Why Is Canada Nicknamed The Great White North? (2024)

FAQs

Why Is Canada Nicknamed The Great White North? ›

“Great White North”, the general breakdown is that Canada is “Great” because it's the second largest country in the world. “White” because of the amount of Arctic frozen tundra and snow within the country. “North” of the United States. Hence, the Great White North was born.

The “white” part of the nickname comes from the fact that about 580,000 square miles the country's territory lies within the Arctic Archipelago and is occupied by less than 20,000 people. Some parts of Canada remains untouched and unexplored because they are covered by snow.

The line "The True North strong and free" is based on Lord Tennyson's description of Canada as "that true North, whereof we lately heard / A strain to shame us". In the context of Tennyson's poem To the Queen, the word true means "loyal" or "faithful".

It's also known for its mountains and seemingly-endless miles of snow, ice, and tundra. One of its most famous nicknames is the Great White North. What country are we talking about? Canada, of course! Not only does Canada take up most of the northern half of North America, it also stretches nearly to the North Pole!

In strictly geographic terms, the North refers to the immense hinterland of Canada that lies beyond the narrow strip of the country in which most Canadians live and work, but generally refers to the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut.

Canada is probably nicknamed "The Great White North" because it's the second biggest country in the world after Russia, making it "great" in size. It's also "white" because it gets a lot of snow, and it's "north" of the United States.

The name “Canada” likely comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement.” In 1535, two Aboriginal youths told French explorer Jacques Cartier about the route to kanata; they were actually referring to the village of Stadacona, the site of the present-day City of Québec.

By the mid-1500s, European books and maps began referring to this region as Canada. Canada soon after became the name of a colony in New France that stretched along the St. Lawrence River. The terms "Canada" and "New France" were often used interchangeably during the colonial period.

The Arctic is fundamental to Canada's national identity. It is home to many Canadians, including indigenous peoples, across the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and the northern parts of many Canadian provinces. The Arctic is embedded in Canadian history and culture, and in the Canadian soul.

A tradition among Jets fans in recent years is to shout the lyrics "True North" during the singing of O Canada prior to games, presumably in recognition of the ownership group which brought the NHL back to Winnipeg.

What was Canada almost named? ›

We are Canadians — but we were nearly Cabotians, Tuponians or Hochelaganders. Here are some of the other names that were considered when this country was just a fledgling dominion.

Canadians use Canuck as an affectionate or merely descriptive term for their nationality. If familiar with the term, most citizens of other nations, including the United States, also use it affectionately, though there are individuals who may use it as a derogatory term.

The land area of Canada is 3, 855, 103 square miles compared to America's 3, 794, 083, making Canada 1.6% larger that the States.

The general breakdown is that Canada is “Great” because it's the second largest country in the world. It's “White” because of the amount of Arctic frozen tundra and snow within the country. Finally, it's “North” of the United States. Hence, the Great White North was born.

Names used for Northern Canada more broadly or shared between the three Canadian territories: "Canada's Arctic" or "The Canadian Arctic" "Canada's Last Frontier" "The Land of the Midnight Sun"

By 1616, although the entire region was known as New France, the area along the great river of Canada and the Gulf of St. Lawrence was still called Canada. Soon explorers and fur traders opened up territory to the west and to the south, and the area known as Canada grew.

Canadians use Canuck as an affectionate or merely descriptive term for their nationality. If familiar with the term, most citizens of other nations, including the United States, also use it affectionately, though there are individuals who may use it as a derogatory term. Usage of the term includes the following.

Canadians are considered North Americans due their residing in the North American continent. English-speaking Canadian immigrants easily integrate and assimilate into northern and western U.S. states as a result of many cultural similarities, and in the similar accent in spoken English.

Dominion comes from the Latin dominus, which means master. The term Dominion — that which is mastered or ruled — was used by the British to describe their colonies or territorial possessions. It was used for centuries before the word was formally applied to the new nation of Canada.