Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada (also the Eastern provinces or the East) is generally considered to be the region of Canada south of the Hudson Bay/ Strait and east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces (from east to west): Newfoundland and Labrado ...
comprising the
provinces
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
located on the
Atlantic coast, excluding
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
. The four provinces are
New Brunswick
New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
,
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...
,
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
, and
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
. As of 2021, the landmass of the four Atlantic provinces was approximately 488,000 km
2, and had a population of over 2.4 million people. The provinces combined had an approximate GDP of $121.888 billion
in 2011. The term ''Atlantic Canada'' was popularized following the admission of Newfoundland as a Canadian province in 1949.
History
The first
premier of Newfoundland
The premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is the first minister and head of government for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since 1949, the premier's duties and office has been the successor to the ministerial position of the pri ...
,
Joey Smallwood, coined the term "Atlantic Canada" when
Newfoundland joined
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
in 1949. He believed that it would have been presumptuous for Newfoundland to assume that it could include itself within the existing term "
Maritime provinces
The Maritimes, also called the Maritime provinces, is a region of Eastern Canada consisting of three provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The Maritimes had a population of 1,899,324 in 2021, which makes up 5.1% of Ca ...
," used to describe the cultural similarities shared by
New Brunswick
New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
,
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI; ) is one of the thirteen Provinces and territories of Canada, provinces and territories of Canada. It is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. The island has seve ...
, and
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland".
Most of the population are native Eng ...
. The three Maritime provinces entered
Confederation
A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...
during the 19th century (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were founding members of the Dominion of Canada in 1867, and Prince Edward Island joined in 1873).
Geography
Although Quebec has a physical Atlantic coast on the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, it is generally not considered an Atlantic Province, instead being classified as part of
Central Canada along with
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
. Atlantic and Central Canada together are also known as
Eastern Canada
Eastern Canada (also the Eastern provinces or the East) is generally considered to be the region of Canada south of the Hudson Bay/ Strait and east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces (from east to west): Newfoundland and Labrado ...
. The following tables use Statistics Canada's 2021 Census Data.
Municipal Geography
Provincial Geography
Demographics
The following tables provide 2021 census figures for "
Metropolitan Areas
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually ...
" (built from entire municipalities) and "
Population Centres" (limited to actual continuously-built-up areas) in Atlantic Canada. The list includes communities above 15,000, by Metropolitan Area population, or 10,000 by Population Centre population.
Municipal populations
Provincial populations
See also
* ''
Acadiensis
''Acadiensis: Journal of the History of the Atlantic Region'' (fr: ''Acadiensis: Revue d'histoire de la région Atlantique'') is a semi-annual peer-reviewed academic journal covering the history of Atlantic Canada. The current editors-in-chief are ...
'', scholarly history journal covering Atlantic Canada
*
Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce
The Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC) is a regional chamber of commerce in the four Atlantic Provinces of Canada. APCC is an alliance of local chambers of commerce and boards of trade throughout Atlantic Canada. Formed in 1896 as the ...
*
List of regions of Canada
The list of regions of Canada is a summary of geographical areas on a hierarchy that ranges from national (groups of provinces and territories) at the top to local regions and sub-regions of provinces at the bottom. Administrative regions that ran ...
*
Atlantic Northeast
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References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
External links
Atlas of Canada – Atlantic RegionAtlantic Canadian cities and Surrounding areasAtlantic Canada Portal/Portail du Canada AtlantiqueAtlantic Canada a Profitable Place to do BusinessEast Coast Proud
{{Coord, 47, N, 62, W, source:svwiki_type:landmark, display=title
Eastern Canada
Regions of Canada
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...