Know your country. Shape its future.

The Constitution recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples, each with distinct histories, languages and cultures.

Treaties are agreements between the Crown and Indigenous nations. The 11 Numbered Treaties were signed from 1871 to 1921.

A British document that recognized Indigenous rights to land and required treaties before settlement.

A federal law first passed in 1876 that controlled many parts of First Nations life. It is still in force, with many changes.

Government-funded, church-run schools that removed Indigenous children from their families. The last federally run school closed in 1996.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2008–2015) issued 94 Calls to Action. September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

On July 1, 1867, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick united as the Dominion of Canada.

Formerly the British North America Act, it created Canada and divided powers between Parliament and the provinces.

The Constitution Act, 1982 brought the Constitution fully home and added the Charter. The Queen proclaimed it on April 17, 1982.

Manitoba (1870), British Columbia (1871), PEI (1873), Alberta and Saskatchewan (1905), Newfoundland (1949) joined; Nunavut was created in 1999.

The King is head of state, represented by the Governor General federally and lieutenant governors in the provinces. Elected governments make decisions.

Parliament is the King, the appointed Senate and the elected House of Commons. A bill needs both houses and Royal Assent to become law.

The Prime Minister usually leads the party with the most support in the House of Commons and chooses the Cabinet.

The government must keep the confidence (support) of the elected House of Commons, or it falls.

The Supreme Court of Canada has nine judges, at least three from Quebec. Courts can strike down laws that break the Constitution.

Section 2: freedom of conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression, including the press; peaceful assembly; and association.

Sections 7 to 14: life, liberty and security of the person, protection from unreasonable search, rights on arrest and a fair trial.

Section 15 says every individual is equal before and under the law, without discrimination. It took effect in 1985.

Section 1 allows limits on rights that are reasonable and justified in a free and democratic society. Section 33 is the notwithstanding clause.

English and French are Canada’s official languages. Section 23 protects minority-language education for eligible families.

Canadian citizens 18 and older can vote in federal elections (Charter, section 3). Elections Canada runs federal elections.

Canada has 343 ridings. In each one, the candidate with the most votes wins a seat in the House of Commons.

A party with a majority of seats can usually pass laws; a minority government needs support from other parties.

Most women won the federal vote in 1918; Status First Nations people won it without losing status in 1960; the voting age became 18 in 1970.

Section 91 lists federal powers such as defence, money and criminal law; section 92 lists provincial powers such as hospitals and municipalities; section 93 covers education.

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Provinces have powers from the Constitution; territories get powers from Parliament.

Cities and towns are run by elected councils and mayors. They handle local services like water, transit, parks and garbage.

Many First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments run their own affairs through bands, treaties and self-government agreements.

Canada fought from 1914 to 1918. About 61,000 Canadians died. Vimy Ridge (April 1917) became a symbol of Canadian achievement.

Canada declared war on September 10, 1939, and landed at Juno Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. More than a million Canadians served.

Lester B. Pearson won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for helping create a UN peacekeeping force during the Suez Crisis.

Canada is a founding member of the United Nations (1945) and NATO (1949), and a member of the Commonwealth and La Francophonie.

The Official Languages Act (1969) made English and French equal in federal institutions.

Canada adopted a multiculturalism policy in 1971, and the Canadian Multiculturalism Act in 1988.

Saskatchewan began public medical insurance in 1962 under Tommy Douglas; the Canada Health Act (1984) sets national principles.

The maple leaf flag (February 15, 1965), “O Canada” (official in 1980), the beaver and the coat of arms.

Canada has apologized for past wrongs, such as the Chinese head tax (2006), residential schools (2008) and the Komagata Maru (2016).

In 1929, the Famous Five won a ruling that women are “persons” under the law and can be appointed to the Senate.

Newcomers can become citizens after living in Canada for 1,095 days in 5 years; adults 18–54 take a citizenship test based on Discover Canada.

Obeying the law, serving on a jury, voting, helping others in the community, and caring for Canada’s heritage and environment.

A primary source comes from the time (a treaty, letter or photo). A secondary source explains it later (a textbook).

Stop, investigate the source, find better coverage and trace claims to the original (SIFT).