Canada 101 Presented by Don Alper, Program Director and Tina Storer, Program Coordinator STUDY CANADA Summer Institute for K-12 Educators Ottawa, ON -

Canada 101Canada 101

Presented by

Don Alper, Program Directorand

Tina Storer, Program Coordinator

STUDY CANADA Summer Institute for K-12 Educators

Ottawa, ON - July 2, 2012

What do students know about Canada?What do students know about Canada?

North North HockeyHockey Polar bears/igloosPolar bears/igloos Long cold wintersLong cold winters Maple LeafMaple Leaf Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables TotemsTotems

What does it mean to be Canadian? What does it mean to be Canadian?

“ “I am Canadian” CommercialI am Canadian” Commercial

Some of these faces may be familiar…Some of these faces may be familiar…

……and popular culture may be recognizable and popular culture may be recognizable (or not)(or not)

The Basics: National SymbolsThe Basics: National Symbols

National Animal?National Animal?

National Anthem?National Anthem?

National Sport?National Sport?

National Flag?National Flag?

National Crest?National Crest?

National Language(s)?National Language(s)?

Oh Canada!

Hello! / Bonjour!Hello! / Bonjour!

The Basics: GeographyThe Basics: Geography

22ndnd largest country largest country (after Russia)(after Russia) Canada is larger than the US by the size of TexasCanada is larger than the US by the size of Texas

Total population approx. 33.5 million Total population approx. 33.5 million Canada has 1/10Canada has 1/10thth the US population–approx. 300 million) the US population–approx. 300 million)

10 Provinces, 3 Territories10 Provinces, 3 TerritoriesNational Capital: OttawaNational Capital: OttawaLike US states, each province/territory has its own Like US states, each province/territory has its own capital as well.capital as well.

Just how big is Canada?Just how big is Canada?

World map

Victoria to St. John’s = St. John’s to Moscow

Toronto to Ellesmere Is. = Toronto to Bogotá, Colombia

BIG!…and it has six time zones.BIG!…and it has six time zones.

10 Provinces and 3 Territories10 Provinces and 3 Territories

The Basics: Our Shared PastThe Basics: Our Shared Past First PeoplesFirst Peoples

European Exploration and SettlementEuropean Exploration and Settlement

Colonial PastColonial Past

Modern Nations of ImmigrantsModern Nations of Immigrants

Long-standing and Strong Economic TiesLong-standing and Strong Economic Ties

Social Connections – Similar Values and CulturesSocial Connections – Similar Values and Cultures

Nations shaped by War Nations shaped by War (American Revolution, War of 1812 and (American Revolution, War of 1812 and American Civil War)American Civil War)

Defense Partners Defense Partners (NORAD, NATO, WW I & II, Korea, Afghanistan)(NORAD, NATO, WW I & II, Korea, Afghanistan)

Unique border security cooperation & joint law enforcementUnique border security cooperation & joint law enforcement

and Shared Issues Todayand Shared Issues Today

The Basics: GovernmentThe Basics: Government

BothBoth Canada and the US… Canada and the US…

are democracies;are democracies;

have a written Constitution;have a written Constitution;

have a Senate; and…have a Senate; and…

Canadian ParliamentUS Congress

have a Head of Government who have a Head of Government who

appoints members to his Cabinetappoints members to his Cabinet (Secretary of Defense / Minister of Defense)(Secretary of Defense / Minister of Defense)

have a Head of Government who have a Head of Government who

appoints members to his Cabinetappoints members to his Cabinet (Secretary of Defense / Minister of Defense)(Secretary of Defense / Minister of Defense)

President Prime Minister Barack Obama Stephen Harper

BUTBUT… …

Canada is also very different because it...Canada is also very different because it...is a Constitutional Monarchy;is a Constitutional Monarchy;

Is a member of the British Commonwealth;Is a member of the British Commonwealth;

has a Parliamentary form of government;has a Parliamentary form of government;

has the Queen as Head of State has the Queen as Head of State ((notnot Prime Minister); Prime Minister);

has a Governor General who represents the Queen. has a Governor General who represents the Queen.

Her Majesty, the Queen, Elizabeth II

Also, Canadians vote for political parties in Also, Canadians vote for political parties in elections, not for the Prime Minister (“P.M.”).elections, not for the Prime Minister (“P.M.”).

Support for Teaching/Learning MoreSupport for Teaching/Learning More

Two US Department of Education-designated Two US Department of Education-designated National Resource Centers on Canada in the USNational Resource Centers on Canada in the US

offer K-12 education outreach support:offer K-12 education outreach support:

1) Pacific Northwest NRC 1) Pacific Northwest NRC (WWU and U Washington)(WWU and U Washington)

2) Northeast NRC 2) Northeast NRC (U Maine and SUNY Plattsburgh)(U Maine and SUNY Plattsburgh)

Note: “STUDY CANADA” also benefits from an annual Embassy of Canada Grant (DFAIT, Education Section). Also appreciated are partnerships with the US Embassy in Ottawa, the US Consulate General in Montréal, the Government of Québec, the Université du Québec à Montréal, the Canada-America Society of Washington, Harper Collins Publishers and all exhibitors at the STUDY CANADA Resource Fair.

As do Consulates of Canada across the US….As do Consulates of Canada across the US….

There is There is soso much more you will learn this week much more you will learn this week..

Feel free to add to this PowerPoint, as needed, Feel free to add to this PowerPoint, as needed, for your own classroom use.for your own classroom use.

Please let us know your questions/concerns Please let us know your questions/concerns as your knowledge of Canada grows.as your knowledge of Canada grows.

Thank you for your interest in teaching Canada. Thank you for your interest in teaching Canada. Merci!Merci!