Canada

Known as “The Great White North”, Canada holds the title of the second largest country worldwide. With a vast landscape of open prairies, mountainous peaks, lakes and rivers galore, Canada has much offer every type of traveller. Encompassing a population of almost 34 million and still growing, this country is known for it’s friendliness to tourists from all over.

Language: English/French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Government: Federation with Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy

Interesting Facts

• Stretches over 9,976,140 km2 in size
• Known for its diverse multiculturalism
• Both basketball and hockey were invented by Canadians
• Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 151,600 miles
• Known as the home of large animals like the moose and grizzly bear, but is also home to about 55,000 species of insects and about 11,000 species of mites and spiders.
• The Moosehead Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick, turns out 1,642 bottles of beer per minute
• The world’s strongest current is found in the Nakwakto Rapids at Slingsby Channel, British Columbia. The current has been measured at speeds up to 18.4 mph
• The West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, was once the world’s largest shopping mall. It now ranks fifth, but it still contains the world’s largest indoor amusement park
• The CN Tower in Toronto was the world’s tallest free-standing structure until it was eclipsed in 2007

Climate

Using the metric measurement system, Canada’s temperature is indicated in Celsius. With such a large area to cover, it is safe to say that Canada does not have one set climate. For example, the southernmost part of Ontario has moderately high and low temperatures, ranging from 30 degrees Celsius to -30. On the other hand in the northern most province of Nunavit, temperatures range from well below the freezing mark except during the months of July and August when it warms to a more tolerable level. The coasts change climate as well, with British Columbia being known for its rainy weather almost year round and the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) being very dry.

• Summer: June – August
• Fall: September – November
• Winter: December – February
• Spring: March – May

History

The earliest inhabitants of this vast land were prehistoric tribes from Asia who traveled across the Bering Strait and settled here. Barring the odd Viking visit, which didn’t last too long, the Aboriginal people lived freely and developed their customs, languages, and traditions until the 15th century. In 1534, Jacques Cartier made the first claim for France and Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in the early 1600s. By the mid-16th century, Canada (East) was declared a French province.

The British entered in the 1670s and the hostilities between the two colonizers eventually led to the Treaty of Paris in 1760 when France handed Canada over to Britain.

On July 1, 1867, Canada East (Quebec), Canada West (Ontario), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick joined together under the terms of the British North America Act to become the Dominion of Canada.

MUST SEE

Niagara Falls: Bordering both Canada and The United States this massive natural landscape brings in millions of tourists every year. Located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Open year round.

CN Tower: Once known as “The worlds tallest free standing structure.“ Located in Toronto, Ontario, open year round.

West Edmonton Mall: At 5.3 million square feet, the Mall is the size of a small city and is accredited as a zoo. Located in Edmonton, Alberta. Open year round.