--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:47:53 -02-30
From: Alberta Auringer Wood <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: "Ca nada" <fwd>
Sender: Alberta Auringer Wood <[log in to unmask]>
 
 
 
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>From the web site of
(http://GeoNames.NRCan.gc.ca/english/schoolnet/prov.html) Geographical
Names, Natural Resources Canada, Les noms géographiques, Ressources
naturelles Canada ([log in to unmask]) comes this explanation ---
 
CANADA
 
Although time has indelibly imprinted "Canada" on the map of the northern
half of the continent of North America, numerous other names were suggested
for the proposed confederation in 1867. Among these were: Albertsland,
Albionora, Borealia, Britannia, Cabotia, Colonia, Efisga (a combination of
the first letters of England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and
Aboriginal lands), Hochelaga, Norland, Superior, Transatlantia, Tuponia (an
acrostic for the United Provinces of North America), and Victorialand. The
debate was placed in perspective by Thomas D'Arcy McGee, who declared
(February 9, 1865), "I read in one newspaper not less than a dozen attempts
to derive a new name. One individual chooses Tuponia and
another Hochelaga as a suitable name for the new nationality. Now I ask any
honourable member of this House how he would feel if he woke up some fine
morning and found himself instead of a Canadian, a Tuponian or a
Hochelagander." Fortunately for posterity, McGee's wit and reasoning, along
with common sense, prevailed, and on July 1, 1867, "the provinces of
Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick" became "one Dominion under the name
of Canada".
 
While the Dictionary of Canadianisms lists ten possible explanations for
the word (ranging from Spanish Acan Nada to a form of Canara or Canata, a
place name in southern India), the generally accepted origin may be traced
to the writings of Jacques Cartier in 1536. While sailing up the St.
Lawrence River, Cartier noticed that the Indians referred to their
settlements as kanata, which, from its repetition, the French took to be
the name of the entire country. Such it was destined to become in 1867.
 
Source: Hamilton, William B. (1978): The Macmillan book of Canadian place
names, Macmillan of Canada, Toronto, p.  340.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alberta Auringer Wood, Maps, Data and Media Librarian		       
Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland    
CANADA  A1B 3Y1   phone: 709-737-8892; fax: 709-737-2153 
                   Internet: [log in to unmask]
web pages: http://www.mun.ca/library/maps
                      http://www.mun.ca/library/media 
                      http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~awood
Maps are a way of organizing wonder -- Peter Steinhart, "Names 
on a Map" (1986)
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