Comparing the City in the United States and Canada

Comparing the City in the United States and Canada Canadian and American cities may appear remarkably similar. They both display great ethnic diversity, impressive transportation infrastructure, high socioeconomic status, and sprawl. However, when the generalizations of these traits are broken down, it reveals a multitude of urban contrasts. Sprawl in the United States and Canada In contrast, even when controlling for population data from annexed territory, six of the ten largest Canadian cities saw a population explosion from 1971-2001 (the Canadian census was conducted one year after U.S. census), with Calgary experiencing the largest growth at 118%. Four cities did experience population declines, but none to the extent of their U.S. counterparts. Toronto, Canadas largest city lost only 5% of its population. Montreal experienced the steepest decline, but at 18%, it still pales in comparison to the 44% loss incurred by cities like St. Louis, Missouri. The difference between the intensity of sprawl in America and Canada has to do with the countries divergent approaches to urban development. American metropolitan areas are heavily centered around the automobile, while Canadian areas are more focused on public transit and pedestrian traffic. Transportation Infrastructure in the United States and Canada Unlike their neighbors to the south, Canada only has 648,000 miles of total roads. Their highways stretch just over 10,500 miles, less than nine percent of total United States road mileage. Noted, Canada only has one-tenth the population and much of its land is uninhabited or under permafrost. But nevertheless, Canadian metropolitan areas are not nearly as centered on the automobile as their American neighbors. Instead, the average Canadian is more than twice as likely to utilize public transportation, which contributes to its urban centralization and overall higher density. All seven of Canadas largest cities display public transit ridership in the double digits, in comparison to just two in the entire United States (Chicago 11%, NYC 25%). According to the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), there are over 12,000 active buses and 2,600 rail vehicles across Canada. Canadian cities also resemble more closely to the European style of smart growth urban design, which advocates co mpact, pedestrian and bicycle-friendly land use. Thanks to its less-motorized infrastructure, Canadians on average walk twice as often as their American counterparts and bike three times the miles. Ethnic Diversity in the United States and Canada Although minority urban development has its similarities in the United States and Canada, their demographic and level of integration differs. One divergence is the discourse of the American melting pot versus the Canadian cultural mosaic. In the United States, most immigrants usually assimilate themselves rather quickly into their parent society, while in Canada, ethnic minorities tend to remain more culturally and geographically distinctive, at least for a generation or two. There is also a demographic dissimilarity between the two countries. In the United States, Hispanics (15.1%) and Blacks (12.8%) are the two dominate minority groups. The Latino cultural landscape can be seen throughout many southern cities, where Spanish urban designs are most prevalent. Spanish is also now the second most widely spoken and written language in the United States. This, of course, is the result of Americas geographic proximity to Latin America. In contrast, Canadas largest minority groups, excluding the French, are South Asians (4%) and Chinese (3.9%). The extensive presence of these two minority groups is attributed to their colonial connection to Great Britain. A vast majority of the Chinese are emigrants from Hong Kong, who fled the island in sizable numbers just prior its 1997 handover to communist China. Many of these immigrants are affluent and they have purchased a great deal of property throughout Canadas metropolitan areas. As a result, unlike in the United States where ethnic enclaves are usually found exclusively in the central city, Canadian ethnic enclaves have now spread into the suburbs. This ethnic invasion-succession has dramatically altered the cultural landscape and galvanized social tensions in Canada. Sources: CIA World Factbook (2012). Country profile: USA. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html CIA World Factbook (2012). Country profile: Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html Lewyn, Michael. Sprawl in Canada and the United States. Graduate Department of Law: University of Toronto, 2010

List of Fantasy Themed Stage Plays

List of Fantasy Themed Stage Plays A quest begins! Dragons lurk in caves. Diabolic beasts wait around nearly every twist and turn of the trail. But, if the heroes are brave and loyal, a triumphant ending is in store. Fantasy has long since delighted young and old alike. Although this very visual genre offers a great many challenges to a director, it can be a very fulfilling experience to both the audience and the artists. The following plays are some of the most popular fantasy stories in the history of children’s literature. With the right elements, each of these stage adaptations can be transformed into a top-notch production. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Many artistic mediums have brought the world of Narnia to life. Literature, radio, television, animation, and film have each interpreted C.S. Lewis’ work. Yet the stage play adaptation of this fantasy classic possesses immense charm and sincerity. Production Challenges: Lots of fantastical set pieces and imaginative costumes make this a difficult show to perform without an extravagant budget (or a very forgiving audience!) Production Advantages: This highly moral story of good versus evil offers a wide range of characters for actors of various ages. Performers get the rare opportunity of playing intelligent animals, enchanted creatures, and heroic children. Casting Advice: It’s a plus if the children can pull off a British accent. It’s an even bigger plus if they can reverently gasp â€Å"Aslan!† on a continual basis! Much of the believability depends on how the child actors respond to the magical creatures. If they are genuinely in awe, the audience will feel that same sense of wonder. Script available at Dramatic Publishing. The Hobbit Adapted by Edward Mast, this prequel to Lord of the Rings captures the essence of this magical quest- though it does skip a few parts of the book. J.R.R. Tolkien spins the wondrous tale of Bilbo Baggins, the unlikely hero who learns that there is more to life than relaxing in the Shire. The stage play is simple enough that it could be performed by junior high students. Yet, the themes are sophisticated enough to warrant a professional production. Production Challenges: The large cast consists almost entirely of male characters. If this is performed by a school or children’s theater, the many young actresses who audition may be disappointed to find themselves cast as a beard-clad dwarf! Production Advantages: The sets can consist of a number of fantasy forest and cave backdrops. The look can also be enhanced with a skilled lighting and sound designer. Casting Advice: With the right cast, this can be a fun play to use both child actors (as dwarves and hobbits) and adults (as Gandalf, Goblins, and Gollum). More faithful productions have cast adults in all parts, selecting shorter actors for the â€Å"vertically-challenged† characters. Find out more about this stage adaptation of The Reluctant Dragon So many fantasy stories end with a dragon being slain. Imaginary-animal activists will be happy to know that at least one show is sympathetic to the plight of these endangered magical beasts. Though a tale of fantasy, this version by Mary Hall Surface teaches a valuable lesson of the dangers of prejudice. Production Challenges: Some creative costuming is required to make the title character look dragon-like. Other than that, this is very easy to produce play. Production Advantages: The script is short, sweet, and to the point. It runs about sixty minutes and sports a small cast of eight players. Casting Advice: Much of the script contains dialogue befitting of medieval knights. Cast a regal sounding actor for the distinguished role of St. George. Script available at Anchorage Press Plays. Tuck Everlasting Not all fantasies contain wizards and monsters. Some of the best imaginary tales present a single magical element. In the case of Tuck Everlasting, a family drinks from a supernatural spring and attains eternal life, for better or for worse. Production Disadvantages: Mark Frattaroli’s adaptation of Natalie Babbitt’s beloved novel is not yet available through publishing companies. However, since 1991, it has been performed at several regional theaters such as the Magic Theatre Company. Production Advantages: If a playhouse manages to get the rights to Tuck Everlasting, the Chicago Playworks company has created a very handy guide for drama teachers and students.