Ontario

The name Ontario comes from a native word, loosely translated, 'beautiful' or 'sparkling' water. Ontario is centrally located east and west between the provinces of Manitoba and Quebec, north by Hudson's Bay and south the USA. There are over 250 000 lakes in Ontario, making up 1/3 of the worlds fresh water. Summer can see 30°C, while winter can drop to -13°C.

• Capital - Toronto
  
  
• Premier - Ernie Eves
  
  
• The largest community is Toronto (York) at 2.5 million and about five million in the Greater Toronto Area. Ontario has a total population of 11 000 000. It is a province of swamp, meadow and forest in the northern part of the province. The Canadian Shield covers the rest with granit formation, pine forests, lakes and rivers. The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in southern Ontario provide fertile soils and is ideal for farmland.
  
  
• Size - more than one million sq km
  Population - app 11 000 000
  Languages spoken - English, French but over 100 languages are spoken
  
  
• Flag - The flag proclaimed by the Ontario Legislature on May 21, 1965. The flag is red with the Union Jack and the Ontario Shield of Arms. The shield was granted Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1868 bares the Cross of St. George and 3 golden maple leaves.
  
  
• Coat of Arms - Motto Ut incepit Ridelis sic permanet, meaning Loyal she began, loyal she remains.
  
  
• Flower - Trillium.