2010 pt 2: Prairies Lec 9 Flashcards
Qualities of Prairie Provinces
- The southern part of the region is heavily agricultural
- Relatively flat topography
- Dry, extreme climate
- Oil in the western part
- Tourism in the rocky mountain foothills
- High aboriginal population and relatively high eastern European poulation
Alberta Name origin
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta was the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Saskatchewan Name origin
Derived from Cree word meaning “swift flowing water”
Manitoba Name origin
Derived from a Cree word meaning ‘lake of the prairies”
Agricultural land settlement: before 1869
Lots were narrow and provided frontage along rivers. They were based on Métis settlement patterns.
Land Settlement: 1869 onwards:
Land division was based on grids and square lots 160 acres in size. (acre 60mX60m)
This pattern preceded European settlement and was superimposed over physical obstacles and the preceding Métis settlement pattern.
Settlement Patterns
Initially, settlements were arranged in a linear pattern linked to railways. Settlements provided services for nearby farmers.
Grain Elevators
Towns developed around grain elevators; roughly every third settlement along a railway was larger and provide more diverse services. Each settlement housed frequently used services (eg. General stores and gas stations)
Since 1940, what has happened to the prairies rural population?
it has steadily declined
Why?
- Farms becoame larger and more mechanized leading to a lower population density
- Many areas became dominated by grain farms. There is no livestock on these farms thus minimal staffing is necessary.
What changes have happened in farming?
of farms = decreasing, BUT acreage is increasing
Since 1940, what has happened to the population of villages/cities?
Since 1940, the population of many villages has declined while towns and cities have grown.
Why?
- Lower rural population density leads to less business for villages.
- An increased us of trucks and cars plus an improved and expanded road network. New highways tended to bypass villages
- Rationalization of road and rail systems
How does the rail affect this?
Infrequently used transportation corridors were shut down. Fewer villages resulted in a reduced railway use
Decline in villages → closing local rail lines, closing loscal rail lines = decline in villages
What are exception to the pattern of declining growth? (what will not decline)
- Dormitory towns (people live in the town but work in a nearby city such as Winnipeg/Edmonton)
- Sites of government services
- Resource Towns
Gateway cities
Several cities in the Prairies act as collection and distribution points, often between the city and the nearby hinterland. The size of the gateway city often reflects the quality and extent of the hinterland.
Examples of Gateway cities
Edmonton → Northern Alberta Hinterland (HINTERLAND IN ALBERTA = IMPORTANT)
Prince Albert → Northern Saskatchewan hinterland
The smaller size of Prince Albert reflects the fewer economic activities in its hinterland.
Organizing the land
As the land surveyors continued progressing westward, they advanced on land occupied by Aboriginal peoples.
How did the aboriginals respond?
The 12,000 Métis in the region responded with organized rebellions. Other more nomadic Native tribes felt little choice but to sign treaties (Metis fought back with help of Louis Riel = other natives did not have much choice… led to them forming reserves)
What was the government worried about?
The British government became concerned about the viability of the lands managed by the HBC.
Surveyors were deployed to register the land and organize it into townships divided into 36 sections. Each new homesteader was given a quarter of a section. They were required to till the land and build ad house on the section (6 miles by 6 miles)
Canadian Pacific Railway
Sir John A. Macdonald’s vision of Canada included a railway extending from Atlantic to Pacific. The U.S. had already completed three transcontinental railways by the 1870s. The companies owning the land were reluctant unless they received substantial financial assistance. The CPR was completed in 1885.
Challenges Facing Homesteaders
The land survey system encouraged a dispersed rural population with individual farmsteads rather than villages. This created a sense of isolation. Many settlers were not prepared for the climate (cold, drought, wind, thunderstorms, hail) and the far distance to market. Homesteaders were forced to be innovative (e.g. practicing summer fallow Fallow = practice of leaving land idle for a year to accumulate soil moisture).
Political Movements in the Prairies
Several new parties developed in this region as a result of dissatisfaction with Ottawa.
CCF, Social Credit Party, Reform Party, Canadian Alliance,
CCF
(Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) It is currently known as the New Democratic Party
Social Credit Party
it had a fundamentalist and religious philosophy; popularity was maximized in the early 1900s (no longer exists)
Reform Party
(1987-2000) It was founded by Preston Manning in Alberta and he was the only person to ever lead the party. It became the official opposition in Ottawa and then changed its name to the Canadian Alliance (Preston Manning was in charge for its entire existence)
Canadian Alliance
(2000-2003) Led by Preston Manning and then Stephen Harper, it merged with the Progressive Conservative Party to form the current Conservative Party.
Economy in the prairies: whats going on?
For the past several years, the Prairies have had the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
Even after the global economic crisis, unemployment rates remained well below the national average.
Where does the majority of the population live?
in the 5 CMAs - Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary,
Most people living in hinterland live in resource towns
