ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Technological and industrial history of Canada

Well, hello there kiddo! Today, we're going to talk about the technological and industrial history of Canada.

Long, long time ago, before even you, there were the Indigenous people of Canada who lived off the land and were very skilled in creating things from natural resources.

As time went on, Europeans came to Canada and started to build settlements. They needed things like houses, tools, and clothes so they began to create things using their own knowledge and resources. They also started to trade with Indigenous people, learning from each other about how to make new things.

Fast forward a few hundred years and Canada's economy started to shift from agricultural to industrial. This means that people started to use machines to make things instead of doing it by hand.

One of the early industries in Canada was the fur trade. People would hunt animals like beavers and trade their fur with Europeans. This allowed Canada to become a hub for trading with other countries as well.

In the late 1800s, Canada's railways were built which allowed transportation of people and goods across the country much faster. This also brought new jobs and opportunities for people.

In the 20th century, technology really started to advance. Canada became a major player in telecommunications, electronics, and aerospace industries. Canada was also a big contributor to the development of things like the computer and the internet.

As we move into the 21st century, Canada continues to be a leader in technology and innovation. Companies like Shopify, a Canadian e-commerce platform, and Blackberry, which was once a major player in the smartphone industry, represent Canada's influence in the global economy.

So, that's the technological and industrial history of Canada in a nutshell. It's important to know about our past so that we can understand how we got to where we are today.