Canadian province - Saskatchewan

This is the last of an occasional series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – Saskatchewan is the only Province in Canada without natural borders (like the sea or rivers)

Origin of name – named after the river.

Pronounciation – Saskatchewan is a challenge to spell let alone pronounce.

Nicknames – Land of the Living Skies (???)

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Capital – Regina (largest city is Saskatoon), named in honour of Queen Victoria – Regina means Queen in Latin.  The city is flat rather than hilly – which I would find unusual.

Flower – Western Red Lily – it's on the flag

Tree –  Paper Birch

Bird – Sharp tailed grouse

Sport – Hockey (which we call Ice Hockey to distinguish it from field hockey which is a much more popular sport in NZ)

Signature foods – Saskatoon Berry Pie, Hamburger Soup,

Famous places to visit – Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre (Regina), Boomtown 1910 (Saskatoon), Murals of Moose Jaw

Famous people from Saskatchewan – Yann Martel (Booker Prize), Joni Mitchell, Leslie Nielsen, John K Vernon (actor Animal House, Dirty Harry)

PS  I'm starting on the States of Australia next month

Canadian province - Quebec

This is part of a series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Quebec is the only Canadian Province where the majority (over 80%) speak French as their first language. Almost 40% of them are bi-lingual.

The province became Quebec when the English defeated the French and entered into The Treaty of Paris in 1763.  There have been a number of independence referenda but to date none have succeeded.

Location – Quebec borders 4 US states.  There are over ½ a million lakes in Quebec – which is mind boggling.

Pronounciation – Kwi - bek

Nicknames – Je me souviens (I remember)

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Capital – Quebec City which is a much smaller city than Montreal.

Flower – Blue Flag Iris

Tree – Yellow birch

Bird – Snowy Owl

Sport – Ice Hockey

Signature foods – Duck Poutine

Famous places to visit – Forillon National Park, Chateau Frontenac, Montreal Botanical Gardens and Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal.

Famous people from Quebec – Leonard Cohen, William Shatner, Pierre Trudeau, Celine Dion

Canadian province – Prince Edward Island

This is part of a series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – This province is made up of a number of islands – the largest of which is, guess, Prince Edward Island. Not all that many people live in this Province – under 200,000.  The province is slightly larger than the US State, Delaware. In 1997 the Province was connected to the mainland by the Confederation Bridge.  The longest bridge in the world over ice covered waters.

Origin of name – named for Queen Victoria's father (who was the 4^th son of George III)

Nicknames – Cradle of Confederation, Garden of the Gulf

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Capital – Charlottetown

Flower – Pink Lady's Slipper

Tree –  Red Oak

Bird – Blue Jay

Signature foods – Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie, Oysters & Mussels, FWTW (Fries with The Works)

Famous places to visit – PEI National Park, St Dunstan's Basilica, Confederation Trail, Singing Sands, the Bottle houses

Famous businesses/brands – PEI is very fertile.  Despite its small size it grows about 25% of Canada's potatoes.

Famous people from Prince Edward Island – Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)

Canadian province - Ontario

This is the next in an occasional series going through the 10 Provinces of Canada in alphabetical order to check out how they got named, what their flag is like and other things of interest. 

Location – More people live in Ontario than any other Province.  Manitoba is to the West and Quebec on the East of Ontario.  The US is to the South.  Like New Zealand Ontario has a lot of hydro electric power.

Origin of name – Named after Lake Ontario one of over a quarter of a million lakes in the Province!

Nicknames – Yours to Discover, The Heartland Province

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Capital – Toronto – and Ottawa the capital of Canada is also in Ontario.

Flower – White Trillium

Tree – Eastern White Pine

Bird – Common loon - great name!

Signature foods – Beaver Tail!  No, it's not part of the animal – it's a sort of pastry

Famous places to visit – Rideau Canal, Niagara Falls, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Island Airport (unbelievably good access to the city centre)

Famous businesses/brands – Canada Goose, Loblaws

Famous people from Ontario – James Cameron (the film director who now lives in New Zealand), Jim Carrey,  Bryan Adams, Margaret Atwood, Ryan Gosling, Wayne Gretzky, Avril Lavigne, Mike Myers, Mary Pickford, Shania Twain – that's quite a list!