Государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение

среднего профессионального образования Нижегородской области

«Краснобаковский лесной колледж»

Лингвострановедческий журнал
по английскому языку
«Canada»

Составитель:
преподаватель
английского языка
Воронина М.В.

2013
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Содержание
1. История 3

2. География 4

3. Достопримечательности 6

4. Традиции и праздники 11

5. Спорт 15
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History
Canada’s history is an exciting story of development of a vast wilderness into a
great nation. Most experts believe that the first people who lived on this land came from
Asia about 15000 years ago. They came over a land bridge that once connected Asia and
North America. Their descendants are known today as Indians. The ancestors of the
Eskimos came to Alaska after them probably about 5000 years ago.
In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian navigator in the
service of England, found rich fishing grounds off Canada’s
southeast coast. His discovery led to the European
exploration of Canada. France set up a colony in eastern
Canada in the early 1600’s. Great Britain gained control of
the country in 1763, and thousands of British emigrants
came to Canada. In 1867, the French and English-speaking
Canadians helped to create a united colony called the
Dominion of Canada. Two groups worked together to settle
the country and to develop its great mineral deposits and other natural resources.
Canada gained its independence from Britain in 1931. During the middle of 20 th
century, hard-working Canadians turned their country into an economic giant. Today
Canada is a leading producer of wheat, oats, and barley. Canada also ranks among the
world’s top manufacturing countries, and it is a major producer of electric power.
Throughout its history, Canada has often been troubled by lack of unity among its
people. French Canadians, most of who live in the province of Quebec, have struggled to
preserve their own culture. They have long been angered by Canadian policies based on
British traditions. Many of them support a movement to make Quebec a separate nation.
People in Canada have nine other provinces also frequently favour local needs over
national interests.
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Geography

Canada is situated in the northern part of the continent of North America. It does
not include Alaska.
Canada has an area of nearly ten million square ilometers. It is the second largest
country in area after Russia.
Its land boundaries are along the United States of America in the South and along
Alaska (USA) in the North-West.
Its western coast is washed by the Pacific Ocean and its eastern coast is washed by
the Atlantic Ocean. In the North it is washed by the Arctic Ocean. And through the Arctic
Ocean Canada stretches to the North Pole. This makes Canada the northernmost country in
the world.
The country is very big and occupies the
territory from the Great Lakes in the South to
the Arctic Circle in the North. So, it has many
different types of land: arctic tundra,
mountains, forests, central plains and vast
prairies, high plains, fjords, lakes and rivers,
islands and even a desert.
There are many islands in the North —
the best known is Victoria Island.
Canada is so big that a former prime
minister of Canada, Mackenzie King, once said
that Canada had “too much geography”… And he
was certainly right.
The Rocky Mountains and the Coast
Mountains run along the Pacific coast.
The Western Cordillera is famous for the
country’s highest mountain, Mount Logan, 5,951
meters high. It is situated on the territory of
Yukon.
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In Labrador and parallel to the eastern coast of Canada there are also mountains.
Labrador is a peninsula on the eastern coast of Canada. Some mountains are also on the
island of Baffin Land.
Almost half of the territory of Canada is occupied by the Canadian Shield. It is a
huge area which has a shape of a horse-shoe. It stretches around the Hudson Bay from
Labrador coast to the St. Lawrence lowlands. The Canadian shield is:
 the largest natural region in Canada;
 the world’s largest freshwater island;
 the most sparsely populated territory in Canada.
Geographers gave this region its name because they thought its shape was like a
shield.

It is peculiar that water is everywhere in Canada. This country contains more

freshwater than any other country — 25 per cent of the world’s resources.
Apart from the oceans on its sides, Canada is a country of lakes. It has seven of the
world’s largest lakes (some shared with the US). The province of Ontario alone has
400,000 lakes, big and small, so many that we can hardly count them.
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Sightseeings
CN Tower
The Canadian National tower, better known as the CN tower, is the highest free-
standing structure in the world. It is one of the best-known Toronto attractions, as a
standout on the Toronto city skyline. As soon as you get a first glace of the city, the slim
shape of the Toronto CN tower will catch your eye. Located at the southern end of the
city, near the lake, the CN tower Toronto measures 533 meters high (after the antenna was
added in 1975). Though the tower primarily functions for radio and television signals, it
also has attractive features for visitors. At the top of the tower are a revolving CN tower
restaurant and lookout platforms.
Dining in the CN tower restaurant
is expensive, but if you plan to
eat there, you won’t have to pay
the fee for riding up the elevator.
You will have to pay, however, if
you only plan to get a drink at the
bar.
Taking the glass elevator
up to the observation decks of the
Toronto CN tower is an
experience in itself, and once you
reach the top you’ll have the best
view in the city. One of the
observation decks is enclosed, the
other is open, and can get quite
windy. The latter is not
recommended for those who get dizzy easily. One of the observation decks has a glass
floor, which makes the view all the more interesting. From these observation decks, it’s
possible to see for about 160km on a clear day. You can check the weather and time
display at the bottom of the tower before going up.
Above the observation decks is the Skypod, the world’s highest observation gallery.
Views from here are fantastic, but not that different than the decks below. The Skypod
costs $7 CAN extra to see, so you decide if the extra 100m up is worth the cost.
The CN tower history dates back to February 6, 1973 when the tower construction
began by Canadian National Railway. CN Railway wanted to build a platform for radio
and TV communication that would serve the Greater Toronto Area and exhibit Canadian
industry’s strength. Work on the CN Tower Toronto went on 24 hours a day, 5 days a
week for 40 months. It was completed on June 26, 1976 and opened to the public.
The CN tower Toronto is open daily from 9am-10pm January-April; 8am-11pm
May-December. Cost is $16 for adults.
At the base of the Toronto CN tower is an attraction called the Tour of the Universe.
For the price of entry you can walk through a simulated space port, see a laser show and
experience what it’s like to fly through space. Tour of the Universe is open daily from
10am until 10pm.
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Banff Gondola
Banff Gondola rides are one of the
most exciting things to do inside the national
park outside of adventure sports. The
adrenaline-filled ride to the top of the
Canadian Rockies is one of the most thrilling
and scenic in the country and is available to
visitors at any time of year. Some would
argue that the scenes from above are most
breathtaking in the summer when the
landscape is vibrant and lush while others
claim winter, in all its white glory, is the most
impressive. In any event, there’s no arguing
that the scenes from Sulphur Mountain in
Banff are glorious indeed.
The Banff Gondola adventure starts off with a ride to the Sulphur Mountain summit
that feels like a lifetime for some. Each gondola has a maximum capacity of four people,
which can make it a really personal event for many. The gondola’s cabins are fully
modernized and enclosed on all sides. The thrills might start right away but as the gondola
climbs higher and higher, the views become more and more spectacular. The lift rises to
the 2,292-foot summit over the short period, and is the gateway to a variety of activities
offered at and from the mountaintop including skiing, snowboarding, and hiking. The
Sulphur Mountain Hike is about 3 miles and rated as a strenuous trek for intermediate and
advanced hikers. Visitors will walk approximately half a mile over a two to five hours
period.
Once at the top, Banff Gondola
riders can opt to leave the summit
terminal and explore the Skywalk,
spanning half a mile along the ridge
leading to Sanson’s Peak
Meteorological Station and Cosmic
Ray Station National Historic Site of
Canada. The second option is to head to
the restaurant and enjoy the landscape
from there. The elevated observation
deck, located above the dining section,
offers choice views and is also
handicapped equipped. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for Banff’s famous wildlife; the
Canada Gray Jay, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, Gold Mantled Ground Squirrels, and
many others.
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Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the most popular attractions in the city of
Toronto. With a wide variety of works by artists from all over the world, it also houses the
single largest collection of Canadian art work in the world. AGO Toronto, as it is also
called, is a large museum at 480,000 square feet,
making it North America’s tenth largest art
museum. The extensive collection of Canadian art
spans the history of the country, and covers pre-
Confederation Canada, European immigration to
Canada, to the present day. This popular art
gallery in Toronto is located in the Chinatown
district at 317 Dundas Street West.
If you are contemplating a trip to the
provincial capital of Ontario, a visit to AGO will
be more than worth the time. You will want to set
aside most to all of a full day at the very least if
you want to take in even a survey of the some 68,000 works of art. From the moment you
step into the striking building and see the impressive art gallery of Ontario wooden stairs,
and other such distinguishing architectural features, you will know you are at a special
place.
In many ways, the design and layout of the AGO Toronto are attractions in and of
themselves and visitors frequently comment on its unique design, and the spiraling,
wooden staircase. The newly designed Art Gallery of Toronto was spearheaded by a
famous architect named Frank Gehry. Some of the notable design features include a new
entrance that faces Walker Court and the Grange, a four-story south wing that is covered
with glass and blue titanium, and the impressive glass façade of the Galleria Italia.
Admission is not inexpensive, but is
comparable to other museums of its size and
scope. It is also well worth the money,
considering the wide range of artists on
exhibit, from Andy Warhol to Paul Rubens,
Van Gogh to Degas, Henry Moore to
Auguste Rodin. You can get in for free on
Wednesday evenings, but it is impossible to
take in all that the gallery has to offer in this
short period of time. The best thing to do is
set aside a day to spend at the art gallery in
Toronto. Besides enjoying the massive collection of art, not only from Canada, but also
extensively from Africa, Europe, and other parts of North America, the gallery features a
number of cool cafes and eateries where you can relax and enjoy a reprieve from touring
the grounds.
Besides permanent exhibits by many artists, the Art Gallery of Ontario is also
known for certain notable, individual works of art. These, to name just a select few,
include Paul Rubens’s The Massacre of the Innocents, and Vetheuil in Summer by Claude
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Monet. AGO Toronto is one of the most popular museums in a city that is home to some
of the world’s finest. The art gallery in Toronto is a fantastic place to spend a day. It is
conveniently located near a huge variety of restaurants and bars, cafes and clubs and
provides plenty of options for food and beverages on the premises.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of

Vancouver, British Columbia's most popular
tourist attractions. The reason is simple,
there are so many things to see and do! Just
minutes from the bustle of downtown
Vancouver, the attractions at Capilano
Suspension Bridge offers a unique mix of
adventure, history and culture making this
Vancouver tourist attraction a complete
British Columbia experience and an essential
on your list of things to do in Vancouver,
BC.
Originally built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge stretches 450 feet (137m)
across and 230 feet (70m) above Capilano River. Since then much has been added to the
twenty-seven acre park. CLIFFWALK is the park's newest attraction - a cantilevered
walkway clinging to the granite cliff high above Capilano Canyon. Treetops Adventure,
seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100 feet (30m) above
the forest floor, offers a unique squirrel's eye perspective of the forest. Guided nature
tours, the Kids' Rainforest Explorer program and the Living Forest exhibit enhance this
unique rainforest encounter. Enjoy musical entertainment and First Nations culture. Take
photos at the Totem Park and with the Capilano Tramps. Top it off with a visit to the gift
shop full of quality merchandise from all over Canada and great homemade fudge! It's all
in a day's fun at Capilano Suspension Bridge.
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Morgan Arboretum

The Morgan Arboretum is a 245 hectare forested reserve, situated on the McGill
University Macdonald Campus in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue on the western tip of the island of
Montreal. The arboretum is open daily throughout the year from 9 am to visitors who can
walk and ski its trails in season and is supported by the Morgan Arboretum Association
(The Friends).
In addition to an expanse of natural woodland containing examples of most of
Quebec's native trees, the property supports 18 collections of trees and shrubs, from across
the world, that include fir, oak, birch, maple, linden, spruce and flowering trees. The
Arboretum is also home to 30 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles and amphibians,
and over 170 species of migratory and over-wintering birds.
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Traditions
Eleven Great Spring & Summer Festivals in Nova Scotia
There is no question; Nova Scotia is the land of festivals and events, especially in
the summer. What can they say, they are highly social people and they LOVE to get out
and meet the visitors. From the seafood to the music to the seafaring history, you just have
to be here to experience it all.
That being said, here are a few, in order of upcoming dates that stand out due to
their uniqueness and their propensity for offering up just plain old good times.
1. The Halifax Comedy Festival: Local comics and the cream of the crop comics
from around the world offer up just the kinds of laughs that we all welcome after a long
winter, not that we ever need a reason to bring out our jovial side. (April 25 - 28)
2.  Titanic Events: It's hard to believe it's been 100 years since this tragic event.
Halifax has a very deep connection to what happened on that fateful day. Last year I
witnessed a chilling twitter event, in which Nova Scotia Museums tweeted out in real time
the distress signals and communication between the Titanic and nearby ships. It
demonstrated just how real this was in the city of Halifax. There have been some
important commemorative events organized in Halifax help us to reflect on the tragedy, to
learn the history of what happened, and to remember the lives lost. (Commemorative
events are planned throughout the summer)
3. RBC Multicultural Festival: The energy of this festival is captivating. Cultures
from around the world are celebrated through music, entertainment and best of all a
multicultural food court that will have you trying a little bit of everything. (June 22 - 24)
Divine Brown at Multifest

4. Privateer Days in Liverpool: A very cool historical festival, this one contains
many a re-enactment. Great to not only learn about the area's privateering history, but to
feel like you're transposed back in time. The whole town comes out for lively
entertainment, which includes music, sporting events and more.  A word to the wise, don't
dress as a pirate, you could be in trouble. (June 28 - July 1)
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5. Stan Rogers Folk Festival: I LOVE this festival. It's like a pilgrimage for music
lovers making the journey to the tiny town of Canso to discover a new favourite musician
or band. All the in the name of a music legend. Camping out, staying up into the wee
hours of the morning, listening to music under the stars. It's an absolute must-experience.
(June 29 - July 1)

6. Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo: A long standing tradition, the Tattoo is a truly unique
event featuring performers from all around the world. I love that you never quite know
what you might see. Military bands are always a big part of this and are guaranteed to
impress, especially when you see them all come together for the finale. Acrobats,
theatrical elements, sometimes even clowns, heartfelt songs... there is always something
surprising. (July 1 - July 8)
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7. Antigonish Highland Games: I love the town of Antigonish because it's

beautiful and it's the home of my alma mater St. Francis Xavier University. It's also home
of the longest running highland games in North America, jam packed with
entertainment...strong men in kilts hurling heavy objects like cabers (think of a telephone
pole), sweet highland dancers, outdoor concerts and a celebration of all things Scottish.
(July 8 - July 15)

8. TD Halifax Jazz Festival: Can you tell I like music festivals. This one in the
heart of downtown for more than a week really makes my heart sing. They have free lunch
time concerts, Jazz, blues, urban groove and my personal favourite, World Beat. I love the
way the music echoes through the downtown core. Just makes you want to dance. (July 6 -
July 14) 
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9.  Tall Ships Festivals: Magnificent and Majestic, these tall ships come from
around the world to sail into ports around the province. Bring your camera and some
muscle rub for your neck..then look up, look way up. These sea bound beauties are truly
something to be seen up close.

10. C'est si bon...our Acadian Festivals: Festival de l'Escaouette in Cheticamp

(July 15 - Aug 15) and Festival de Acadien de Clare in Clare (July 28 - Aug 15) have a
series of great events to learn more about the Acadien Culture. From the rappie pie and
fricot to the music to the dance, I promise you'll have so much fun doing it! 
11. Halifax International Busker Festival: I love any event along the waterfront,
just for the atmosphere alone. But the Buskers...is my absolute favourite. Prepare to be
amazed or to laugh until you cry. The variety of acts is astounding...acrobatics, music,
magic, dancing, comedy, you never quite know what you are going to see. (Aug 2 - 12)
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Sports
Ice hockey
The modern form of ice hockey began in Canada in the late 1800s, and is widely
considered Canada's national pastime, with high levels of participation by children, men
and women at various levels of competition. The most popular leagues are the amateur
Canadian Hockey League, and the professional National Hockey League, which has six
teams in Canada: the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary
Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks. The Canadian NHL presence peaked
with eight teams in the mid-1990s, before the Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver,
Colorado in 1995 and the Winnipeg Jets relocated to Phoenix, Arizona in 1996. "Hockey
Night in Canada" is a longtime national Saturday night television broadcast featuring
Canadian NHL teams. Hockey Canada is the sport's official governing body in Canada and
is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Lacrosse
Lacrosse, a sport with Aboriginal origins, is Canada's oldest sport and official
summer sport. Lacrosse was named Canada's National Game by Parliament in 1859, and
since 1994 has been the official summer sport of Canada. The Canadian Lacrosse
Association, founded in 1925, is the governing body of lacrosse in Canada. It conducts
national junior and senior championship tournaments for men and women in both field and
box lacrosse. It also participated in the inaugural World Indoor Lacrosse Championship in
2003. The National Lacrosse League is a professional box lacrosse league, with franchises
in Canada and the United States. The 2006 World Lacrosse Championship was held in
London, Ontario. Canada beat the United States 15-10 in the final to break a 28-year U.S.
winning streak. One of the best lacrosse players of all time, Gary Gait was born in
Victoria, British Columbia and has won every possible major lacrosse championship.
Great achievements in Canadian Lacrosse are recognized by the Canadian Lacrosse Hall
of Fame.
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Baseball
The Toronto Blue Jays are Canada's only Major League Baseball team, founded in
1977. The Montreal Expos club played in Montreal from 1969 until 2004 when they
moved to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals. The Blue Jays were
the first non-American team to host a World Series Game (in 1992) and the only non-
American team to win the World Series (back to back in 1992 and 1993). The Blue Jays
had the highest attendance in Major League Baseball during the late 1980s and early
1990s. Professional baseball has a long history in Canada, beginning with teams such as
the London Tecumsehs, Montreal Royals, and Toronto Maple Leafs in the late 1800s and
early 1900s. All three were included on the National Baseball Association's top 100 minor
league teams.

Basketball
Basketball is a popular spectator sport in parts of Canada, especially in Southern Ontario.
The National Basketball Association expanded into Canada in 1995 with the addition of
the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. The Grizzlies moved to Memphis,
Tennessee in 2001, but the Raptors continue to draw healthy crowds at the Air Canada
Centre. The 2005 and 2006 NBA MVP Steve Nash is from British Columbia and has
played in international competitions for Canada's national team. The Carleton Ravens have
dominated the Canadian University championship in recent years. Basketball's inventor,
James Naismith, was Canadian; born in Almonte, Ontario, he was working as a physical
education instructor in Massachusetts when he created the game in 1891.
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Football
Rugby football in Canada had its origins in the early 1860s, and over time, a unique sport
known as Canadian football developed. Canadian football is similar to American football,
and many professional Canadian football players are "imports" from the United States.
The Canadian Football League (CFL), the sport's only fully professional league, and
Football Canada, the governing body for amateur play, trace their roots to 1884 and the
founding of the Canadian Rugby Football Union. Currently active teams such as the
Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats have similar longevity. The CFL's
championship game, the Grey Cup, is the country's single largest sporting event and is
watched by nearly one third of Canadian television households. The eight Canadian
football teams are B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, Saskatchewan
Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger Cats, and
Montreal Alouettes. Canadian football is also played at the high school, junior, collegiate,
and semi-professional levels: the Canadian Junior Football League and Quebec Junior
Football League are for players aged 18-22, many post-secondary institutions compete in
Canadian Interuniversity Sport for the Vanier Cup, and senior leagues such as the Alberta
Football League have grown in popularity in recent years. Great achievements in Canadian
football are recognized by the Canadian Football Hall of Fame which is located in
Hamilton, Ontario.

Cricket

Cricket was once the most popular sport in Canada until the early 20th Century before it
was overtaken by hockey. Cricket was so popular it was declared the national sport by
John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada. Cricket, today, is a popular
minority sport in Canada, although it is growing. Cricket is the fastest growing sport in
Canada. Canada has well over 40,000 cricketers across Canada. While Canada is not
sanctioned to play Test matches, the team does take part in One Day International (ODI)
matches and also in first-class games (in the ICC Intercontinental Cup) against other non-
Test-playing opposition, with the rivalry against the United States being as strong in
cricket as it is in other team sports. The match between these two nations is in fact the
oldest international fixture in cricket, having first been played in 1844. This international
fixture even outdates the Olympics by over 50 years. There are a few grounds in Canada
that are sanctioned by the ICC to host official ODI's. The most famous Canadian cricketer
is John Davison, who was born in Canada and participated in the Cricket World Cup in
both 2003 and 2007. At the 2003 World Cup, Davison hit the fastest century in tournament
history against the West Indies in what was ultimately a losing cause. In that World Cup
he also smashed a half century at a strike rate of almost 200 against New Zealand. One
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year later, in the ICC Intercontinental Cup against the USA, he proved the difference
between the two sides taking 17 wickets for 137 runs as well as scoring 84 runs of his
own. In the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, John Davison scored the second-
fastest half-century against New Zealand. Canada has participated in the 1979, 2003 and
2007 Cricket World Cups. Canada has traditionally had a strong Women's team. Also The
Canadian Under 19 team have competed in the Under 19 World Cup on two occasions. In
2002, they were eliminated in the first round, meaning they competed in the plate
competition, in which they did not win a game. They repeated this performance in the
2004 competition.

Curling
It is estimated that there are about 1.3 million curlers in Canada, which makes up about
94% of the curlers in the world. Curling is most popular in the prairie provinces with the
most competitive teams in recent years coming from the province of Alberta. However,
curling has a degree of popularity across the country. For example, a team from Quebec,
which is not a traditional hotbed of curling, won the Tim Hortons Brier (national men's
championship) in 2006. The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is the national women's
championship. The Canadian Curling Association is the sport's national governing body;
great achievements are recognized by the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

Great achievements in Canadian sport are recognized by Canada's Sports Hall of

Fame, while the Lou Marsh Trophy is awarded annually to Canada's top athlete by a panel
of journalists.