Urbanization of Canada Urbanization of Canada and the Worldand the WorldCanadian Geography 120Canadian Geography 120Mr. DMr. D

What is an Urban area?What is an Urban area?

Statistics Canada defines an Statistics Canada defines an urban area as a place with 1000 urban area as a place with 1000 or more people and a population or more people and a population density of 400 or more per density of 400 or more per square kilometresquare kilometre

What attracts people to What attracts people to cities?cities?

JobsJobs StoresStores SchoolsSchools UniversitiesUniversities sports facilitiessports facilities RelativesRelatives FriendsFriends world important eventsworld important events

Sports and UrbanizationSports and Urbanization

Many people learn about certain Many people learn about certain cities because of sports teams cities because of sports teams (ex. Montreal Canadiens, (ex. Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Blue Jays) Toronto Blue Jays)

The Olympic Games have been The Olympic Games have been held every four years except held every four years except when a world war has when a world war has intervened. They are always intervened. They are always associated with a host city.associated with a host city.

Wealth and UrbanizationWealth and Urbanization

The world’s wealth is The world’s wealth is concentrated in cities – banks, concentrated in cities – banks, stock exchanges, insurance stock exchanges, insurance companies – Most financial companies – Most financial companies are headquartered in companies are headquartered in great cities (New York, Tokyo, great cities (New York, Tokyo, London, Toronto) London, Toronto)

History of Urban GrowthHistory of Urban Growth The first cities appeared in the Tigris-The first cities appeared in the Tigris-

Euphrates river basin (Mesopotamia) – Euphrates river basin (Mesopotamia) – now a part of Iraq – between 4000 and now a part of Iraq – between 4000 and 3000 B.C. 3000 B.C.

Development in trade, industry, art, Development in trade, industry, art, science, and culture to influenced other science, and culture to influenced other cities growth. Some cities (Babylon, Rome, cities growth. Some cities (Babylon, Rome, Constantinople) grew to be mighty Constantinople) grew to be mighty empiresempires

European cities disappeared after the fall European cities disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire and many people of the Roman Empire and many people lived in the country sides lived in the country sides

The Industrial Revolution in the 19th The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought explosive growth in the century brought explosive growth in the urban population of Europe urban population of Europe

History of Urban Growth History of Urban Growth (continued)(continued)

The Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution improved energy sources and improved energy sources and developed new manufacturing developed new manufacturing technologies (waterwheels, technologies (waterwheels, windmills, steam engines – windmills, steam engines – electricity provided power for electricity provided power for great factories) great factories)

Urban areas began to Urban areas began to dominate every nation’s dominate every nation’s economy and cultureeconomy and culture

Urbanization in CanadaUrbanization in Canada Until the 1700s there were no large Until the 1700s there were no large

urban settlements in Canada. urban settlements in Canada.

In the 1800s there was some growth In the 1800s there was some growth around sites around sites where power was where power was availableavailable (Montreal, Trois Rivieres), (Montreal, Trois Rivieres), fur fur trade centrestrade centres (Winnipeg, Edmonton, (Winnipeg, Edmonton, Thunder Bay), defence sites (Halifax, Thunder Bay), defence sites (Halifax, Vancouver), and places Vancouver), and places where where minerals could be foundminerals could be found (Sudbury). (Sudbury).

In 1871 only 19% of Canadians were in In 1871 only 19% of Canadians were in the cities. By 1930 it was 50%. By the cities. By 1930 it was 50%. By 1976 76% of Canadians lived in the 1976 76% of Canadians lived in the city. Since then the percentage has city. Since then the percentage has stayed about the samestayed about the same

CMAsCMAs CMA – CMA – census metropolitan areacensus metropolitan area (ultra (ultra

large urban centre) large urban centre)

A significant trend in Canada is the A significant trend in Canada is the increasing dominance in national life increasing dominance in national life of a few CMAsof a few CMAs

CMA is any place that:CMA is any place that: has a large urbanized corehas a large urbanized core is surrounded by urban or rural areas that is surrounded by urban or rural areas that

are closely integrated (socially or are closely integrated (socially or economically) with the coreeconomically) with the core

must have a population of at least 100 000 must have a population of at least 100 000

Today there are 25 CMAs in CanadaToday there are 25 CMAs in Canada

Distribution of Canadian Distribution of Canadian Population in CMAsPopulation in CMAs

The western CMAs are growing most The western CMAs are growing most quickly (Edmonton and Calgary in quickly (Edmonton and Calgary in particular) particular)

CMAs especially dominate in OntarioCMAs especially dominate in Ontario

Half of Canada’s population lives in Half of Canada’s population lives in the country’s 20 largest urban areas; the country’s 20 largest urban areas; near Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouvernear Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver

Urban centres are very important to Urban centres are very important to Canada, but only two rank in the Canada, but only two rank in the world’s top 100 in terms of world’s top 100 in terms of population: Toronto (61st) and population: Toronto (61st) and Montreal (66th) Montreal (66th)

QuestionsQuestions Why do you think some people would prefer Why do you think some people would prefer

to live in a small town rather than a large to live in a small town rather than a large metropolitan area? metropolitan area?

Do you expect to live in a city after you Do you expect to live in a city after you complete your education? Explain why or complete your education? Explain why or why not.why not.

List at least five Canadian towns and cities, List at least five Canadian towns and cities, noting their most famous professional or noting their most famous professional or amateur sports teams. Compare your list amateur sports teams. Compare your list with those of your classmates. with those of your classmates.

List the Canadian CMAs that you and your List the Canadian CMAs that you and your classmates have visited or lived in during classmates have visited or lived in during the past two years. Note two positive and the past two years. Note two positive and negative aspects of each CMA that has been negative aspects of each CMA that has been visitedvisited