Canada has been home to first nations people for hundreds of decades. It’s first European visitors came in the form of Vikings way back in the year 1000, but they failed to make a permanent foothold in North America, settling for Greenland instead as it was closer. Englishman John Cabot then made a brief stop in 1497 whilst looking for China.
It wasn’t until 1534 that a French explorer Jaques Cartier planted a flag, claimed the land in the name of France and began to establish colonies and trade relations with the first nations people.
Around 1604 Europe began a love affair with wearing furs which led to a far greater incentive to exploit the new world. As a result another explorer Samuel de Champlain established both Port Royal in what is now New Brunswick and Quebec City which is now Quebec City. These were the first permanent European settlements in America North of Florida. 62 years later in 1666 the population of Canada or New France, as it was then known, had grown to a staggering 3,215 souls.
In 1670 the Hudson’s Bay Company was established by London investors in an attempt to capitalize on the fur trade in the New World. The reigning monarch Charles II awarded the newly formed company “Ruperts Land” which consisted of Hudson’s Bay and all it’s tributaries, roughly 15% of all land in North America! This led to conflict with the French and a series of wars were fought, culminating in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759 which saw the British victorious and the end of French rule in North America.
After the American Revolution of 1776, many residence of the former 13 colonies remained loyal to the British crown and made the move North to Canada. They were known as the United Empire Loyalists and resettled in Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This swelled the anglophone population in Canada and really upset the remaining French. To make room for the incoming droves of loyalists, the British rounded up large groups of remaining French colonists in New Brunswick and sent them packing to Louisiana. These exiles became known as the Cajuns.
Canada went to War with the USA in aptly named War of 1812 as America attempted to expand into the then British territory. There were several raids on border towns from both sides including the Burning of the White House. In the end they called it a tie and Canada and the US have been friendly neighbours ever since ever since.
In 1864 the fathers of confederation met at the Charlottetown Conference and drew up a plan for Canada to become independent of Britain. The crown accepted and in 1867 Canada became it's own independent dominion!
Canada expanded it's territories westward with the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1881-1885. To enforce this new territory, Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John A MacDonald founded the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1873.
In the early 20th century, Canada participated in both World War I and The Great Depression which was quickly followed by Canadian involvement in World War II.
Immigration has played a key role in the development of Canada. Initially coming mainly from the British Isles, during and after World War II Canada saw a large influx of immigration and refugees from Italy and other European countries afflicted by the events during World War II. In the 1970s many immigrants began arriving from India, China and the Carribean.
Canada today has become one of the most multicultural nations on the planet. The country is a member of NAFTA and NATO, enjoys a low crime rate, Universal Health Care, 4 seasons and is an all around fantastic place to live!
