Canada’s Size, Capital and Five Regions

Canada is the second largest country on earth, covering 10 million square kilometres — a scale that is difficult to truly grasp until you look at a map. Three oceans define its frontiers: the Pacific to the west, the Atlantic to the east, and the Arctic to the north. Along its entire southern edge runs the border with the United States, a boundary that both countries are committed to keeping safe, secure and efficient. This subchapter covers the essential framework of Canadian geography that underpins everything else in this chapter.

Five Distinct Regions

Although Canada is one country, its sheer size means that different parts of it feel very different from one another — in climate, landscape, economy and culture. The country is divided into five geographic regions: the Atlantic Provinces, Central Canada, the Prairie Provinces, the West Coast, and the Northern Territories. Each of these regions contains one or more provinces or territories, and understanding which province belongs to which region is exactly the kind of knowledge the citizenship test expects.

Ottawa: Canada’s National Capital

The capital of Canada is Ottawa, a city situated on the Ottawa River in the province of Ontario. Ottawa was selected as Canada’s capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria — the great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II — making the choice a matter of royal decision rather than a parliamentary vote. Today, Ottawa is Canada’s fourth largest metropolitan area. The surrounding area, known as the National Capital Region, covers 4,700 square kilometres and exists specifically to preserve and enhance the built heritage and natural environment of the capital.

Ten Provinces and Three Territories

Canada has ten provinces and three territories, and every single one has its own capital city. For the citizenship test, you are expected to know the capital of your own province or territory, as well as the national capital, Ottawa. The full list is worth memorising:

Canada’s Population

Canada’s population stands at approximately 34 million people. While the majority of Canadians live in cities, the country’s settlement pattern is remarkably varied — people also live in small towns, rural areas, remote communities and everywhere in between. This diversity of living environments is part of what gives different regions of Canada their distinct characters.