"The Concise Historical Atlas of Canada is a record of Canada's peoples and development. The book combines text and graphic material to create a picture of Canada's past and presents a visual record of the roots of society and the evolution of the intensely regional, culturally diverse nation we know today. Based on the best-selling three-volume Historical Atlas of Canada, the Concise distils the best and most important plates into a single, comprehensive, thematically organized volume.".

"The Concise Historical Atlas of Canada summarizes Canadian history from pre-history through to the latter part of the twentieth century. The editors selected 67 plates from the nearly 200 found in the full set. Each plate is a double-page spread of maps, graphics, legends, and text on a single subject or theme, and is accompanied by a bibliographical note at the end of the volume.

The editors intend their selection to mirror the social and economic experiences of ordinary people more than the political and military activities associated with individual heroes." "Among the topics covered are prehistoric and Native Canada, exploration, the establishment of boundaries, settlement and population patterns, and the development of transportation, urbanization, the economy, and society."--BOOK JACKET.