Introduction
Canada's strength lies in its difference. Those expecting Canada to be a blander version of the USA should check their assumptions at the door. Canada's wild northern frontier, which has etched itself into the national psyche, and its distinct patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different from its brash neighbour.
It's the edginess between Canada's indigenous, French and British traditions that gives the nation its complex three-dimensional character. Add to this a constant infusion of US culture and a plethora of traditions brought by migrants, and you have a thriving multicultural society.
'We went from being boring little Canada to a sexy country of sin overnight. We are not used to being trendy or hip.' - Douglas Coupland, writer.
Geography:
Situated north of the USA, between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Canada is the world's second largest country (Russia takes the guernsey). It extends some 7700km (4775mi) east to west and 4600km (2850mi) north to south. Nearly 90% of Canadians huddle along the 6379km (3955mi) southern border with the USA. Though much of the land is lake and river-filled forest, there are mountains, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains, or prairies, cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta. These former grasslands are now responsible for Canada's abundant wheat crop. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east has the country's major cities and also its most visited geographic feature, Niagara Falls. The Canadian Shield, an ancient, rocky and glacially sanded region formed more than 2.5 billion years ago, covers most of the north of the country. The Arctic region, in the far north, is where you'll find frozen tundra merging into islands that are ice-bound year-round.
Destination facts
Capital: Ottawa
Prime Minister: Stephen Harper
Governor General: Micha ë lle Jean (representing Queen Elizabeth II)
Government: constitutional monarchy
Time zone: GMT -7 GMT -6 GMT -5 GMT -4 GMT -3.5 GMT -8
Area: 9976000
Population: 33700000
People: British descent, French descent, Italian descent, aboriginal peoples, plus significant minorities of Irish, German, Ukrainian, Dutch, Greek, Polish and Chinese descent
Languages: English and French are the country's two official languages, though the province of New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual area in the country. You will, however, notice both languages on maps, tourist brochures and product labels.The French spoken in the province of Qu é bec has a rich local vocabulary, its own idioms and sayings and a range of accents. If you speak standard French, Qu é becers will have no problem understanding you. Also note that within the province of Qu é bec, French is legally the only official language and, outside of tourist areas, English is not widely spoken.
Catholic (45%), Protestant (36%) and minorities from most of the world's major religions
Currency: Canadian Dollar (C$)
GDP: Approx. C$1033000000000
Major industries: Processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas.
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan, EU (UK, Germany, Netherlands), China and South Korea
Daylight Saving: From first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October
Country Dialing Code: 1
Getting There
Spring, summer and autumn are all ideal for touring, though if you want to ski you'll naturally have to come in winter or early spring. For campers and those who want to visit the far north, the summer months of July and August are best. Summer is also when many of the country's festivals take place. Note that the peak tourist season is between Victoria Day (late May) and Labour Day (early September). Although spring and autumn have fewer crowds, lower prices and a more relaxed pace than the summer months, some visitor-oriented facilities and attractions may be closed during these shoulder seasons.
Getting there and away
Tickets for flights departing Canada should include departure taxes. Some airports also charge departing passengers an 'airport improvement tax', usually 10.00 or15.00. Visitors entering the country from major continental US cities can choose to arrive by plane, train, bus or car. There are four main rail routes from the USA: New York-Montreal, New York-Toronto, Buffalo-Depew to Toronto, and Seattle-Vancouver. Greyhound US and Greyhound Canada form a huge bus network that connects with most major cities within and between either country. Drivers can choose from numerous road border crossings. Note that popular crossing points (such as Niagara Falls) can have lengthy queues on weekends. Queues won't be a problem if you enter by road from Alaska along the Top-of-the-World Highway into the Yukon. Several ferries run from the USA to Canada on the east coast, and from Washington State to Vancouver Island.
Getting around
Land travel is generally cheaper and, if you don't mind long travel times, much more interesting than flying. The bus network is the most extensive public transportation system and is generally less expensive than the limited train service. The country's most famous cross-country train is the Canadian, a classic 1950s-style beauty that travels from Toronto to Vancouver (Canada's longest continuous train route), complete with a two-storyed windowed 'dome car' for sightseeing. Air travel is faster, more convenient and not necessarily more expensive, especially if you snag a special fare or buy a ticket with one of the low-cost, low-frills carriers such as Westjet. The national carrier Air Canada is the major domestic airline. If you confine yourself to one region, the best way to experience the country is by car or Recreational Vehicle (RV). Canadians drive on the right side of the road, as in the USA. A valid driver's license from any country is good in Canada for three months. Canada is so large, cyclists find it hard to cover much ground; most people use other forms of transport to move from region to region and keep their bikes for recreational cycling once they're there. With so much water around, don't be surprised to find yourself in a boat at some point.
Visa:
Most Western visitors don't need a visa to visit Canada for up to 180 days. Travellers from about 150 nations, including South Africa, China, North Korea, Taiwan, Eastern European and developing countries, however, do need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) with the Canadian consulate in their home country. TRVs good for a single entry cost 75.00 and are valid for up to six months. For the latest details check the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada at (www.cic.gc.ca).
Weather
Canada has four distinct seasons, although their arrival times vary across the country. The single most significant factor in climate is latitude. As a rule of thumb, it gets colder the further north you go, so it's no accident that the warmest areas in the south are also the most populated. The western and eastern coasts are both very wet, though much of the rain falls during winter. In Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eastern Alberta the prairies are fairly dry all year. Canadian winters are long and hard: in more than two-thirds of the country, the average January temperature is a shivering -18° C (-0.4° F). July and August are the warmest months, when temperatures in the south are usually in the upper 20° Cs (low 80° Fs).
Places of Interest
A burst of rugged Canada will blow the dust off your heart and soul.
The second-largest country in the world has sights enough to keep you going for several lifetimes. Its wild bounty of nature parks hold bald eagles, bears, lynxes, wolves and thousand-year-old pines. Its cities are shaking off their staid reputations and revelling in their cosmopolitan chic.
Other Attractions
Those expecting Canada to be a blander version of the USA should check their assumptions at the door. Canada's wild northern frontier, which has etched itself into the national psyche, and its distinct patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different from its brash neighbour. It's the edginess between Canada's indigenous, French and British traditions that gives the nation its complex three-dimensional character. Add to this a constant infusion of US culture and a plethora of traditions brought by migrants, and you have a thriving multicultural society.
Events
The Qu é bec City Winter Carnival, which takes place during the first two weeks of February, features parades, ice sculptures, a snow slide, dances and music. Ottawa's three-week Winterlude fetes all things snowy and starts in early February. The Montr é al Jazz Festival in late June or early July and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in late July both attract international and local players. Two major events in Toronto are Caribana, held in July, which is a Caribbean festival of music, dancing and wild costumes, and the Pride Week, whose events are held throughout the downtown area in late June, culminating in an outrageous Pride Parade. In September, there's the Toronto International Film Festival. Calgary hosts the popular Calgary Stampede in the second week of July; the highlights are the chuck wagon race and rodeo. In the west, Victoria celebrates the First Peoples' Festival in early August with traditional craftwork, dancing and war-canoe rides. Some public holidays are only celebrated regionally. They are: 3rd Monday in February - Family Day (Alberta); Monday nearest March 17 - St Patrick's Day (Newfoundland); Monday nearest April 23 - St George's Day (Newfoundland); June 24 - National Day (or St-Jean-Baptiste Day, Qu é bec); Monday nearest June 24 - Discovery Day (Newfoundland); Monday nearest July 12 - Orangemen's Day (Newfoundland), and 3rd Monday in August - Discovery Day (Yukon).
Canada's strength lies in its difference. Those expecting Canada to be a blander version of the USA should check their assumptions at the door. Canada's wild northern frontier, which has etched itself into the national psyche, and its distinct patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different from its brash neighbour.
It's the edginess between Canada's indigenous, French and British traditions that gives the nation its complex three-dimensional character. Add to this a constant infusion of US culture and a plethora of traditions brought by migrants, and you have a thriving multicultural society.
'We went from being boring little Canada to a sexy country of sin overnight. We are not used to being trendy or hip.' - Douglas Coupland, writer.
Geography:
Situated north of the USA, between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Canada is the world's second largest country (Russia takes the guernsey). It extends some 7700km (4775mi) east to west and 4600km (2850mi) north to south. Nearly 90% of Canadians huddle along the 6379km (3955mi) southern border with the USA. Though much of the land is lake and river-filled forest, there are mountains, plains and even a small desert. The Great Plains, or prairies, cover Manitoba, Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta. These former grasslands are now responsible for Canada's abundant wheat crop. Western Canada is known for its Rocky Mountains, while the east has the country's major cities and also its most visited geographic feature, Niagara Falls. The Canadian Shield, an ancient, rocky and glacially sanded region formed more than 2.5 billion years ago, covers most of the north of the country. The Arctic region, in the far north, is where you'll find frozen tundra merging into islands that are ice-bound year-round.
Destination facts
Capital: Ottawa
Prime Minister: Stephen Harper
Governor General: Micha ë lle Jean (representing Queen Elizabeth II)
Government: constitutional monarchy
Time zone: GMT -7 GMT -6 GMT -5 GMT -4 GMT -3.5 GMT -8
Area: 9976000
Population: 33700000
People: British descent, French descent, Italian descent, aboriginal peoples, plus significant minorities of Irish, German, Ukrainian, Dutch, Greek, Polish and Chinese descent
Languages: English and French are the country's two official languages, though the province of New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual area in the country. You will, however, notice both languages on maps, tourist brochures and product labels.The French spoken in the province of Qu é bec has a rich local vocabulary, its own idioms and sayings and a range of accents. If you speak standard French, Qu é becers will have no problem understanding you. Also note that within the province of Qu é bec, French is legally the only official language and, outside of tourist areas, English is not widely spoken.
Catholic (45%), Protestant (36%) and minorities from most of the world's major religions
Currency: Canadian Dollar (C$)
GDP: Approx. C$1033000000000
Major industries: Processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas.
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan, EU (UK, Germany, Netherlands), China and South Korea
Daylight Saving: From first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October
Country Dialing Code: 1
Getting There
Spring, summer and autumn are all ideal for touring, though if you want to ski you'll naturally have to come in winter or early spring. For campers and those who want to visit the far north, the summer months of July and August are best. Summer is also when many of the country's festivals take place. Note that the peak tourist season is between Victoria Day (late May) and Labour Day (early September). Although spring and autumn have fewer crowds, lower prices and a more relaxed pace than the summer months, some visitor-oriented facilities and attractions may be closed during these shoulder seasons.
Getting there and away
Tickets for flights departing Canada should include departure taxes. Some airports also charge departing passengers an 'airport improvement tax', usually 10.00 or15.00. Visitors entering the country from major continental US cities can choose to arrive by plane, train, bus or car. There are four main rail routes from the USA: New York-Montreal, New York-Toronto, Buffalo-Depew to Toronto, and Seattle-Vancouver. Greyhound US and Greyhound Canada form a huge bus network that connects with most major cities within and between either country. Drivers can choose from numerous road border crossings. Note that popular crossing points (such as Niagara Falls) can have lengthy queues on weekends. Queues won't be a problem if you enter by road from Alaska along the Top-of-the-World Highway into the Yukon. Several ferries run from the USA to Canada on the east coast, and from Washington State to Vancouver Island.
Getting around
Land travel is generally cheaper and, if you don't mind long travel times, much more interesting than flying. The bus network is the most extensive public transportation system and is generally less expensive than the limited train service. The country's most famous cross-country train is the Canadian, a classic 1950s-style beauty that travels from Toronto to Vancouver (Canada's longest continuous train route), complete with a two-storyed windowed 'dome car' for sightseeing. Air travel is faster, more convenient and not necessarily more expensive, especially if you snag a special fare or buy a ticket with one of the low-cost, low-frills carriers such as Westjet. The national carrier Air Canada is the major domestic airline. If you confine yourself to one region, the best way to experience the country is by car or Recreational Vehicle (RV). Canadians drive on the right side of the road, as in the USA. A valid driver's license from any country is good in Canada for three months. Canada is so large, cyclists find it hard to cover much ground; most people use other forms of transport to move from region to region and keep their bikes for recreational cycling once they're there. With so much water around, don't be surprised to find yourself in a boat at some point.
Visa:
Most Western visitors don't need a visa to visit Canada for up to 180 days. Travellers from about 150 nations, including South Africa, China, North Korea, Taiwan, Eastern European and developing countries, however, do need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) with the Canadian consulate in their home country. TRVs good for a single entry cost 75.00 and are valid for up to six months. For the latest details check the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada at (www.cic.gc.ca).
Weather
Canada has four distinct seasons, although their arrival times vary across the country. The single most significant factor in climate is latitude. As a rule of thumb, it gets colder the further north you go, so it's no accident that the warmest areas in the south are also the most populated. The western and eastern coasts are both very wet, though much of the rain falls during winter. In Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eastern Alberta the prairies are fairly dry all year. Canadian winters are long and hard: in more than two-thirds of the country, the average January temperature is a shivering -18° C (-0.4° F). July and August are the warmest months, when temperatures in the south are usually in the upper 20° Cs (low 80° Fs).
Places of Interest
A burst of rugged Canada will blow the dust off your heart and soul.
The second-largest country in the world has sights enough to keep you going for several lifetimes. Its wild bounty of nature parks hold bald eagles, bears, lynxes, wolves and thousand-year-old pines. Its cities are shaking off their staid reputations and revelling in their cosmopolitan chic.
Other Attractions
Those expecting Canada to be a blander version of the USA should check their assumptions at the door. Canada's wild northern frontier, which has etched itself into the national psyche, and its distinct patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different from its brash neighbour. It's the edginess between Canada's indigenous, French and British traditions that gives the nation its complex three-dimensional character. Add to this a constant infusion of US culture and a plethora of traditions brought by migrants, and you have a thriving multicultural society.
Events
The Qu é bec City Winter Carnival, which takes place during the first two weeks of February, features parades, ice sculptures, a snow slide, dances and music. Ottawa's three-week Winterlude fetes all things snowy and starts in early February. The Montr é al Jazz Festival in late June or early July and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in late July both attract international and local players. Two major events in Toronto are Caribana, held in July, which is a Caribbean festival of music, dancing and wild costumes, and the Pride Week, whose events are held throughout the downtown area in late June, culminating in an outrageous Pride Parade. In September, there's the Toronto International Film Festival. Calgary hosts the popular Calgary Stampede in the second week of July; the highlights are the chuck wagon race and rodeo. In the west, Victoria celebrates the First Peoples' Festival in early August with traditional craftwork, dancing and war-canoe rides. Some public holidays are only celebrated regionally. They are: 3rd Monday in February - Family Day (Alberta); Monday nearest March 17 - St Patrick's Day (Newfoundland); Monday nearest April 23 - St George's Day (Newfoundland); June 24 - National Day (or St-Jean-Baptiste Day, Qu é bec); Monday nearest June 24 - Discovery Day (Newfoundland); Monday nearest July 12 - Orangemen's Day (Newfoundland), and 3rd Monday in August - Discovery Day (Yukon).
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