Canada
“It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw.”
– Emily Carr
Explore
Getting In
- It is easy to access the major cities of Canada. Many airports service the metropolitan areas, and are well connected by road.
- There are many land-border crossings between the US and Canada, that are efficient and easy to proceed through. During peak hours, you may have to wait at the border however.
- Visas are not required for US citizens, however, you may need a tourist visa if you are not a citizen of the USA or EU.
- To reach some of the interior national parks or very northern towns, you may have to hire a private bush plane. In the winter, many places are only accessible via dog sled or snowmobile.
Money
- Canada is a highly developed country with a strong economy on par with most western countries.
- Canada uses the Canadian Dollar. Cash and credit are widely accepted.
- ATMs are widely available throughout most cities, however may be more difficult to find in more remote locations.
$1 CAD = $1.28 USD
Inexpensive meal at local restaurant is C$15
1 bed apartment in city center will cost C$1130 per month
Climate
- Canada is the second largest country in the world, and contains a wide array of climates.
- Although generally thought of as cold, Canada experiences all four seasons with temperature ranges varying from the 90s in summer to -40 in winter.
- Being such a large country, specific climates vary drastically. The west coast will have milder climates; prairie lands can vary to extremes; and the far north remains in permafrost year-round.
History
The indigenous Native American populations made their way to Canada from Siberia between 50,000 and 17,000 years ago. Glaciation prevented further migration until 16,000 years ago when the glaciers began to retreat opening up the interior of the continent. 10,000 years ago, the climate had stabilized and the indigenous tribes began to fully populate the continent.
The first European contact was made in Newfoundland by the Vikings around 1000 CE, nearly 500 years prior to Christopher Columbus. English claims by John Cabot in the early 16th century to the Newfoundland coast, but were not enforced – leading the French to settle permanent colonies. Quebec would be founded in 1608.
Many wars would rage during the colonial period with the French and Indian Wars as well as conflicts with Britain. In 1763, with the Treat of Paris, France ceded New France territories to Britain. The war of 1812 was fought between the British and Americans, utilizing Canadian territories to fight from. It ended with no changes in boundaries.
In 1864, Canada drew up articles for Confederation, but intended to remain as a self-governing colony under the British crown. This satisfied British desires, which were formally ratified in 1867, leading to the creation of modern-day Canada. Canada would leave British rule in 1926 with the Balfour Declaration, and all formal British rule would be relinquished in 1982 under the Canada Act.
Need to Know
- English and French are both spoken. French is most widely spoken in Quebec.
Warnings
- As a whole, Canada is a safe country. However, travelers should be wary in urban areas as crimes still do occur.
- Be aware of large homeless populations in cities such as Vancouver where the rate of petty theft is more likely to occur.
- Much of Canada is still very much wild. Large, dangerous animals including bear and moose roam the backcountry and travelers should exercise due caution.
- Weather, particularly in winter, can be extreme. Travelers should dress appropriately and prepare for harsh conditions. The terrain is geologically active and very much at the whims of nature.
We recommend reviewing safety guidelines by various state departments: – we make no guarantees to your safety!
US State Department – Moderate to High bias, with moderate levels of broad information. We advise checking against other sources to confirm veracity of statements.
British State Department – Low bias, and very thorough information. We recommend checking with the FCO for tourist warnings.