‘Land of diversity’

Few countries in the world offer as many choices to the world traveller as Canada. Whether your passion is skiing, sailing, museum-combing or indulging in exceptional cuisine, Canada has it all.

Western Canada is renowned for its stunningly beautiful countryside. Stroll through Vancouver’s Stanley Park, overlooking the blue waters of English Bay or ski the slopes of world-famous Whistler-Blackcomb, surrounded by thousands of hectares of pristine forestland. For a cultural experience, you can take an Aboriginal nature hike to learn about Canada’s First Nations’ history and cuisine, while outdoorsmen can river-raft, hike or heli-ski the thousands of kilometres of Canada’s backcountry, where the memories of gold prospectors and pioneers still flourish today.

By contrast, Eastern Canada mixes the flavour and charm of Europe with the bustle of trendy New York. Toronto boasts an irresistible array of ethnic restaurants, bakeries and shops to tempt the palate, while Charlottetown, Canada’s birthplace, is located amidst the rolling fields and sandy Atlantic beaches of Prince Edward Island. Between the two, ancient Québec City is a world unto itself: the oldest standing citadel in North America and the heart of Québécois hospitality.

Of course, don’t forget Northern Canada, where planes or all-terrain vehicles are sometimes the most common forms of transport and wildlife viewing is at its best.

Whatever your passion, Canada has a place for it.

Jan Lee

9,984,670 sq km (3,855,101 sq miles).

32 million (2005, UN).

3.2 per sq km.

Ottawa. Population: 1.14 million (2004, including Gatineau).

Canada is bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and Alaska, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the northeast by Greenland, and to the south by the ‘Lower 48’ of the USA. The polar ice cap lies to the north. The landscape is diverse, ranging from the Arctic tundra of the north to the great prairies of the central area. Westward are the Rocky Mountains, and in the southeast are the Great Lakes, the St Lawrence River and Niagara Falls. The country is divided into 10 provinces and three territories. A more detailed description of each province can be found under the separate provincial entries.

Constitutional Monarchy. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean since 2005. Head of Government: Prime Minister Stephen Harper since 2006. Recent history: Long-serving Jean Chrétien stepped down as Prime Minister in late 2003, replaced by Paul Martin. It seemed as if restoring relations with the USA was a primary concern of Martin's since the USA had barely concealed their frustrations with their neighbour for the refusal to support the 2003 war against Iraq. However, soon after being sworn in, Martin's Liberal Government became embroiled in a scandal concerning the misappropriation of millions of dollars of public money, with the Liberal Party supposedly receiving kickbacks from advertising contracts awarded in Québec in the late 1990s. Martin barely survived a confidence motion in Parliament in May 2005: just one vote saved him. However, in November 2005, his Government lost a confidence vote, Parliament was dissolved and an election was called for January 2006. After 12 years of Liberal rule, Canada swung to the right in the 2006 general election with conservative Stephen Harper succeeding Paul Martin as Prime Minister. Conservative leader Stephen Harper has pledged to cut taxes and tackle violent crime and corruption.
Executive power is vested in the British Monarch, the Head of State, who is responsible for appointing the Governor General, currently Michaëlle Jean. The Prime Minister, elected Cabinet Ministers, a 104-member Senate and a House of Commons make up the Federal Parliament. Members of the House of Commons are directly elected, while members of the Senate are appointed by the Prime Minister. The ten provinces of Canada each has a Lieutenant Governor and a local legislature, in power for up to 5 years. There are also three territories (Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) constituted by Acts of Parliament. Several recent attempts to amend the Constitution have been rejected by popular referendum.

Bilingual: English and French. The use of the two languages reflects the mixed colonial history – Canada has been under both British and French rule.

75 per cent of the population belong to the Christian faith: Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Church of Canada. There are numerous other active denominations and religions.

110-120 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style (flat) two-pin plugs are standard.

Handshaking predominates as the normal mode of greeting. Close friends often exchange kisses on the cheeks, particularly in French areas. Codes of practice for visiting homes are the same as in other Western countries: flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine are common gifts for hosts and dress is generally informal and practical according to climate. It is common for black tie and other required dress to be indicated on invitations. Exclusive clubs and restaurants often require more formal dress. Smoking has been banned in most public areas. Most restaurants, theatres and cinemas, if they permit smoking, have large ‘no smoking’ areas.