Canada <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:ca-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Ottawa</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>confederation with parliamentary democracy<br/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>Canadian dollar (CAD)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>9,976,140 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>32,207,113 (July 2003 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%</td></tr> </table> </div>  '''Canada''' is a large multicultural country in North America. It shares its major border to the south with the United States of America. After Russia, Canada is the second largest country in the world. ==Regions== Visiting Canada all in one trip is an ambitious endeavour. When speaking of specific destinations within Canada, it is better to consider its distinct regions. *British Columbia -- Buzzing, high-tech, woodsy, cosmopolitan, multicultural *Rocky Mountains (Canada)|Rocky Mountains -- Canada's skiing paradise *Prairies (Canada)|Prairies -- Wide-open spaces *Ontario (province)|Ontario -- Canada's most populous and multicultural province *Quebec -- French-speaking province *Atlantic Provinces -- Rugged lifestyle, great seafood *The North (Canada)|North -- Subarctic wilderness of the Great White North Geopolitically, Canada is divided into 10 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario (province)|Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) and 3 territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). ==Cities== There are thousands of cities in Canada. These are some of the most prominent ones. *Calgary *Edmonton *Halifax (Nova Scotia)|Halifax *Kamloops *Montreal *Ottawa *Quebec City *Saint John *St. John's *Toronto *Vancouver *Whitehorse *Winnipeg *Yellowknife Image:ca-map.png|frame|Map of Canada ==Other destinations== * St. Joseph Island ==Understand== Canada is a land of vast distances and rich natural beauty. Economically and technologically, it resembles its neighbor to the South, the United States, and shares with it the longest undefended border in the world. Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 by an act of British parliament, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Though a medium sized country by its population, Canada has earned respect on the international stage for its strong diplomatic skills. Internally, the country succeeds instead in negotiating compromises amongst a culturally and linguistically varied population. In Canada's different regions, you will find as many differences as similarities. Language, culture, cuisine and even history vary quite a bit over the country. The information below will get you started, but be sure to check the specifics for given regions and cities. ===Time Zones=== The Canadian Sir Sandford Fleming first proposed time zones for the entire world in 1876, and Canada is covered coast to coast with multiple zones. * Yukon and most of British Columbia are within Pacific Standard Time * Northwest Territories, Alberta, parts of eastern British Columbia and part of western Nunavut are within Mountain Standard Time * Saskatchewan, unlike the rest of Canada, does not participate in Daylight Savings Time. This means that in the winter, it is in the same time zone as Manitoba, and in the summer it is in the same time zone as Alberta. * Manitoba and Ontario (province)|Ontario west of Thunder Bay, as well as central Nunavut are within Central Standard Time * Ontario (province)|Ontario from Thunder Bay east, most of Quebec and eastern Nunavut are within Eastern Standard Time * Most of Labrador, north-eastern Quebec and all of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are within Atlantic Standard Time * The island of Newfoundland has its own time zone, Newfoundland Standard Time. The south-eastern corner of Labrador is also within this time zone, which is only a half-hour different than Atlantic Standard Time ===Climate=== Trying to distill the climate of Canada into an easy to understand statement is quite difficult, given the vast area that the country occupies. The southernmost point of mainland southern Ontario, Point Pelee, and the nearby islands in Lake Erie have a climate similar to northern California, while Baffin Island is within the Arctic Circle and remains extremely cold for nearly the entire year. However, as most of the Canadian population resides within a couple of hours' drive of the southern border shared with the United States, a visitor to these areas will probably not have to endure the weather that accompanies a trip to the northern territories. Many cities experience extreme changes in weather--Winnipeg, Manitoba has a warm summer (up to 35 degrees Celsius), yet experiences a very cold winter (down to minus 40 degrees Celsius) with lots of snow. On the other hand, Victoria, British Columbia, on the west coast, gets very little snow, and seldom experiences temperatures below 0 or above 25 degrees Celsius. ==Get in== You are likely to arrive in Canada by air. Probably in Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver (the 3 largest cities, from East to West.) Although the citizens of many countries are exempt (most notably the United States and most European countries,) you may need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter the country. If so, you will want to consider a visa for multiple entries if you also plan to visit the United States. Working while in the country is forbidden without a work permit, although Canada does have several temporary work permits for youth from specific countries. The Government of Canada maintains quite an informative website for non-Canadians wishing to travel to Canada: http://canadainternational.gc.ca/ Although less likely, you might also enter the country by road or rail from the United States through one of the (literally) hundreds of border crossing points. Obviously, the same rules will apply here, but if your case is not straightforward, expect to be delayed, as the officials here (especially in more rural areas) see fewer international travellers than at the airports. ==Get around== Canada is ''big''. The best way to get around the country is by air. [http://www.aircanada.ca Air Canada] is the main national carrier, but for travel between major centres, discount carriers like [http://www.westjet.ca WestJet] and [http://www.canjet.com CanJet] might have better fares. In general, airports are poorly connected to public transportation and railway transportation; expect to leave airports by road on a rental car, taxi or a privately operated bus. You can also travel between most cities in Canada, small and large, by bus. [http://www.greyhound.ca/ Greyhound Canada] provides much of the service, with smaller operators covering local routes. For some popular tourist routes, guided bus tours are also available. Of course, many people choose to rent a car. Although somewhat expensive if you are travelling alone, this can be an economically reasonable alternative if you are sharing the costs with others. However, beware of the high surcharges associated with dropping off the car at a different location than where it was picked up. Passenger rail service in Canada, although very safe and comfortable, is often an expensive and inconvenient alternative to other types of transport. The corridor between Windsor and Quebec City is a bit of an exception to this generalization. Also, if natural beauty is your thing, the approximately three-day train ride between Toronto and Vancouver passes through the splendour of the Canadian prairies and the Rocky Mountains, with domed observation cars to allow passengers to take in the magnificent views. Travellers planning to travel by train may find making arrangements ahead of time is advisable in order to find lower fares. [http://www.viarail.ca/ VIA Rail] is the main Canadian passenger rail company. ==Talk== English and French are the two official languages in Canada. Most Canadians are monolingual, although some parts of the country have both English and French speakers and over a quarter of Canadians are bilingual or multilingual. English is the dominant language in every province except Quebec, where French is dominant and actively promoted as the main language. There are francophone communities around the country, though. A list of areas where you will probably encounter the French language: New Brunswick (an officially bilingual province; the city of Moncton is famous for its unusual dialect); the national capital region around Ottawa and other parts of eastern and northern Ontario; St. Boniface area of Winnipeg, Manitoba; and many parts of the Acadian region of Atlantic Canada (these areas are dotted across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the French Shores of Newfoundland). Likewise there are anglophone communities in Quebec, such as some of the western suburbs of Montreal. In Quebec, one can usually get by with English in the major tourist destinations, but some knowledge of French is useful off the beaten path, and almost essential in many rural areas. It may also be useful to know at least a few basic French phrases in the larger cities, where some attempt by travellers to communicate in French is often appreciated. It is worth noting that the French widely spoken in Quebec and Acadian regions differs in some respects from the French of France. There are also dozens of aboriginal languages spoken by many Canadians of aboriginal descent. In Nunavut more than half the population speaks Inuktitut, the traditional language of the Inuit. See also: French phrasebook ==Buy== The country's currency is called the '''Canadian dollar''' (symbol: '''$''' or occasionally '''CDN$''') but also known informally as a "loonie" after the loon, a waterfowl pictured on the dollar coin. It has traded until recently at about 1.5 to the US dollar, but is currently running at about 1.20 due to Canada's consistently strong economic performance since the mid 1990s. The banking system is well developed, safe and technologically advanced. In all large cities, it is possible to convert between Canadian dollars and most major currencies at many banks. All Canadian banks provide currency exchange at the daily market value. Private businesses are under no obligation to exchange currency at international rates. In the most rural areas, converting between Canadian and American dollars should not pose a problem, although travellers expecting to convert other currencies at a Canadian bank may need to be patient. In fact, most tourist destinations will accept American dollars as such, and are most likely to give a very good exchange rate. This is particularly true of regions that rely on tourism as a cornerstone of their local economy. Credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard being accepted in most places, American Express somewhat less frequently and Diner's Club only in the more upscale restaurants and hotels. Generally, using a credit card also gets you a better exchange rate since your bank will convert the currency automatically and usually at a good rate; the merchant does not have to worry about it. There is a safe and widespread network of bank machines where you may be able to use your bank card to withdraw money directly from your account at home, but the fees involved can be more than for credit cards. All Canadian banking institutions are members of the Interac international financial transaction network. When purchasing goods in Canada do be aware that the prices displayed are usually without tax; taxes will be added on top of this displayed price. A Goods and Services Tax of 7% is applied to most items with the exception of "groceries". You will be required to pay GST on food purchased in a restaurant. Most provinces charge an additional Provincial Sales Tax. The current rates are: Ontario 8%, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba 7%, Quebec 7.5%, Prince Edward Island 10%, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick combine the GST and PST into a single Harmonised Sales Tax (HST) of 15%. Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon have no PST. Do also be aware that the PST in Quebec and Prince Edward Island are applied after the GST has been added, and not to the list price. These tax rates apply to most goods, however Alcohol, food and services have differing amounts, and taxes are generally included in the pump price on gasoline, diesel, and other fuels. It should be noted that travellers from outside of Canada can qualify for a GST rebate for their accommodations and certain goods they buy in Canada. Receipts must be kept and you are required to obtain "Proof of Export" for qualifying goods. (See the [http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/tax-e.html Canada Revenue Agency webpage].) ==Eat== Canadians themselves may laugh if you ask where you can get Canadian food. Although you will find some regional specialties, especially at the Eastern and Western edges of the country, there isn't much food known as "Canadian" except for poutine, beaver tail pastries, fiddleheads, and a few other examples. They are an important, if somewhat humble, part of the Canadian culinary landscape. One peculiar tradition that you may notice in nearly every small town is the Chinese-Canadian restaurant. These establishments sell the usual Chinese cuisine marketed towards North American Fast Food customers. If you are more adventurous, in the larger cities especially, you will find a great variety of ethnic tastes from all over Europe, Asia and elsewhere. You can find any taste and style of food under the rainbow in Canada, from a quick burger and fries, to a 20oz. T-Bone with all the trimmings. Consult local travel brochures upon arrival. They can be found at almost any hotel and are free at any provincial or municipal tourist information centre. ===National Franchises=== * You will find most of the American chains with a well established presence here. * '''Tim Hortons''': It will be hard for you to avoid the "Tim Horton's" franchises spread across the country, and their famous Timbits. An important, if somewhat humble, part of the Canadian culinary landscape. Why not? Especially since they will serve you a small and relatively healthy lunch for about $8, they are certainly a reasonable, healthier, alternative to most other fast food chains. * '''The Keg''', [http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/]. A steak house. The Keg usually have tables and booths for 4-6 people. Apart from the steaks they also have good salads and starters. * '''Second cup'''. [http://www.secondcup.com/]. Coffee and cakes. * '''Boston Pizza'''. [http://www.bostonpizza.com]. Originally started in Edmonton Alberta. Pizza and Pasta. Casual family dining. BP's lounges are usually a popular local watering hole. ==Sleep== Accommodations in Canada vary substantially in price depending on time and place. In most cities and many tourist areas, expect to pay upwards of $100 or more for a good hotel room. In rural areas, motels (for "motor hotel") are small, simple hotels where you might pay as little as $40 for a night's accommodation (especially in the off season.) In many areas, B n' Bs (Bed and Breakfasts) are a nice option. These are usually people's homes with suites for guests. The price usually includes a breakfast of some kind in the morning. As with any other accommodations, the price and quality range. Expect anywhere from $45 a night to $140 a night. In general, however, an excellent room in a lovely Victorian home can be found for $50 - $80 a night. Youth Hostels are a good choice in many cities; many are part of the "Hostelling International" group and meet quite high standards. Finally, there are a '''huge''' number of campgrounds in Canada. These range from privately owned R.V. Parks to the publicly operated campgrounds in National and Provincial parks. Whether private or publicly owned and maintained, parks in Canada are well kept and generally very beautiful. ==Stay safe== Safety in Canada is not usually a problem, and some basic common sense will go a long way. Even in the largest cities, violent crime is not a serious problem, and very few people are ever armed. Handguns are Restricted Weapons in Canada, and can only be carried by people properly licensed to do so. This includes Federal, Provincial, and Municipal Police, Wildlife Officers in most Provinces, and some private security guards. If you are permitted to carry a firearm in your country, you may not be automatically permitted to carry one in Canada. Check first. Separate regulations apply to sportsmen and other hunters, and travellers should check with Customs before importing firearms of any type before arrival. If you are unfortunate enough to get your purse or wallet snatched, the local police will do whatever they can to help. Often, important identification is retrieved after thefts of this sort. ==Stay healthy== You are unlikely to face health problems here that you wouldn't face in any other western industrialized country. Furthermore, the health care system is very effective and widely accessible. In the past two summers, Canadians in some provinces (Ontario (province)|Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) have faced a few cases of West Nile virus, an occasionally fatal infection transmitted by mosquitoes. Also, in spring 2003, an outbreak of SARS scared some visitors into changing their plans, but since only visitors to hospitals in Toronto were ever at serious risk, it would seem that the fear was somewhat overblown. ==Contact== The communication infrastructure of Canada is what you would expect for an industrialized country. In cities, there are many ways to access the internet, including a number of terminals at most public libraries. Cell phones are widely used, but due to Canada's large size and relatively sparse population, some rural areas have only analog service or no service at all. When you venture out of highly populated cities and regions, like those of Southern Ontario and Quebec, analog service/no service should be expected as the norm, especially in the northern regions. And, of course, there is always the postal system but although it is very reliable, it is not always speedy. Also, international parcel postal services can be costly. ==External links== *[http://canadainternational.gc.ca/ Canadian government website for foreign travellers]  WikiPedia:Canada fr:Canada ro:Canada Dmoz:North America/Canada de:Kanada First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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