Canada – Guidebook

Business Hours
Most retail businesses are open from Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily, with extended hours to 9:00 pm on two, three or five weeknights. Some provinces allow shops to be open on Sundays from noon to 5:00 pm.

Many retail stores are closed on Canada's public holidays:

• New Year's Day (1 January)
• Good Friday (Friday of the Easter Weekend)
• Victoria Day (3rd Monday in May)
• Canada Day (1 July)
• Labour Day (first Monday in September)
• Thanksgiving (2nd Monday in October)
• Christmas Day (25 December)
• Boxing Day (26 December)

Climate
Most of Canada experiences four seasons - spring in April and May; summer from June to August; autumn in September and October; and winter from November to March. The only major exception is the far north, which has a very brief summer, and a long, cold winter.

Average Daily Temperatures Canada's main cities [in celsius]
City	Jan-Feb	Mar-Apr	May-Jun	Jul-Aug	Sep-Oct	Nov-Dec
Vancouver, BC	6	10	16	22	15	4
Calgary, AB	-13	7	14	23	13	-9
Whitehorse, YT	-21	-9	10	13	5	-16
Yellowknife, NWT	-32	-21	7	14	4	-23
Regina, SK	-18	2	17	24	12	-13
Winnipeg, MB	-17	3	18	24	14	-10
Toronto, ON	-8	6	18	25	18	-4
Montreal, PQ	-12	7	19	25	17	-6
Saint John, NB	-7	7	17	20	15	-5
Halifax, NS	-7	8	17	21	16	-5
Charlottetown, PEI	-8	3	17	18	15	-5
St. John's, NFLD	-6	2	13	18	12	-4

Weather & Clothing
There are of course many climatic variations in this huge country, though on the whole Canada has four very distinct seasons, especially in the regions lying along the U.S. border. June, July and August are the summer months, when days are warm to hot, though nights may be cool, particularly in the north. In autumn, foliage takes on fall colours towards the end of September and reaches its height of beauty in October.

You will need medium- to heavy-weight clothing in the fall, especially in November when the weather is cold and frosty. Snow usually falls through December, January and February. The snow begins to recede in March, before totally disappearing in April. This is followed by warmer temperatures and spring flowers in May (earlier in coastal British Columbia).

Currency & Banking
Canadian currency should be used while travelling in Canada. Currency can be exchanged at city bank branches, airport currency exchanges and foreign exchange bureaux. Canadian dollar travellers cheques can be purchased in Australia or New Zealand before departure. These are accepted at most Canadian banks, hotels, and many business establishments. Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are located in banks and a variety of retail centres. They provide 24 hour access to money with the use of a bank card or credit card, and a personal identification number (PIN). Check with your bank for details. Major credit cards, such as American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa, are accepted in Canada.
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Electricity
Electricity in Canada is supplied at an alternating current of 110 volts/60 Hz frequency. An electrical adaptor and plug adaptor are required to use Australian or New Zealand appliances in Canada. Dual voltage appliances would still require a plug adaptor.

Geography
Canada is the second largest country in the world with 6.7 percent of the world's land area. Encompassing nearly 10 million square kilometres, it spans six time zones and is bounded by three oceans. The face of the land is as varied as the country is large. Lakes and waterways are more abundant in Canada than in any other country in the world, and forests extend in an almost unbroken belt from coast to coast. Starting in the west, the Cordillera region is an expanse of the north-south mountainous terrain about 800 kilometres wide that includes most of British Columbia and the Yukon and parts of western Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Within this region, high mountain ranges alternate with rugged plateaus and deep valleys. Bordering the mountains and extending north to the Arctic Ocean and east to the Canadian Shield are the country's interior plains. Fertile soils of the southern Prairie Provinces support extensive grain farms. This takes in most of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

By far the largest region is the Canadian Shield, extending around Hudson Bay and east and north from the prairies to the Atlantic to occupy nearly half the area of the country. It's a vast expanse of rounded hills, exposed bedrock, forest and tundra, sprinkled with countless lakes. Southeast of the Canadian Shield lie the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Lowlands - an area of fertile agricultural land in Southern Ontario and Quebec. It's the most populated and urbanised area in Canada. To the east are the Atlantic Provinces, part of the Appalachian mountain system. Its terrain is highly varied with mountains, ridges, plateaus, valleys, plains and rugged coastlines. The sixth region is in the far north - the Arctic Archipelago. Most of the region - land and water - is frozen for eight or nine months of the year. Permafrost and tundra vegetation occur throughout.

To help you plan your holiday in Canada we have divided the country into seven distinct regions. Each region will delight you with its natural beauty and attractions. We hope you will experience as much of Canada as your time allows - and that you will want to return to experience even more.

British Columbia
Mighty nature reigns, but cities are cosmopolitan and towns are welcoming. Cruise majestic fjords. Drive on modern highways to every corner of this diverse and beautiful province. British Columbia anytime of the year will thrill you beyond your expectations.

Alberta
National parks, skiing, hiking, fishing, or just gazing in awe at some of the world's most photographed landscapes make Alberta the ultimate destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The Rocky Mountains, Banff, Jasper and Calgary are some of Alberta's attractions. There is much, much more.

Canada's North
Canada's highest mountains, midnight sun and Northwest Passage all belong in Canada's North. The Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut combine to offer an unmatched wilderness experience. Polar bears, grizzly bears, icebergs, gold rush history, buffalo, hiking, Inuit culture and arctic islands - you will change when you share in this amazing part of the world.

Heartland
The pioneer and explorer spirit is alive in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Canada's heritage-laden Heartland offers you everything - the glories of the Northern Lights, the richness of a farm vacation, fishing legendary rivers and lakes and the home of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Ontario
The region with some of the biggest, tallest, longest, most unusual, most exciting of everything. The world's third-largest English speaking theatre centre and a stadium with the world's first retractable roof. Hop aboard a train called the Polar Bear Express. Paddle the world's largest network of canoe routes. See the world's largest tulip display. Laugh with Shaw at the world's foibles. You really can do everything in Ontario.

Quebec
The cradle of North American civilization and exhilarating joie de vivre. From the charming villages and resorts of the Laurentians and Eastern Townships to the cosmopolitan sparkle of Montreal with its kilometres of under-ground shopping and glittering casino... and the historic romance of Quebec City with its cobblestone streets, picturesque seventeenth century homes and colourful artistes... all saying "Bienvenue" - welcome!

Altantic Canada
From rugged crags to soft pink beaches, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island call you to the sea. Shorelines dotted with colourful villages. The thrill of a breaching whale. Bagpipes and Highland Games. The lifestyle and cuisine of the Acadian. The golden age of sail and famed lobster suppers. A region of festivals and pure joy.

Languages
There are two official languages - English and French. English is the language most commonly spoken throughout the country, with the exception of the province of Quebec. Approximately 25 percent of Canadians are francophone, the majority in Quebec.
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Local Taxes
There are two taxes in Canada, GST and PST. GST is a federal Goods and Service Tax of 7% applied on virtually every transaction made in Canada with the exception of basic groceries. As a visitor, you may claim a refund for GST paid on accommodation and goods purchased and taken out of the country, subject to certain conditions. To claim the rebate, complete the rebate form, attach all receipts and mail to the address on the form. The forms are widely available in Canada. PST is a provincial sales tax applied in most provinces, in addition to the GST. It ranges from 4% to 12% on most items purchased in shops and restaurants and in some provinces on accommodation. PST paid in Quebec and Manitoba on goods and accommodation can be claimed back on the GST rebate form.

Population
30 million.

Telephones & Videos
Telephones
Local calls cost 25 cents Canadian. You can pay for both local and long-distance calls using coins, and commercial long distance telephone debit cards. Phones installed in major public facilities accept major credit cards. The international dialling code from Canada to Australia is 01161 plus the area code and number. (Note: the zero is dropped from the area code). To call New Zealand dial 01164 plus the area code and number (again, the zero is dropped from the area code).

Videos
Ensure that souvenir videos that you purchase in Canada are in PAL format if you wish to play them in Australia or New Zealand. The usual North American format (NTSC) is not compatible with Australasian video players. To help you with your travel planning, a PAL format Destination Canada video is available from Canada Travel Information in Sydney [Tel 02 9954 3377].
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Tipping
Generally, restaurant bills do not include a tip or service charge. It is standard pratice to tip your server 15% of the total bill before taxes. Service personnel at fast food outlets do not expect tips however it is standard practice to tip barbers, hairdressers, and taxi drivers 10-15% of your total bill. The customary gratuity to tour guides and motorcoach drivers is $1.00 to $2.00 per day, per person.

Tourism Info
Detailed travel information and videos on Canada is available from: Canada Travel Information PO Box 365, Milsons Point, NSW 2061 [Tel 02 9954 3377, Fax 02 9929 4543].

When travelling in Canada you will find numerous tourist information centres operated by the provinces, cities and towns.

Visas & Entry
Australian and New Zealand citizens visiting Canada require a valid passport, sufficient funds, and evidence of onward transportation. Citizens of other countries may require a visa to enter Canada and should contact the Canadian Consulate General in Sydney for information [Tel 02 9364 3050].

Passports are required except for US Citizens who may use a photo I.D. with an original or certified copy of your Birth Certificate. This must be carried to confirm U.S. Citizenship when re-entering. Visas may be required depending on a clients citizenship.

A visitor to Canada may bring the following into Canada duty-free: necessary personal items, including clothing: up to 50 cigars; 200 cigarettes; 1 kg. (2.2 lbs.) tobacco; and 1.1 liters (40 oz.) of spirits or wine, or, in lieu, 24 x 355 ml (12 oz.) cans or bottles of beer or ale. Gift packages may be sent from Canada to another country duty and tax free if the value is $50 or less. It is illegal to bring revolvers, pistols, and fully automatic firearms into Canada.

Bringing a vehicle across the border into Canada is generally routine. If customs permits are required, they will be issued at the time of entry. Visitors driving rental cars should have a copy of the rental agreement in the vehicle at all times, endorsed for entry into Canada.
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