Glossary (A to F)

Act of Union

The British established the act in 1840. The act joined Upper and Lower Canada and gave greater power to the colonies. It followed the recommendations of the Durham report.

The Algonkians are a First Nations group who were hunter and gatherers, some tribes also had scattered crops. The tribes in the St. Lawrence area were the Ojibwe, Algonkins, Montagnais, Naskapi, Micmacs and Maliseets. The Beothuks, who lived in Newfoundland, were also probably Algonkians.

American Civil War (1861-65)

The war was between the Southern and Northern States of America. The causes of the war were economic expansion, colonization in the West and slavery.

American Revolution

The American Revolution began in the 1770s and ended in 1783. Thirteen American colonies revolted against the British government to gain their independence. American independence was recognized in 1783. The result was the creation of the United States of America.

Bathymetry

Underwater topography, including depth.

Bedrock

Unexposed rocks of the Earth's crust below the soil. At times they penetrate the surface.

Bog	An area usually located near stagnant lakes or ponds primarily consisting of decayed moss and other vegetable matter with a soft, wet, and spongy texture.

Boundaries Waters Treaty

The treaty was created to specify the boundaries between Canada and the U.S.. It was signed in 1909, and finalized in 1925.

British North American Act (1867)

The legislation which unified the former British colonies into the Dominion of Canada and its provinces.

Cabot, Jean (1497)

Cabot sailed from Bristol (England) in 1497 in search of a passage to Asia. He traveled to the coasts of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. The strait between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia was named after him.

Cambrian

The oldest system of rocks containing the first shelled fossil remains. Its history spans 70 million years beginning 530 ± 40 million years ago.

Canada Act (1791)

Britain implemented the act in 1791. The act made three major changes to British Canada: it 1) altered colonial borders; 2) established a free hold tenure system; and 3) created regional elective councils. The land in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region was divided to create Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

Canadian Shield

Named after its shield-like outline, the Shield is a major structural unit of the Earth's crust consisting of a large mass of exposed or nearly exposed Precambrian rock. The rocks of the Shield represents at least 5/6 of the planet's history and cover 1/2 of Canada's territory. It is characterized by a relatively low relief and numerous lakes. In addition copper, gold nickel, uranium, and iron ore are some of the non-renewable resources commonly found.

Canal

An artificial watercourse, usually cut to facilitate some form of transport or irrigation.

Cartier, Jacques (1491-1557)

Jacques Cartier was a sea captain born in St. Malo, France in 1491. He was the first European to map, travel and attempt to establish a settlement in the Northern St. Lawrence area.

Champlain, Samuel de

Champlain wanted to discover the South Sea passage to China and the East Indies by following the St. Lawrence. Instead, he explored areas like Lakes Huron, Ontario and Champlain and established the first successful permanent habitation at Quebec in 1608. In addition, he developed a trade route and strengthened ties with the Huron.

Climate

The average weather conditions of a region over a period of time.

Colonization

Colonization means to settle an area and create a colony. A colony is an area inhabited and controlled by people from another country.

Columbus, Christopher (1492-93)

Christopher Columbus was an explorer. By estimating that Asia could be reached, he sailed to the Caribbean (at today's Dominican Republic) in 1492. In1504, he undertook three other voyages in Central and South America. Columbus proved to Europeans that the Atlantic Ocean could be crossed.

Confederation

The act in which Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario became the Dominion of Canada in 1867.

Constitution

A set of principles established by a government and followed by a society.

Continental Climate

Typical climatic conditions in the interiors and eastern parts of great continents which include small rainfall, low humidity, and a high range in temperature both diurnally and seasonally.

Convection

The transference of heat from one part of a liquid or gas to another through the movement of the particles themselves. As a rule, the hotter molecules always move to the cooler ones.

Cove	A small sheltered bay.

de la Rocque, Jean Francois

Captain Jean Francois de la Rocque was the Lord of Roberval (France). He lead Cartier’s third voyage to the St. Lawrence area.

Demography

The study of human population, notably concerned with population growth, birth and death rates as well as emigration and immigration rates.

Dominion of Canada

Dominion of Canada is the name given to Canada at confederation in 1867.

Drainage Basin

The basic spatial geomorphic unit of a river system.

Drumlin

A mound left by glaciation composed of till. It is usually shaped like an oval cut in half with the long part parallel to the direction in which the ice flowed.

Durham Report

Britain issued the Durham Report in 1837. The report recommended increased colonial self government in North America, a union of Upper and Lower Canada, that Kingston be made capital of Canada, that English is established as Canada's official language and the creation of a Canadian elected assembly.