The Western World Daily Readings on Geography Chapter 98 North America Cultural Geography III

CHAPTER 98 North America Cultural Geography III Canadian Culture and America JOEL QUAM AND PETER Cleaned by from Noun In Chapter , we state that the term culture refers to collective , learned human behavior . Indeed , culture essentially is the way of life of a group of people . The major core components of culture are language , religion , and ethnicity , but culture also includes social relations , political systems , economic activities , and more . As a result , Canadian culture is often generalized in textbooks as speaking ( with French dominant in ) Christian ( mostly Catholic and Protestant ) with a parliamentary system , and a mostly economy . However , this is a short list , yet a very broad summary . A similarly incomplete parallel would be characterizing the United States simply as , Christian , democratic , and economically . Therefore , let go beyond a cursory summary to examine a few geographic aspects of Canada culture in relation to the United States . As defined here or elsewhere , ethnicity is strongly related to culture , but the basis of ethnicity is belonging to a group , sharing its culture or , and identifying with it . Members of large populations may share many aspects of culture , but smaller groups within the whole will have different histories and ( migrants ) and therefore claim a more specific identity . Canada has a population of nearly 38 million people , placing it among countries of the world , according to 478

NORTH AMERICA CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY III 479 . Canada is very slightly behind Poland in these numbers . Poland is the size of New Mexico in area and is 98 Polish in ethnicity . In contrast to Poland , Canada has roughly the area of the whole United States . Unlike Poland , but similar to the United States , Canada features many ethnic groups . Some ethnicities there connect with the original French and British colonists and with later migrations of European peoples . Others are native peoples and First Nations . There are smaller distinctive ethnic migrant groups like the ( from Russia ) Statistics Canada now recognizes over 250 ethnic groups across the country . Whereas we might be able to summarize the 38 million people of Poland into a somewhat cohesive group , it is difficult to do that for Canada . With a land area the size of the United States that stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean as does the USA , Canada features a diverse set of physical landscapes . Naturally , these landscapes affect the socioeconomic elements of those locations . Saying that Canadians are sort of like Americans is a very broad statement about both populations . It will be occasionally correct , but often incorrect . Instead , it is safer to contend that people of British Columbia are similar to the people of Washington state . These are adjacent regions with similar climates . Asian populations tally as the largest minority populations in both regions . Also , Nova Scotia or New Brunswick may be compared to Maine as neighboring regions small , forested , coastal lands each with modest populations somewhat near one million people . Canada . Photo by Devon Hawkins on .

480 JOEL QUAM AND SCOTT CAMPBELL Here are three key factors that bring Americans and Canadians together . One , geographically , ninety percent of Canadians live within 150 miles of the border with the United States . As we know from First Law of Geography Everything is related to everything else , but near things are more related than distant things , certainly there will be characteristics that Canadians share with Americans and there will be ways that the two countries interact . One example can be seen in this striking map of British Columbia into areas of Two , these connections are aided by the longest international land border in the world . Furthermore , the border is a friendly border with few and minor conflicts . Length and cooperation make it easy for trade and travel between the two countries . In fact , the United States exports more goods ( measured by ) to Canada than it does to any other country in the world . Over half of Canada exports go to the USA . The United States provides 80 of all foreign visitors to Canada , while Canadians are over 25 of travelers visiting America that ranks also . Three , both official languages of Canada are dialects of languages . Most importantly for the American connection , over 85 of Canadians speak English . Canadian French ( in ) developed from 1760 French ( after which the British conquered Canada ) and has different , contractions ,

NORTH AMERICA CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY 481 and English ( than Parisian French does . Canadian English is sometimes spelled like British English , sometimes like American English the same holds true for pronunciation and vocabulary , although there are also . For example , Canadians use British words such as loo and porridge American words such as and gas and their own words such as particular knitted winter caps , es dollar coins that have a loon pictured on one side , and electoral districts . Thus , it is not surprising that America and Canada share many interests , while having their own differences . Now on the very broad topic of popular culture , let make three more observations . Created by nom Noun Geography clearly has influenced sports in Canada . Hockey makes sense in a cold outdoorsy setting . Canadian James is considered as the father of indoor hockey , organizing an official match indoors in 1875 . By law , the country has two declared national sports ice hockey in winter and lacrosse in summer . Canada has its own variation ofAmerican football . The Raptors won the 2019 NBA championship . Curling is less well known , but along with is part of Canada winter sports culture . Canadian television and radio are supported by the government . In part , the Canadian and Telecommunications Commission ( ensures Canadian content , but still there is tremendous overlap with American popular . The streaming content of the contemporary world crosses borders easily , so that American shows are seen in Canada , while Canadian series may be viewed in America . and Vancouver are vibrant sites for movie and television production and filming . Canadian actors and actresses are common in the US , often to the ignorance of American viewers who perceive the performers as being American .

482 JOEL QUAM AND SCOTT CAMPBELL A particularly geographic show on Canadian television was The Border , which highlighted international issues . Of course , the ( show ( referred to the border thus , plots often presented contrasting American and Canadian 23 viewpoints and strategies . Naturally , the show featured a Canadian ' I cast , though a Homeland Security agent liaising with Canadian ' authorities was played by American actress Sofia . The Border can be streamed free on Amazon Prime . Americans in Canada will not find huge differences in cuisine yet , some foods are distinctly Canadian . In 2013 , The Canada listed poutine ( French fries slathered in gravy and cheese curds ) first in its article on fifty of the most Canadian foods . Globe and Mail restaurant critic Dan states , Our country most iconic dish internationally is , by Actress Sofia . far the poutine Drawing by Michelle . However poutine in Canada is not dished up in a geographically even manner , as the food is more common in eastern regions . Having originated in province , poutine is an element of culture , so that its spatial diffusion has occurred from that eastern Canadian region . Did You Know ?

Canadians are nicer than Americans . Well , at least on Twitter , a research study suggests . tweets were compiled to create word clouds of the most commonly used words in these social media comments . The American word cloud showed more words blurred out , meaning that these were offensive words . Equality , equity , and social justice were the top three Canadian values according to a Research survey in 2016 . Politeness , informality , and tolerance are also listed in various magazine articles and news stories as being very Canadian . The acronym ( for Peace , Order , and Good Government ) has been shorthand for Canadian values ever since the British North American Act of 1867 that established Canada . Unlike the US , Canada did not revolt from the United Kingdom , but legally separated from it and did not claim the need for life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness . The last letter in the English language is . In Canadian English this letter is known as zed . That may seem strange to Americans however , across the world in various forms of the English language that last letter is zed . American English is the oddball case , calling that letter zee . The amount exported in dollars by the United States to Canada is equivalent to the amount exported to all the European Union countries combined . Actor William is a Canadian , but his most famous character is Star Trek Kirk , who was born in Iowa . The second longest international land border in the world is between Russia and . Poutine . Photo by on .

NORTH AMERICA CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY III 483 In 2014 suggested that mores are the most American food . CITED AND ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY Childers , Liz . 2014 . Ranking the 50 Most American Foods . June 30 , Dan . 2019 . Where to Eat Poutine around the World . Eat 11 , Michelle . 2016 . Exploring Canadian Values . Sarah . 2016 . Finally ! Science Proves That Canadians Are Way More Polite than Americans . Vox . January , National Sports of Canada Act . 1994 . Vol . Patel , 2013 . Canadian Food The Most Canadian Foods Include Bacon , Poutine And Maple Syrup . Canada . Canada . March 18 , food . Pearson , Steve . 2009 . History of Ice Hockey From Early Beginnings to Current . 2017 . Poutine . Generic (