Oh Canada!

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Human Geography of Sudbury, Ontario

Population

(Above) Created by me using [10].

The population and density of Sudbury, Ontario does not at all reflect those of the Boreal Shield Ecozone.  The ecozone does not include any of Canada's largest urban areas (in fact, Sudbury is one of the biggest it has), and on top of that it is the largest of the ecozones in terms of area.  This leaves it with a very low density of around 1.8  people per square kilometre [16].  Sudbury, on the other hand, is a very large city in terms of area as well, but its population helps raise the city's density.  Overall, the difference is because the ratio of Sudbury's area to its population is much more balanced than the ratio of the Boreal Shield's area to its population.


Sudbury's population is 160 770, and its population density is 49.5 people per square kilometre.


The population pyramid to the left shows that Sudbury is a city with a population in the later stages of development.  It has a high life expectancy rate, and the majority of the population is aged 45-60.

Cultural Make-Up

 

There are many different cultural groups in the city of Sudbury, Ontario.  The two that are most prominant are the Canadian (meaning those born here and those moving from other areas of Canada) and the French, followed by several other smaller, but still substantial groups.


The population of Sudbury identifies as:

-Canadian:  41 .9%                    

-French:  40.3%                        

-English:  22.4%                         

-Irish:  19.2%                                

-Scottish:  15.7%

-German:  8.7%

-Italian:  8.3%

-North American Indian:  6.9%

-Finnish:  5.2%

-Métis:  4.5%

-Ukranian:  4.5%

-Polish:  3.0%

(Above stats) [14]

As shown above and to the right, 6.9% of the population identifies as North American Indian, and 4.5% identifies as Métis.
 

Ethnic Celebrations, Holidays, and Festivals

As there are many different cultural groups in Sudbury, one can experience a variety of festivals and celebrations surrounding them, such as Oktoberfest, the Finnish Canadian Grand Festival [1], the Italian Festival, and the Ukranian festival.


Sudbury's Italian Festival is a summertime event that occurs at the Caruso Club (Società Caruso), which is home to the city's Italian society.  The event lasts for four days [25].


Events at the Italian Festival include cycling races, soccer and bocce tournaments, boxing and wrestling matches, as well as the Miss Caruso Pageant, and the Festival Stars Variety Show [5].

One other event popular at the Italian Festival is the Regional Food Fair, in which areas of Italy are represented by Italian food.  Some of the areas most represented include Calabria, Marche, and Veneto.

 
Another one of Sudbury's cultural festivals is the Finnish Canadian Grand Festival.  It is a five day long event in the summertime [2], held primarily on the Laurentian University campus [2], overlooking Lake Ramsay[2].

Events at the Finnish Canadian Grand Festival (also referred to as FINNFUN) include a Tori (Finnish Marketplace), a spiritual program at the Finnish Pentecostal Church, a Nygård Fashion Show, a golf tournament, a parade, and a Dinner, Dance, and Cabaret.

Entertainment such as plays, folk band performances, and concerts will also occur.
 



In addition to these two festivals, Sudbury has a Ukrainian Festival, also known as a Yarmarok.  It occurs in the fall, for two days, at the Ukrainian National Federation, in the upstairs hall [26].


As the celebration only happens for two days, events can take place on both, but at different times, instead of just one.  These events include dance performances, a fashion show, and a buffet dinner [26].