Portal:Canada/Featured article archive

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[edit] November 22, 2006

Vancouver (pronounced: [vænˈkuːvɚ]) is a city in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The city is named after Captain George Vancouver, an English explorer. Vancouver is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District metropolitan area. With a population of 2,208,300 (2005 estimate), it is the largest metropolitan area in western Canada and the third largest in the country. Vancouver has a very ethnically diverse population: more than half of its residents have a mother tongue other than English. The 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver and nearby Whistler.

The city is located between the Strait of Georgia and the Coast Mountains. Its economy has traditionally relied on British Columbia's resource sectors: forestry, mining, fishing and agriculture. It was first settled in the 1860s as a result of immigration caused by the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, and developed rapidly from a small lumber mill town into a metropolitan centre following the arrival of the transcontinental railway in 1887. The Port of Vancouver became internationally significant after the completion of the Panama Canal and reduced freight rates in the 1920s made it viable to ship export-bound prairie grain west through Vancouver. It has since become the busiest seaport in Canada and exports more cargo than any other port in North America. The economy of Vancouver has become more diverse over time, however. Vancouver has a growing tourism industry, for example, and has become the third largest film production centre in North America, after Los Angeles and New York. (Read More...)

[edit] October 15, 2006

Banff National Park is Canada's first national park, established in 1885, in the Canadian Rockies. The park, located 120 kilometres west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses 6,641 square kilometres of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and icefields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes. The Icefields Parkway extends from Lake Louise, connecting to Jasper National Park in the north. Provincial forests and Yoho National Park are neighbours to the west, while Kootenay National Park is located to the south, and Kananaskis Country to the southeast. The main commercial centre of the park is the town of Banff, in the Bow River valley. Millions more pass through the park on the Trans-Canada Highway. As one of the world's most visited national parks, the health of Banff's ecosystem has been threatened. In the mid-1990s, Parks Canada responded by initiating a two-year study, which resulted in management recommendations, and new policies that aim to preserve ecological integrity. (more...)

[edit] October 18, 2006

The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25, 1993. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the Canadian House of Commons at that time. It was one of the most eventful elections in Canadian history, with more than half of the electorate switching parties from the 1988 election.

The election was called by new Progressive Conservative Party leader Kim Campbell, near the end of her party's five-year mandate. Despite an unpopular legacy from the Brian Mulroney years, Conservative support had recovered in the lead-up to the election, and was near the rival Liberals when the writs were dropped. However, this momentum did not last, and the Conservatives suffered the worst defeat in Canadian history—and one of the biggest defeats ever in a free, fair and democratic election. The PCs lost more than half their vote from 1988 and were reduced to only two seats.

[edit] October 23, 2005

The Governor General of Canada is Canada's defacto head of state as the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, since Canada is a constitutional monarchy. Although primarily a ceremonial role, she plays a critical role with the current minority government of Stephen Harper. The Governor General's role is almost always limited to ceremonial and non-partisan functions.

[edit] July 18, 2005

The Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian honour, awarded to those who adhere to the Order's motto Desiderantes meliorem patriam meaning "desiring a better country." Created in 1967, it was established to recognize the lifetime contributions made by Canadians who made a major difference to Canada. The Order also recognizes efforts made by non-Canadians who made the world better by their actions. Musicians, politicians, artists, TV stars and benefactors and many more have been accepted into the Order. The Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II, is Sovereign of the Order and the serving Governor General of Canada is its Chancellor and Principal Companion. Since 1967, 5053 people have been appointed to the Order of Canada.

[edit] June 23, 2005

Yukon or Yukon Territory or (usually) The Yukon is one of Canada's northern territories, in the country's extreme northwest. It has a population of about 31,000, and its capital is Whitehorse, with a population of 19,000. People from Yukon are known as Yukoners.

[edit] February 14, 2005

Niagara Falls is a group of massive waterfalls located on the Niagara River in eastern North America, on the border between the United States and Canada. The Falls comprises three separate waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls (sometimes called Canadian Falls); American Falls; and the smaller, adjacent Bridal Veil Falls. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide, and is by far the most voluminous waterfall in North America. Since its first sighting by European settlers, Niagara Falls has become widely known not just for its beauty, but also as a source of hydroelectric power and as a challenging project for environmental preservation. A popular tourist site for over a century, the Falls are shared between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario.

[edit] February 13, 2005

The Parliament of Canada is Canada's legislative branch, seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. According to section 17 of the Constitution Act, 1867, Parliament consists of three components: the Sovereign, the Senate, and the House of Commons. The Sovereign is normally represented by the Governor General, who appoints the 105 members of the Senate on the advice of the Prime Minister. The 308 members of the House of Commons are directly elected by the people, with each member representing a single electoral district (or riding). The democratically elected "Lower House", the House of Commons, is the dominant branch of the Canadian Parliament. The "Upper House", the Senate, rarely opposes the will of the other Chamber, and the duties of the Sovereign and Governor General are purely ceremonial. The Prime Minister and Cabinet must retain the support of a majority of Members of the Lower House in order to remain in office; they need not have the confidence of the Upper House.