Lesson 5 — Activity 1: How are Communities Different?

Communities across Alberta, Canada, and the world are similar in some ways and different in other ways. Usually, we can expect to see more differences in communities the farther we get from our own home. There are also differences between urban (big towns and cities), suburban (smaller communities on the outskirts of a city or a large town),  and rural (small towns in the country) communities.

In this activity, you will look closely at the differences between communities.

Remember that cities are urban communities. In cities, we find many people and many large buildings. To get from place to place, people may drive or walk, takes buses or taxis, or even take trains from one part of the city to another. Cities can be exciting places to live. There are a great many stores and restaurants and many entertainment facilities, such as movie theaters, museums, stadiums, and arenas, just to name a few.

Suburbs are smaller communities located just outside of cities. In suburbs, we often find families living in single family homes, condos, or apartments. To get from place to place and to work, people may drive or take transit. As with cities, suburbs have restaurants, shopping centres, and recreational facilities, many of which cater to families.

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Within urban and suburban communities, you will also find almost all the essential services that individuals would require in case of an emergency.

Small towns are rural communities, with far fewer people than in cities or suburbs. There are fewer stores, restaurants, and recreational facilities in rural communities. Many people work on farms in these communities. They drive to town, and students usually are bused to schools.

(CC BY 2.0)  by Steve Parker

 Rural locations will have some of the essential services depending on the population size. As a small town's population decreases, so do services. One is directly related to the other.

Digging Deeper!