Canadian province/ U.S. state analogues

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

I'm not sure I quite agree with Ontario being Illinois / Wisconsin. It definitely has mid-western vibes, particularly southwestern Ontario, but much of it also has more east-coast vibes, particularly eastern Ontario.

That's the problem - Ontario should be 4 different provinces.

I recently drove some backroads in Wisconsin and Iowa - those areas are basically a carbon copy of Southwestern Ontario. However, Eastern Ontario has little in common with them.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Blitz

That's the problem - Ontario should be 4 different provinces.

I recently drove some backroads in Wisconsin and Iowa - those areas are basically a carbon copy of Southwestern Ontario. However, Eastern Ontario has little in common with them.

I don't disagree that there are regional differences within Ontario (like many other jurisdictions), but why would one conclude from this that it should be more than one province?

[Architype]

Originally Posted by Beedok

It doesn’t really work due to the differing proportionate scales. Ontario has nearly 40% of Canada’s population and the national capital. So, the US equivalent is, like, basically the whole mild-west + Virginia + DC or, something. Quebec, holding the historic largest city, main port for the Atlantic, and also a strong independent streak is more like the Mid-Atlantic states and the Southern Atlantic states minus Virginia.

^^ I was going to say . . . since Ontario comprises about 40% of the Canadian population, it would be approximately equivalent to the five largest US states combined (California + Texas + Florida + New York + Pennsylvania) or for contiguous US states, that would be the entire Northeast and Midwest, and some more. Imagine how unbalanced that would make the US.

US population approx. 332,915,073 X 40% = 133,166,029.2

Northeastern United States · Population
57.61 million (2020)
Midwestern United States · Population
67.91 million (2015)

[Architype]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Gee, thanks..........

Some provinces have clear US analogues, other do not.

The Maritime analogues are most definitely in New England.
- Nova Scotia = Massachusetts
- New Brunswick = Maine

- Prince Edward Island is an outlier here though. I would probably choose Delaware for PEI (same size and shape, nice rural landscape).

- Newfoundland is Canada's Alaska as far as I'm concerned (remoteness, ruggedness, climate).

- Quebec is New York. Montreal is a good analogue for NYC in terms of character and cosmopolitan status. St. Lawrence = Hudson River. Townships = Finger Lake district. Laurentians = Adirondacks.

- Ontario is a dogs breakfast just because of it's size and diversity. A good analogue would be Illinois, but with touches of Michigan and the midwest states too.

- Manitoba = Minnesota
- Saskatchewan = North Dakota
- Alberta = Montana, but with hints of Colorado and Texas

- British Columbia = Washington, but with strong overtones of California.

The northern territories have no real US analogue.

But it isn't necessarily the most useful comparison to just take the states that are mirrored directly adjacent across the border as analogues.

You may have to ask, within the context of that country, what is the relationship of that state to the whole country, then you may come up with different answers.

In Canada, perhaps BC is most similar in context to California, perhaps Alberta to Texas, etc., perhaps there is no analogue for Ontario, it would not even be just one region, but two large regions, as I said in the post above.

And of course, New Brunswick to Alabama.

[Bishop2047]

Originally Posted by Architype

But it isn't necessarily the most useful comparison to just take the states that are mirrored directly adjacent across the border as analogues.

You may have to ask, within the context of that country, what is the relationship of that state to the whole country, then you may come up with different answers.

In Canada, perhaps BC is most similar in context to California, perhaps Alberta to Texas, etc., perhaps there is no analogue for Ontario, it would not even be just one region, but two large regions, as I said in the post above.

And of course, New Brunswick to Alabama.

If anything NB is New Hampshire. Lots of trees and forested area with several cities of APX the same population and regional influence. Also little to no influence or attention paid at the national level.

NS is certainly lil Massachusetts. One primary city with more universities than a city of its size would normally have. Just trade the shamrock tattoos for tartans.

SK is an interesting one. I landed on Oklahoma. It has some real slimy cities with huge crime problems, cultural ghettos supported by oil and gas (looking at you Lloydminster/Kindersley), but also has some real underrated cities and natural splendor. Saskatoon punches above its weight and has a surprisingly large international community (and great food scene for its size). I found Oklahoma city a pleasant surprise in many of the same ways. Also cowboy hats.

I will only compare places I have lived for now.

[Metro-One]

There will never be one to one comparisons.

BC for example is obviously similar to Washington and Oregon, but also has tinges of California. Surprise surprise they are all west coast.

[Repthe250]

Ontario - New York. The financial and trading centre of the country. Largest and most recognized City in each country. Muskoka/Catskills.
Quebec - Massachusetts. Both rich in History. Old cities. New England, New France (lol)
BC - California. Both home to the largest cities on their countries west coasts. Both famous for their laidback, hippie liberalism. Weed and wine. Both hold the record for hottest temperatures recorded in their respective countries (Death Valley, Lytton)
Alberta - Texas. Oil. Cowboys. Trucks. And Conservatism.
Saskatchewan - Iowa. Flat. Farms. Crops.
Manitoba - Minnesota. Share a border, similar sounding names. Both very cold. Thousands of lakes.
Nova Scotia - Maine. Seafood galore. Similar climates. Both beautiful, coastal places with rolling hills and forests.
New Brunswick - Louisiana. French roots. Economies both near the bottom of their respective countries. Very rural and backwoods-y vibes.
PEI - Delaware. Beaches. Not much else.
Newfoundland - Alaska. Isolated, funny accents. Endless coastline. Fishing is a major industry. Cold.

[Denscity]

Alberta Texas would also include beef/cattle.

[SignalHillHiker]

It makes sense for someone from BC, because it’s objectively true in comparison, but why do so many mainlanders think we’re cold, especially compared to most of Canada? St. John’s has one of the mildest winter climates in the country, full stop, and that’s also true looking only at the southern populated areas. Even the bulk of mainland Labrador has a typical Canadian climate with brutal winters but hot summers. That’s practically Siberia compared to here but I’d still not describe it as cold compared to most of Canada. It’s just a strange stereotype for us to have, to me, given it’s so demonstrably false from most possible Canadian reference points. Even extreme southern ON and the warmest bits of the Maritimes should be looking at us and thinking, “Yeah, that’s about the same, temperature wise.”

[Odyssey]

The Territories - Alaska (out of the way tundra)

BC - California + Pacific Northwest (rain, mountains, weed, hippies and mild weather)

Alberta - Texas + Colorado (cowboys and oil but also mountains)

Saskatchewan - Great Plains Region (North Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma, etc.) (obv)

Manitoba - Minnesota (a lot of lakes and trees and some farmland, names also sound similar lol)

Ontario - Great Lakes Region + Mid-Atlantic (big cities, industrial, heartland)

National Capital Region, Ontario/Quebec - Washington Region, DC/Maryland/Virginia (capital on province/state border)

Quebec - New England + Appalachia and the South, but French (best universities, maple syrup and old cities but also had separatists)

Atlantic Canada - Maine + The Southeast (but colder obv) (fishing and lighthouses but also unique accents and kinda backwater)

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Odyssey

Atlantic Canada - Maine + The Southeast (but colder obv) (fishing and lighthouses but also unique accents and kinda backwater)

Some stereotypes take decades (even centuries) to go away.

After all, the Scottish Highlands are still populated with fierce and illiterate warrior clans - aren't they??????

[harls]

I would love to see this thread reversed and Americans try to find a Canadian semblance.

Lord have mercy.

[SignalHillHiker]

I've not seen that but there was a cute one for Spain recently:



It appears to be mostly incorrect

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/com...icans_acurate/

[jamincan]

Michigan is a fairly good analogue to Ontario. You have industry and agriculture in the south of both, with resource-based economies and low populations in the north. Minnesota also reflects this to a certain extent, but the split isn't quite as dramatic as Ontario and Michigan. Toronto and Ottawa aren't reflected particularly well in either state, of course.

[casper]

Originally Posted by jamincan

Michigan is a fairly good analogue to Ontario. You have industry and agriculture in the south of both, with resource-based economies and low populations in the north. Minnesota also reflects this to a certain extent, but the split isn't quite as dramatic as Ontario and Michigan. Toronto and Ottawa aren't reflected particularly well in either state, of course.

I think of Chicago are a counter part to Toronto. If you wanted to stil with Minnesota, Minneapolis it is.

I think New York is a weird place (not in a good way) that we have thankfully never replicated in Canada.

Ottawa is a weird combination of government and tech. The DC area is comparable I guess.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I don't disagree that there are regional differences within Ontario (like many other jurisdictions), but why would one conclude from this that it should be more than one province?

It's just too big and it takes up too high of a proportion of the national population. I recently drove the Canadian route to Kenora: 22 hours! It literally takes less time to drive from Windsor to Florida.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Blitz

It's just too big and it takes up too high of a proportion of the national population. I recently drove the Canadian route to Kenora: 22 hours! It literally takes less time to drive from Windsor to Florida.

Sure, but would splitting Ontario up into more provinces even reduce the drive time from Kenora to... anywhere?

[MolsonExport]

I'd kill to have NYC or its equivalent in Canada. it is by far the most impressive and interesting city on the continent. Easily in the top 5 worldwide, and could even rank first.

Minneapolis is crushingly boring.

[jd3189]

Originally Posted by harls

I would love to see this thread reversed and Americans try to find a Canadian semblance.

Lord have mercy.

I attempted that in my OP, but couldn’t get very far due to only be familiar with Quebec and Ontario and knowing a little bit about BC.

So far, I am learning a lot reading through this thread. The comparison between Quebec and the South makes sense when I think about it.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Sure, but would splitting Ontario up into more provinces even reduce the drive time from Kenora to... anywhere?

I don't want to live in the same province as Kenora I feel like it means nothing to be Ontarian partly because the province is too massive. I do feel an allegiance to SW Ontario though.