Population: 33,098,932
(July 2006 est.)

Capital: Ottawa, Ontario

Total: 9,984,670 sq km
Land: 9,093,507 sq km
Water: 891,163 sq km

Canada is a constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation. The country is divided into 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, and Yukon Territory.*

Canada is a country that truly offers exciting indoor and outdoor activities for every season. Generally, spring runs mid-March to mid-May, summer mid-May to mid-September, fall mid-September to mid-November, and winter mid-November to mid-March. Choose the season best suited to your tastes and temperament.

Canada encompasses six of the world's 24 time zones with Newfoundland 3hr 30min behind GMT and British Columbia 7 hours behind GMT. Train, bus and plane timetables are always provided in local time; this is something to watch if you are making long journeys across several zones.

Canada’s major cities include:

St.John’s, Saint John, Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.

The currency system in Canada uses dollars and cents, similar to the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.

It's always best to change some of your money before leaving home. While in Canada, you will generally enjoy better rates when you change money at a recognized financial institution, bank, or currency exchange than at a shop, hotel or restaurant.

Canada now has one- and two-dollar coins, affectionately called the "loonie" and the "toonie", in addition to 1-cent, 5-cent, 10-cent and 25-cent coins. Paper money comes in different colours and designs. The most common are $5 bills (blue), $10 bills (purple), $20 bills (green), $50 bills (red), and $100 bills (brown). You may still see some old red $2 bills, which remain valid currency.

Canada has a large network of reliable automatic teller machines, which make it the simplest means to obtain cash, particularly if your home bank ATM card is on the Cirrus or Delta networks.

Most shops, including grocery stores, open from about 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Saturday, though in larger towns and cities supermarkets and malls may open as early as 7:30am and close as late as 9:00 pm.

Sunday shopping is currently permitted in all provinces and territories except for Nova Scotia, however many stores across Canada choose not to operate on Sunday and hours are limited – usually 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Government services, schools & banks are closed on the following national holidays.
New Year's Day - January 1
Good Friday - April 6, 2007
Easter Monday - April 9, 2007
Victoria Day - The Monday preceding May 25
Canada Day - July 1 (observed July 2 if July1 is a Sunday)
Labour Day - The first Monday of September
Thanksgiving Day - The second Monday of October
Remembrance Day – November 11
Christmas Day – December 25
Boxing Day – December 26

English and French are Canada’s two official languages, though the province of New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual area in the country. Both languages will generally appear on maps, tourist brochures and product labels. French is the dominant language in the province of Quebec.

British Citizens must carry a full valid British Passport. The passport should be valid for the entire duration of the visit to Canada plus at least one day. A visitor’s passport is NOT accepted. Irish citizens must have a full Irish Citizen Passport.

All visitors should have a return or onward ticket as proof of intention to leave the country after their holiday. Maximum stay is 6 months unless otherwise indicated on your passport and is subject to approval by the customs officer you see as you enter Canada.

Subject passport holders do require a Visitors Visa, even if in transit and should contact the Visa & Immigration Section of the Canadian High Commission well in advance of travel (please see the website canada.org.uk for details). All other passport holders should check entry requirements at the Canadian High Commission website, canada. org.uk                

110 to 120 volts; 60Hz cycle
Canada uses ‘American-style’ plugs with two parallel flat blades above a circular grounding pin and plugs with two parallel flat blades. Conversion kits are required for those bringing electrical goods from Europe.