Canada Historical

While at first glance "Fernie" might not seem to be particularly significant as far as names go, it is actually another legacy of the past that continues to be a reminder of the historical roots of our city to this day. It tells the story of William Fernie, a man not only famous for the coal he discovered here over 100 years ago but also for the legend of how he is said to have found this valuable resource in the first place.

The land officially known as Canada since 1867 has a human history that can be traced back 10,000 years. The west coast of Canada, with a temperate environment and rich fishing waters, had a particularly dense concentration of Aboriginal societies. Their cultures are not only reflected in the ancient structures that have survived thousands of years, but in First Nations communities that still exist, many of which still practicing their traditional art and cultural celebrations.

In the early 17th century, a group of French colonists ventured from France to the northern coastal regions of North America. In 1604, the group established the first permanent French settlement in North America at Port-Royal, in present-day Nova Scotia. The area eventually became known as Acadia, and the people and their decedents known as Acadians.

Canada has the reputation of the frozen north, but to Martin Luther King and thousands of other black Americans, Canada was a sort of North Star—a gleaming beacon of hope that they followed and fought their way to. From 1840 to 1860, Canada emblemized freedom from oppression, and it was there that many brave enslaved people risked their lives to enter. This struggle was known as the Underground Railroad.

Calgary is a vibrant and growing city, known for it's western heritage and friendly people. It has fast become a cosmopolitan area with an increasing population that shows no sign of slowing down. Calgary's ideal location in the foothills of Canada's Rocky Mountains attracts visitors worldwide, offering breathtaking views and

History runs deep at the easternmost point of Canada, where a rich heritage is preserved in museums, archaeological sites, historical attractions and strong ties to tradition. Located on the southeast portion of Newfoundland, the Avalon Peninsula was one of the first European-settled areas in North America, with colonies established in the early 17th century.

The Canadian Rockies have a vibrant past - full of discoveries. The late 1800s gold rush brought men looking for fortune, and many of the communities they settled remain today. The other major factor in the settlement of the area was the creation of the Canadian Pacific Railway. There are numerous towns throughout that owe their existence to the railway, but this area proved to be one of the hardest for the railroad to develop. It was also during this time that many of the natural wonders that comprise the area's National Parks were found. The occurrences of the railroad settled the area, but the demographics were altered during the Second World War, when Japanese internment camps were set up here and some of those forced to move here chose to remain.

Belted out proudly by six-year-olds and fifty-somethings alike, the Hockey Song rings through the chilled air of hockey sanctuaries across the frozen north. Written in 1973 by prolific song-writer Stompin' Tom Connors, the song achieved anthem-like status after it was played at an Ottawa Senators' game in 1993 and then shortly thereafter at a Toronto Maple Leafs' game.

An ailing man in his 80s, once physically strong but still strong in spirit, stands silently, listening to his own breath that inhales the air of freedom as he stands on Canadian soil remembering the land that he fought for. With courage, he remembers friends, family and allies whose breaths were taken away by war.

The Canadian Maritimes are a jewel on the nation's east coast, and the province of New Brunswick brings its own unique history and culture to the region. As Canada's only officially bilingual province, the French-Anglo tradition remains strong in New Brunswick, and nowhere is it more apparent than in Saint John.

At the beginning of the 20th century, southwestern Alberta boomed when thick veins of coal were discovered underneath the Rocky Mountains. An ambitious group of workers and entrepreneurs arrived from all over Canada, as far away as Europe and even Russia for the chance to earn a respectable wage of $125 per month. An eclectic mix of miners, surveyors, engineers, doctors, nurses, wives and children set about building a new life for themselves in the valley of the Crowsnest Pass.