A lesson on Canadian geography, provinces and major cities starting from west coast to east coast:
Bristish Columbia (pop 4.1 million) Largest City: Vancouver (2.1 million) Capital: Victoria (325,000) Border states: Washington,Idaho, Montana
Alberta (pop 3.1 million) Largest City: Calgrary (976,000) Capital: Edmonton (961,000) Border states: Montana
Saskatchewan (pop 1 million) Largest City: Saskatoon (230,000) Capital: Regina (199,000) Border states: Montana, North Dakota
Manitoba (pop 1.2 million) Largest City & Capital: Winnipeg (700,000) Border states: North Dakota, Wisconsin
Ontario (pop 12 million) Largest City & Capital: Toronto (5.1 million) National Capital: Ottawa (1.1 million) Border states: Wisconsin, Michigan, New York
Quebec (pop 7.3 million) Largest City: Montreal (3.5 million) Capital: Quebec City (705,000) Border states: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
New Brunswick (pop 800,000) Largest City: Saint John (126,000) Capital: Fredericton (80,000) Border states: Maine
Prince Edward Island (pop 125,000) Largest City & Capital: Charlottetown (45,000) Border states: none (island)
Nova Scotia (pop 936,000) Largest City & Capital: Halifax (400,000) Border states: none. Only borders New Brunswick.
Newfoundland & Labrador (pop 520,000) Largest City & Capital: St. John's (200,000) Border states: none (island)
And for Canadians, this is the American (mostly) equivalent:
Toronto = New York Ottawa = Washington Vancouver = Seattle/San Francisco/L.A. Calgary = Dallas Niagara Falls = Orlando Montreal & Quebec City = France Atlantic Provinces = New England
There is a fairly strong anti-American bias in Canada. You should be prepared to deal with it. It's rather tame though in comparison to Europe. Actually, I think you'd get a small list if you asked which countries are pro-American right now (Israel, and....er...um...).
But what an outsider might not understand is that we Canadians see two Americas, America the country and America the institution. We like America the country (i.e food, t.v. shows, Wal-Mart, etc) but are somewhat less enthralled with America the institution (i.e. the American Way). Of course, to an American, the two things are one and the same.
Canada is also going through a sort of teenage period. We were always either tied to mother Britain or big brother America, but now we're trying to march off in our own direction. In a sort of weird way, we like the negative attention we're getting in the U.S. right now. It's not the best kind of attention, but at least you know we exist now.
First, thank you for the geography lesson, and the US/Canadian city conversion. Love it!
Re anti-American bias, we are certainly used to that, as it is a global phenomenon. We *do* distinguish between America those American differences - it's just that we dislike them both!
In our trips to Canada since deciding to emigrate, we have met with only support and approval. If there's an anti-American bias, and we're leaving because we're anti-American, it stands to reason that we will be welcomed or at least accepted. Anyway, I'm a New Yorker - I'm used to being hated. And like a true New Yorker, I enjoy it.
A lesson on Canadian geography, provinces and major cities starting from west coast to east coast:
ReplyDeleteBristish Columbia (pop 4.1 million)
Largest City: Vancouver (2.1 million)
Capital: Victoria (325,000)
Border states: Washington,Idaho, Montana
Alberta (pop 3.1 million)
Largest City: Calgrary (976,000)
Capital: Edmonton (961,000)
Border states: Montana
Saskatchewan (pop 1 million)
Largest City: Saskatoon (230,000)
Capital: Regina (199,000)
Border states: Montana, North Dakota
Manitoba (pop 1.2 million)
Largest City & Capital: Winnipeg (700,000)
Border states: North Dakota, Wisconsin
Ontario (pop 12 million)
Largest City & Capital: Toronto (5.1 million)
National Capital: Ottawa (1.1 million)
Border states: Wisconsin, Michigan, New York
Quebec (pop 7.3 million)
Largest City: Montreal (3.5 million)
Capital: Quebec City (705,000)
Border states: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
New Brunswick (pop 800,000)
Largest City: Saint John (126,000)
Capital: Fredericton (80,000)
Border states: Maine
Prince Edward Island (pop 125,000)
Largest City & Capital: Charlottetown (45,000)
Border states: none (island)
Nova Scotia (pop 936,000)
Largest City & Capital: Halifax (400,000)
Border states: none. Only borders New Brunswick.
Newfoundland & Labrador (pop 520,000)
Largest City & Capital: St. John's (200,000)
Border states: none (island)
And for Canadians, this is the American (mostly) equivalent:
ReplyDeleteToronto = New York
Ottawa = Washington
Vancouver = Seattle/San Francisco/L.A.
Calgary = Dallas
Niagara Falls = Orlando
Montreal & Quebec City = France
Atlantic Provinces = New England
--Kyle
You might want to read this though:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15638-2004Nov26.html
There is a fairly strong anti-American bias in Canada. You should be prepared to deal with it. It's rather tame though in comparison to Europe. Actually, I think you'd get a small list if you asked which countries are pro-American right now (Israel, and....er...um...).
But what an outsider might not understand is that we Canadians see two Americas, America the country and America the institution. We like America the country (i.e food, t.v. shows, Wal-Mart, etc) but are somewhat less enthralled with America the institution (i.e. the American Way). Of course, to an American, the two things are one and the same.
Canada is also going through a sort of teenage period.
We were always either tied to mother Britain or big brother America, but now we're trying to march off in our own direction. In a sort of weird way, we like the negative attention we're getting in the U.S. right now. It's not the best kind of attention, but at least you know we exist now.
First, thank you for the geography lesson, and the US/Canadian city conversion. Love it!
ReplyDeleteRe anti-American bias, we are certainly used to that, as it is a global phenomenon. We *do* distinguish between America those American differences - it's just that we dislike them both!
In our trips to Canada since deciding to emigrate, we have met with only support and approval. If there's an anti-American bias, and we're leaving because we're anti-American, it stands to reason that we will be welcomed or at least accepted. Anyway, I'm a New Yorker - I'm used to being hated. And like a true New Yorker, I enjoy it.