Talk:Western Canada

I don't think anyone in Saskatchewan would ever consider the province as part of Central Canada. Geographically speaking yes, Manitoba is more central than Ontario. However, I've never heard of anyone in Western Canada referring to Manitoba as part of Central Canada, let alone Saskatchewan. Yes, Saskatchewan and Manitoba follow Central Time but also keep in mind that about half of southern Saskatchewan borders Montana which is on Mountain Time. Even Chicago which is east of Manitoba, is considered in the "Mid-West" by most US residents. RedWolf 05:02, Mar 12, 2004 (UTC)

As for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers being in the Eastern Conference of the CFL, they were originally in the Western Conference from 1950 to 1986. Only when the Eastern Conference was reduced to 3 teams (Montreal Concordes folded before the 1987 season), was the league forced to move Winnipeg to the Eastern Conference to balance the league out. Due to the CFL hiccups, Winnipeg has been bounced around the conferences a few times. However, as of the 2002 season, Winnipeg was back in the Western Conference. Also see [1] RedWolf 05:21, Mar 12, 2004 (UTC)

Quite frankly, I don't know much about the CFL. I just put that in there because I've heard it as an argument. However, I will say that most BC residents I know consider BC & Alberta to be Western Canada. Saskatchewan is usually grudgingly admitted. Manitoba is quite definitely Central Canada. moink 17:34, 12 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Since when has Manitoba ever been referred to as "Canada's Arkansas"? I'm not from Manitoba, and have only travelled through it, but I somehow take offence to this statement, and I'm sure many citizens from the fine state of Arkansas would as well, which leads me to think that the contributor either has something against this province and/or has never visited it. Manitoba, south of the inter-lake district (Canadian Shield) is predominantly prairie, similar to southern Saskatchewan and the Dakotas. Brandon is an important regional centre and Winnipeg is the largest population centre between Calgary/Edmonton and Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal. In addition, northern Manitoba holds untold wealth in natural resources for mining and hydro-electricity generation and timber, not to mention the strategic port of Churchill... I just don't get this reference - is it meant to be funny in its blatant ignorance? Plasma east 12:07, 13 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Maintoba isn't called "land of 100,000 lakes" but Saskatchewan actually is or ws formally called that. Also Manitoba is consered Western Canada, but sometimes B.C isn't considered to be part of Western Canada.

Manitoba is called land of 100,000 lakes; in the early 1970's this moniker was on the province's licence plates. Since at least 1975 the term "Friendy Manitoba" has been used on Manitoba's plates and is commonly known. How British Columbia, which is the westernmost province, can not be considered a part of Western Canada is beyond me. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have always been collectively referred to as the "Prairie Provinces".

I revised this article to correct some of the illogical statements that had been recently placed in it. British Columbia not part of Western Canada? Yes, it can be distinguished from the Prairie Provinces, as the Eastern Prairies can be distinguished from Alberta, but it is every bit a part of Western Canada. In fact, I would suggest that culturally the BC interior and indeed the Fraser Valley east of Burnaby as well as much of Vancouver Island have more in common with Alberta than with Vancouver's West End and Kitsilano districts. The time zone argument is ridiculous. Detroit is in the eastern time zone and Chicago in the central time zone but both are Midwestern Cities. And by the way, to the author, all of Manitoba and almost all of Saskatchewan (including all of the major cities and towns, are in the Central Time Zone, not the Mountain Time Zone. British Columbia is no more ethnically diverse than any other Western Province. Yes there is a larger number of Asians in that province than in the three Prairie Provinces, but according to Statistics Canada census 2001, Manitoba is Canada's most ethnically diverse province, followed closely by Saskatchewan. Economic differences? Gone are the days when the Prairies were dominated economically by agriculture. Manufacturing generates more economic output in both Manitoba and Alberta than does agriculture, not to mention mining, services, etc. Rode on a transit bus lately? Chances are it was made in Winnipeg. What can be said is that all of the Western Provinces now have relatively diversified economic bases. --207.161.41.91 09:21, 30 August 2005 (UTC)

100,000 Lakes

Saskatchewan is defiently called land of 100,000 lakes and not Maintoba. Its been adversitized by Saskatchewan tourism for many years and I belive it is still the same.

Once again, it's Manitoba that is called land of 100,000 lakes; in the early 1970's this moniker was on the province's licence plates. In the USA, Minnesota, which has "10,000 lakes" on their licence plate, was none too pleased about this comparison! If Sask. tourism is now using this slogan, it has simply been stolen from Manitoba. Whatever the case, Saskatchewan has a smaller surface area of fresh water compared to Manitoba (approx. 82,000 sq.km. vs. approx. 102,000 sq.km. in Manitoba). In addition most of Saskatchewan's lakes are far removed from the population centres whereas in Manitoba they are located throughout the province and are more influential on the lives of the people, especially the Manitoba "Great Lakes". I'm not sure what Saskatchewan's nickmnames have been, but I think it was historically the "Wheat Province" and is now "Land of Living Skies". --142.161.180.217 19:40, 24 October 2005 (UTC)

ON/QC as "Central Canada"

The article noted that Ontario and Quebec are often called "Central Canada." I have made an update to reflect the fact that no one in the West would ever use this term except, well, sneeringly. :) If you're a Westerner, that is Eastern Canada, end of story. 38.112.113.242 19:24, 24 February 2006 (UTC)