Capital

Although each province has its' own capital the city of Ottawa which is located in the province of Ontario has been declared the capital city for Canada.

Climate

Due to the size and positioning of the many provinces and territories within Canada the climate varies depending on which region you are in. If you travel past the 70th parallel in the northern part of Canada you will discover that there are permanently frozen icecaps in this bare northland part of our country. Yet, other parts of our country, such as the west coast are blessed with luxuriant vegetation.

Most of Canada has four very distinct seasons being, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each season brings its' own beauty and temperatures depending once again on where you live. The average temperature can range from 35 degrees Celsius and higher during to the summer to lows of -25 or more during the winter months. During the spring and autumn is when we have our most moderate temperatures which range between 15 - 20 degrees.

Culture

The Aboriginal cultures are the only truly indigenous cultures of Canada, since all other Canadians were originally immigrants. During the 17th century, people began immigrating to Canada bring with them their manner of dress, food, preferences and customs. Throughout the 20th century Canada opened its' doors to immigration from all over the world. Consequently, Canada is now recognized as being multicultural which was officially recognized by the Multiculturalism Act passed in 1988, by the Canadian Government.

Education

Each province is responsible for its own educational system, so there are variations from one province to the next. The educational system consists of six to eight years of elementary school, four or five years of secondary school and three or four years at the university undergraduate level. Education has always been a high priority for most Canadians and our facilities are capable of competing world wide in their standards. If you look at the national standards for Canadians aged 15 and over you will find that, 56.9 percent graduated from secondary school, 31.7 percent attended a trade school or other type of post-secondary institution (College), and 11.4 percent have obtained a university degree. These statistics are changing year to year as more and more canadians attend university.

Ethnic Origin

Approximately 58 percent of the population claim either French or British as their origin. The other 42 percent is made up of Aboriginal and other ethnic groups. Among the largest ethnic groups are the Germans, Italians, Ukrainian, Dutch, Polish, Chinese, Jewish, Portuguese and candinavian.

Family Size

According to a 1996 national census, the average family size was 3.1 persons, including 1.3 children. These statistics have remained unchanged over the past decade.

First Nations

In 1991, 533 000 Canadians were either status or non-status Indians. Four percent of Canadians (over one million Canadians) report Aboriginal ancestry. However, only 626,000 individuals identify themselves exclusively as members of the three Aboriginal groups recognized by the Constitution Act, 1982: North American Indian (460 680), Inuit (36 215) or Métis (135 265). Among these groups, 171,000 people still speak one of the more than 50 remaining Aboriginal languages.

Ontario had the highest concentration of Aboriginal peoples -- 243 550 -- but the Northwest Territories had the highest proportion: more than 60 percent of its population is of Aboriginal descent. Only 295 032 Canadian Aboriginal live on reserves or in settlements.

Geography

Diversity is the keynote of Canada's geography, which includes fertile plains suitable for agriculture, vast mountain ranges, lakes and rivers. Wilderness forests give way to arctic tundra in the Far North.

Health Care and Social Security

Canada has one the finest health care systems in the world with all Canadians having free access to health care. The majority of senior citizens or those over 65 along with social aid recipients receiver the majority of their prescription drugs free of charge. Most other Canadians belong to some sort of health plan which covers approximately 90% of their prescription costs. The vast majority of these people also now belong to dental plans which also covers anywhere from 50% to 100% of their dental needs. There are usually no fees associated with hospital stays as this also is covered by the government or a persons health plan. The Canadian government spends an estimated $48 billion per year on health care. Canada also has an extensive social security network including old age pension, family allowance, unemployment insurance and welfare.

Land Mass

At 9,970,610 km², Canada is the world's second largest country, surpassed only by the Russian Federation. Canada comprises 7% of the world's land mass, and 9% of its fresh water supply. Of a total of over ten million square kilometers, over nine million are land and 755,000 fresh water.

Languages

The majority of Canadians speak either French or English, which are our two official languages. English as the mother tongue still ranks highest in Canada except for in Quebec where French is the mother tongue for approximately 80% of the population. Aboriginal languages as the mother tongue also has a high percentage especially in the northern areas of Canada. English-French bilingualism is a high priority in Canada with many French emersion programs being offered in school throughout our country. Since 1951, the number of Canadians who speak both french and english has doubled and increases early.

Life Expectancy

Canadians' life expectancy at birth is 74.9 years for males and 81.2 years for females. This ranks among the world's longest.

Living Standard

Canada is ranked among one of the top countries for having a high standard of living. In fact, the United Nations has ranked Canada as the highest on its "Human Development Index." This is mainly due to our health care, social and educational systems. Over 65% of all Canadians own their own homes, while an even higher percentage have automobiles and other items which may be considered as unessential. It is basically due to our high rate of individual income tax that the government has been able to provide for the less fortunate which has raised our standard of living. The vast majority of those on welfare assistance or with low incomes can also claim to own many items which are not considered essential and have the assurance of living in suitable accommodations and enough food to feed their families.

National Anthem

O Canada was proclaimed the national anthem on July 1, 1980, a century after being sung for the first time.

National Emblem

The maple leaf has been associated with Canada since the 1700s. It has become the country's most important symbol since the national flag was introduced in 1965.

Sports

The most popular sports in Canada include swimming, ice hockey, cross-country and alpine skiing, baseball, tennis, basketball and golf. Ice hockey, Canadian football and baseball are the favourite spectator sports.

Time Zones

Canada has six time zones. The easternmost, in Newfoundland, is three hours and 30 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The other time zones are the Atlantic, the Eastern, the Central, the Rocky Mountain and, farthest west, the Pacific, which is eight hours behind GMT.

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