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Life in Canada

First Nations Acknowledgement (Nova Scotia)

We want to begin by acknowledging that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. The “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” cover this territory, which the Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) People first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with the surrender of lands and resources but in fact, recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) titles and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

Canada's History

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  • The three founding peoples of Canada are the Indigenous peoples, the British and the French.

  • Indigenous peoples were the first humans to live in what is now Canada for as long as 14,000 years; far longer than European settlers.

  • Indigenous peoples had a deep respect for nature and were able to survive, develop advanced technologies and cultures, and build a large trade network throughout Canada.

  • The Mi'kmaq people live in Canada’s Atlantic provinces and parts of Quebec. This land is traditionally known as Mi’kma’ki.

  • Canada became a country on July 1, 1867, after the British Parliament passed the British North America Act. This is known as Confederation.

  • Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec were the first provinces. Other provinces and territories joined Canada later.

Canada's Geography

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  • Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Canada’s capital city is Ottawa.

  • Each province and territory has a capital city.

  • Toronto (ON) is the largest city in Canada followed by Montreal (QC) and Vancouver (BC).

  • As the world’s second-largest country, Canada’s geography changes significantly depending on which part you are in. And with the differences in each region, there is a very different accompanying landscape and climate.

  • In almost every part of Canada there are lakes and rivers. Canada has over 2 million lakes covering 7% of the land mass. The largest lake is the Northwest Territories’ Great Bear Lake. Canada is estimated to be home to one-seventh of the world’s fresh water.

  • Canada has a land mass of 9,970,610 square kilometres and occupies the northern half of North America. Canada has coastlines on the Atlantic and Pacific and the Arctic Ocean, giving it the longest coastline of any country. Canada’s southern boundary is an 8,892 kilometer border with the United States. Northern Canada’s Arctic islands come within 800 kilometers of the North Pole.

  • In northernmost Canada only 12 per cent of the land is suitable for agriculture because of the harsh climate. As a result, most of the population of Canada live within a few hundred kilometers of the southern border, where the climate is milder.

Canada's Time Zones

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  • Canada uses six primary time zones. From east to west, they are Newfoundland Time Zone, Atlantic Time Zone, Eastern Time Zone, Central Time Zone, Mountain Time Zone, and Pacific Time Zone.

  • In most of Canada Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. local time on the second Sunday in March. On the first Sunday in November areas on Daylight Saving Time return to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. During Daylight Saving Time turn your clocks ahead one hour.

  • Previously, Canada had observed Daylight Saving Time from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October. However, through legislation passed in 2006, Daylight Saving Time begins three weeks earlier on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

  • Nova Scotia is in the Atlantic Time Zone (AT).

Facts about Canada

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Canada is:

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  • The second largest country in the world by land area (9.985 million km2)

  • Home to over 40 million people (in 2023)

  • Urbanized- About 81% of Canadians live in cities.

  • Bilingual –English and French are Canada’s official languages

  • 75.5% speak English as first language

  • 21.4%speak French as first language

  • 4.6 million Canadians speak other language at home

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Religion

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In 2019 it was reported that:

  • 63.2% of the people of Canada are Christian.

  • 26.3% of people are non-religious.

  • 3.7% of people are Muslim.

  • Other religions include Hinduism (1.7%), Sikhism (1.4%), Buddhism (1.4%) and Judaism (1.0%). Other religions make up 1.2% of the population.

  • There are many places of worship in Canada including churches, mosques, synagogues and more.

Nova Scotia

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Nova Scotia

  • Nova Scotia means “New Scotland” in Latin.

  • Nova Scotia is the second smallest province in Canada but has the largest population in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and New found land and Labrador).

  • Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick are called “The Maritimes.”

  • Nova Scotia is divided into: 7 regions, 18 counties, and 49 municipalities. These divisions are mainly used for administrative purposes, such as land, water services, police, and more.

Halifax

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  • Halifax is the capital city of Nova Scotia.

  • Halifax was originally inhabited by the Mi'kmaq. The first European settlers to arrive in the future Halifax region were French (in the early 1600s). The British settled Halifax in 1749.

  • It is the largest city in Atlantic Canada with a population ofabout480,000 in 2022.

  • For comparison, in Nova Scotia there are 1,047,232 people (2023).

  • People who live in Halifax are called “Haligonians”.

  • With its deep, ice-free harbor, Halifax has played an important role in trade and the defense of Canada.

  • In 1996, 200 communities in Halifax County joined together to make the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). In 2014, HRM was changed to Halifax.

  • Some of these communities are Dartmouth, Sackville, Bedford and Cole Harbour.

Weather in Nova Scotia

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Spring

  • March 21 to June 20

  • Average temperature: 0 to 20°C

  • Weather conditions: snow, ice, cool, rain

  • Possible winter conditions (affects services)

  • Slippery roads and sidewalks

  • Cold, rainy weather along with bright sunny days​

  • Clothing: winter/rain jacket, waterproof footwear, umbrella

Summer

  • June 21 to September 20

  • Average temperature: 20°Cto 25°C (but also more when very humid)

  • July and August are usually the hottest months.

  • Weather conditions: warm, humid, rain, fog, hurricanes, tropical storms

  • Clothing: shorts, t-shirt, hat, rain jacket

Fall/Autumn

  • September 21 to December 20

  • Average temperature: 10°Cto 20°C, temperatures can sometimes drop below 10°Ctowards December

  • Weather conditions: cool, rain, maybe snow

  • Clothing: winter/rain jacket, long pants, waterproof footwear

Winter

  • December 21 to March 20

  • Average temperature: -15°Cto 5°C.

  • Weather conditions: cold, snow, slush, ice, windy, freezing rain, blizzard, Possible delays, cancellations, and closures

  • Clothing: winter jacket, boots, gloves, winter hat, snow pants for children

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