DCHP-2

mainland DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• 1a n. — Newfoundland, Geography

  (in Newfoundland and Labrador) not in Newfoundland; a place name referring to all other locations in Canada, including Labrador.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — Like in many other contexts, the term mainland was appropriated by residents of Newfoundland and Labrador to their geographical situation. Since this was the last province to join Canadian Confederation in 1949, it is likely that both the sea boundary and feelings of "differentness" from the rest of Canada gave rise to the expression.

  See also: Newfie (meaning 2)  upalong (meaning 1a)  

• 1b n. — Newfoundland, Geography

  (on smaller, coastal islands in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador) referring to the Labrador coast.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — In this context, the meaning of mainland changes only slightly, with a specialization referring to a specific mainland rather than a general one, such as the Labrador Coast in the 1993 quotation.

• 2 n. — Prince Edward Island, Geography

  (in the province of PEI) not on Prince Edward Island; a place name referring to all other locations in Canada (except the island of Newfoundland).

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — As with meaning 1, PEIers have adapted the term to their specific situation.

• 3 n. — Cape Breton Island, Geography

  (on Cape Breton Island) mainland refers to peninsular Nova Scotia.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — As with meaning 1, Cape Bretoners have adopted the term to their specific situation.

• 4 n. — British Columbia, Geography

  (in British Columbia) referring to the City of Vancouver and the region surrounding it; usually in the form Lower Mainland.

  Type: 3. Semantic Change — In the compound Lower Mainland, 'lower' refers to the lowland region, which comprises the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley Regional Districts. This area is the most densely populated in the province (approximately 60% of BC's total population). The boundaries of the Lower Mainland are not officially defined, but are generally understood to be from Horseshoe Bay in the northwest, to Chilliwack in the east, and to the Canada-U.S. border in the south.