Western Canada

Western Canada normally refers to four Canadian provinces:

• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba

Western British Columbia adjoins the Pacific Ocean but both Alberta and Saskatchewan are landlocked. Manitoba is almost landlocked but for a small coastal area of Hudson Bay on the north east border.

The term is sometimes disputed by residents of the most Western provinces (British Columbia and Alberta) because Manitoba is, geometrically speaking, the centre of Canada. Therefore, another possible division is to put Alberta and British Columbia in Western Canada and Manitoba in Central Canada. Saskatchewan can arguably be placed in either group. It has also be pointed out that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been in both the Eastern and Western Divisions of the Canadian Football League (they are currently in the West).

See also: Canadian Arctic, Central Canada, Atlantic Canada

• List of regions of Canada