Canada

Canada (pronounced /ˈkænədə/) is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It is the world's second largest country by total area and its common border with the United States to the south and northwest is the longest in the world.

The land occupied by Canada was inhabited for millennia by various groups of Aboriginal people. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French expeditions explored, and later settled along, the Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763 after the Seven Years' War. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces.[8][9] This began an accretion of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom. This widening autonomy was highlighted by the Statute of Westminster of 1931 and culminated in the Canada Act of 1982, which severed the vestiges of legal dependence on the British parliament.

A federation consisting of ten provinces and three territories, Canada is governed as a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. It is a bilingual and multicultural country, with both English and French as official languages both at the federal level and in the province of New Brunswick. One of the world's highly developed countries, Canada has a diversified economy that is reliant upon its abundant natural resources and upon trade—particularly with the United States, with which Canada has had a long and complex relationship. It is a member of the G8, G-20, NATO, OECD, WTO, Commonwealth, Francophonie, OAS, APEC, and UN.

Official language

English & French

Currency

Canadian dollar

Electricity

110 volts, 60 cycles

Shopping

"In the major metropolitain cities you will find international shopping centres, that offer the worlds best shopping. At the usual tourist souvenir shops you will find local maple syrup, beaver tails, local crafts and of course Maple Leafs."

Useful information

Canada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border. Our largest trading partner is the United States.

The climate in Canada

Average winter and summer high temperatures across Canada vary according to the location.

Winters can be harsh in many regions of the country, particularly in the interior and Prairie provinces, which experience a continental climate, where daily average temperatures are near −15 °C  but can drop below −40 °C ) with severe wind chills.

But summers can produce quite the opposite temperatures with some regions climbing to 32°C.
 

Official language

English & French

Currency

Canadian dollar

Electricity

110 volts, 60 cycles

Shopping

"In the major metropolitain cities you will find international shopping centres, that offer the worlds best shopping. At the usual tourist souvenir shops you will find local maple syrup, beaver tails, local crafts and of course Maple Leafs."

Useful information

Canada and the United States share the world's longest undefended border. Our largest trading partner is the United States.