Canada Travel Guide

Full Name

Canada

Former Name

Capital City

Ottawa

Government Type

A constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation.

Area Size

9,984,670 sq km 3,855,101 sq miles

Time Zone

Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 Atlantic Standard Time: GMT - 4 Newfoundland Standard Time: GMT - 3.5

Climate

Varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north.

Geography

Second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border.

Languages

English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

Culture

Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. It has also been influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between the two countries. American media and entertainment are popular if not dominant in Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful in the US and worldwide. Many cultural products are marketed toward a unified "North American" or global market.The creation and preservation of distinctly Canadian culture are supported by federal government programs, laws and institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the National Film Board of Canada, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Canada is a geographically vast and ethnically diverse country. There are cultural variations and distinctions from province to province and region to region. Canadian culture has also been greatly influenced by immigration from all over the world. Many Canadians value multiculturalism, and see Canadian culture as being inherently multicultural.

History

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts. Canada also faces questions about integrity in government following revelations regarding a corruption scandal in the federal government which has helped revive the fortunes of separatists in predominantly francophone Quebec.

Travel Information

The principal national airline is Air Canada (AC). Canada has 13 international airports. All have full banking and catering facilities, duty-free shops and car hire. Airport-to-city bus and taxi services and, in some cases, rail links, are available. Calgary (YYC) is 20km from the city (journey time – 45 minutes). Montréal (YUL) (Dorval) is 25km from the city (journey time – 25 minutes). Ottawa (YOW) (Macdonald-Cartier) is 15km from the city (journey time – 20 to 45 minutes). Toronto (YYZ) (Lester B Pearson) is 27km from the city (journey time – 30 minutes). Vancouver (YVR) is 13km from the city (journey time – 20 to 45 minutes). Main ports: Canada has many ports which are all served by international shipping lines. Montréal is the only port for passenger liners from Europe. Toronto’s port is on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. Halifax, Nova Scotia, St John, New Brunswick and St John’s, Newfoundland are the principal ports on the Atlantic Ocean. The port of Vancouver is on the west coast. The Canadian rail system connects to the USA at several points. Major routes are: New York-Montréal, New York-Buffalo-Niagara Falls-Toronto, Chicago-Sarnia-London-Toronto, Cleveland-Buffalo-Niagara Falls-Toronto and Detroit-Windsor-Toronto. For details of ticket prices and reservations, contact VIA Rail in Canada or their UK representative 1st Rail. The only road access to Canada is through the southern border with the USA or from the west through Alaska. Apart from private motoring, the most popular way of travelling by road is by bus. There are many crossing points from the USA to Canada, but some of the most common are: New York to Montréal/Ottawa; Detroit to Toronto/Hamilton; Minneapolis to Winnipeg; and Seattle to Vancouver/Edmonton/Calgary.

Accommodation

International hotel chains are represented in major cities, but advance booking is essential. Guest houses, bed & breakfast establishments and self-catering lodges are available throughout the country.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia and USA for stays of up to six months except the following: holders of passports endorsed ‘British Subjects’ and ‘British Protected Persons’; nationals of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic; those visiting Canada who, during that visit, also visit the USA or St Pierre & Miquelon and return directly to Canada as visitors within the period authorised on their initial entry. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the high commission to check visa requirements. The Government of Canada refuses admission to: holders of passports issued by the UK Government entitled 'British Temporary Resident's Passport'. Visas are valid up to six months depending on circumstances of individual applicant. The determination regarding length of stay in Canada can only be decided by the examining officer at the port of entry, but visas cannot exceed the validity of the passport and cannot be longer than five years. If an extension of stay is desired, an application must be made in writing to the nearest Canada Immigration Centre at least three weeks before the expiry of the visitor visa. Transit visas are only allocated if a national's flight/onward journey is continuing within 24 hours. Single-entry visas can be used multiple times by nationals of St Pierre & Miquelon and the USA. Apply to consulate or consular section at embassy or high commission. Passport valid for at least one day beyond the intended departure date from Canada required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following: Canadian citizens holding a Canadian Certificate of Identity, Canadian birth certificate or a certificate of Canadian citizenship; permanent residents of Canada with proof of status, ie Permanent Resident Card, Record of Landing, Returning Resident Permit or a Refugee Travel Document issued by the Government of Canada to refugees who have been resettled in Canada; citizens of the USA holding proof of citizenship (eg US birth certificate or US naturalisation papers). As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport or other approved document when entering or re-entering the USA. Persons entering from St Pierre & Miquelon or the USA who are legal permanent residents of the USA and hold a US alien registration card (Green Card);citizens of France who are residents of and entering from St Pierre & Miquelon.

Getting Around

Destinations throughout Canada are served by Air Canada, with main hubs at Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. It operates mostly on longer routes. Shorter, regional feeder routes are served by partner airline Air Canada Jazz. Calgary-based low-cost airline WestJet is Canada's third-largest airline and serves more than 20 points in Canada from its main hubs of Calgary and Toronto and secondary hubs. Canada has many thousands of miles of navigable rivers and canals, a vast number of lakes and an extensive coastline. The whole country is well served by all manner of boats and ships, particularly the east and west coasts, where the ferries are fast, frequent and good value. The main ferry operator is BC Ferries. It runs a number of services linking British Columbia's mainland with Vancouver Island as well as a route to the Queen Charlotte Islands and another through the Inside Passage. VIA Rail Canada operates extensive services across Canada. The regional railways are Algoma Central, British Columbia Railway, Great Canadian Railtour Company, Ontario Northland, Québec North Shore & Labrador, Tshiuetin Rail Transportation, Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo Railway and White Pass & Yukon Route. Traffic drives on the right. The Canadian road network covers vast distances as the country is over 7,600km from west to east and 4,800km from north to south. The longest road is the Trans-Canada Highway, running west to east for 8,000km from Victoria, British Columbia to St John's, Newfoundland. One of the cheapest and most convenient ways of travelling the country apart from private motoring is by coach. Each region is well-served by a large network of coach lines, the most extensive being Greyhound Canada, which serves almost 1,100 locations within Canada. Car hire is available in all cities and from airports to full licence holders over 21 years of age. For some car hire companies drivers may need to be at least 25 years old. Major international companies offer cars in locations throughout Canada. Metropolitan buses operate on a flat-fare system. Fares must be paid exactly, which means that drivers do not carry change or issue tickets. Transfers should be requested when boarding a bus.

Health & Safety

No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Canada besides an influenza vaccination, recommended for travel from November through April. West Nile Virus, spread by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, poses a threat during summer months in rural areas, so insect-repellent measures are advised for those visiting the countryside particularly in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec. Rabies is a problem and can be spread by small animals such as racoons and bats. Medical care is excellent, but expensive - medical insurance is essential. Food and water is entirely safe. Most visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is politically stable, but does share the common international risk of terrorism. There have been no recent terrorism events. The crime rate is low, but travellers are advised to take sensible precautions to safeguard their belongings as they would anywhere. Canada is prone to tornadoes between May and September.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 6-9 Apr - Easter. 21 May - Victoria Day. 1 Jul - Canada Day. 3 Sep - Labour Day. 8 Oct - Thanksgiving Day. 11 Nov - Remembrance Day. 25-26 Dec - Christmas.

Currency

Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Electricity

110-120 volts AC, 60Hz

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am -5.00pm.

Emergency Numbers

Ambulance: 911, Fire:911, Police: 911