Canada is a place.
Canada . Canada 's border with the United States is the world 's longest binational land border . Its capital is Ottawa , and other major urban areas include Calgary , Edmonton , Quebec City , Winnipeg and Hamilton . 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 .