Newfoundland and Labrador is the oldest colony of which empire?
- The British Empire
- The French Empire
- The Portuguese Empire
- The Spanish Empire
Answer: The British Empire
Newfoundland and Labrador was the oldest colony of the British Empire and a strategic prize in Canada’s early history. It joined Canada in 1949. The province has long been known for its fisheries, coastal fishing villages and distinct culture.
Learn more: The Atlantic Provinces
- Newfoundland and Labrador: most easterly point in North America, with its own time zone. Oldest colony of the British Empire; joined Canada in 1949. Known for fisheries and off-shore oil and gas; Labrador has huge hydro-electric resources.
- Prince Edward Island: the smallest province, known for beaches, red soil and farming, especially potatoes.
- P.E.I. is the birthplace of Confederation. The Confederation Bridge (almost 13 km) joins it to New Brunswick.
- Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is set in P.E.I. It is about a red-headed orphan girl.
- Nova Scotia: the most populous Atlantic province, with a history as the gateway to Canada.
- Nova Scotia has the world’s highest tides, in the Bay of Fundy. Its identity is tied to shipbuilding, fisheries and shipping.
- Halifax is Canada’s largest east coast port (deep-water and ice-free) and home to Canada’s largest naval base.
- Nova Scotia has Celtic and Gaelic traditions and over 700 festivals a year, including the military tattoo in Halifax.
- New Brunswick lies in the Appalachian Range and was founded by the United Empire Loyalists.
- New Brunswick has the St. John River system, the second largest river system on North America’s Atlantic coast.
- New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province; about one-third of its people live and work in French.
- In New Brunswick, Saint John is the largest port and manufacturing centre; Moncton is the main Francophone Acadian centre and, since 2021, the most populous city; Fredericton is the capital.