Ontario Google Map, Canada

Ontario the second largest province of Canada is geographically and culturally a region of tremendous character and richness. Located in the eastern central area of the country, it sits on its eastern border with Quebec, western border with Manitoba, north with Hudson Bay and James Bay, and south with the United States. A piece of general information about the province is that it is the most populated province in Canada, with an approximate population of about sixteen million. The name of the province comes from the Iroquois word kanadario which means sparkling water symbolizing the province's several water bodies, including the Great Lakes.

History:

It has a vast interesting history because it became a fruitful ground for native people, explorers, immigrants, and other settlers. As for the part of Canada, now called Ontario, the Indigenous peoples have always lived there: the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat. These communities possessed some level of social organization, political structure, and economic and religious systems.

The exploration of Canada, by the European explorers started during the early seventeenth century with Samuel de Champlain and Étienne Brûlé. The French took over fur trading posts and missions that were later to be dominated by the British as the region’s main power. The British were given control over the province after the Seven Years' War together with the Paris Treaty of 1763 which saw the new France handed over to Britain.

In the period of revolution starting in America, many loyalists moved out from the new country, towards Ontario thus building up the population. The emergence of Upper Canada i.e. modern-day Ontario in about 1791 meant that the colonies’ administration became a bit more structured. During the conflict in 1812, battles between the United States and Britain continued on the province’s territory which strengthened Britain's control.

During the 19th century, there was significant development and industrialization of this province. There was the construction of canals and railways which enhanced trade and movement, in addition, there was the discovery of minerals in the northern region for economic development. In 1867, it became one of the four original provinces of the Dominion of Canada, alongside Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Social and economic changes occurred in the province in the 20th century. During both the World Wars, a number of people from the province participated in the military and the industries changed to meet the demands of the war. After the war, people chose to immigrate to Ontario making it a multicultural province during that period. Manufacturing, finance, and technology became major thrusts of the province's economy.

Culture:

The culture of the province is a true multicultural one as people from all over the world live there. The province is blessed with cultural centers, varieties of cuisines, and engaging events/ festivals.

Toronto as the cultural hub of the province, has academically gifted facilities like the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The city's entertainment district is home to the renowned Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which attracts filmmakers and celebrities from around the globe. The Distillery District, with its historic buildings and contemporary art galleries, is a popular cultural hub.

It is also rich in literature along with hosting some literary events like the Toronto International Festival of Authors. The Stratford celebration, done in the town of Stratford in The province is among the biggest classical repertory theater in North America observing Shakespeare’s plays and other modern revelations.

The provincial food culture does reflect the ethnic diversity of this region in particular. Restaurants and food markets in the province span numerous types of settings ranging from casual fine dining to casual fast food offering various foods from all over the world. The two most famous markets in Toronto are the St Lawrence market and the Kensington market not only for food but the atmosphere too.

Culturally, Indigenous history is also celebrated through programs as well as events. A powwow, traditional dance and celebration, and Indigenous performing art fairs under the festival permit offer chances to learn more about and enjoy Indigenous cultures. One of the most popular art galleries in Kleinburg is the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, famous for presenting indigenous artist’s artworks as well as the Group of Seven’s paintings.

Language:

English is the most dominant language, though the province stands out as one of the linguistically colorful provinces in the country. The French language is the second official language in the provinces where there is a large population of French Canadians, which is in Ottawa, Sudbury, and the eastern region of the province. The French Language Services Act makes sure that government services will be delivered in French in given places.

Another aspect of the province’s linguistic sector is that there are a great number of immigrants with their own languages. The 2016 Census revealed more than 200 languages being used in homes across the province, although the majority of households speak English and or French. The most frequently occurring non-official languages are Mandarin, Italian, Punjabi, Spanish, and Tagalog. Such linguistic diversity is characteristic of the province’s ethnic-diverse population and people embrace the cultures via organizations, use of languages, etc.

As with other Indigenous languages, there are current and continuing attempts to retain and revive Indigenous languages as well. Ojibwe, Cree, and Mohawk among others are spoken in schools as well as through other community education sessions. Further, the province respects these languages in order to preserve its cultural values and nationality.

Geography:

The physical environment of the province is almost as varied as that of the people; the province contains a portion of the rugged Canadian Shield, as well as large farming regions in the south.

The Canadian Shield found in most of the northern and central region is a large upland region whose features include; rocks, forests, and water bodies. This area is highly geologically varied with rugged terrain, rocky outcrops, dense boreal forests, and several freshwater lakes and rivers. The Shield area is among the richest in mineral resources and therefore supports several mining activities. It is also known as a recreation area for campers, fishermen, canoeists, and wildlife lovers within a certain region.

Southern Ontario, home to the majority of the province's population, is bordered by four of the five Great Lakes: These includes; Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. These lakes are among the largest drinking water reserves in the globe and are immensely critical to the economy and ecology of the province. The Great Lakes region covers fertile soils for agricultural production, hilly lands, and urban settings. On the picturesque sight between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, the Niagara Peninsula boasts wine-producing facilities, vineyards, and Niagara Falls.

The eastern area of the province such as Ottawa Valley is good for agriculture and consists of physiographic features of river, forest, and farmland. Located in between the Ontario and Quebec provinces, the Ottawa River is still among the larger water bodies, which acted as transportation channels in the past. The whole area is surrounded by small picturesque cities, as well as numerous historical monuments and different interests.

The climate of the province can be quite diverse, and polarized by the sheer size of the province and the territory that it occupies. The climate of the Southern region is moderate – warm summer and severe winter in the region. Probably due to the presence of water bodies, the climate near the Great Lakes is comparatively moderate, with relatively mild winters and cooler summers than the meteorological normals. Northern region has a severe continental climate, it is much colder in the winter months and warmer in the summer months than Southern region. The Canadian Shield region has relatively large fluctuations in temperature and receives plenty of snow in winter.

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