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When did Montreal become "central" Canada? Why didn't Amazon call it Canada East instead?

by metaloha 10y ago

skylan_q 10y ago
As far as I've ever known, Ontario and Quebec are central Canada.
- cmrdporcupine 10y ago
  Growing up in Alberta, people often referred to Ontario/QC as "out east" and "down east." My brother still does that. And many people there seem unable to make a proper distinction between eastern and central Canada economically or politically too.
  - mthoms 10y ago
    In my experience, Ontario and Quebec are colloquially referred to as "Out East" or "Eastern Provinces" while the Atlantic provinces are referred to more often as "The Maritimes" or the "East Coast".
- mthoms 10y ago
  I'm curious - where did you grow up? Growing up in Ontario I remember always being told we were in "Eastern Canada".
- alfredxing 10y ago
  Ontario/Quebec are definitely commonly called "East" out here in Vancouver. The Maritimes are, well, the Maritimes. Central usually means the prairies.
- wattt 10y ago
  Central Canada means Manitoba mostly, since it is geographic centre as well as being in central timezone.
- metaloha 10y ago
  Looking at a map, I guess I can see Ontario being close to central Canada (along with Manitoba and Saskatchewan), but Quebec is definitely almost as East as it gets, and since the data centre is in Montreal...
DKnoll 10y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada
kahnpro 10y ago
Because it _is_ central Canada? The Atlantic provinces are Canada East.
- mthoms 10y ago
  You say that so definitively. Like anyone is stupid to even question it. But the Central Canada thing is merely a historical artifact and has no real basis in, well you know, actual geographic location. Quebec actually extends farther east than all other provinces (except Newfoundland). In other words, it's farther east than 3 out 4 so called "Atlantic" or "Eastern" provinces.
  - kahnpro 10y ago
    It's a mix of geography, demographics, and history. But I say it definitivly because it's not just something I've made up or decided... it's a pretty well known designation. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada
- wattt 10y ago
  The center of Canada is Winnipeg.
  - kahnpro 10y ago
    There's the geographic centre, and there's the region known as Central Canada. Two different things. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada
olalonde 10y ago
Not sure why you were down voted, I was born and raised in Montreal and was also surprised by this, especially given that the US regions seem to refer to time zones. I am guessing it's possibly for marketing reasons, calling it "central" might help get more customers both in the east and west. Calling it "east" could mean anything from Toronto to the maritimes.

When did Montreal become "central" Canada? Why didn't Amazon call it Canada East instead?

skylan_q 10y ago

As far as I've ever known, Ontario and Quebec are central Canada.

cmrdporcupine 10y ago
Growing up in Alberta, people often referred to Ontario/QC as "out east" and "down east." My brother still does that. And many people there seem unable to make a proper distinction between eastern and central Canada economically or politically too.
- mthoms 10y ago
  In my experience, Ontario and Quebec are colloquially referred to as "Out East" or "Eastern Provinces" while the Atlantic provinces are referred to more often as "The Maritimes" or the "East Coast".
mthoms 10y ago
I'm curious - where did you grow up? Growing up in Ontario I remember always being told we were in "Eastern Canada".
alfredxing 10y ago
Ontario/Quebec are definitely commonly called "East" out here in Vancouver. The Maritimes are, well, the Maritimes. Central usually means the prairies.
wattt 10y ago
Central Canada means Manitoba mostly, since it is geographic centre as well as being in central timezone.
metaloha 10y ago
Looking at a map, I guess I can see Ontario being close to central Canada (along with Manitoba and Saskatchewan), but Quebec is definitely almost as East as it gets, and since the data centre is in Montreal...

DKnoll 10y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada

kahnpro 10y ago

Because it _is_ central Canada? The Atlantic provinces are Canada East.

mthoms 10y ago
You say that so definitively. Like anyone is stupid to even question it. But the Central Canada thing is merely a historical artifact and has no real basis in, well you know, actual geographic location. Quebec actually extends farther east than all other provinces (except Newfoundland). In other words, it's farther east than 3 out 4 so called "Atlantic" or "Eastern" provinces.
- kahnpro 10y ago
  It's a mix of geography, demographics, and history. But I say it definitivly because it's not just something I've made up or decided... it's a pretty well known designation. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada
wattt 10y ago
The center of Canada is Winnipeg.
- kahnpro 10y ago
  There's the geographic centre, and there's the region known as Central Canada. Two different things. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Canada

olalonde 10y ago

Not sure why you were down voted, I was born and raised in Montreal and was also surprised by this, especially given that the US regions seem to refer to time zones. I am guessing it's possibly for marketing reasons, calling it "central" might help get more customers both in the east and west. Calling it "east" could mean anything from Toronto to the maritimes.