Canada is located on the North American continent. It is the second largest country in the world with an area of 9,984,670 km², which makes it fall into 6 different time zones. The country is characterized by its vast uninhabited natural areas, which occupy almost 70% of its surface.
The biggest attractions include Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains and Niagara Falls on the border with the USA.
Canadian culture is deeply influenced by early European immigrants, most of them from Great Britain, France and Ireland. In recent decades, there have also been large influxes of immigrants from Asia, the Caribbean and Africa who brought their traditions with them, traditions that were incorporated into the larger Canadian one. For example, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in Vancouer and the Caribana parade is celebrated in Toronto.
The largest cities in Canada, besides the capital, are Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal and Quebec. There are also eighteen UNESCO World Heritage sites worth seeing.
Canada is the second largest country on Earth and has an area of 9,984,670 km². The country extends on the North American continent between the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward to the Arctic Ocean. It borders the USA in the south and northwest.
Canada has many different climate zones as well, because it stretches across such large masses of land. There are areas with polar climate conditions, maritime climate, continental climate and moderately cold climate, which means that there are varying amounts of precipitation and average temperatures.
The best time to travel to Canada is difficult to define because of the different climates. In the Northern parts of Canada temperatures can go all the way down to -40 degrees Celsius in the winter. In summer, on the other hand, temperatures of up to 30 degrees can be expected. The Okanagan Wine Valley is one of the warmest regions in all of Canada, located in the state of British Columbia.
The currency in Canada is the Canadian dollar (CAD, symbol: $).
One Canadian dollar is equivalent to 100 cents. There are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 dollar bills and 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 cent and 1 and 2 dollar coins. There used to be a 1000 dollar bill, but it has been withdrawn, although it is still recognised as official currency.
We have compiled a packing checklist so that you can be perfectly prepared for your journey!
Canada is a country without an official national religion. Three quarters of the population are Christian, the rest are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist. Up to 16% do not belong to any denomination.
Officially, Canada is a constitutional monarchy part of the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. However, Canada is also a representative parliamentary democracy organized as a large federal state. The constitution is composed of written legal sources and unwritten common law.
Local Language and Communication
There are two official languages: English and French. According to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Official Languages Act and the Official Languages Regulations, bilingualism is officially established. All citizens can use federal services of any kind in English or French. Canadians are known to be very friendly and polite.
One should use the words "please" and "thank you" as often as possible. As a greeting, one is often addressed with "Hi, how are you?". You don't have to answer honestly, a casual "I'm fine, thanks. And you?" is quite sufficient.
In the east of the country, the main traffic route runs along the Saint Lawrence River through Ontario and Quebec, connecting the major cities of Toronto, Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa. The entire north is hardly accessible because it is not needed. In the west, the major cities near the American border are connected by transportation systems.
The Canadian government wanted to connect the widely separated provinces, and this was done with the help of three transcontinental railroads and several spur railroads. For longer distances, there are domestic flights offered by 75 different airlines.
Native Americans were the first inhabitants of Canada around 12000 BC. After them, the Inuit came into the land around 5000 BC. Vikings were the first Europeans to live on this land, also known as Newfoundland, in 1000 BC. The Frenchman Jacques Cartier first claimed ownership over regions of Canada in 1534. These regions then became French land. The city Québec was founded by Samuel de Champlain in the 16th Century. Many French people then began to migrate to Canada and create settlements in the years to come. British settlers also came to the land in 1670.
After a few peaceful centuries, the Seven Years War between the English and the French began. In 1763 France gave their ownership rights to Great Britain with the Treaty of Paris. After the U.S. War of Independence (1775-1783), Canada experienced the first wave of immigration of British Loyalists. From 1812 to 1814 followed the British-American War, which ended inconclusively and was concluded with the Peace of Ghent.
In 1867, Canadian Confederation occurred and Canada was declared a federal state by Great Britain, which now had autonomy from Great Britain. By 1912, all provinces (except Newfoundland in 1949) had joined Confederation. Canada voluntarily became a member of the Commonwealth in 1931.After World War II, Canada experienced a large wave of immigration from Europe, India, the Far East, and the Caribbean, which resulted in a significant economic boom. Land treaties were signed with the aborigines, who got back parts of land in the north. There were also tensions between English-speaking Canada and the French province of Quebec, which demanded more independence. However, this was rejected by a narrow majority.
International Festival of Animated Objects: (January) Every year Calgary hosts the International Festival of Animated Objects, celebrating masks, puppets and animated objects. Artists present their creative and original creations, everything from puppets, figures, scenery and stories. For a week, visitors can also attend theatrical performances and workshops.
Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo: (April) If you are a fan of anime, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, animation and horror, then this is exactly the event for you! This fair has been around since 2005 and is held annually for 3 days.
Funny Fest Calgary Comedy Festival: (May - June) Calgary's Comedy Fest presents stand-up comedians, musical comedy and a whole range of other entertaining performances. In addition to the performances, visitors can also attend workshops and seminars where they will be introduced to the secrets of the art of comedy.
Taste of Calgary: (August) The most appetizing festival in Canada is called "Taste of Calgary": if you want to taste culinary specialties of the region, this is the place to be! For $1 each, you can taste your way through numerous delicacies. In addition to the food and drinks, there is also a diverse program of live music.
Calgary International Film Festival: (September - October) Every film enthusiast's paradise! For 12 days, a total of 200 films of various genres from 30 countries are shown. In addition to the films, there are also gala events and the opportunity to look behind the scenes.
If you plan to camp in Canada, you should note that wild camping is prohibited in the national parks and is also not so welcome in more densely populated areas. You should also beware of wild bears. All food should be stored in odor-proof bags in the car or hung from a tree at least 4 meters high.
In Canada there is a sales tax of 5%, plus regional taxes of up to 8%. All products are priced without taxes, which are added at the time of sale. This also applies to menus in restaurants!
The purchase and consumption of alcohol is allowed for people over 19 (exception: 18 years in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec). Drinking alcohol in public is strictly prohibited. Alcohol may only be consumed within licensed premises or at home.
If you are familiar with the tipping rules in the USA, then you will know that tips are not included in payments that you make. You should give a tip of around 15 percent of the original payment price that you had to pay. Common prices for a coffee is about 1.50 to 2 Euros and a beer can be bought for about 3 to 5 Euros. By knowing this you can avoid getting ripped off by places that offer these beverages for more than the prices stated above.
