Flag of Canada

Flag of Canada

  • Capital City » Ottawa, Ontario
  • Largest city » Toronto

Facts

  • Population » 40,000,000 (2023)
  • Life Expectancy » 82.1 years (all sexes) (2019)
  • Canada has two official languages — French and English
    • The majority of Canadians speak English.
    • French is the official language in the province of QuĂ©bec, but English is widely spoken in most areas.
    • New Brunswick is the only province to recognise both French and English as their official languages.
  • Women have the same rights as men.
  • A handshake is a normal greeting, especially in business. In Quebec people often greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
  • The vast majority of Canadians live within 300 km (180 mi) of the southern border with the United States.
    • Most of Canada is uninhabited wilderness, and Arctic temperatures make the northern territories difficult to build large population centres.
  • The most populated province is Ontario, followed by QuĂ©bec, British Columbia, and Alberta.
  • Canada prides itself on its welcoming immigration policy. Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver have large multicultural communities that are open-minded and used to rubbing shoulders with people from across the world.
    • However, the province of Quebec has been criticized recently with laws that prohibit religious head coverings.
  • Electricity » 110 volts, 60Hz. Plugs have two flat blades or two flat blades and a round pin.
  • Currency » Canadian dollar (CAD) — check the latest exchange rate
  • International dialing code: » +1
  • Internet domain » .ca
  • Emergency numbers » 911

Provinces and Territories

Maps

Geography

  • Canada covers 9,093,507 square kilometres of land and 891,163 square kilometres of water, making it the 2nd largest nation in the world with a total area of 9,984,670 square kilometres.
  • With an area of 9,984,670 km2
    • Canada is the world’s second-largest country and the largest nation in the Western Hemisphere
    • Canada occupies approximately two-fifths of the North American Continent and is bordered by 12 USA states in the south and by the non-contiguous US State of Alaska in the northwest. It is also bounded by the Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
    • Canada is the world’s largest country that borders only one country.
    • Canada has the longest coastline in the world.
    • Canada is home to one-fifth of the world’s fresh water resources.
      • Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world.
      • 563 of the lakes larger than 100 square kilometres, almost 10% of Canada’s surface is covered in fresh water.
      • The province of Ontario alone contains about a third of the world’s freshwater, spread over 250,000 lakes
  • Canada has some of the largest islands in the world

Indigenous Peoples

  • In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Tourism

  • According to GlobalData, Canada received 15.1 million U.S. tourists in 2019 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic), accounting for 68% of its total international arrivals.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada

National Parks

Vehicle-Supported Adventure Travel

  • Drives » Right side
  • Being the second biggest country in the world, and sparsely populated, there is lots of room to explore
  • 89% of Canada is designated as “Crown Land” which is available to Canadians for public use.
    • Not all Crown Land is created equal, and finding areas suitable for camping varies between the provinces and territories.
  • Every province and territory is accessible by land from other regions except for Nunavut (2021)
    • Alberta is probably the less friendly to wild campers and overlanders, with hefty fines for many regions were dispersed camping is prohibited.

Weather

In summer, temperatures often soar above 30°C (86°F), while in winter they can drop below -40°C (-40°F).

  • Canadian Weather – Environment Canada
  • Weather Radio VHF Frequencies
    • 162.400 MHz
    • 162.425 MHz
    • 162.450 MHz
    • 162.475 MHz
    • 162.500 MHz
    • 162.525 MHz
    • 162.550 MHz

World Rankings

  • First (#1) Overall ranking in the World’s Best Countries 2021 (US News & World Report)
    • 19th for Adventure 2021
    • 2nd Overall in 2020
    • 3rd Overall in 2019

Time Zones

Notes

  • Canada became independent from the United Kingdom in 1867.
  • Heavy crude oil found largely in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan is exported to USA and other markets, making Canada the world’s sixth-largest oil producer.

With a strong economy, magnificent scenery and an excellent social security system, Canada is a dream travel destination. Although sparsely populated and cold in winter, the second largest country in the world offers travellers a warm welcome. Canadians are known for their cheerful humour and self-deprecating manner.

Canada is a land of vast distances and rich in natural resources. The North American country stretching from the U.S.A. in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north. Canada borders three of the world’s five major oceans, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean on it’s west coast, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Canada shares the world’s largest international border with the USA to the south.

Canada is divided into ten Provinces and three Territories. Covering 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), it is the second-largest country in the world (after Russia) by total area. And with a population of only 37 million people, Canada has vast swaths of openness and wilderness, and plenty of opportunity for adventure.

Modern, culturally diverse, and progressive, Canada is consistently ranked as one of the best countries to live in. Major cities include the massive metropolis of Toronto, Ontario (4th largest city in North America); Calgary, in oil rich Alberta; Vancouver, in beautiful British Columbia; French-speaking Montréal and Québec City in culturally rich province of Québec; and Ottawa, the nation’s capital.

Canadians live in a land rich in natural beauty, from great northern landscapes and huge swaths of boreal forest, to temperate rainforests and prairie grasslands. Canada’s national parks are protected areas established under federal legislation to preserve it’s natural heritage. Along with about 1000 National Historic Sites, Canada has 39 National Parks, eight National Park Reserves, three National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCAs), and one NMCA Reserve.

Parks Canada was established on May 19, 1911. Back then, it was known as the Dominion Parks Branch and it became the world’s first national park service.

Emergency Numbers

  • 911 – Emergencies Only
  • CANUTEC EMERGENCY #:1-613-996-6666 (24HR) – Chemical & Oil Spills/Accidents

Safety & Security

  • Canada is a very safe country. Exercise normal security precautions. Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would anywhere you travel. Monitor the media and other sources for changes to local travel conditions.

Other Online Profiles

Government Travel Advisories

Posts

Media

Resources

This page was updated June 15, 2023