Canada is a place.
Canada ( [ ˈkænədə ] [ kanadɑ ] ) is a country in the northern part of North America . As a consequence of various conflicts , Great Britain gained and lost territories within British North America until it was left , in the late 18th century , with what mostly geographically comprises Canada today . Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy , with Queen Elizabeth II being the head of state . It is one of the world 's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations , the product of large-scale immigration from many other countries .