The Sense of Place

A sense of place involves a psychological bond

between people and their location. These stem
from the physical landscape of the area, human
activities, and institutional bodies.

It recognizes that collective experiences have led to

shared aspirations, concerns, goals, and values.
Strong sense of place in Canada are particularly
evident in Atlantic Canada and the prairies.
 The 6 Regions of Canada
- Territorial North

- British Columbia

- Western Canada (Prairie Provinces)

- Ontario

- Quebec

- Atlantic Canada
The 6 Regions of Canada

Figure 1.2
 The 6 Regions of Canada
Why have these areas been defined as regions?

1. They are manageable sections.

2. They are identifiable by a set of physical features.

3. Breakdown is on a provincial basis, makes it easier
to study
4. These regions are commonly identified by the
media
Characteristics of the 6 Regions

Table 1.1
Proportion of Regional Population

Figure 1.3
 The Core/Periphery Model
This model describes interaction among regions and
is evident in Canada.
It is also referred to as the heartland/hinterland
model. It is based on a theory that capitalist
economic result in regional uneven development.
 The Core/Periphery Model
This is a concept where both parts are dependent
on each other but the core (industrial heartland)
dominates the economic relationship with its
periphery (resource hinterland).
In Canada the core is considered to be southern
Ontario and southern Quebec. All other areas in the
country make up the periphery.
B.C. and the prairie provinces are considered to be
upward transitional regions. Atlantic Canada is a
downward transition region. The Territorial North is
a resource frontier.
 Characteristics of Cores
- receive raw materials from the periphery

- manufacturing is a common industry

- Geographically small
- Diverse economy
- Urban and densely populated
- Home to headquarters
 Characteristics of Peripheries
- purchase finished goods from the core
- Resource based economy
- Large geographic regions
- Rural and sparse
 The Core/Periphery Model
In general, as one moves from a core toward a
periphery:
- population decreases
- median income increases
- unemployment increases
Theories on the Core/Periphery Model
1. Regional Exploitation Theory
- The wealth core exploits the natural wealth of the
periphery leaving it impoverished.

2. Modernization Theory
- The core invests in the periphery and helps it to
develop
- In the form of equalized payments
 Sub-Cores in Canada
At a smaller scale than cores, there is evidence of
sub-cores existing in Canada:
- Vancouver/Victoria
- Edmonton/Calgary
- Halifax
 The Staples Thesis
How did Canada’s core become the core?
The staples thesis is a proposed explanation

What is a ‘staple’ product?

A natural resource that can be exploited relatively
quickly and cheaply for profit.

Ex: forestry, fishing, hunting (fur)

 The Staples Thesis
The regional economic history of Canada was linked
to the discovery, utilization, and export of staple
resources in Canada’s vast frontier.

It was expected that eventually economic

diversification would take place, making peripheral
regions less reliant on primary resources.

The thesis was proposed by Harold Innis in the

early 1930s
 The Staples Thesis
Atlantic Canada was the first region to be settled and
in its early history it was a periphery to England.
Overtime there has been an east to west progression
of staples across the country
 Progression of Canada’s Staples
1. Fish (east)
This was the earliest staple product.

2. Furs (east west)

3. Timber (east to west)
4. Agriculture (Ontario to west)
5. Oil (west)
 Economic Linkages for Growth
Three types of economic linkages are necessary for
economic growth and job creation:

Backward linkage: Supplies for the staple industry

(e.g. saws and tools for the forest industry).

Forward linkage: Local processing before export

(e.g. squaring timber before shipment)

Final demand linkage: Service the need of workers

and families (general stores, schools, etc.)
 The National Policy
The National Policy (1879) contributed to the core
of Canada being located where it is today.

This policy created a Canada-wide market for

Canadian goods.

How?
Through the implementation of tariffs and restricted
trade on foreign goods.
Implications of the National Policy
- It prevented Canadians from purchasing cheaper
good from the U.S.

- it favoured further economic and manufacturing

growth in Ontario and Quebec since this is where
transportation costs were minimized

- it had a negative impact in the west because they

had to purchase expensive goods from Canada’s
core but they were selling staple goods to the U.S.
at low prices; the U.S. also had its own tariffs
 The Canada – U.S. Free Trade
Agreement
The agreement was signed in 1988.

It helped peripheries by providing cheaper products

to purchase and also providing a larger market for
their staple products.
However, many companies began integrating major
plants and feeder factories in general location (the
U.S. and Canada manufacturing core). It was
superseded by NAFTA in 1994 when mexico joined
the agreement.
 Canada – U.S. Free Trade
Windsor-Detroit
Tunnel

Photo 1.4

Ambassador Bridge (Windsor) Bluewater Bridge (Sarnia)

The Thickening Canada - U.S. Border
This has been an ongoing concern since Sep. 11, 2001.

Auto manufacturing assembly plants in southern

Ontario need easy access to the U.S. market.
Citizens of one country are now required to show
passports when crossing into other countries by either
land or air.
This has led to a decline in tourism especially in border
cities (Niagara Falls)
The Thickening Canada - U.S. Border
The U.S. federal government favours a North
American security perimeter that includes a
common position on immigration, military, and
trade policies.
These are thought to potentially reduce the chances
of terrorist attacks.
 Canada in the Global World
There is a core/periphery on a global scale where
North America and Europe make up the core.

A third area called a “semi-periphery” is evident in

Asia where there is strong economic growth.
Diversification of trade is a top priority for Canada
to take advantage of the growth in Asia. The U.S.
will likely always remain Canada’s, principle market
 Physical Geography
Definition: The study of earths natural features

In our study of the physical geography of Canada,

we will define 5 different categories:
- Geology
- Physiography
- Climate
- Vegetation
- soil
 Geology of Canada
Three major rock types:

Igneous rock: Molten rock that emerged onto

earth’s surface and cooled. It is hard, resists
erosion and often contains minerals

Sedimentary rock:
Layered rock composed of materials that have been
affected by wind and weathering. (prairies)
 Geology of Canada
Sedimentary rocks are usually flat and horizontal.
Weathering is the breakdown of the rock and
erosion is the movement of the broken material.
Sediments are cemented together by pressure and
do not generally contain minerals fossil fuels are
sometimes found in these rock types
 Geology of Canada
Metamorphic rock:
Pre-existing rocks that change form by the process
of extreme heat and pressure. They sometimes
contain minerals. Limestone is a sedimentary rock;
the metamorphic rock of limestone is marble
 Major Geologic Elements of Canada
Canadian Shield

It is composed of ancient igneous, resistant rock.

This is the oldest rock in North America. It extends
from the North West territories through the northern
prairie provinces , northern Quebec and Labrador.
 Major Geologic Elements of Canada
Platform Rock

These rocks underlay the Interior Plains of the

continent (from the Northwest Territories to Texas).
They are mainly sedimentary and contain large areas
of oil and natural gas.
 Major Geologic Elements of Canada
Folded Mountains
Folding is caused by the movement of tectonic plates.
It can cause sedimentary rocks to change into
metamorphic rocks. There are three major
mountainous areas in Canada.
 Mountains in Canada
Appalachian Mountains
Found in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, they are
relatively old, relatively low, well eroded and
covered with vegetation.
 Mountains in Canada
Innuitian Mountains
Found in Northern Nunavut, they are jagged but
somewhat eroded, mostly inaccessible mountains
 Mountains in Canada
Cordillera
Major ranges include the Rocky Mountains and Coast
Mountains. They are the youngest mountains in
Canada, the highest, most jagged, and have
permanently snow capped tops
 Physiographic Regions
A physiographic region is a large area of Earth’s
crust that has common characteristics:

- it extends over a large area with similar

topographic features
- Its landforms have been shaped by a common
set of geologic processes
 Physiographic Regions of Canada
Canada has 7 physiographic regions:

- Canadian Shield
- Cordillera
- Interior Plains
- Hudson Bay Lowlands
- Arctic Archipelago
- Appalachian Uplands
- Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands
Physiographic Regions of Canada

Figure 2.1
 Canadian Shield
It extends over half of the country’s
land mass.

Rock-like surface consists mainly of

rugged land.

During the last ice advance, surfaces were

subjected to glacial erosion and deposition. It
contains a wealth of varied mineral resources.
 Cordillera
A complex region of mountains,
plateaus, and valleys.

North-south alignment extends

from Yukon to southern British
Columbia.
The rocky mountains are the
best known and tallest of the
mountain ranges.

Photo 2.4
 Interior Plains
This region was once covered by shallow inland
seas where sediments eventually formed
sedimentary rock.
The deep wide river valleys are a unique feature
 Hudson Bay Lowlands
This region has many bogs and contains muskeg
(poorly drained soil).
Permafrost is wide spread

Photo 2.6
 Arctic Archipelago
A complex area of coastal plains, plateaus, and
mountains that lie north of the Arctic Circle.

The northern part of this region is permanently

covered in snow and ice while the southern part
contains tundra.
This region is underplayed by continuous
permafrost making tree growth impossible

Photo 2.2
 Appalachian Uplands
This is an area with a rugged and rocky environment
(Newfoundland) and old rounded mountains (New
Brunswick).

Photo 2.8
Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands
This region is generally flat with rolling hills. The
soil is very fertile and well suited for agriculture and
a variety of crops.

Photo 2.9
 Glaciation
Glaciation was a major shaping force in Canada.

All of Canada (except for northern Yukon) was covered

by ice sheets just 18,000 years ago.
18000 year age (coldest of the cold after it begins to
melt)
The advance and retreat of ice greatly impacts the
appearance of the landscape
Yukon- no ice, wasn’t enough snow to compact together
to form ice sheets
Hudson bay- ice was up to 3km thick
Glaciation

Figure 2.2
 Types of Glaciers
Continental Glaciers

Thick sheets of ice that cover entire continents.

Today the only continental glaciers on earth are in
Greenland and Antarctica where ice is up to 3km
thick
 Types of Glaciers
Alpine Glaciers

Glaciers that are found in mountainous regions.

A glacier can develop when slopes accumulate with
snow that compacts into ice over long periods of
time.
Alpine Glacial Landscapes
Alpine Postglacial Landscapes
 Pleistocene Glaciation

18,000 years ago

9500 years ago
Evolution of the Great Lakes
 Former Lake Agassiz

This was a large lake in

what is now Manitoba
and northern Ontario.
It was formed from the
melting of the
continental ice sheet.
 Components of Climate
Weather refers to the current state of the atmosphere.

Climate describes average weather conditions for a

specific place over a long period of time.

There are two major components of climate:

1. Temperature

2. Precipitation – these components vary greatly

across the country as a result of 7 major climate
controls
 Climatic Controls
1. Latitude: lower latitudes, more solar radiation
impacts the surface.

2. Altitude: higher elevation experience cooler

temperatures

3. Proximity to Bodies of Water: water keeps

nearby land areas warmer in autumn and cooler in
spring
4. Ocean Currents: currents transport warm or cold
water depending on the source of the currnet
 Climatic Controls
5. Variations in Topography: cold air is dense and
heavy tends to sink into valleys

6. Prevailing Wind: Some wind systems cause rapid

temperature changes (e.g. chinook wind)(Calgary,
southern Alberta)

7. Locations of Pressure Systems: relates to the

position of warm front and cold fronts
Effects of Latitude
 Effects of Altitude
Temperature decreases with increasing altitude.
There are fewer air molecules at high elevations.
This allows heat to move easily, escape into space
 Climatic Zones
Canada has 7 climatic zones:
- Pacific
- Cordillera
- Prairies
- Great Lakes - St. Lawrence
- Atlantic
- Subarctic
- Arctic
Climatic Zones in Canada

Figure 2.4
 Temperature Across Canada
Temperatures in Canada are primarily controlled by
latitude.
Moderation is evident along both coasts (especially
the pacific coast due to prevailing westerly winds)
and to a lesser extent around the great lakes.
 Temperatures Across Canada

Mean January Temp. Figure 2.5

Mean July Temp. Figure 2.6

 Physical Effects of Temperature
Temperature dictates the type of predominant
vegetation in an area.
 Physical Effects of Temperature
Temperature dictates the length of the growing
season in an area. Victoria longest growing season
Winter Satellite Imagery

Photo 2.10
 Precipitation Across Canada
The Prairies and the North are relatively dry (especially
in winter).
The west coast is very wet due to orographic
precipitation.
Convective precipitation occurs in the prairies and
Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Lowlands during summer.
Orographic Precipitation:
Precipitation caused by air rising up a mountain
Convective: Thunderstorms caused by air rising off hot
ground or by cold fronts.
Lake effect snow is common in parts of southern
Ontario
Desert: area that receives less than 250mm of
precipitation annually
Precipitation Across Canada

Figure 2.7