Portal:Canada/Selected article

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Portal:Canada/Selected article/1

Vancouver

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.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/2

Canadian National Parks

Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park, established in 1885, in the Canadian Rockies. The park, located 120 kilometres (80 mi) west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, encompasses 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 sq mi)[1] of mountainous terrain, with numerous glaciers and ice fields, 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.

The Canadian Pacific Railway was instrumental in Banff's early years, building the Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise, and attracting tourists through extensive advertising. In the early 20th century, roads were built in Banff, at times by war internees, and through Great Depression-era public works projects. Since the 1960s, park accommodations have been open all year, with annual tourism visits to Banff increasing to over 5 million in the 1990s.[2] Millions more pass through the park on the Trans-Canada Highway.[3] As Banff is one of the world's most visited national parks,[4] the health of its 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/3

Location Canada

Canada (IPA: /kæn.ə.də/) is a federal country composed of ten provinces and three territories. Occupying most of northern North America, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Canada shares land borders with the United States to the south and northwest. By total area, it is the second largest country in the world.[1]

The lands have been inhabited for millennia by aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French expeditions explored and later settled the Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763 after the Seven Years War. In 1867, Canada was formed through an act of union of three British North American colonies. A gradual process of independence from the United Kingdom culminated in the Canada Act 1982, severing the last vestiges of dependence on the British parliament; the country remains a Commonwealth Realm.

Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. With both English and French as official languages at the federal level, Canada is a bilingual and multicultural country. A technologically advanced and industrialized nation, Canada maintains a diversified economy that is heavily reliant upon its abundant natural resources and upon trade—particularly with the United States, with which Canada has had a long and complex relationship.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/4

Parliament of Canada The House of Commons is the lower, directly elected house of the Canadian Parliament

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.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/5

Niagara Falls The Horseshoe Falls, one of the three Niagara Falls

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.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/6

Viscount Monck, the first Governor General of Canada, 1867–1868

The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneure générale du Canada or Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative in Canada of the Canadian Monarch, who is the Head of State; Canada is one of sixteen Commonwealth Realms, all of which share the same person as their respective monarch (currently, Queen Elizabeth II). The 1904 Militia Act granted the Governor General permission to use the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian military, in the name of the Sovereign.[2] The correct title today is, "Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada."

The current constitution of the Office of Governor General is laid out by Letters Patent of King George VI issued in 1947.[3] By the Constitution Act, 1982, any constitutional amendment that affects the Crown, including the Office of Governor General, requires the unanimous consent of the provincial legislatures as well as the federal parliament, rather than the two-thirds majority necessary for most other amendments.

The Monarch appoints the governor general on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. There is no specific term, but by convention the governor general usually serves for approximately five years. Also by convention, the position tends to alternate between the anglophone and francophone communities. In each Canadian province, a Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the governor general, serves as the viceroy.

The present Governor General of Canada is Michaëlle Jean, who has served since 27 September 2005. She was appointed on the advice of former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin to replace Adrienne Clarkson. Jean is Canada's third female, second non-Caucasian, and first black governor general. The Vice-Regal Consort is Jean's husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/7

Canadian federal election, 1993

The Canadian federal election of 1993 (officially, the 35th general election) was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time. It was one of the most eventful elections in Canada's history, with more than half of the electorate switching parties from the 1988 election.

The election was called by the new Progressive Conservative Party leader, Prime Minister Kim Campbell, near the end of her party's five-year mandate. Conservative support had recovered in the lead-up to the election, and was near that of the rival Liberals when the writs were issued. However, this momentum did not last, and the Conservatives suffered the most lopsided defeat for a governing party at the federal level, losing half their vote from 1988 and all but two of their 151 seats. Though they recovered slightly in subsequent elections, the Progressive Conservatives would never be a major force in Canadian politics again. In 2003, the Progressive Conservative Party disappeared entirely when it merged with the larger Canadian Alliance party to create the new Conservative Party of Canada.

Two new parties emerged in this election, largely from the supporters of the Progressive Conservatives. The sovereigntist Bloc Québécois won almost half the votes in Quebec and became the Official Opposition, while the Western-based Reform Party won nearly as many seats. The Bloc Québécois had been founded only three years before and was competing in its first election, while the Reform was considered a fringe movement in the 1988 election.

The Liberals, led by Jean Chrétien, won a strong majority in the House and formed the next government of Canada. The traditional third party, the New Democratic Party, collapsed to nine seats only one election after having its best performance ever.

Voter turn-out: 70.9 (adjusted from initial tallies of 69.6% to account for deceased electors).

Portal:Canada/Selected article/8 The Montreal Canadiens (French: Canadiens de Montréal) are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The franchise is officially known as Le Club de Hockey Canadien. Other French nicknames for the team include Le Canadien, Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, La Sainte-Flanelle, Le Tricolore, Les Glorieux, Les Habitants and Le Grand Club. In English, the main nickname is the Habs (coming from "Les Habitants"). The (Calgary Flames) are also a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta Canada. they are much better than the montreal canadians.

Founded in 1909, eight years before the founding of the NHL, the Canadiens are the oldest continuously operating club in the league.[4] They are one of the teams known as the 'Original Six', the teams of the NHL, before the 1967 expansion. They have won more Stanley Cups (24, the first in 1916, before the NHL existed) than any other NHL team; the Toronto Maple Leafs have the second most with a total of 13.[5] On a percentage basis, as of 2006, this makes them the third most historically successful major pro sports team in North America, having won 23.1% of all NHL Stanley Cup championships. Only the Boston Celtics of the NBA (26.7%) and the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (25.5%) have higher success rates.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/9

Chetwynd, British Columbia

The District of Chetwynd (IPA: ['tʃɛtwɪnd]) is a small town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. The 64.32 square kilometres (24.83 sq mi) municipality is home to approximately 2,866 residents and consists of the town, a community forest, and four satellite properties. The town — once known as "Little Prairie" — adopted its current name in honour of provincial politician Ralph L.T. Chetwynd just prior to its incorporation in 1962.

As symbolized in its coat of arms, Chetwynd is situated at an ancient floodplain at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and acts as the gateway to the Peace River area to the east. The town developed during the construction of infrastructure through the Rocky Mountains in the 1950s and, today, its economy is dominated by primary industries such as forestry, natural gas extraction, agriculture and transportation.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/10

The Senate Chamber of Parliament Hill in Ottawa

The Senate of Canada (French: Le Sénat du Canada) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the House of Commons. The Senate and the House of Commons sit in separate chambers on Parliament Hill, which is located in Ottawa, Ontario.

The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Seats are assigned on a regional basis, with each region receiving twenty-four seats. The regions are: Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and the Western provinces. The seats for Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut are assigned apart from these regional divisions. Senators serve until they reach the age of seventy-five.

The Senate is referred to as the "upper house" of Parliament, and the House of Commons is sometimes referred to as the "lower house." This does not, however, imply the Senate is more powerful than the House of Commons, merely that its members and officers outrank the members and officers of the House of Commons in the order of precedence for the purposes of protocol. Indeed, as a matter of practice and custom, the Commons is by far the dominant chamber and is more intimately referred to as "the other place." Although the approval of both Houses is necessary for legislation, the Senate rarely rejects bills passed by the directly elected Commons. Moreover, the government is responsible solely to the House of Commons; the Prime Minister and Cabinet stay in office only as long as he or she retains the support of the lower house. The Senate does not exercise any such control. Although legislation can normally be introduced in either house, the majority of government bills originate in the House of Commons. Under the constitution, money bills must always originate in the lower house.

The chamber in which the Senate sits is sometimes called the red chamber, due to the red cloth that adorns the chamber (and notably, the Throne); it is a contrast to the green used in the House of Commons. This is inherited from the British Houses of Parliament, where the Lords chamber is a lavish room with red benches, whereas the Commons chamber is a sparsely-decorated room with green benches.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/11 The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. When the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001, the Raptors became the only Canadian team in the NBA. They originally played their home games in the SkyDome, before moving to the Air Canada Centre (ACC) in 1999.

Like most expansion teams, the Raptors struggled in their early years. In time they saw success: following the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft day trade in 1998, the team set league attendance records and made the NBA Playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Carter was instrumental in leading the team to their first playoff series win in 2001, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. During the 2002-03 and 2003-04 NBA seasons, they failed to make significant progress and he was traded in 2004. After Carter left, Chris Bosh emerged as a team leader, but they continued to struggle. However, with the appointment of Bryan Colangelo as General Manager and a revamp of the roster for the 2006-07 NBA season, they qualified for their first playoff berth in five years and captured their first division title.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/12 The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR; AAR reporting marks CP, CPAA, CPI), known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a Canadian Class I railway operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. Its rail network stretches from Vancouver to Montreal, and also serves major cities in the United States such as Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York City. Its headquarters are in Calgary, Alberta.

The railway was originally built between eastern Canada and British Columbia between 1881 and 1885 (connecting with Ottawa Valley and Georgian Bay area lines built earlier), fulfilling a promise extended to British Columbia when it entered Confederation in 1871. It was Canada's first transcontinental railway. Now primarily a freight railway, the CPR was for decades the only practical means of long distance passenger transport in most regions of Canada, and was instrumental in the settlement and development of Western Canada. Its primary passenger services were eliminated in 1986 after being assumed by VIA Rail Canada in 1978. A beaver was chosen as the railway's logo because it is one of the national symbols of Canada and represents the hardworking character of the company. The object of both praise and damnation for over 120 years, the CPR remains an indisputable icon of Canadian nationalism.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/13

Canadian soldiers advancing behind a tank at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, one of Canada's greatest military victories.

The military history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. For thousands of years, the area that would become Canada was the site of sporadic intertribal wars among First Nations peoples. Beginning in the 16th century, the arrival of Europeans led to conflicts with Aboriginal peoples and among the invading Europeans in the New World. Starting in the 17th century, the region was the site of conflicts between the French and the British for more than a century, as each allied with various First Nation groups. In 1763, the British emerged victorious and the French civilians, whom the British hoped to assimilate, were declared "British Subjects". New challenges soon arose when the northern colonies chose not to join the American Revolution and remained loyal to the British crown. The victorious Americans looked to extend their republic and launched invasions in 1775 and in 1812. On both occasions, the Americans were rebuffed by British and local forces; however, this threat would remain well into the 19th century and partially facilitated Canadian Confederation in 1867.

After Confederation, and amid much controversy, a full-fledged Canadian military was created. Canada, however, remained a British colony, and Canadian forces joined their British counterparts in the Second Boer War, and the First World War. While independence followed the Statute of Westminster, Canada's links to Britain remained strong, and the British once again enjoyed Canadian support in the Second World War. Since the Second World War, however, Canada has been committed to multilateralism and has gone to war only within large multinational coalitions such as in the Korean War, the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. Canada has also played an important role in UN peacekeeping operations worldwide and has cumulatively committed more troops than any other country. As of 2006, Canada had the second-highest peacekeeping fatality in the world, behind India.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/14 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (also known as The Charter of Rights and Freedoms or simply The Charter) is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Charter guarantees certain political and civil rights of people in Canada from the policies and actions of all levels of government. It is designed to unify Canadians around a set of principles that embody those rights.

The Charter was preceded by the Canadian Bill of Rights, which was enacted in 1960. However, the Bill of Rights was only a federal statute, rather than a constitutional document. As a federal statute, it was limited in scope, it was easily amendable by Parliament and it had no application to provincial laws. The Supreme Court of Canada also narrowly interpreted the Bill of Rights and the Court was reluctant to declare laws inoperative.[7] The relative ineffectiveness of the Canadian Bill of Rights motivated many to improve rights protections in Canada. The movement for human rights and freedoms that emerged after World War II also wanted to entrench the principles enunciated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.[8] The British Parliament formally enacted the Charter as a part of the Canada Act 1982 at the request of the Parliament of Canada in 1982, the result of the efforts of the Government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

One of the most notable effects of the adoption of the Charter was to greatly expand the scope of judicial review, because the Charter is more explicit with respect to the guarantee of rights and the role of judges in enforcing them than was the Bill of Rights. The courts, when confronted with violations of Charter rights, have struck down unconstitutional federal and provincial statutes and regulations or parts of statutes and regulations, as they did when Canadian case law was primarily concerned with resolving issues of federalism. However, the Charter granted new powers to the courts to enforce remedies that are more creative and to exclude more evidence in trials. These powers are greater than what was typical under the common law and under a system of government that, influenced by Canada's mother country the United Kingdom, was based upon Parliamentary supremacy. As a result, the Charter has attracted both broad support from a majority of the Canadian electorate and criticisms by opponents of increased judicial power. The Charter only applies to government laws and actions (including the laws and actions of federal, provincial, and municipal governments and public school boards), and sometimes to the common law, not to private activity.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/15

Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart of Rush

Rush is a Canadian rock band comprising bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. Rush was formed in the summer of 1968, in the neighbourhood of Willowdale in Toronto, Ontario, by Alex Lifeson, Jeff Jones, and John Rutsey. Geddy Lee replaced Jeff Jones in September 1968. Neil Peart replaced Rutsey on drums in July 1974, two weeks before the group's first U.S. tour, to complete the present line-up. Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in 1974 Rush has become known for the instrumental virtuosity of its members, complex compositions, and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy, and individualist libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian and environmental concerns.

Musically, Rush has changed its style dramatically over the years, beginning in the vein of blues-inspired heavy metal on their eponymous debut to styles encompassing hard rock, progressive rock, a period dominated by synthesizers and, more recently, modern rock. Rush has influenced various modern artists such as Metallica,[9][10] The Smashing Pumpkins[11] and Primus,[11] as well as many notable progressive metal bands such as Dream Theater[9] and Symphony X.[12]

Rush has been awarded several Juno Awards[13] and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994.[14] Over the course of their career, the individual members of Rush have been recognized as some of the most proficient players on their respective instruments with each member winning several awards in magazine readers' polls.[15] As a whole, Rush boasts 23 gold records and 14 platinum (3 multi-platinum) records, making them one of the best-selling rock bands in history. These statistics place Rush fifth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Kiss and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold and platinum albums by a rock band.[16] Rush ranks 76th in U.S. album sales according to the RIAA with sales of 25 million units.[17] Although total worldwide album sales are not calculated by any single entity, as of 2004 several industry sources estimated Rush's total worldwide album sales at over 35 million units.[18][19]

The band is currently promoting their latest album, Snakes & Arrows. An intercontinental concert tour began June 13, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.[20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/16 Superman is a fictional character and regarded as the most influential and popular superhero of DC Comics. Created by Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster and American writer Jerry Siegel in 1932 and sold to Detective Comics, Inc. in 1938, Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1 (June 1938) and subsequently appeared in various radio serials, television programs, films, newspaper strips, and video games. With a premise that taps into adolescent fantasy, Superman is born Kal-El on the alien planet Krypton, before being rocketed to Earth as an infant by his scientist father moments before the planet's destruction. Adopted and raised by a Kansas farmer and his wife, the child is raised as Clark Kent, and imbued with a strong moral compass. Upon reaching maturity the character develops superhuman abilities, resolving to use these for the benefit of humanity. With the success of his adventures, Superman helped to create the superhero genre and establish its primacy within the American comic book.[21] Superman is widely considered to be both one of the most famous and popular comic book superheroes of all time,[22] and an American cultural icon.[21][23][24][25]

While referred to less flatteringly as "the big blue Boy Scout" by some of his fellow superheroes,[26] Superman is hailed as "The Man of Steel," "The Man of Tomorrow," and "The Last Son of Krypton," by the general public within the comics. As Clark Kent, Superman lives among humans as a "mild-mannered reporter" for the Metropolis newspaper The Daily Planet (the Daily Star in original stories). Here he works alongside reporter Lois Lane, with whom he is romantically linked. This relationship has been consummated by marriage on numerous occasions across varying media, and the union is now firmly established within the current mainstream comics continuity.

The character's cast, powers, and trappings have slowly expanded throughout the years. Superman's backstory was altered to allow for adventures as Superboy, and other survivors of Krypton were discovered, including Supergirl and Krypto the Superdog. In addition, Superman has been licensed and adapted into a variety of media, from radio to television and film. The motion picture Superman Returns was released in 2006, with a performance at the international box office which exceeded expectations.[27] The character has been revamped and updated, most recently in 1986. John Byrne recreated the character, reducing Superman's powers and erasing several characters from the canon in a move which attracted media attention. Press coverage was again garnered in the 1990s with The Death of Superman, a storyline which saw the character briefly killed.

Superman has also held fascination for scholars, with cultural theorists, commentators, and critics alike exploring the character's impact and role in America and the wider world. Umberto Eco discussed the mythic qualities of the character in the early 1960s, and Larry Niven has pondered the implications of a sexual relationship the character might enjoy with Lois Lane.[28] The character's ownership has often been the subject of dispute, with Siegel and Shuster twice suing for the return of legal ownership. The copyright is again currently in dispute, with changes in copyright law allowing Siegel's wife and daughter to claim a share of the copyright, a move DC parent company Warner Bros. disputes.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/17

Vancouver SkyTrain

The SkyTrain is a two-line urban mass transit system operating in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It uses Bombardier's Advanced Rapid Transit technology, with fully automated trains running principally on elevated tracks (hence the name). There have been no derailments or collisions in its history.[1] It uses the same linear induction motor-driven trains as the Scarborough RT line in Toronto, the Putra LRT in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Detroit's People Mover, and the JFK AirTrain in New York City.

SkyTrain is operated by British Columbia Rapid Transit Company under contract to TransLink, a regional government transportation agency. It operates on a proof-of-payment fare system and is policed by the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Police Service. Skytrain Attendants (STAs) are present to provide first aid, directions, customer service, inspect fares and they monitor train faults and drive the trains when necessary. TransLink claims to lose about C$6 million in unpaid fares annually, including $3 million from SkyTrain alone.

SkyTrain's 49.5 km (30.8 mi) of track make it the longest automated light rapid transit system in the world. It also uses the longest mass transit-only bridge, the SkyBridge, to cross the Fraser River. There are 33 stations in the system, which carries more than 220,000 people every day on the two lines.[2] The Expo Line was built in time for the Expo 86 World's Fair; the Millennium Line opened in 2002 and further expansions are underway to coincide with the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Construction of the Canada Line began in November 2005. The Evergreen Line, as of 2007, is in its planning stages. The former will be completed in 2009, and the latter in 2011 if funding is approved. The Canada Line will run from downtown Vancouver to Richmond, with a branch to Vancouver International Airport. Evergreen will be a light-rapid-transit line running from Lougheed Town Centre to Coquitlam Town Centre. The system has been the subject of several political, social, and economic controversies.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/18

Alanis Nadine Morissette

Alanis Nadine Morissette (born in Ottawa, 1 June 1974) is a Canadian and naturalized[29] American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She is recognized for creating one of the highest selling albums in the history of the music industry, and has won seven Grammy Awards.

Morissette began her career in Canada, and as a child recorded two dance-pop albums, Alanis and Now Is the Time, under MCA Records. Her international debut album was the rock-influenced Jagged Little Pill. Jagged Little Pill sold thirty million copies, making it the best-selling debut album of all time by a female artist.[30] According to the United World Chart, Jagged Little Pill is the second greatest-selling album of all-time by a female artist, behind only Shania Twain's Come on Over.[citation needed]

Morissette took up producing duties for her subsequent albums, including Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, Under Rug Swept and So-Called Chaos.

Morissette has influenced female singers and singer-songwriters in the 2000s such as Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Branch, Pink and Avril Lavigne.[citation needed]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Mountain Guide - Banff National Park (PDF). Parks Canada (2006).
  2. ^ Highway Mitigation Research. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-09-01.
  3. ^ Savage, Candace. "A Highway Runs Through It", Canadian Geographic, July/August 2000, pp. 34–42. 
  4. ^ Park Management, Annual Planning Forum 2005. Parks Canada. Retrieved on 2006-07-12.

Portal:Canada/Selected article/19 Portal:Canada/Selected article/19

Portal:Canada/Selected article/20 Portal:Canada/Selected article/20

[edit] Nominations

Feel free to add featured, top or high importance articles to the above list. Other articles may be nominated here.

[edit] Montreal Screwjob

Should this feature article be added to the portal? Montreal Screwjob SriMesh | talk 20:13, 19 August 2007 (UTC)