Canada

A country in North America, second largest in the world in terms of land area but with a low population density. One of the few developed countries with a primarily resource-based economy. As one would expect immediately from the size, Canada is very diverse. The have been some political arguments about a possible separation with the francophone majority in Quebec.

Canada was formed by three original ethnic groups. The Native Americans who were originally living there, the French who first settled there and the English who defeated the French and captured the colony. Many of the country's problems with separatism and rights battles stem from this often violent and controversial birth.

The country is surrounded by three oceans: the Pacific on the west coast, the Arctic on the north coast and the Atlantic on the east coast. The southern border is shared with the United States and is the longest undefended border crossing in the world.

Canadian Self Image

In 1999 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) held a competition whose goal was to compose the conclusion to the phrase: "As Canadian as ..." The winning entry reflects the ambivalence, self-questioning and ultimate pragmatism of Canadians. It read "... possible under the circumstances."

Robertson Davies, one of Canada's best known authors, once commented about his homeland: "Some countries you love. Some countries you hate. Canada is a country you worry about."