Central Canada basics

Central Canada is a region made up of Canada’s two most populated provinces, Ontario and Quebec. Though Ontario and Quebec are located in the eastern half of the country, they are considered central because they are home to some of the biggest population, economic, and political hubs of Canada. The St. Lawrence River in Quebec and the Great Lakes in Ontario fulfill the important water and hydropower needs of this region, in addition to being iconic in Canadian history as routes which European explorers took to settle in the prosperous and beautiful lands of Central Canada.

Major centres in Quebec and Ontario
Many newcomers are attracted to the cities of Central Canada because of their higher populations and
multicultural newcomer communities. Here are some of the largest cities in Central Canada:

• Toronto: Ontario’s capital and Canada’s largest city with over 6 million living in
• Montreal: Quebec’s largest city at 4 million, and the city with most English-speaking residents in Quebec.
• Ottawa-Gatineau: Canada’s capital Ottawa is located on the border of Ontario, just across the river from Gatineau in Quebec. Almost 1 million residents live in the capital region.
• Quebec City: Historic Quebec City, located on the St. Lawrence River, is located primarily French-speaking and home to over 700,000 residents.
• Hamilton: This Ontario city is located close to Toronto on Lake Ontario. It is home to over 750,000 residents.
• Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo: These three Ontario cities to the northwest of Toronto sit side-by-side and have a combined population of over 500,000.

Climate
Quebec and Ontario are known for their hot and humid summers, where temperatures often climb over 30 degrees Celsius in the months between June and September. Temperatures drop significantly in the winter months, hovering between 0 and -30 degrees Celsius. Quebec and Ontario also generally receive a large amount of snow. Northern regions of Quebec and Ontario are generally colder for a longer period of time throughout the year, but most of the population lives in the southern regions of these provinces.