Canada explained to kids

Canada is a country located in the northern part of North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border. The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French explorers arrived in the area. Canada was later colonized by the United Kingdom, and became a self-governing Dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. As a result of various conflicts, Canada was eventually split into two separate countries: Canada and Quebec. Today, Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II being the head of state. Canada is a bilingual and multicultural country, with both English and French as its official languages. Canada is a developed country, with a high standard of living. It is a member of the United Nations, the G8, the G20, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).