Canada Travel Guide

Canada stretches across North America from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific in the west and north to the Arctic, bordering the United States to the south and north-west. It is the world's second-largest country by area and spans six time zones, and much of it is wilderness: forests, lakes and mountains cover a great deal of the land. Its best-known natural attractions include Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains and Niagara Falls on the border with the United States, and it has more than twenty UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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 is the Canadian dollar (CAD, symbol $). Cards are widely accepted, and it is worth noting that displayed prices usually exclude sales tax (see below), which is added at the till.

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.

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.

Winterlude: (January to February) Winterlude is a free yearly festival that attracts about 600000 visitors every year. Must do winter pleasures such as tube sliding, skating and admiring snow and ice sculptures share the spotlight with a cultural and culinary program.

Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival: (June) This is the largest Dragon Boat Festival in North America with over 200 teams, 5000 paddlers and 75000 audience members and viewers. Concerts and cultural performances also occur during this festival.

Tulip Festival: (May) The Tulip Festival is one of the most exciting and popular events for flower lovers, with more than 3 million tulips to be admired. During your visit you will experience an incredibly diverse selection of flower exhibitions as well as artistic installations, culinary experiences, interactive family programs, breathtaking fireworks, historical military demonstrations and guided tours of the tulip fields.

Victoria Canada Day: (July) Every year on July 1st Canadians get together to celebrate the foudning of the country. With live music on various stages, family-friendly events and a great fireworks display, Canada's birthday is an event not to be missed!

Rifflandia Festival: (August) Rifflandia is a 4-day music festival that takes place between the last weekend of August and the last weekend of September at the Royal Athletic Park. During the festival zou will be able to see over 300 artists at more than 10 different venues! Due to the eccentric program and the different venues and shows, the festival attracts thousands of people every year.

Dragon Boat Festival: (August) The Dragon Boat Festival has been held every August for the last 20 years. But don't worry if you don't make it to Canada for August, the dragon boats can be seen in the harbor already from February because of their growing popularity. During the festival visitors can also enjoy the Festival of Lights, the beer garden, or the "Eye Dotting Ceremony".

Fringe Festival: (August-September) Every summer Victoria hosts the Fringe Festival. Visitors can look forward to live performances from around the world. This event features an electric mix of spoken word, drama, musicals, dance, comedy, magic and theater.

International Chalk Art Festival: (September) The largest street art festival in Canada showcases the cultural diversity of Downtown Victoria at the port of Victoria. You can admire chalk artworks (even in 3D!) made by professional artists for free. You will also be able to enjoy live music outdoors whilst viewing the artists' work.

• The Monday before or on May 24 is Victoria Day (Fête de la Rein), celebrating the birthday of the reigning British monarch
• July 1 is Canada Day (Fête du Canada), commemorating the formation of Canada as a state of the British Commonwealth by the British North America Act on July 1, 1867
• The first Monday in August is Civic Holiday (Premier lundi d'août)
• The first Monday in September marks Labor Day (Fête du travail)
• The second Monday in October marks Thanksgiving (Action de grâce). On this day, Canadians, just like the U.S., celebrate how the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock and were welcomed by the Wampanoag Indians and feasted together.
• On November 11, the day of the armistice in World War I, Canadians celebrate Remembrance Day (Jour du Souvenir). It is intended to commemorate the war veterans.

A few things are worth knowing. Sales tax (a federal GST of around 5%, plus provincial taxes in most provinces) is usually added at the till, so displayed prices look lower than what you pay, this applies to restaurant menus too. Tipping is expected in restaurants and taxis, customarily around 15 to 20%. Alcohol may be bought and drunk by those aged 19 and over (18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec), and drinking in public is not allowed. And if you camp, note that wild camping is restricted in national parks, and in bear country you must store food securely, in odour-proof containers in the car or hung at least four metres up a tree.

Canada offers wilderness and cosmopolitan cities in one enormous, welcoming package: Banff and Niagara, the festivals of Montréal, Vancouver and Ottawa, and food from Atlantic lobster to Okanagan wine. Sort your eTA and travel insurance in advance, remember that tax is added at the till, and choose your season by region. Best of all, as an English- and French-speaking country, Canada is a superb place to learn a language, on a course with SPRACHCAFFE in Canada.