A country with a limitless environment and cities where a high quality of life and modernity can be found together, Canada is one of the most welcoming countries in the world. It is a place where the great natural site of the Niagara Falls , and where natural beauty is spread across the country. However, these images are not only what Canada is about: it has a lot more to offer.

There are notable influences from its southern neighbor, but there is a significant Canadian life that cannot be ignored. Canadian life is based on its diverse cultures, its rich history, nature, and a pioneering spirit. Canadians are known to be warm and friendly. Although Canada is a cold country for the majority of the year, Canadians, however, do not have cold personalities! Furthermore, according to a UNESCO survey, Canada is one of the safest and relatively least expensive countries in the world to live in.

Canada is an ideal place to practice languages, because two of the most popular languages in the world are spoken here: English and French. The Canadian identity comes from its diverse languages and a culture that is rooted in European colonization, and a native Indian influence. In addition, Canadian experts are recognized leaders in the field of immersion programs.

Canada is a country that opens its borders and welcomes around 100,000 foreign students every year. So if you are looking for freedom, vast natural wonders, a dynamic and a nice way of life, Canada is your next step to a richer life.

Population
Canada is the second largest country in the world (9,970,610 km2) and in 2005, the population of Canada is estimated to be 32 million. However, due to Canada 's large geographic land mass, it has one of the smallest population density ratios in the world at 3.2 persons per km.

Canada is made up of ten provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland; and three territories: Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest.

Languages: the official languages in Canada are English, (mainly spoken in Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island ) and French (mainly spoken in Quebec , Nova Scotia and New Brunswick .) However, one can come across international communities where other languages are spoken such as Chinese, Italian, German, and Farsi just to name a few. The predominant religion is the Roman Catholic Church, but other religions like Protestant and Eastern non-Christian (Islam, Buddhism) are also practiced.

Student Population
Number of students: 1.5 million
Universities: 700,000
Community colleges: 105,000
Number of foreign students: 150,000
Capital: Ottawa (pop: 325,000)
Principle cities: Vancouver , Toronto , Montreal
Principle University cities:
Montreal (McGill, Concordia, University of Montreal ),
Toronto ( University of Toronto , York University ),
Vancouver ( University of British Columbia ),
Ottawa ( Carleton University , University of Ottawa ),
Calgary ( University of Calgary ),
Edmonton ( University of Alberta ),
Victoria ( University of Victoria ),
Waterloo ( University of Waterloo ),
Hamilton ( McMaster University ),
London ( University of Western Ontario ),
Kingston (Queen's University)

Cultural Activities
Canadians enjoy the open air and therefore there are a number of outdoor activities that can be found nationwide. Check newspapers and provincial visitor centers to find out when there are free national park events and special summer offers, such as the Native Canadian pow-wows, rodeos with the Calgary Stampede, the New Brunswick Lobster Festival, or the Changing of the Guard in Ottawa.

As for movies, Toronto boasts the largest movie-going population in North America and the renowned ten-day International Film Festival. As for live entertainment Montreal , Toronto , and Vancouver all invite local and international musicians to participate in their summer jazz festivals.

The major theater, opera, dance, and musical groups are based in the large cities, but they do schedule nation wide tours as well as travels to foreign countries. Toronto 's live theater scene is the third largest in the English-speaking world, trailing those in London and New York .

Climate and seasons
As a result of Canada 's large land mass one can experience many different climates. The climates can range from the permanently frozen ice caps north of the 70th parallel to the lush vegetation of British Columbia 's west coast. However, on the whole Canada has four very distinct seasons, particularly in the more populated regions along the US border. Daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35C and higher, while lows of -25C are not

uncommon during the winter.More moderate temperatures are the norm in spring and fall. Due to Canada 's various climates, one can find an incredible mix of native flora and fauna, which explains the existence of many vegetation zones across Canada , most of which are dominated by prairie.

Currency
The unit of currency is the Canadian dollar, which equals 100 cents. The most common paper currency in Canada comes in $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. Coins appear in 1 cent (pennies), 5 cents (nickels), 10 cents (dimes), 25 cents (quarters), $1 (loonies) and $2 (twoonies) denominations.

It is best to change a small amount of currency into Canadian money before arriving to Canada , as banks are open from Monday to Friday, during the working hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before changing money, do not forget to ask about any extra charges.

Telephone
The country code is 1. Each region also has an area code (for example,
if you want to call Montreal from outside Canada, not including the United States, dial 00 1 514 xxx xxxx, (00 for an international call, 1 for North America, 514 which is the area code for Montreal, and then the 7 digit number, indicated by the x's) Canadians normally use city/regional codes (i.e. 514 is Montreal, 403 is Calgary, etc.). To call abroad from Canada , dial 011 + country code + number.

Time Zones
There are five time zones across Canada , Standard Time in the East, which is GMT/UTC minus 3 hours, to Pacific Standard Time in the West, which is GMT/UTC minus 8 hours.

Cost of Living
As is always the case, the city which you choose to reside in, reflects your budget. For example if you choose to live in Montreal ;

Rent: could be about $500 per month (in the heart of the city) for a living space of around 50 square meters. If you choose to live about 10 minutes away from the heart of the city, rent can go down to about $300 per month. On the other hand, if you were to go to Toronto rent can go up to $700 per month. Note that this would also include electricity and heating, and a kitchen equipped with oven/stove, fridge, etc

Food: around $300 to $400 per month (depends on how much you eat!)

Telephone: around $40 per month (not including long distance.) In Canada local calls are free.

In general if you wanted to live very comfortably, you would have to spend between 12 and 15 thousand dollars a year.

TAX: A 7% Goods & Services Tax (GST) is applicable to all transport, accommodation, restaurant meals and just about anything else you are likely to purchase all over Canada. On top of this, in most of Canada , a provincial sales tax of 8% is also added on top. In some provinces, the total sales tax can come to around 15% on top of the quoted price. It is very important to remember that tax is not included in the price quoted; you must add it into your expenses before you reach a cash register.

TIPPING: Tips are generally given to waiters, cab drivers, hairdressers, and hotel attendants. The amount to tip is generally 10-15% of the total bill.

Some typical costs for living in Canada (Canadian dollars):
Bus Fare One Way (local): $2.00
Local Telephone Call: $0.25
Average Restaurant Meal: $10.00 - 25.00 per person
Movie: $8.50
Letter within Canada : $0.49
International Postage (letter): $0.98
Meals Budget: $5-10, Mid-range: $10-25, Top-end: $25 and upwards
Lodging Budget: $12-25 (youth hostels, etc), Mid-range: $25-80, Top-end: $100 and upwards
Coke: $1 for a can of coke from a vending machine
McDonald's Hamburgers: $1 on average (small normal hamburger)
Rented movies: $5 (new rentals)
Night Clubs: Cover charge about $5 to 10, depending on club
Average Pair of Jeans: $50 to $60
Newspaper: either 50 cents or $1 (Saturdays and Sundays)