ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Economic history of Canada

Canada is a country in North America that has been around for a long time, just like how you've been alive for a few years. Throughout its history, there have been many changes in how people live and work in Canada.

A long time ago, before Canada was even a country, Indigenous peoples lived on the land and had their own ways of life and trade. When European explorers like Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain came to Canada in the 1500s and 1600s, they wanted to find ways to make money and trade goods like furs and fish with people back in Europe.

Over time, other Europeans came to Canada to live and work, and eventually, in 1867, Canada became a country. For many years after that, Canada was still primarily focused on natural resources like lumber, fish, and minerals. This meant that people worked to extract those resources from the land and sell them or turn them into products to sell.

As time went on, Canada became more industrialized. This means that people started using machines and factories to make products like textiles, cars, and furniture, rather than just selling raw materials. A lot of this industrialization happened during the 20th century when Canada experienced a lot of growth and prosperity.

Today, Canada has a diverse economy that includes many different industries like technology, banking, tourism, and energy. One of the biggest changes to the Canadian economy has been the growth of the service sector. This means that there are a lot of people who work in jobs like education, healthcare, and entertainment, rather than just making things or farming.

Overall, the economic history of Canada is all about how people have found ways to make money, trade goods, and build new industries over time. Even though there have been many changes, one thing that has always remained important is taking care of the land and the resources that we use so that future generations can continue to thrive.