Destination Guide - Canada

Canada is the second largest country on the earth, encompassing nearly 10 million square kilometres. It spans six time zones and is bounded by three oceans. The land is vast, wild, rugged, and unspoiled - an adventure traveller's paradise. From the snowy peaks of the rocky mountains, to the thousands of freshwater lakes and rushing rivers, to an almost unbroken belt of forest stretching coast to coast - there’s so much to see and do that you could set out on an adventure all year round.

Official Name: Canada
Population: 33.3 million
Capital City: Ottawa (pop: 1,010,500)
People: British descent (28%), French descent (23%), Italian descent (3%), Aboriginal peoples (2%), plus significant minorities of German, Ukrainian, Dutch, Greek, Polish and Chinese descent
Languages: English, French
Religion: Catholic (45%), Protestant (36%) and minorities from most of the world's major religions
Currency: Canadian Dollar
Time: Vancouver GMT -8 hours, Calagary GMT -7 hours, Toronto GMT -5 hours
Electricity: 110-120V 60Hz (http://www.kropla.com)
Major Industries: Services, industry, and agriculture

IMPORTANT FACTS

Travel Documents

US citizens require a passport to enter Canada. (Note: please make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival in Canada). For citizens of other countries you should contact your nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate for entry requirements.

Climate

The climate of British Columbia varies from marine to continental, and is influenced by its location immediately east of the warm Pacific Ocean, the north-south orientation of its towering mountain chains, the mountainous topography, the prevailing westerly winds, and the province's northerly latitude. In winter, the province is affected occasionally by much colder, drier air from the Arctic. The summers tend to be dry throughout most of BC. The beautiful coast of British Columbia is well known for its temperate climate - the finest in Canada with temperatures ranging from an average of 26 degrees C (90 F) in the summer and 2 degrees C (36F) in the winter.

The weather in Alberta is a bit different to that on the west coast. Due to Alberta’s location, it is exposed to cold arctic air from the north making it quite cold in the winter months reaching temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius. Alberta is famous for its Chinook winds which sweep into southern Alberta several times during the winter. This warm and dry wind can rapidly raise the temperatures during times of extreme cold weather. The summer months are often nice and warm in the day with cool evenings in comparison. Because Alberta is in a rain shadow from the Rocky Mountain, the air descending on Alberta gains heat producing nice warm and dry winds. Regardless of the season, Alberta skies are almost always full of sunshine.

Food

Canadian cuisine is made up of traditional cuisines from around the globe. Uniquely Canadian foods include fresh and seasonal ingredients found throughout the country like seafood and berries. Wild game, such as Bison, Moose, and Buffalo are also popular. Some traditional meals include a Montreal smoked meat sandwich, poutine, roasted root vegetables, and Wild Sockeye Salmon. The west coast also offers plenty of Asian style restaurants including Chinese Smorgasbord, Sushi, and Korean BBQ. Street food can also be found in the larger cities and are generally safe to eat.

One of the most common beverages is Canada beer, wine, and ice wines, which are plentiful throughout the country.

Water

Tap water is safe to drink, and pop, juice, tea and coffee are easily attainable.

Vaccinations

There are no mandatory vaccinations necessary for entry to Canada. We advise you to contact your nearest travel clinic for information on health requirements, as this information can and does change frequently. A good website for current information is The Centre for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/travel/.

Canada Trips

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
1	Alberta, Canadian Rockies Rambler by Foot, Raft, Canoe and Mountain Bike (14 Days)
2	Canada, British Columbia, Sea Kayak Adventures Clayoquot Sound (7 Days) by Sea Kayak
3	Canada, British Columbia, Sea Kayak Adventures The Broken Group Islands (7 Days) by Sea Kayak
4	Canada, British Columbia, Backpacking The West Coast Trail (7 Days)