introduction

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America, bordering the United States of America. It is the second largest country in the world in land area after Russia and has the longest coastline of any country in the world. Canada is next to the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic Oceans. Around 33 million people live in Canada's ten provinces and three territories (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory).

history

Native people used to live in what is now Canada for thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived. Nowadays they are known as the First Nations and the Inuit people. According to our knowledge now, the Vikings were the first Europeans known to land in Canada for a short period of time.

In the early 16th century explorations started on Canada's eastern coast, beginning with John Cabot from England in 1497, and later Jacques Cartier in 1534 from France, who was told by two Indian Youths about the route to "kanata." They were referring to the village of Stadacona; "kanata" was simply the Huron-Iroquois word for "village" or "settlement." But for want of another name, Cartier used "Canada" to refer not only to Stadacona (the site of present day Quebec City), but also to the entire area subject to its chief, Donnacona. The name was soon applied to a much larger area: maps in 1547 designated everything north of the St. Lawrence River as "Canada."Some parts of Canada were settled by France and French usually had permission from the native peoples to live in their country. 

In 1605, led by Samuel de Champlain they built Port Royal in Acadia (today called Nova Scotia) and in 1608 de Champlain started settling Quebec. British took control of the French areas after a battle near Quebec City in 1759 and as a result some parts of Canada were also settled by England and Scotland.  During the American Revolutionary War, the attempts of the U.S. congress to make Quebec part of the United States failed, as well as during the War of 1812.

On he 1st of  July 1867, Canada became an independent country, which included the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Sir John A. MacDonald became the first prime minister of the country. Later Canada joined Manitoba, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories (1870), British Columbia (1871) and Prince Edward Island (1873).The two Red River Rebellions (1869-70, 1885), led by Louis Riel, fought for more rights for the Métis people.

World War I had the worst impact on Canada in terms of how many people were killed and the country also fought in World War II. Before the modern flag, the Maple Leaf that we all know, Canada had used the Red Ensign. In 1982, a new constitution was created, including a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Many French Canadians today wish to form their own country, separate from the rest of Canada. The province of Quebec held a referendum in 1980, but only about 40% wanted to separate. Another referendum was held in 1995, with almost 50% voting for separation.

Today, about 25% of Canadians use French as their first language and many people can speak both French and English. The biggest French-speaking community is the province of Quebec, but there are French-speaking communities and people all across Canada.

surfing

Somehow Canada is not really famous for its surfing beaches, but it does get some surf, especially on the west coast. If you are looking for some real surf, it’s worth going to the coasts of British Columbia and Vancouver Island (boasts good, even world class surf in temperatures no different from northern California), which lie directly in the path of Aleutian and Japanese N, W, and NW storms. Since 1960s, when surfers were spotted in local waves, people are getting more and more involved in this amazing sport, better say the way of life, especially on the west coast of Vancouver Island (with Long Beach being the most popular place that offers a variety of surfable breaks). You will find there rock points, beachbreaks, and unsurfed islands. A good outfitters' trip is the way to go, as boats are the only option in many areas. As with Alaska, the winter months are dark, cold, and windy, so spring and fall offer the best chance for cleaner, warmer waves.  

When Long Beach is flat, Cox Bay may work well with its left break off rocky Cox Point (located North of Long Beach, just outside the park boundary). Another option south of Long Beach would be secluded Wreck Beach on Florencia Bay. Moving further you will find Chesterman Beach and Rosy Bay Beach that are separated by Frank Island and face the Pacific at different angles and work at different times and under different conditions.

Tofino, situated on the edge of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, can be called Canada's surfing capital, you can surf up and down the coast of the island. Also try to catch some waves at Nootka Island, where beachfront Beano Creek Eco Surf Village is located. Beginners can take their first lessons there as well. For those who are more experienced, there is a Wave Tracker – guided surf camp. It’s for you to decide whether your camp will be at Beano Creek Eco Surf Village on Nootka Island, or at one of the many Beach Surf Camp sites along 100NM of Pacific West Coast. Exploration Surf is another option for you and your friends: take the boat, a driver or a guide, a cook and discover more than 100NM of Pacific West Coast Wilderness, as well as beautiful nature around you. The Tatchu Adventures guides are the ones who offer these services (boats to the reefs breaks or secluded beaches, etc).

In terms of the temperatures, you will need a full wet suit in spring, summer and fall. If you go during winter, it would be a good idea to take booties, gloves and hood. So enjoy nice, uncrowded surf and have fun!

travel

Again, as with the means of transportation, Canada is a big and developed country that offers you different types of accommodation, depending on your preferences and budget. If you want to pamper yourself and stay in the best hotels across the country pick the Fairmont Hotels. Many of them were one time the CP Hotels. These are the best and some of them like the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, the Banff Springs, the Chateau Lake Louise, Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City are among the world's best hotels. They are very historic buildings as well, so you can kill two birds in one stone – stay with comfort and improve your knowledge of history. In case you don't want to spend a lot of money for a place to spend the night, motels are usually a good bet and easily found in the most places in Canada, even in off-the-beaten-path areas. As in most countries, accommodations in Canada vary in price depending on the season and place. In most cities and many tourist areas, expect to pay upwards of $100 or more for a good hotel room. Motels in rural areas will be cheaper, especially in the off season (can even be as little as $40 for a night's accommodation), and Bed and Breakfast) can be a nice option as well.

If you are travelling with a bunch of mates or with a family, you can go for cottage rentals on the lakes and in the countryside and apartment rentals in the cities. This option provides you with some comfort and especially good for situations when you travel in a company of friends, as it can be reasonably cheap after you divide the price between all of you.Youth hostels can be an option as well; they are offering lodging in shared dorms or private rooms for $15 - $40 per night (prices can vary). Some useful resources are Backpackers Hostels Canada, Hostelling International Canada and Pacific Hostel Network. The last one also covers Alaska and the Northwestern United States).

And another good thing - most hostels in Canada meet very high standards. And now for those who want to stay closer to the nature or took their tent and sleeping bags and now simply has to use it - campgrounds. There is a great amount of camps in Canada from privately owned R.V. parks to the publicly operated campgrounds in national and provincial parks, which generally are very beautiful. Just to give you some examples: Beano Creek Eco-Surf Village on Nootka island (Beano Creek is in the middle of 40 km of empty breaks on Nootka Island plus coastal rainforest to explore, fishing, wildlife viewing, bird watching and a perfect opportunity to practise you skills in photography).

The Surf Village provides the Tree houses, each sleeps up to 4 persons comfortably. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is located on Pacific Rim Highway, which makes it easy to find. The Park Information Center is open from mid-June to October and it’s a one-stop source for park orientation, there you can get all the guidebooks and a schedule of guided hikes and events. The park has 94 drive-in camping sites and 54 walk-in sites with maximum stay being seven days.

And the last useful thing - the Tofino Visitors Information Centre is one of the best places to find information on camping, hotels, resorts and B&Bs, as well as current prices and a list of companies offering surf and kayak rentals, whale watching, fishing charters, scuba diving and flight-seeing. It is open early spring through fall and seven days a week in peak season.

what to pack

Prepare a sturdy suitcase or backpack and take some heavy winter clothing and boots if you are going in winter and plan your trip through the northern part of the country (mittens, scarves, wool sweaters and parkas, ear muffs or warm hat). The southern part has much milder temperatures, so the content of your suitcase depends on where you are going.

General rule – always take waterproofs. In summer it is very warm, even hot in the cities, so you will need shorts and T shirts, sunscreen and mosquito repellent in May, June and July; spring is usually cool, so jacket and sweater. Pretty much everything is available in Canada...so take only important things with you. Make sure you pack an adapter (will allow you to plug an appliance designed for one type of outlet into another type of outlet), first aid kit and some medicines that you personally need, because a prescription can be extremely expensive. A map will be very helpful, as there are so many places to explore, different provinces, territories, cities, towns, parks, islands, rivers, lakes, beaches, and much more. So take your camera and make sure you have enough space on the card or plenty of films with you (though they are easy to buy).

where to stay

Again, as with the means of transportation, Canada is a big and developed country that offers you different types of accomodation, depending on yout preferences and budget. If you want to pamper yourself and stay in the best hotels across the country pick the Fairmont Hotels. Many of them were one time the CP Hotels. These are the best and some of them like the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, the Banff Springs, the Chateau Lake Louise, Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City are among the world's best hotels. They are very historic buildings as well, so you can kill two birds in one stone – stay with comfort and improve your knowledge of history.

In case you don't want to spend a lot of money for a place to spend the night, motels are usually a good bet and easily found in the most places in Canada, even in off-the-beaten-path areas. As in most countries, accommodations in Canada vary in price depending on the season and place. In most cities and many tourist areas, expect to pay upwards of $100 or more for a good hotel room. Motels in rural areas will be cheaper, especially in the off season (can even be as little as $40 for a night's accommodation), and Bed and Breakfast) can be a nice option as well.

If you are travelling with a bunch of mates or with a family, you can go for a cottage rentals on the lakes and in the countryside and apartment rentals in the cities. This option provides you with some comfort and especially good for situations when you travel in a company of friends, as it can be reasonably cheap after you devide the price between all of you.

Youth hostels can be an option as well, they are offering lodging in shared dorms or private rooms for $15 - $40 per night (prices can vary). Some useful resources are Backpackers Hostels Canada, Hostelling International Canada and Pacific Hostel Network. The last one also covers Alaska and the Northwestern United States). And another ood thing - most hostels in Canada meet very high standards.

And now for those who want to stay closer to the nature or took their tent and sleeping bags and now simply has to use it - campgrounds. There is a great amount of camps in Canada from privately owned R.V. parks to the publicly operated campgrounds in national and provincial parks, which generally are very beautiful.

Just to give you some examples: Beano Creek Eco-Surf Village on Nootka island (Beano Creek is in the middle of 40 km of empty breaks on Nootka Island plus coastal rainforest to explore, fishing, wildlife viewing, bird watching and a perfect opportunity to practise you skills in photography). The Surf Village provides the Tree houses, each sleeps up to 4 persons comfortably. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is located on Pacific Rim Highway, which makes it easy to find. The Park Information Center is open from mid-June to October and t's a one-stop source for park orientation, there you can get all the guidebooks and a schedule of guided hikes and events. The park has 94 drive-in camping sites and 54 walk-in sites with maximum stay being seven days.

dangers and warnings

Yes, there are bears in Canada, mostly black bears, but they won't touch you unless they have young or feel threatened. If you plan to go into the bush, you can pick up info leaflets that will tell you what to do if you run into a bear.  Most visits to Canada are trouble-free and safety is not usually a problem. The country is politically stable, but does share the common international fear of terrorism, though there have been no recent terrorism events. The crime rate is low, but as in all the countries  travellers are advised to watch their belongings (when parking your car, avoid leaving any possessions in open view; lock your bike). Now, attention, please. To avoid insulting many Canadians, please don't make fun of Canadian money. Sometimes visitors, especially of the American persuasion, visit the country and say certain things that really aggravate Canadians. And you don't want any conflicts in the country that is so welcoming to you, right?

Regarding the healthy issues, it's doubtful that you face any health problems that you wouldn't face in any other western industrialized country. And the health care system in Canada is very effective and widely accessible.

Another thing to be aware of – in most Canadian provinces it is banned to smoke indoors in public places and near entrances. Some bans include areas such as bus shelters and outdoor patios.

restaurants, shopping and nightlife

Canadian cuisine can be divided in two main ones: English Canadian cuisine and French-Canadian cuisine. The first one is very similar to that of the northern United States. English Canadians may be puzzled if you ask where you can get Canadian food. Still you can find some regional specialties, especially at the Eastern and Western edges of the country, in English Canada there isn't much food known as "Canadian" except for buttertarts (tarts made with butter, sugar and eggs), nanaimo bars (chocolate-topped no-bake squares with custard or vanilla butter filling and crumb base), beaver tails (fried dough topped with icing sugar), fiddleheads (curled heads of young ferns), and a few other examples. But don’t think it’s going to be easy to get this traditional food somewhere in Toronto, for example. People in the more urbanized areas may be unaware that they even have national dishes. But despite of that, there is a rising trend among Canadian chefs and restaurateurs to offer locally-produced ingredients, and most major cities have bistros which specialize in local cuisine. And if you are lucky you can even try game meat dishes such as grouse, caribou, venison, moose or wild turkey prepared in a variety of European styles. French-Canadian cuisine is distinctive and includes a great range of specialties for vegetarians (French fries with cheese and gravy) and those who prefer dishes with meat as well (meat pies, mince of pork drippings, pigs' feet stew, pork pie, etc). This type of cuisine also incorporates elements of the cuisines of English-speaking North America, and, of course, France. But there is another type of cuisine that you will quite frequently meet in Canada, to say more, in nearly every small town – this is the Chinese cuisine. A lot of the reason for this is the role Chinese immigration played historically in the early settlement of Canada (particularly in the building of the railroad). These establishments sell the usual Chinese cuisine marketed towards North American Fast Food customers. In Toronto and Vancouver (two large centres of Chinese immigration) you can find authentic Chinese cuisine and in almost every town there will be a Chinese-Canadian restaurant. You probably won’t believe it, but in prairie provinces you can find great Ukrainian food, such as perogies (due to large amounts of Ukrainian immigrants). Would like some Central and Eastern European Jewish specialties? You can find those in Montreal.

Summing up, in Canada you will be able to find food of almost any style, just check the brochures in the hotel on tourist information centres on arrival. Yep, and the last thing about food. Probably the most popular coffee shop you will find virtually everywhere is Tim Hortons, named after a famous Hockey Player.

 

The country's currency is the Canadian dollar (symbol: $ with proper abbreviation as CAD) and it consists of 100 cents (¢). Canadian coins are of 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), 25¢ (quarter), 50¢ (50-cent piece; rarely seen/never used), $1 (loonie) and $2 (toonie). Credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard being the most popular ones. American Express is accepted less frequently and Diner's Club is accepted only in the more upscale restaurants and hotels. Generally, using a credit card is more convenient and also gets you a better exchange rate (your bank will convert the currency automatically and usually at a good rate). If you still need cash, in all cities and towns, it is possible to convert between Canadian dollars and most major currencies at many banks. In addition to that, most retailers in Canada will accept US currency either at par or at slightly reduced value.

West Edmonton Mall is Canada's Largest Shopping Mall. Moreover, it's the world's largest entertainment and shopping centre and Alberta's number one tourist attraction. It has over 800 stores and services, over 110 eating establishments, plus seven world class attractions. So the well known phrase “Shop till you drop” can definitely be used here...It has pretty amazing structure and is often called the "8th Wonder of the World", as it spans the equivalent of 48 city blocks in the west end of the City of Edmonton, in the Province of Alberta. You can also enjoy the dolphin show, bungy jumping and the fantasy land hotel there. Some important tips for shopping would be: a) don’t bargain, it is extremely rare in ordinary retail shopping in Canada; b) in some areas, private exchange bureaus will give better exchange rates and lower fees than banks; c) if possible, try to use chartered bank ATM machines as the fees are often cheaper than the independent ATM machines; d) the prices displayed are usually without tax (GST 6%), it will be added on top (exceptions are gasoline, parking fees, liquor bought from liquor stores, and medical services such as eye exams or dentistry).

 

Now, about the nightlife in Canada. The drinking age in the country varies from province to province. In Quebec (has the least restrictions on the sale of alcohol), Alberta and Manitoba you can drink if you have already reached 18, while in the rest of the provinces and territories you must be 19. One interesting peculiarity of many provinces is that liquor and beer can only be sold in licensed stores and this usually excludes supermarkets. But in many cases they will have their own liquor store nearby. The strictest rules are in Ontario - alcoholic beverages can only be sold in licensed restaurants and bars and "Liquor Control Board" stores that are run by the Province. Do you know what‘s the name of the favourite and uniquely Canadian cocktail? The Caesar! It contains Vodka, Clamato juice, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauces). As many other nationalities, Canadian adults enjoy beer and other alcoholic beverages, while watching their favourite hockey and other sports. Many games are watched in pubs and bars that can be found in many parts of the country. One of the best nightlife and party spots would probably be St. John's, Newfoundland's George Street and Bourbon Street. George Street is literally packed with enormous amount of bars, pubs and nightclubs of all varieties and most of them within a 5 minute stroll from each other. There are some great festivals like the George Street Festival, Halloween, St. Paddy's day...generally any week from Thursday onward promises to be awesome! If you feel like gaming, the Casino Windsor offers 100,000 square feet floor space dedicated to it, a four-diamond hotel, live entertainment in its Showtime Lounge, and five restaurants in addition to that. There are more than 100 table games, including all various games, and 3,000 slot machines. Little Italy, as it is known (or Little Portugal), on College Street from Bathurst westward, has very nice and sophisticated restaurants and bars. So you may want to check this one out as well, as it is a good place to spend a night out.

what to do when it's flat

As mentioned above, and not once, Canada is a huge country and every part of it is unique and has its own beauty. Quebec is the largest province (1,542,000 sq km), whose slogan used to be 'la Belle Province' (the Beautiful Province). You take a ferry to visit islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and enjoy the diverse geography of the country. The Province of Nova Scotia ("Canada's Ocean Playground" and 9th largest of the ten provinces at 55,000 sq km, making it about twice the size of Belgium) is usually the first port of call if you sail west from Newfoundland. In this case you can leave the ferry on rugged Cape Breton Island (attached to the rest of NS by a causeway). If you are interested in Scots culture and Gaelic language, this island is for you. The main attraction in this part of NS is Cape Breton Highlands National Park with a beautiful coastal road, the Cabot Trail, around the forested highlands at the eastern tip of the island. You will be amazed with the spectacular views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean. And maybe you will even see whales! 

You can also visit the 'Habitation' National Historic Site, which is located near the town of Annapolis Royal (southwest to the Bay of Fundy shores of Nova Scotia). The 4th largest province in Canada is Alberta ("Wild Rose Country"); it is 662,000 sq km, which is the same size as Texas. French fur traders were the first Europeans to arrive in this part of Canada in 1731 and they eventually stopped to establish communities. If the inhospitable weather is something that can’t stop you from travelling, than you should definitely visit Newfoundland & Labrador, being the easternmost and the 7th largest of the ten provinces of Canada. Because of its rugged geography and pretty wild weather with cold North Atlantic waters it is known as 'The Rock', but from the other hand is renowned for the friendliness of its inhabitants. Newfoundland has the evidence of Viking huts established around the year 1000 AD on their arrival from Greenland.

And another place, which spectacular view you shouldn’t miss - the Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara escarpment between Ontario and New York, and serves as the outlet for four of the five Great Lakes as they drain into the fifth lake Ontario before it flows into the St. Lawrence River and then the Atlantic Ocean. Not afraid of getting wet? Then go for a boat tour right up to the falls! And by the way, the 5 Great Lakes are the largest group of fresh water lakes on Earth, containing 1/5th of the all the fresh surface water on the planet.

useful phrase guide

Lonnie - $1

Tonnie - $2

Apéritifs - before meal drink
Une table pour deux, s’il vous plait - A table for two please
Boisson compris - including wine
Boissons – drinks
Confiture – jam
Contre-indications - warnings (when medicine should not be used)
Eau - water
Fromages – cheeses
La toux - cough
La diarrhée – diarrhea
Le rhume – cold
Les maux d'oreilles – earache
L'indigestion – indigestion
Mal de tête, migraine - headache
Thé - tea


AV - a vendre - for sale
BAL - Boîte aux lettres (électronique), Email, letter box
A/R - aller-retour, Round trip
AJ - Auberge de Jeunesse, Youth hostel
BP - boîte postale - post office box
BNP - Banque Nationale de Paris, Large French bank

Can I pay by credit card? - Puis-je payer avec le carte de credit?
Do you have a children’s menu? - Avez vous un menu pour les enfants?
Do you speak English? - Parlez vous anglais?
Excuse me - Excusez moi
Good bye - Au revoir
Good evening - Bonsoir
Good morning / day - Bonjour
Help me please - aidez moi s’il vous plaît
How do you get to . .? - Comment fait on pour aller à . .?
How long does it take to get there? - Ça prend combien de temps pour y aller?
How much is it? - Ça coûte combien?
I don’t know how to say it in French - Je ne sais pas le dire en français
I don’t speak French - Je ne parle pas français
I don’t understand - Je ne comprends pas
Is this the right bus for . ? - C’est bien l’autobus pour . .?
Nice to meet you – Enchanté
Pain au chocolate - Croissant with chocolate centre
See you tomorrow / soon - À demain / bientôt
Tasting - dégustation
Thank you – Merci
The bill please - L’addition s’il vous plait
Water is not for drinking - eau non potable
Where are the toilets? - Où sont les toilettes?
Where is the nearest phone box? - Où se trouve la cabine téléphonique la plus proche?
Where is the nearest supermarket? - Où est le supermarché le plus près?
Yes / No - Oui / Non
You’re welcome - Je vous en phone box? - Où se trouve la cabine téléphonique la plus proche?
Where is the nearest supermarket? - Où est le supermarché le plus près?
Yes / No - Oui / Non
You’re welcome - Je vous en prie

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