coins be­ing made. The National Library exhibits historical documents. Government House is the official residence of the Canadian Governor General. The home of Prime Minister is nearby.

The National War Memorial, at Confederation Square honors the Canadians who died in action during the WWI and II. It consists of bronze figures of servicemen and service women marching through a granite arch. The National Arts Center opened in 1969. The structure houses opera, concert hall and 2 thea­tres.

Ottawa is famous for its museums. The National Gallery of Canada*has Canadian and European paintings. The Canadian Museum of Nature features animals and minerals. Laurier House is the former residence of Prime Minister and a historical museum. The Canadian Museum of Civilization illustrates the cultures of Inuit /Eskimos/ and Indians.

Ottawa has 647 hectares of parks and playgrounds. Annual events in Ottawa include the 10-day tu­lip festival in May. More than 3 million tulip bulbs bloom in parks and along roadways. Queen Juliana of Netherlands sent the bulbs as a gift to Ottawa. During the WWII Juliana, then a princess lived in Ottawa. After returning home she sent Ottawa 100,000 tulip bulbs. Juliana sent Ottawa 15,000 tulip bulbs for the annual festival. Ottawa holds a 9-day winter festival, called Winterlude in mid-February. The festival fea­tures such sports as car and harness racing on ice, dog-sled racing and broomball / a variation of ice hockey played on ice without skates and with brooms and a soccer ball./

The Franco-Ontarian festival in June celebrates the French-Canadian culture of Ontario. Every August, the Central Canada Exhibition offers agricultural and industrial exhibits.

Population of Ottawa is about 500,000. 85% of the people of Ottawa were born in Canada. The rest immigrated from Western Europe or U.S. English is the main language of most Ottawans. A number of people speak both English and French.

Ottawa has 335 manufacturing plants. The city is also a center of scientific research. Ottawa has 3 daily newspapers? The Citizen and The Ottawa Sun are printed in English and the Le Droit - in French.

The local TV stations broadcast in English and French. Out of 19 radio stations, 13 broadcast in English and 6 - in French.

Ottawa has 180 schools with 77.000 students. The city is home of Carleton University /16.500 students/ and the University of Ottawa /20,000 students/. St. Paul University and the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology are also in Ottawa.

CITIES

What is the world's tallest building?

What is "Top of Toronto"?

Where is world's Space Port?

There is always a geographical reason for the establishment of a city and Canadian cities are no exception.

KINGSTON

As one of the oldest cities in Canada, Kingston boasts an extensive heritage. Located at the end of the Great Lakes, Kingston was the western gate to North America in the 16^th century. As a fort founded in 1673 Kingston became the first capital of the Province of Canada in 1841.

Kingston has been known as a "garrison" town. Point Frederick, the former British naval station and dock yard, overlooks Kingston's outer harbor. Kingston is the home of the Royal Military college, Fort Fortenac /1673/, and Fort Henry /1830s/.

Alas, its national role was shortlived due to its close proximity to the United States, a hostile neighbor at that time. The loss of capital status turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Kingston escaped forced growth and was left to gently increase over the decades.

Two national universities, a community college, a medical school, and three teaching hospitals give Kingston big city influence. But a regular farmer's market and easy access to cottage country give it small city accessibility and charm

Dominated by the harbor and graced by fine institutional buildings, Kingston has become a very pleasant place to reside.

TORONTO

Toronto is the second largest city of Canada and capital of Ontario. Its population is about 2 mil­lion. Toronto is a big port on Lake Ontario. It is an industrial city. Its industries include mechanical and electrical engineering, motor cars, shipbuilding, textiles, food processing, publishing and banking. Toronto is the home of University founded in 1827.

The places of interest in Toronto include Casa Loma, The CN Tower, the Sky Dome and Ontario Place.

Casa Loma is a wonderful castle. It was the home of the enormously wealthy royalist Sir Henry Pellat. The Sky Dome is Toronto's exciting new domed stadium, featuring the world's largest retractable roof. Its roof opens and shuts during sporting events. Ontario Place is a high-tech fun on the Waterfront. It has an out-of-this-world movie theatre.

The CN Tower is higher than the Eiffel Tower/320 m/. It is world's tallest freestanding building: 1815 feet /553,33 m. /. Step inside one of four glass-faced elevators and ride to the top in a thrilling 58 sec­onds. Marvel at the spectacular panoramic view of the city, Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands. From 1200 feet up on a clear day you can see Niagara Falls-and 75 miles the other way. Space deck /447 m/ is the World's Highest Public observation Deck. Dine in "high style" in the world's highest and largest re­volving restaurant 'Top of Toronto". It provides a tour of Toronto in 72 minutes /one revolution/. There is Toronto's 'highest" nightclub "Sparkles" /346 m /. Dance to the latest music and enjoy a fantastic sound and light show of Toronto by night.

There is an optional visit to the 'Tour of the Universe": a very realistic trip on a space shuttle in the year 2019. It is rated as one of the Top Ten Rides in North America. It is the world's only Space Port.

MONTREAL

Montreal is the living index of changing Quebec. A mixture of the distinctive spirits of Quebec, of Canada and North America, spikes with the many matured flavors of Europe. Bilingual, multilingual, unilingual- it depends who you are, who you are speaking to, and where you are in the city that straddles the

St. Laurence and its islands and drapes the lower slopes of the regal Mountain Montreal style is blending of styles.

It is the largest city in Canada. Its population is 1,200,000. Situated on wooded Montreal Island in the St. Laurence it is the chief port of Canada. It was founded in 1642 as a French city. Its population reached half million in 1911 and doubled in the next two decades. Emerged as Canada[s premier port, rail­road and financial center it lost its economic primacy to Toronto in the late 1960s but remained home for many firms. Industries developed now are rolling stock, engineering, food processing, oil refining. There are two famous universities in Montreal- McGill, founded in 1821, English-speaking, and Montreal, char­tered in 1919, French-speaking, Roman Catholic.