Colonial Canada refers to the period when European powers, primarily France and Britain, established settlements in what is now Canada. The French founded New France in the early 17th century, focusing on fur trading and establishing relationships with Indigenous peoples. Key cities included Quebec and Montreal. In the 18th century, British control expanded after the Seven Years' War, leading to the establishment of British North America. This period saw the growth of agriculture and trade, as well as the arrival of loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. Colonial Canada laid the groundwork for the future nation of Canada.