Canada

Canada
Overview- in this section you must include the following information:
* Full name of country: Canada
* Location (list continent, bordering countries, and bodies of water)
Continent: North America
Bordering countries: United States, Alaska (U.S)
* Size- total area: 9.9 million sq km (3.8 million sq miles)
* How does your country’s location affect its politicalrelationships with other countries? Canada has developed a great relationship with The United States, creating the biggest trading relation. The United States and Canada also work closely to resolve trans-boundary environmental and water issues, an area of increasing importance in the bilateral relationship. Canada and the United States cooperate in multilateral fora.
* Capital City: Ottawa
* Flagdescription, significance of the flag design: two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width) with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the maple leaf has long been a Canadian symbol; the official colors of Canada are red and white The colors on the Canadian flag represent the following: White - peace and honesty Red - hardiness,bravery, strength & valour. The left half of the flag ( viewer's left side ) is called the Hoist and red dominates half the width.The right half of the flag is called the Fly and also features the color red on half the with. The Maple Leaf emblem has no specific significance other than what it depicts - a stylized representation of a natural maple leaf.
History- in this section you must include thefollowing information:
* Who are your country’s historic allies?

* Who are your countries historic enemies?

* Was your country subjected to colonial rule? If yes, by which country? When? Territories, colonies and provinces that would become part of modern Canada were under control of theEnglish, and later British, Empire from the sixteenth century, when France also had claims inthe area. Canada under British rule (1763-1867)
* What year did your country become independent? 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)
* Did you country ever colonize another country? If yes, which countries?

People- in this section you must include the following information:
* Official languageEnglish 58.8%, French 21.6%,
* Official Religion Roman Catholic 42.6%,
* Other Dominant Religions (give %’s for the 4 most followed religions) Protestant 23.3% Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%
* Population 34,030,589 (July 2011 est.)
* Major ethnic groups British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African,Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Education- in this section you must include the following information:
* What age do children begin school? 4 years old
* How many years, on average, do they attend? 17 years
* What is the adult literacy rate? 99% of population know how to read and write
* Is education free and/or a requirement of all citizens? Canada has public education provided,funded and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments
* How many colleges or universities does your country have? What are the admission rates (how many people attend university)? There are 83 universities in Canada that are independent post-secondary education institutions with degree-granting authority. On average, achieving the necessary grades for admission to a worthwhileCanadian university or college is difficult. The real difficulty comes into play in staying in either college or university, since attainment of high school grades may prove much easier than maintaining the necessary GPA for graduation from a Canadian institution.
* Describe one interesting fact that you have learned about education in your country. Education in Canada is public and it has a...