People and Major Cities
In contrast to its vast land area，Canada has a relatively small population of about 35 million people.The population is very mixed in its composition.As a matter of fact，there was no such thing as a Canadian citizen until the Canadian Citizenship Act was put into effect in 1947，for all Canadian residents were British citizens before 1947.Apart from the Indians and the Inuit，all Canadians are immigrants from other countries or their descendants.Statistics of the last five years indicate that an average of more than 250，000 new immigrants settled in the country annually over the past five years，which accounts for most of the population increase over that period.Most of the Asians are found in Ontario and British Columbia，while the majority of the French⁃speaking population live in Quebec where they make up about 80％ of the local population.
Another notable feature of the Canadian population is its urbanization.Over 80％of Canadians live in 33 cities，and almost one⁃third in large cities of more than a million people.Among the cities，the most important include Toronto，Quebec，Montreal，Vancouver，Edmonton，and Halifax.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city，with a population of about six million in the metropolitan area.The city was founded in 1792，and by the mid⁃19th century，it became the commercial center central Canada.As a populous industrial city，Toronto carries great weight in federal politics，especially since it overtook Montreal to become Canada’s largest city after World WarⅡ.Toronto’s Bay Street is the country’s main financial center，and the city is also a major force in industry，commerce and culture.The largest component of the city’s industry now is the automotive sector，for which it ranks second in North America after Detroit.
Toronto
Toronto is in large part a city of immigrants who are extremely varied in cultural backgrounds and ethnic makeup.It is now the only major Canadian city where the majority is of neither British nor French descent.The major cultural and educational institutions of the city include the Royal Ontario Museum，the Ontario Art Gallery，the University of Toronto，Ryerson Polytechnic Institute，the CBC（Canadian Broadcasting Corporation），and a number of national publishing firms.Skyscrapers dominate much of the skyline of the downtown area，with the CN Tower and the Sky Dome stadium being the most famous.
Quebec is Canada’s first city.It was founded by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1608.Before its conquest by the British in 1759 it was the administrative，religious，military and cultural center of the French royal colony.But in the 19th century，its economic importance declined as new settlement further west made Montreal the colony’s new commercial center.Quebec today is the most French city in Canada，with 95％ of the population being French speakers.The city is the site of Laval University，the oldest university in Canada founded 1852.Quebec is a walled city，with many beautiful European⁃style buildings，fortifications，citadels and cultural relics reminding people of its rich history.
Montreal，Canada’s second⁃largest city，was founded as a missionary post in 1642.Thus it was originally a site of religious importance to the early settlers，with the city’s St.Joseph Cathedral being the largest of its kind in North America.However，its location at the confluence of the St.Lawrence，Ottawa and several other rivers also made it a natural center for the fur trade with the natives of the west.Starting from the 1820s，it became the major financial，trade，and industrial center of the country，with the Bank of Montréal playing a pivotal role in Canada’s economy and the Montreal⁃based Canadian⁃Pacific Railway functioning as the principal transportation giant of the country.In more recent years，Montreal gained an international reputation by hosting Expo 67 and the Summer Olympics of 1976.But there has since been a general decline of the city’s economy as a result of the rise of Quebec separatism，which has led many big firms shift their headquarters to Toronto and prompted many English⁃speaking people to leave the province.
Calgary，with a metropolitan population of more than 1.2 million in 2011，is the third largest city in Canada and the largest city in Alberta.It is situated east of the Canadian Rockies.The city has the fastest growing economy in the country due to its huge energy reserve and large tourist industry.Calgary was the first Canadian city to host the Olympic Winter Games in 1988.
Vancouver is the largest city in the province of British Columbia.It emerged largely as a result of the expansion of the Canadian⁃Pacific Railway，which decided to build the railway’s western terminal at a peninsular on the coast opposite Vancouver Island.Soon it sprang up to replace Victoria，the former capital of British Columbia to become the major metropolis of the province.Set in a temperate zone，Vancouver has an oceanic climate and is one of the warmest Canadian cities in winter.The city is also blessed with one of the most scenic locations in Canada.The city is the site of the University of British Columbia，one of the most prestigious of Canadian universities.Because of its west coast location，Vancouver has a large number of Asians.
Edmonton is the capital of Alberta，one of the Prairie Provinces.It is a relatively new metropolis as most of its urban development occurred in the 20th century.With about 1.3 million people in its metropolitan area，the city now ranks fifth among all Canadian cities in population.It’s people，like those of Toronto and Vancouver constitutes a diverse mix.Edmonton is also home to the University of Alberta，one of the top universities in Canada.
Halifax，capital of the province of Nova Scotia，is the largest Canadian city in the Atlantic region with a metropolitan population of around 390，000.It is also the site of the region’s major port，which includes two large container terminals.With over 90％of its population being English⁃speaking，it is the most British of all major Canadian cities.The city is also known for its five universities and the Neptune Theatre.
The diverse origins of the Canadian population have given rise to a broad variety of in religious beliefs.About 39％ of the Canadians profess Roman Catholicism，6％belong to the United Church of Canada，and 5％ to the Anglican Church.In addition，many are affiliated with other smaller denominations of Protestantism，as well as Judaism，Greek Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Christianity，and eastern creeds such as Buddhism，Islam and Sikhism.Such religious diversity makes Canada one of the most culturally diverse of developed countries.Still，English and French cultures tend to influence the way of life of other smaller groups so much that they identify with the one or the other.Thus in French⁃speaking provinces，more people attend Catholic churches，while in English⁃speaking regions there are more Anglican worshipers.
Canada is well⁃known for its vast immigrant population;however，its emigrant population is also noteworthy;there are about 2.8 million Canadians living abroad，representing about 9 per cent of the total population.