To Print This Page Click On The Printer

One adjective above all others springs to mind when it comes to describing Canada: vast.

The second largest country on earth (only the Russian Federation is bigger), it stretches over 3,400 miles from Atlantic to Pacific coast, spans six of the world's 24 time zones and could fit most of Europe within its borders.

Yet 90 per cent of the population lives within 100 miles of the US border, leaving huge tracts of unspoilt wilderness elsewhere.

The country is made up of 10 provinces - Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia - and three territories - Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut.

Each has its own distinctive character, heritage and traditions, from the far-flung corner of Scotland that is Nova Scotia, to the French feel of New Brunswick; from the soaring skyscrapers of downtown Toronto to the gold rush towns of the Yukon and the picture-book countryside of Prince Edward Island

Canada is an affluent, high-tech society and has much in common with the US. The population is drawn from all over the globe.

Immigrants from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the Ukraine and, most recently, Asia, India and the Caribbean, have all contributed to today's multicultural scene. Most have maintained traditional communities and customs rather than blending into a homogenised North American scene.

The result is a rich ethnic and cultural mix that comes as a surprise to many. So what makes a typical Canadian? They are, said Pierre Berton, a Canadian writer, 'people who know how to make love in a canoe'.

Fans of wide open spaces need look no further for their perfect holiday destination - Canada's as big and beautiful as they come, with stunning, sock it to 'em scenery.

It has snow-capped mountains and emerald lakes, virgin rainforest and crystal clear fjords, wide prairies and sunny, sandy beaches.

You can hike it, bike it, climb it, canoe it, ride it, raft it, ski it, skate it, surf it, swim it... You can go whale-watching, polar bear-tracking, bird-watching, sea-otter spotting or fishing.

You can see stunning foliage in fall, admire the Northern Lights in winter and witness fantastic floral displays in spring.

Perhaps more surprisingly, alongside all this nature, are some of the North American continent's most vibrant, cosmopolitan cities, with thriving art and cultural scenes.

Toronto is the world's third theatre city (after London and New York), there are major ballet companies in Montreal and Winnipeg, and all the cities have top class art galleries and museums.

Toronto and Vancouver have major film festivals every year, while Montreal is famous for its Just For Laughs comedy festival.

The literary scene has spawned a host of big name writers, such as Margaret Atwood and Robertson Davies; Canadian thesps range from Donald Sutherland to Jim Carrey, and from Genevieve Bujold to Pamela Anderson, while on the music front the country has contributed names as diverse as Shania Twain, Oscar Peterson and Celine Dion.

Add in great summer and winter arts festivals, excellent shopping (especially with a good exchange rate from the UK) and top class food, and it becomes clear that there's a lot more to Canada that the familiar images of moose, Mounties and maple leaves.

It can be whatever you choose to make it - whether you're after a sporty holiday, a relaxing vacation or a city break, you can take your pick.

Suzanne King is a former editor of The Spirit of Canada, a magazine for the Canadian Tourism Commission, and co-author of The Backpackers Bible, a guide to round-the-world travel

Pass And Visa Information Canada
  This website is still incomplete, hopefully very soon you would be able to have complete guide. Thank you for visiting this website.

Home | Terms & conditions | Privacy policy