Ways of life

In Canada, as the ice sheets retreated and life re-emerged, groups of humans gradually began to occupy the entire land mass, up to the northernmost regions. For more than 10,000 years, they developed original cultures and ways of life suited to their environment. Then, a few centuries ago, the Europeans arrived, bringing with them a culture that was the product of long development in another—and very different—world.

In the beginning, their relationship to this 'new' territory was dictated strictly by European needs for fish, furs and wood. However, those who settled in Canada eventually developed ways of living that combined the lifestyles and cultures of both the Old World and the Aboriginal peoples. Then, some decades ago, Canadian society fell into step with other developed countries in a frenzied race to produce and consume. It has since achieved one of the highest standards of living in the world, but at the price of considerable stress on the environment.

	Rush hour traffic ©2003 ICN-RCI / Hemera

Oil refineries, Montreal ©2003 ICN-RCI / Hemera