[CCF]

I'm curious to what everyone thinks. Americans are often criticized when it comes to geography...but how much better are Canadians?

The further away from a place we are, the less we know. This is certainly true for Canada considering how big our country is.

I recall reading in a newspaper earlier this year how students in Toronto were commenting on Manitoba. One girl said she'd never move to Manitoba because it was in the middle of nowhere (It's in the middle of Canada so I guess Canada is being referred to as nowhere.)

Another remark I remember was when Regina was hosting the Canada summer games in 2005 to which a rower from one of the Atlantic provinces was shocked that Saskatchewan had water. Little did she know that Saskatchewan actually has over 100,000 lakes, rivers, etc.

Heck, I bet you a lot of Canadians aren't even familiar with some smaller to mid-sized cities. Take Moncton for example, a city with a metro population of 130,000 probably couldn't be placed on a map by most Canadians.

So, is the average Canadian actually any good when it comes to Canadian geography?

[adam-machiavelli]

The comment about Manitoba was just a rhetorical joke...same for Saskatchewan I'm sure.

[harls]

I would imagine most people subscribed to this forum have a keen sense of geography. Canadians in general, not sure..

[CCF]

The comment about Manitoba was just a rhetorical joke...same for Saskatchewan I'm sure.

Yes but these jokes are created by a lack of knowledge. People truly believe that both provinces are flat and with little else. In reality both provinces have a wide range of landscapes.

People always say "Saskatchewan/Manitoba are so cold!" Do they know that we actually have the hottest summers too?

Harls, I would agree. Most people here have an interest in geography and seeing new places but whether or not the applies to the average Canadian...well that's the question.

[401_King]

i dont know where montreal is on a map. my excuse is i've never been there

[Hootch]

Anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there...

Seriously I'm pretty decent knowing the topography and cities of other countries. Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan I have trouble with.

[feepa]

I don't see why you keep trying to beat this subject CCF.... The prairies (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and even Alberta...) are some of the least populated places in North America..(territories not included) And yes, the most travelled areas of each mentioned province is relatively flat and yes, boring... Not sure why you are trying to tell people its not.

Canada is a northern Climate. Its colder then some other parts of the world. Prairie winters are typically colder then say Southern Ontario, and the summers are cooler too, with less humidity. Big Deal. Not everyone likes high heat and humidity...

I can say that SK/MB are hot, and in the same sentence they are cold too. These places faces some of the most extremes, as you well know. -40 to +40 easy in one year

Not sure why every topic your in, you get your back up against the wall that people may speak the truth a bit. The prairies are great, but they also suck. (Like most places in the world)

feepa

[Reesonov]

Anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there...

Seriously I'm pretty decent knowing the topography and cities of other countries. Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan I have trouble with.

Personally its far easier for me to point those out on a map than Moncton.

[CCF]

Pardon me?

This has nothing to do with defending Manitoba or Saskatchewan, I was merely using them as examples.

I apologize for trying to actually start a decent thread in this forum. You know, something other than "Alberta has oil!"

[Arriviste]

Anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there...



Spider pig, spider pig...

On to real matters, I'd say Canadians are better than Americans at international geography, but that they do learn a significant amount about their own country, including geography. At least in my experience. Whether they proportionally know more about their country than we do about ours is impossible to say.
Most of the people I associate with are fairly knowledgeable I'd say regarding Canadian geography. On a whole I'd say Canadians are fairly knowledgeable regarding their own geography, except maybe the north. As in we do not as a people appreciate and understand the north well enough.

[TheMeltyMan]

I've found that Canadians are generally just as disinterested in geography as Americans. I'm an American and I find that I know more about Canadian geography than most Canadians, though I do stare at maps on an almost daily basis.

[harls]

^ same here. I have one located arms length from the can.

I've said too much..

[TheMeltyMan]

I have a 2007 Rand McNally in the can and I tell people how shitty AAA maps are. I have the plague.

A friend back of mine back in the states was asked what the highest mountain in the world was. He responded with "K9".

http://www.bigpawsonly.com/dog-images/german-shepherd-picture.jpg

Other things he has professed:

- George Washington was held prisoner in the Pagoda of Reading (built in 1908)
- Hawaii does not have automobiles.

[feepa]

Pardon me?

This has nothing to do with defending Manitoba or Saskatchewan, I was merely using them as examples.

I apologize for trying to actually start a decent thread in this forum. You know, something other than "Alberta has oil!"


Oh ya, theres just a flooding of the forum of the "Oilberta" threads... really I see 1, and its not even in the top of the threads... in fact, theres more threads started by you then anyone on the first page, and they all reasonate to either Sask or MB...

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/9897/oilertafk1.jpg

[IntotheWest]

^I would agree...most don't really know much outside their own region (Maritimes, north, east, west...oh, and "central" Canada ;)). And yes, most know the names of provinces/territories, and the capitals of each - but there are only 13 to know vs 50 in the US. We only know the US better than Americans know Canada because a) most of us live within less than a 3 hour drive, and b) we're dependant and bombarded by US media and pop culture.

How many folks on here can list the central American countries - in order from north to south? And their capitals?

Or, any of the 31 states of Mexico (which some are well-populated)?

As for CCF's opening comment, I have in my personal experience living in Toronto - as well as working with Torontonians in other locations - the lack of geographical knowledge out west was surprising (well educated folks). Not to limit it to Torontonians, I've seen the same exist elsewhere in Canada. Most don't care really. Most on this forum though do have a good understanding, of at least Canada's geophraphy - and likely other places as well.

[IntotheWest]

Feepa - I don't think CCF was trying to start a Sask thread...I think he's posted a good question, and gave his experience/input to the question. No big deal.


EDIT: Besides, I don't see anything wrong with the fact there are two other threads started by CCF - both are great for the Canada section IMO.

[IntotheWest]

^ same here. I have one located arms length from the can.

I've said too much..

Forget that. I just use Google Earth. And I take it in the can too ;)

[CCF]

Wow...they all resonate to Sask and Manitoba...I'd like to see how you think a thread about the CFL and city nicknames is about SK/MB?

Sorry this thread isn't up to your standards. I guess we should go back to debating
"Shell applies to build $27-billion oil sands plant," "Edmonton: Canada's Festival City",
"Is Alberta boom starting to dim?"

[401_King]

On to real matters, I'd say Canadians are better than Americans at international geography,

i dont know about this man...

perhaps you meant Canadians are generally more aware of US geography rather than Americans knowing about Canada? I would probably agree with that.

[401_King]

As for CCF's opening comment, I have in my personal experience living in Toronto - as well as working with Torontonians in other locations - the lack of geographical knowledge out west was surprising (well educated folks). Not to limit it to Torontonians, I've seen the same exist elsewhere in Canada. Most don't care really.

Did those people you talk to travel out west though?

[feepa]

Wow...they all resonate to Sask and Manitoba...I'd like to see how you think a thread about the CFL and city nicknames is about SK/MB?

Sorry this thread isn't up to your standards. I guess we should go back to debating
"Shell applies to build $27-billion oil sands plant," "Edmonton: Canada's Festival City",
"Is Alberta boom starting to dim?"

So I guess its wrong that every 10th thread has something to do with Alberta? I don't get why people get in such a hissy fit if something is posted in the Canada section. Its so silly. The thread would die quicker if you would just not post in it, but yet, it keeps getting replied to... people must want to read it ?

And I wasn't saying there was anything wrong with your threads either... my god.

[feepa]

As for geography, I think I'm fairly okay, especially with North American stuff, but even worldwide...

[Hootch]

Or, any of the 31 states of Mexico (which some are well-populated)?

Baja California Sur
Baja california norte
Chihuahua
techochitlan ( :haha: I know that's spelled wrong, actually it's called ciudad de mexico?)
guadalajara?

I think that's 5 :P

I know more but not off the top of my head. I'm trying to learn Spanish and trying to immerse myself in it (watching spanish tv, reading it, but it's not going well)

oh yeah, veracruz?

it's amazing that there's so much more about other countries I don't know, like the provinces of China, districts and counties...

[boden]

Quite a few people I met while in Nova Scotia recently had not heard of Belleville....but then again you can't blame them.
Even here in Ontario neither the Globe or the Star even show Belleville on their weather maps....surprising considering the metro is almost 100,000. I still have my first atlas from 40 years ago, and Belleville isn't shown on that either..just Trenton.
Belleville must surely be the biggest town that doesn't exist!!!!!!

[architect1]

hahahaha I would agree with the whole us not knowing are own cities. the reason why is in all the geography classes I took it was about Asia, carrabian, Europe, Africa, and so on every where that Canada isn't.

[CCF]

Interesting to see which Canadian provinces still have geography in the primary school curriculum?

In Saskatchewan, geography is no longer taught in elementary nor high school. A form of it has been mutated into "Social Studies" which attempts to cover all the social sciences. Personally I find that to be quite unfortunate.

[Kevin_foster]

Whar be this fancy Canada place you all speak of? Sounds like a great place! Gography? Whazzat?

[Laurent]

I get the impression that most Canadians don't know much about CANADA in general, never mind just it's geography. Worse, we think we know about it, but we often have more prejudice than knowledge about each other.

[Brokenhead]

I myself can name 94 countries (out of 196?) and located the majority of them easily top of my head. Naming the capital cities, forget about it, only like 5.

Truely if you think about, why do we need to know? If we want to go somewhere, just look it up.

I myself always had an interest in Geo.

[vid]

Ontario is flatter than Saskatchewan.

[big W]

I get the impression that most Canadians don't know much about CANADA in general, never mind just it's geography. Worse, we think we know about it, but we often have more prejudice than knowledge about each other.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding. Most Canadians think they know other parts of the country based on what they hear from the media or from "others" and almost no one actually has experieced it for what it is. I have a hard time seeing Alberta as a wasteland detroyed by oil that some would believe. I also do not see this conservative Alberta that the media portrays when going to the US midwest states like Kansas or the US south heck even some liberal US states this myth falls flat. I hear about Quebec draining money from Ontario but in reality its just bullshit. You hear the comments on flat SK and MB where you can see your dog running for 3 days, but as someone who has gone to northern SK and MB they are anything but flat treeless its Canadian Sheild up there. I can go on but most Canadians do not really know their own country. Lets be honest how many Canadians can name the last 6 PM's?

[big W]

Ontario is flatter than Saskatchewan.

Overall thats correct. Southern Ontario is flat as flat can be, but not the north. Vid where you live is pretty rugged country in T Bay and along the north shore of Lake Superior, however head due east and its flat.

[the dude]

it's true that we think we know more than americans about our country and the world, etc., but i hardly think that's true. "talking to americans" really helped in that regard. mercer could have done the same kind of show on the streets of toronto and gotten nearly the same results. as a geography teacher i can tell you that it's not valued in education and we're under constant threat of having our lines cut, fewer classes that is. my students know shockingly little about our country and next to nothing about the world. it's a struggle.

[vid]

Overall thats correct. Southern Ontario is flat as flat can be, but not the north. Vid where you live is pretty rugged country in T Bay and along the north shore of Lake Superior, however head due east and its flat.

It is rugged here, but there are highlands in Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well.

[SpongeG]

we had geograpy when i was in high school

i think for the most part people just don't care to know - i myself don't care to learn much about places unless i am going to go them - though i have been to a lot of places so i always retain that

its just not a priority to know such things i guess

what i am always amazed at though is how so many people live in their city and just never seem to venture anywhere in it or out of it or explore - when i was a kid my dad always loved to just go for sunday drives - be it at home or on vacation - he was always up for venturing places - i guess he passed that along to me

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

One girl said she'd never move to Manitoba because it was in the middle of nowhere


This tells me she knows exactly where it is. :tup:

[jaydee]

I quite enjoy having a photographic memory. I see maps in my mind. Once I've been somewhere, I have no trouble finding it again, even years later. I know the location of nearly every country in the world, and I know Canadian and American geography quite well. I should've gone in a geography bee :) And I have a mother who gets lost by following a truck in the fog while she drives in west on Jasper Ave (somehow, she got into the river valley...and all she had to do was keep going west. Why she turned south is unknown).

[LordMandeep]

I quite enjoy having a photographic memory. I see maps in my mind. Once I've been somewhere, I have no trouble finding it again, even years later.





i am like that as well.

[someone123]

Most people are kind of ignorant of the world in general. Plenty of people have travelled, however, particularly outside of rural areas. I don't really agree with the statement that people in Atlantic Canada are on the whole that ignorant about the rest of the country. They are probably most aware of other parts because they tend to move around a lot. Torontonians, for example, are much less likely to know much about other places, particularly if they are immigrants.

The Saskatchewan thing is ambiguous. I don't think you can find an area on the planet the size of Saskatchewan that does not have some kind of surface water, but the province is indeed landlocked and most of the larger lakes are in the North where presumably very few people live.

Moncton is a borderline town without any particular features to distinguish it from other places so I wouldn't expect many people in other parts of Canada to know about it.

As already mentioned, the prairies do not have the warmest summers in Canada. The BC interior has the warmest average high temperatures and the warmest mean temperatures are in Southern Ontario. People get these things mixed up because they tend to remember extreme events. Saskatchewan has seen some very hot summer days but also extremely cold summer temperatures. The record temperature range at this time of year in Regina (which has the widest range of the cities I checked), for example, is 37 to 0 C. In Halifax (which has the narrowest) the range is only 30 to 11 C. The mean summer temperatures in both cities are comparable but the actual weather patterns are quite different.

[Xelebes]

I quite enjoy having a photographic memory. I see maps in my mind. Once I've been somewhere, I have no trouble finding it again, even years later. I know the location of nearly every country in the world, and I know Canadian and American geography quite well. I should've gone in a geography bee :) And I have a mother who gets lost by following a truck in the fog while she drives in west on Jasper Ave (somehow, she got into the river valley...and all she had to do was keep going west. Why she turned south is unknown).

I entered a geography bee - first test was the classroom test. I got 88%. The next person got 27%.

The came the school final. I beat everyone - winning question, I think was about the Yangtze Kiang.

I moved schools before I got to go to the provincials. I bet I would have kick butt there too. :(

[LordMandeep]

i remember in grade 8, my friend comes and says "The capital of Mongolia is Ulan Bator! Beat that!"

I ask whats the capital of China and he said Tokyo...

[mmmatt]

I know where Moncton is haha...however I can never place Edmonton, Calgary, Regina or any citys out west on a map correctly besides Vancouver or Victoria because they are easy (due to vancouver island and whatnot).

[Dalreg]

Why do we need geography? GPS is the way to go. No more worries about finding anything.

[MolsonExport]

I am good at geography. I am Canadian.

Therefore, yes.

[kirjtc2]

I entered a geography bee - first test was the classroom test. I got 88%. The next person got 27%.

The came the school final. I beat everyone - winning question, I think was about the Yangtze Kiang.

I moved schools before I got to go to the provincials. I bet I would have kick butt there too. :(

I made it to the nationals of the Great Canadian Geography Challenge back in 1997. Would have made it to the top 10 (with Alex Trebek) had I not had a brainfart and said the equator went through Antarctica.

At least I got a free trip to Ottawa out of it during the middle of the tulip festival.

[elsonic]

I think I know more about USA than Canada. well, there is more to know (population, history, culture, inhabitated land, etc) and there is more interesting documentation about it. is that a shame?

[brento79]

I lived in the US and Canada. In doing Business I can say that Canadians in general (in the business world) know more about world geography than those in the United States. Having had education in both countries, I can truly state that Canada focuses more on international geography than Americans.

[MolsonExport]

I made it to the nationals of the Great Canadian Geography Challenge back in 1997. Would have made it to the top 10 (with Alex Trebek) had I not had a brainfart and said the equator went through Antarctica.

At least I got a free trip to Ottawa out of it during the middle of the tulip festival.

I know exactly what Alex Trebek would have said about your answer:

http://www.canadians.ca/celebs/alex_trebek-slide.jpg

I'm sorry; that is incorrect.

[Xelebes]

I made it to the nationals of the Great Canadian Geography Challenge back in 1997. Would have made it to the top 10 (with Alex Trebek) had I not had a brainfart and said the equator went through Antarctica.

At least I got a free trip to Ottawa out of it during the middle of the tulip festival.

I qualified for the provincials in '98. I missed the whole '99 contest altogether. I didn't do so well in the '97 contest because it was my first try. Got through halfway in that one.

[mmmatt]

Take Moncton for example, a city with a metro population of 130,000 probably couldn't be placed on a map by most Canadians.

I know a few guys from around the country who could certainly place it on a map:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/2007aug9_6.jpg
photo credit: Communications New Brunswick (http://www1.gnb.ca/cnb/multimedia/display-e.asp?ID=1153&num=1)

[CCF]

Do you think Campbell felt out of place with that jacket?

[Distill3d]

are canadian's any good at geography? putting it nicely, until recently my fiance thought that Salt Lake City was in Washington state because it would be next to the ocean. her justification for this "the ocean is one big salt lake isn't it?"

on a canadian note, she thought Halifax was a province...

i mean, i understand that i know more state capitals because of sports teams then i do because of school, but...thats just ridiculous.

[the dude]

ouch, no comment on that last one.

[elsonic]

a mate in another work asked me why I love NY so much.

I gave a couple of reasons :

- architecture, walking in the streets, the buzz, blabla, and also because NY is so big..

- oh really? is it bigger than Montréal?

:tup:

[Jimbo]

I've never even heard of moncton. :S

where is it?

[vid]

New Brunswick. :)

[kirjtc2]

What's this New Brunswick thing you speak of? Doesn't Canada end at Quebec?

(/ignorant uninformed westerner/Ontarian/Conservative cabinet minister)

[keninhalifax]

Just wondering, are there any others on this forum who earned their degrees in Geography? I can't recall how many times I was asked, "really, Geography? Do you guys colour in maps all day?", to which I replied, "yes, of course we do".

[CCF]

Just wondering, are there any others on this forum who earned their degrees in Geography? I can't recall how many times I was asked, "really, Geography? Do you guys colour in maps all day?", to which I replied, "yes, of course we do".

Yep. I get the map thing constantly.

"What are you going to do....make maps?"

[Xelebes]

Cartographers make maps - what do geographers actually do? Determine what is a place and what is not?

[CCF]

Cartographers make maps - what do geographers actually do? Determine what is a place and what is not?

Geography is a diverse field. Geographers study the interaction between people and space.

You are right Cartographers do make maps, but most Cartography classes are offered through a university's Geography Department. I've certainly never heard of a Canadian universitity having a Department of Cartography.

[Wooster]

Try Facebook's Traveller IQ feature. It is super addictive. It is like playing online Where in the World is Carmen San Diego for all the world.

Super fun. So far my highest score is 573 000 and an IQ of 130.

[the dude]

i rule traveler iq. haven't played in a while but i'm still on the leader board for a couple of them.

[keninhalifax]

Bah, I only scored 469,000. The pressure and an inaccurate mouse was my downfall!

[Robynobotica]

Just wondering, are there any others on this forum who earned their degrees in Geography? I can't recall how many times I was asked, "really, Geography? Do you guys colour in maps all day?", to which I replied, "yes, of course we do".


Haha, as somebody who recently earned their geography degree, I always get the response similar to, "Oh, geography huh? I was never really good at remembering countries".

It's so funny how that's how geography's thought of by most.

In all seriousness, if they're truly interested or show that they can hold a thought or two, I'll maybe describe what one does if they study urban geography, geomorphology, biogeography, historical geography, GIS, cartography, etc. Their faces usually perk up a bit.

[Robynobotica]

... but speaking of Canadian geography or the lack thereof, I totally agree that a lot of Canadians only really know their regions, but rely on media or others for their info on other parts of Canada.

In a cartography class I took, one of the exercises we did initially was to draw a map of Canada labeling all the provinces and capital cities by memory. Since our class was mostly from BC, we had amazingly detailed maps of BC, Alberta, and as you head east, really morphed outlines of Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes? Yikes. They were amoeba-like blobs.

Then we did a similar exercise drawing our home city. People who commuted through certain suburbs/neighbourhoods had regional details that others entirely lacked. Some people could draw the entire city in detail, while others only knew their home neighbourhood. It was really fun to see the differences. People who had only been in town for a few months obviously drew much less than somebody who had been living there their whole life, and yet, the differences between people who should know their city was drastic!

What I've really found interesting though, speaking of Canadian regional bias, is how some Canadians pass off their regional identity as a national identity. People from southern Ontario, I find, are really bad at this. Friends of mine said they really didn't realize Southern Ontario had its own distinct identity until they travelled out west, and then they realized that "typical Canadian landscape" didn't mean the Muskokas anymore.

[Xelebes]

Geography is a diverse field. Geographers study the interaction between people and space.

You are right Cartographers do make maps, but most Cartography classes are offered through a university's Geography Department. I've certainly never heard of a Canadian universitity having a Department of Cartography.

I always thought Cartography would be part of the Math Department (geomatics, surveying and the sort, I think, are under the Math Department). Never thought there was a Geography department (haven't gone to university so don't yell at me).

[mmmatt]

I've never even heard of moncton. :S

where is it?

Its a very small village located in the center of the maritimes. sorrounding towns include:
-the small port town, Halifax,
-Saint John, a town with a small home business based in it...I think Its called Irving or something.
-a small village where some wierd and probably pointless meeting took place...Charlottetown.

A recent survey found that there are only 6 places in canada which are better places to live over Moncton...this was obviously a mistake. Also in 2004 some magazine messed up big time and named it the best city in canada to do business in...the fools!

[mersar]

I always thought Cartography would be part of the Math Department (geomatics, surveying and the sort, I think, are under the Math Department). Never thought there was a Geography department (haven't gone to university so don't yell at me).

At U of C Geomatics is actually part of engineering, but also there is some crossover with the geography department (which is part of social sciences).

[keninhalifax]

What I've really found interesting though, speaking of Canadian regional bias, is how some Canadians pass off their regional identity as a national identity. People from southern Ontario, I find, are really bad at this. Friends of mine said they really didn't realize Southern Ontario had its own distinct identity until they travelled out west, and then they realized that "typical Canadian landscape" didn't mean the Muskokas anymore.

Agreed. As an Ontarian moving to the Maritimes (and after a few visits out east), I am aware that Canadians still maintain distinct regionalisms despite the homogenizing effects of the mass media, popular culture, the internet, and easy transportation. Still, I wish the Ottawa Valley would have maintained its truly strange Gaelic/Franco-Ontarien dialect and character.

[kirjtc2]

At U of C Geomatics is actually part of engineering, but also there is some crossover with the geography department (which is part of social sciences).

I'm in geomatics engineering at UNB here in Fredericton - I think UNB, Calgary and Laval have the only such programs in the country. Although there has been a lot of expansion in the curriculum of the undergraduate program, the focus is still really on surveying.

UNB has no geography department, which is something that frankly pisses me off.

[CCF]

I'm in geomatics engineering at UNB here in Fredericton - I think UNB, Calgary and Laval have the only such programs in the country. Although there has been a lot of expansion in the curriculum of the undergraduate program, the focus is still really on surveying.

UNB has no geography department, which is something that frankly pisses me off.


Yeah I always found that a little odd. UNB isn't the only school not to have a geography department though. There's a couple around.

[vid]

Still, I wish the Ottawa Valley would have maintained its truly strange Gaelic/Franco-Ontarien dialect and character.

It would have been hilariously unique. :) Likewise had Northern Ontario had more of a Scandinavian influence. Yoopers are funny enough, a Canadian Yooper would just be intolerably absurd. :)

[waterloowarrior]

Geography is awesome .... I'm in urban planning but I try to take geography courses as much as possible - the two subjects go together very well (same faculty at Waterloo.. we are also getting geomatics this year).

GIS > * ... though no one seems to know what GIS is, so I always have to say, "I make maps on the computer" :)

[CCF]

Geography is awesome .... I'm in urban planning but I try to take geography courses as much as possible - the two subjects go together very well (same faculty at Waterloo.. we are also getting geomatics this year).

GIS > * ... though no one seems to know what GIS is, so I always have to say, "I make maps on the computer" :)

I prefer schools whom keep Geography and Urban Planning in the same department. To me Urban Planning is just another branch of Geography and making it its own department seem redundant.

[vid]

If they study urban planning in great depth, I see no reason that an Urban Planning department can't be created. LU has a Forestry Department, should that be classed under Geography as well?

[DowntownRiderFan]

Just wondering, are there any others on this forum who earned their degrees in Geography? I can't recall how many times I was asked, "really, Geography? Do you guys colour in maps all day?", to which I replied, "yes, of course we do".


While i do get the making maps comment once in a while. More often than not after I tell someone I am taking GEOGRAPHY they immediately reply..."a geologist hey?...followed by some comment about moving to alberta and working in the oilfield.

I think it is rather unfortunate that geography is so misunderstood and undervalued - there was no geography in grades 1 to 12 in Sask, only a week or so in highschool learning european countries and capitals. I didnt know what geography was and that you could study it until my second year in university.

But as said already geography is very diverse and interdisciplinary in nature and here's hoping importance of geography, real geography - not just place name geography becomes more valued as we become more globalized and interdisciplinary research becomes more and more important.

And as for Canadians knowing geography...

I have done marking for the Geog of Canada class, and taught a lab or two at the U of R and the lack of basic geographical knowledge of many students is scary - and this is after they have taken the class. I can only imagine what they knew (didnt know) before the class. The disheartening fact was a lot of those students were education students that will be teaching my kids.

[vid]

One thing I think Canadian geography should start teaching is Mexican geography. We know almost nothing about our neighbours to the south's neighbour to the south.

[Xelebes]

One thing I think Canadian geography should start teaching is Mexican geography. We know almost nothing about our neighbours to the south's neighbour to the south.

Cancun?
Oaxaca?
Yucatan?
Chihuahua?
Guadalajara?
Acupulco?
Mexico City?
Sierra Madre?
Baja California?

That's all I know.

[Dalreg]

One thing I think Canadian geography should start teaching is Mexican geography. We know almost nothing about our neighbours to the south's neighbour to the south.

Mexco? Tequila and legalized marajuana! Thas all a person needs to know!