Go to the Atlas of Canada Web site located at: atlas.gc.ca and click on the English button. Follow the directions below to learn more about the settlement patterns of Atlantic Canada.

• Under Explore Our Maps click on People and Society then Population and then the Population Density, 1996 Map. The Population Density 1996 map will appear.
• Click on the Read more about this map link located in the small text box on the map or at the end of the abstract and answer these questions:

1. What is the purpose of this map?

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2. What does population density mean?

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3. How can you tell the approximate population density of an area by using this map?

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• Return to the Population Density, 1996 Map. Click in the middle of Atlantic Canada and a map of the region will appear. Answer the following questions:

4. In general, where do populations tend to be the most concentrated within Atlantic Canada? (They have settled near which geographic/physical feature(s)?)

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5. Why might people have settled here?

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6. Explain why the following areas are more thinly settled than others:

a) the interior of New Brunswick

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b) most of Newfoundland and Labrador

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c) the highlands of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

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7. For each of the Atlantic provinces, describe where most of the population had settled by 1996. Give specific reference to geographic and physical features. These features can be found on various maps on the Atlas Web site under Reference Maps » Provincial and Territorial Outline and Provincial and Territorial Relief Maps. Select each Atlantic province separately. Give a possible reason why people may have settled here. Use the chart to record your answers.

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Settlement Patterns of Atlantic Canada

For this activity you will be working with your group. The purpose of this activity is to determine the trends in changes in population density within Atlantic Canada over the past century.

There are six maps that need to be accessed. Divide the work among your group members so that certain ones will be responsible for accessing and printing specific maps. When all maps are printed come together within your group and complete the questions that follows the list of maps.

The maps to be printed within the Atlas of Canada site are:

1. In the left menu panel go to Map Archives » 1st Edition, 1906. Then go to the People and Society and select Density of Population, 1901 [Eastern Canada] Map. Use the Zoom In tool to focus on Atlantic Canada.
2. In the left menu panel go to Map Archives » 2nd Edition, 1915. Then go to the People and Society and select Density of Population, 1911 [Eastern Canada] Map. Use the Zoom In tool to focus on Atlantic Canada.
3. In the left menu panel go to Map Archives » 3rd Edition, 1957. Then go to the People and Society and select Density of Population, 1951 Map. Use the Zoom In tool to focus on Atlantic Canada.
4. In the left menu panel go to Map Archives » 4th Edition, 1974. Then go to the People and Society select Population Density, 1961 [Eastern Canada] Map. Use the Zoom In tool to focus on Atlantic Canada.
5. In the left menu panel go to Map Archives » 5th Edition, 1978 to 1995. Then go to the People and Society and select Population Density, 1976 Map » Use the Zoom In tool to focus on Atlantic Canada.
6. In the left menu panel go to Explore Our Maps » People and Society » Population » Population Density, 1996 Map. Use the Zoom In tool to focus on Atlantic Canada.

Please note that the years showing population density are 1901, 1911, 1951, 1961, 1976 and 1996.

Questions

Using information from the printed maps, answer the following questions. Be prepared to justify your answers.

1. On which map does Newfoundland and Labrador first appear? Why doesn’t it appear on earlier maps?

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2. What settlement patterns have you noticed for each province? Suggest reasons for each.

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3. Are there any major changes in settlement patterns within Atlantic Canada? If so suggest reasons for these changes.

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4. Identify major urban centers that show a significant change in population density and comment upon whether or not they may have been settled for the same reason(s).

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5. Revisit your answers to question 7 (Part I). How are your answers similar or different from 3 (Part II)? Be prepared to share your conclusions with the rest of the class and to justify your responses.

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6. Compare your answers from 4 (Part II) to your answers from 7 (Part I). How are they similar or different? Be prepared to share and justify your answers to the class.

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