Canada may be very different from your home country, which means there is a great deal to learn about and explore before you arrive here. These pages will introduce you to important features of this country, such as the Canadian climate and way of life.
Land and climate
Canada is the second largest country on earth and has three ocean borders:
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the Pacific Ocean in the west;
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the Atlantic Ocean in the east; and
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the Arctic Ocean to the north.
Canada also borders the United States in the south and in the northwest. Canada has many different types of landscape. There are areas with high mountains, different types of forests, prairie grasslands and arctic tundra where the ground is permanently frozen. Canada is also home to many rivers and lakes.
Seasons
In Canada, there are four different seasons: spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter.
- Summer lasts from around June to September and the weather varies from warm to hot, with daytime temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius or Centigrade (68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher. In southern Ontario and Quebec, it can often be very humid.
- Fall and spring are transition seasons, which mean the weather starts getting colder or warmer, and there is a lot of rain.
- Winter is very cold in most places with temperatures often below zero degrees Celsius. Snow covers the ground from around December to March or April. In southwest British Columbia (around Victoria and Vancouver), rain is more common in winter than snow.
You may be quite surprised by the cold and snow during your first Canadian winter. Be sure to buy a winter coat, boots, gloves and a hat to keep you warm. With the right clothing, you will be prepared to enjoy the unique beauty of a Canadian winter.
Cities, provinces, and regions
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and is located on the Ottawa River between Ontario and Quebec. Canada has 10 provinces and three territories, each with its own capital city. These provinces and territories are grouped into five regions:
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Atlantic Provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
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Central Canada: Quebec and Ontario
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Prairie Provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
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West Coast: British Columbia
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North: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory
Most people live in southern Ontario and Quebec, southwest British Columbia and Alberta. Much of the north has a very low population because of the cold climate.
The Canadian people
“Aboriginal peoples” are people whose family lived in Canada before the arrival of European explorers, pioneers, and settlers. There are three different groups:
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First Nations (sometimes called “Indians”);
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Inuit; and
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Métis.
“French Canadians” are the descendants of French settlers and include Acadians, Quebecers and people in smaller French-speaking communities across Canada.
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The Acadians are descendants of French colonists who settled 400 years ago in what is now the Atlantic Region.
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Quebecers (“Québécois” in French) live in Quebec. Most are French-speaking descendants of French settlers from the 1600s and 1700s who brought with them the traditions of French civilization. Quebecers maintain a unique identity, culture, and language. In 2006, the Canadian Parliament recognized that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada. One million English-speaking Anglo-Quebecers form an important part of Quebec society.
Most “English Canadians” are descendants of English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish settlers, soldiers and migrants who came to Canada from the 17th to the 20th century. Generations of these pioneers helped to bring British political institutions and traditions to Canada.
Most Canadians were born in Canada and came from the original founding peoples. However, over the past 200 years, many newcomers have helped to build and defend this country’s way of life. Today, many ethnic and religious groups live and work in peace as proud Canadians. Until the 1970s, most immigrants came from European countries. Since then, the majority have come from Asian countries. Approximately 20 percent of Canadians were born outside Canada. In Toronto, Canada’s largest city, this number is over 45 percent. Immigrants like you are a valued part of Canada’s multicultural society.
Language
Canada has two official languages: English and French. You can get all official federal government services, publications, and documents in both languages.
Economy
Canada’s economy has three main types of industries.
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Service: which includes jobs in:
- transportation
- education
- healthcare
- construction
- banking
- communications
- retail services
- tourism
- government
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Manufacturing: which makes products, such as:
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- paper
- high technology equipment
- aerospace technology
- automobiles
- machinery
- food
- clothing
- many other goods
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Natural resources: which includes jobs in:
- forestry
- fishing
- agriculture
- mining
- energy
Canadian citizens and residents have rights
It is important for you to learn about your rights and duties in Canada. You should also know how important the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is to what we believe and how we live in this country.
The Charter protects your rights
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of Canada’s Constitution and protects you from the moment you arrive in Canada. It sets out the values that Canadians live by and describes the kinds of personal human rights and freedoms we can expect in this country. Some of those rights and freedoms include:
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The right to life, liberty, and personal security
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Freedom of conscience and religion
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Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media
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Freedom to hold peaceful meetings
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Freedom to join groups
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Protection from unreasonable search or seizure and unjustified detainment and imprisonment
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The right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty
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The right to retain and instruct counsel (a lawyer) without delay
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The right to a fair trial, through due process of law
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The right to equal protection and benefit under the law, without discrimination
