1.

Geographical position
Canada, second largest country in the world in area (after Russia), occupying roughly the northern
two-fifths of the continent of North America. It has some impressive geographic features, including
vast mountain ranges and more than 2 million lakes.
Canada’s total land area includes thousands of neighbouring islands, notably Newfoundland in the
east and those of the Arctic Archipelago in the north. Canada is bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the
north the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Greenland (a self-
governing part of the Danish kingdom) to the northeast, 12 states of the United States to the south,
and the U.S. state of Alaska to the west. Most Canadians live within a few hundred kilometres of
the U.S. border.
The combination of physical geography and discontinuous settlement has led to a strong sense of
regionalism in Canada, and popular regional terms often overlap. The Atlantic Provinces include all
of the Appalachian region except the Quebec portion.
If the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is excluded, the three remaining east-coast
provinces are called the Maritime Provinces or the Maritimes. Quebec and Ontario are usually
referred to separately but sometimes together, as Central Canada. The West usually means all
four provinces west of Ontario, but British Columbia may be referred to alone and the other three
collectively as the Prairie Provinces or the Prairies. Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
are referred to as the North.

2. History of the country

Indigenous peoples in present-day Canada include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis,[22] the last being
a mixed-blood people who originated in the mid-17th century when First Nations people married
European settlers and subsequently developed their own identity.
In the 16th century, French explorer Jacques Cartier used the name Canada to refer to the area
around the settlement that is now Quebec city.
Later, Canada was used as a synonym for New France, which, from 1534 to 1763, included all the
French possessions along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. After the British conquest
of New France, the name Quebec was sometimes used instead of Canada. The name Canada
was fully restored after 1791, when Britain divided old Quebec into the provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada (renamed in 1841 Canada West and Canada East, respectively, and collectively
called Canada).
In 1867 the British North America Act created a confederation from three colonies (Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, and Canada) called the Dominion of Canada. The act also divided the old colony
of Canada into the separate provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Dominion status allowed Canada a
large measure of self-rule, but matters refer ing to international diplomacy and military alliances
were reserved to the British crown. in 1931Canada became entirely self-governing within the
British Empire, though full legislative independence was not achieved until 1982, when Canada
obtained the right to amend its own constitution.
Contemporary Canadians are inclined to favour orderly central government and a sense of
community over individualism;
in international affairs, they are more likely to serve the role of peacemaker instead of warrior, and,
whether at home or abroad, they are likely to have a pluralistic way of viewing the world.
More than that, Canadians live in a society that in most legal and official matters resembles Britain
—at least in the English-speaking portion of the country. Quebec, in particular, exhibits French
adaptations: more than three-fourths of its population speaks French as their primary language.
The French character in Quebec is also reflected in differences in religion, architecture, and
schooling. Elsewhere in Canada, French influence is less apparent, confined largely to the dual
use of French and English for place names, product labels, and road signs. The French and British
influences are supplemented by the cultures of the country’s Native American peoples (in Canada
often collectively called the First Nations) and Inuit peoples. In addition, the growing number of
immigrants from other European countries, Southeast Asia, and Latin America has made Canada
even more broadly multicultural.

3. National identity
Canadian identity refers to the unique culture, characteristics and condition of being Canadian, as
well as the many symbols and expressions that set Canada and Canadians apart from other
peoples and cultures of the world.
Primary influences on the Canadian identity trace back to the arrival, beginning in the early
seventeenth century, of French settlers in Acadia and the St. Lawrence River Valley and English,
Scottish and other settlers in Newfoundland, the British conquest of New France in 1759, and the
ensuing dominance of French and British culture in the gradual development of both an imperial
and a national identity.
Throughout the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, First Nations played a critical part in the
development of European colonies in Canada, from their role in assisting exploration of the
continent, the fur trade and inter-European power struggles to the creation of the Métis people.
Carrying through the 20th century and to the present day, Canadian aboriginal art and culture
continues to exert a marked influence on Canadian identity.
The question of Canadian identity was traditionally dominated by two fundamental themes: first,
the often conflicted relations between English Canadians and French Canadians stemming from
the French Canadian imperative for cultural and linguistic survival; secondly, the generally close
ties between English Canadians and the British Empire, resulting in a gradual political process
towards complete independence from the "mother country". With the gradual loosening of political
and cultural ties to Britain in the twentieth century, immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa and the
Caribbean have reshaped the Canadian identity, a process that continues today with the
continuing arrival of large numbers of immigrants from non-British or French backgrounds, adding
the theme of multiculturalism to the debate.[1][2][3] Today, Canada has a diverse makeup of
ethnicities and cultures (see Canadian culture) and constitutional protection for policies that
promote multiculturalism rather than a single national myth.

4. Political status
Canada’s political system is based on that of the United Kingdom. It is a constitutional monarchy, which
means that we recognize the Queen or King as the Head of State, while the Prime Minister is the Head
of Government.
Canada’s Parliament is composed of the Queen of Canada (who is officially represented by the
Governor General), the Senate and the House of Commons. The Senate has 105 seats and its
members are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The
House of Commons consists of 338 members who are elected by Canadian citizens in general elections
and by-elections.
In Canada, there are 3 levels of government. Each level of government has different
responsibilities.
 Federal government (the Government of Canada) - Responsible for things that affect the
whole country, such as citizenship and immigration, national defence and trade with other
countries.
 Provincial and territorial governments (for example, the Province of Ontario) - Responsible
for things such as education, health care and highways.
 Municipal (local) governments (cities, towns, and villages in Ontario) - Responsible for
firefighting, city streets and other local matters. If there is no local government, the province
provides services.

5. Capital city
The capital of Canada is Ottawa, which is located in Ontario—that is, the province directly above
the Great Lakes and the US states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and (part of) New
York. Ottawa lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River, which runs between and defines the
borders of the provinces Ontario and Quebec. Together, Ottawa and the city of Gatineau, which is
located directly across from Ottawa in Quebec, make up the National Capital Region called
Ottawa-Gatineau. This specially designated region refers to not only the cities themselves but also
their surrounding Census Metropolitan Areas.
Due to Ottawa’s placement between the primarily English-speaking Ontario and the mostly French-
speaking Quebec, it is one of the most bilingual cities in Canada.
 Ottawa is the fourth largest city in Canada.
 Ottawa was originally called Bytown named for Colonel John By, the engineer who oversaw
construction of the Rideau Canal.  In 1855 Bytown was incorporated and became Ottawa.
 In 1857 Queen Victoria chose Ottawa to be the capital of Canada.
 The name Ottawa comes from the Algonquin word adawe – which means to trade
 Ottawa is located on the banks of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers.
 Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital in the world
  Nearly half the population is under the age of 35 – making it one of the youngest cities in
the country.
 Ottawa is a multilingual city. Approximately 50% of people speak English, 32% French and
the rest a mix of other languages including Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Spanish and
Portuguese.
 There are 35 major festivals in Ottawa. The Canadian Tulip Festival, held every May, is one
of the most famous.
 Ottawa ranks as the most educated city in the country.
 Ottawa is the fourth cleanest city out of 300 major cities ranked around the world – at least
according to Forbes.
 Ottawa ranks as the most educated city in the country.
 Ottawa is the fourth cleanest city out of 300 major cities ranked around the world – at least
according to Forbes.

6. Climate and relief of Canada

Because of its great latitudinal extent, Canada has a wide variety of climates. Ocean currents play
an important role, with both the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and the Alaska
Current in the Pacific affecting climate. Westerly winds, blowing from the sea to the land, are the
prevailing air currents in the Pacific and bring coastal British Columbia heavy precipitation and
moderate winter and summer temperatures.
Inland, the Great Lakes moderate the weather in both southern Ontario and Quebec. In the east
the cold Labrador Current meets the Gulf Stream along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador,
cooling the air and causing frequent fog.
The northern two-thirds of the country has a climate similar to that of northern Scandinavia, with
very cold winters and short, cool summers. The central southern area of the interior plains has a
typical continental climate—very cold winters, hot summers, and relatively sparse precipitation.
Southern Ontario and Quebec have a climate with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters,
similar to that of some portions of the American Midwest. Except for the west coast, all of Canada
has a winter season with average temperatures below freezing and with continuous snow cover.

Canada contains within its borders a vast variety of geographic features. In general, the country’s
landform structure can be considered as a vast basin. The Cordillera in the west, the Appalachians
in the southeast, the mountains of northern Labrador and of Baffin Island in the northeast, and the
Innuitian Mountains in the north form its high rim, while Hudson Bay, set close to the centre of the
enormous platform of the Canadian Shield, occupies the basin bottom.
The western rim of the basin is higher and more massive than its eastern counterpart, and pieces
of the rim, notably in the far northwest and in the south, are missing.
The main lines of Canadian landforms continue well into the United States, intimately linking the
geography of both countries. To create such a large country, Canadians had to forge transportation
and communication links in an east-west direction, against the physiographic grain of the continent.
The Canadian North remains one of the least settled and least economically exploited parts of the
world.
Canada can be divided into six physiographic regions:
the Canadian Shield,
the interior plains,
the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence lowlands,
the Appalachian region,
the Western Cordillera,
and the Arctic Archipelago.
Tundra is the dominant land type of the Arctic and subarctic regions. Tundra also exists above the
timberline in the Western Cordillera. With long, cold winters, short, cool summers, and low
precipitation, the soils are thin or absent, and the vegetation is sparse.

7. Economy
The early settlement and growth of Canada depended on exploiting and exporting the country’s
vast natural resources. During the 20th century, manufacturing industries and services became
increasingly important.
By the end of the 20th century, agriculture and mining accounted for less than 5 percent of
Canada’s labour force, while manufacturing stood at one-fifth and services, including
transportation, trade, finance, and other activities, employed nearly three-fourths of the workforce.
For many years Canada supported its manufacturing industries through protective tariffs on
imported manufactured goods. As a result, many U.S. firms established branch plants in order to
supply the Canadian market. Another cornerstone of Canada’s economic policy was the
government’s provision of grants and subsidies to stimulate economic development in areas of
slow growth.
Canada’s economy is dominated by the private sector, though some enterprises (e.g., postal
services, some electric utilities, and some transportation services) have remained publicly owned.
During the 1990s some nationalized industries were privatized.
Less than one-twelfth of Canada’s land area is suitable for crop production. About four-fifths of this
cropland is in the Prairie Provinces, where long sunny days in summer and adequate precipitation
combine to provide excellent grain yields. However, the widest range of crops and the highest
yields occur in southwestern British Columbia and southern Ontario. Less than one-twelfth of
Canada’s land area is suitable for crop production. About four-fifths of this cropland is in the Prairie
Provinces, where long sunny days in summer and adequate precipitation combine to provide
excellent grain yields. However, the widest range of crops and the highest yields occur in
southwestern British Columbia and southern Ontario.
Forest products form a larger part of Canada’s export trade than do the combined exports of farm,
fish, and mineral products. Canada is the world leader in the export of pulp and paper and also
exports large amounts of softwood lumber, mostly to the United States. British Columbia, Ontario,
and Quebec are the leading provinces in the production of forest products.
Canada has rich fishing grounds off both the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. The parts of
the continental shelf with the shallowest water are known as fishing banks.
Canada is rich in mineral resources. The vast Canadian Shield, with its masses of igneous and
metamorphic rocks, contains numerous large deposits. Metallic minerals are also found in such
rock types in the Western Cordillera and the Appalachians. Although there are some metallic
mineral and fossil fuel deposits in sedimentary rocks in the Western Cordillera and the
Appalachians (including the adjacent seabed), the largest volume of coal and petroleum has so far
been found in the interior plains of western Canada. Canada has long ranked among the world
leaders in the production of uranium, zinc, nickel, potash, asbestos, sulfur, cadmium, and titanium.
It is also a major producer of iron ore, coal, petroleum, gold, copper, silver, lead, and a number
of ferroalloys. Diamond mining, particularly in the Northwest Territories, is significant as well.

8. Landscape
Canada is one seriously huge place! Measuring 4,600km from north to south, the country spans
more than half the Northern Hemisphere. And at a whopping 5,500km from east to west, it
stretches across six time zones! A vast, rugged land, Canada is the second largest country in the
world (Russia being the largest) but only 0.5% of the world’s population live there.
Canada has a varied landscape, with majestic mountains, rolling plains, forested valleys, and
beautiful blue rivers and lakes. The Canadian Shield, a hilly region of lakes and swamps, stretches
across northern Canada and has some of the oldest rocks on Earth.
In Canada’s far north lies the frozen Arctic. Here, ice, snow and glaciers dominate the
landscape. Brrrrrr! Despite the cold, harsh climate, Native Canadians, called First Nations people,
live in this region, where they hunt and fish for food.
The West Coast of Canada, known by geographers as the Cordillera region, and containing the
province of British Columbia, is the most mountainous part of the country, defined by the Coastal
Range mountains that stretch down from Alaska along Canada’s border with the Pacific Ocean.
Farther east lies the Canadian portion of the Rocky Mountains, which forms British Columbia’s
border with the province of Alberta. Both ranges are home to massive evergreen forests and a
diverse assortment of wildlife that have historically formed the world’s stereotypical image of
Canadian nature.
Between the two Pacific mountain ranges lie rich, green valleys as well as a small, warm, dry
region in the southern interior of British Columbia known as the Okanagan. Insulated by the
mountains, this desert-like area has proven a hospitable climate for growing fruit and vegetables,
making it a natural home for some of Canada’s largest orchards and wineries.
Moving east from the Cordillera region, the land dramatically flattens and the mountains disappear.
This vast territory, known as the Prairies, contains the provinces
of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and houses some of the driest, least-forested parts of the
country. Wide-open fields and flat, arable land make the region the base of Canadian agriculture.
Parts of southeastern Alberta are quite barren, however, with an arid, desert-like landscape known
for its rocky soil and hoodoos — massive gravity-defying stone formations.
Though often overlooked, the landscape of the northern region of the Prairies is considerably more
hilly and forested than the more famous plains of the south. The central part of the province of
Manitoba is similarly dominated by three enormous lakes — Lake Manitoba, Lake
Winnipegosis and Lake Winnipeg — which are surrounded by lush vegetation and swamps, rivers,
and bogs.
Central Canada, containing the country’s two largest provinces, Ontario and Quebec, is part of a
massive geographic land form known as the Canadian Shield that gives much of the country its
distinctive shape. Scooped out by the giant Hudson Bay to the north and bordered by four of the
five Great Lakes — Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario — to the south,
Central Canada, also known as the Laurentian region, is a mostly green landscape of rolling hills,
grassy fields, and deciduous forests topped by a barren and rocky north.
Both Ontario and Quebec are dotted with thousands of small lakes and rivers, many of which are
surrounded by moist wetlands home to iconic Canadian animals such as the beaver and moose.
Most human residents of the region live in what is known as the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Lowlands area, a stretch of low elevation and fertile farmland located around the coasts of Lake
Ontario and the massive St. Lawrence River, both of which flow out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Farthest east, we have the Appalachian region, encompassing the four Atlantic
provinces of Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, which are all
either islands or peninsulas on the eastern coast of Canada that extend into the Atlantic Ocean.
A mix of rocky coasts and forested interiors, the landscape of Atlantic Canada, also known as
the Maritimes, has been shaped by its proximity to the ocean, with steep cliffs, high tides, and long
coastal fjords. Much of the interior is densely forested and low in elevation, though
the Appalachian Mountain Range does extend into parts of northern New Brunswick and
Newfoundland.
In contrast to other parts of Canada, the small Atlantic provinces are known for being densely
populated, and only Newfoundland features large portions of entirely uninhabited land. Emptiest of
all is the barren territory of Labrador, which although officially part of Newfoundland, is located
on the rocky northeastern tip of Quebec, and is home to the Torngat Mountains, Canada’s tallest
range east of the Rockies.
The Canadian “north” is a somewhat vaguely-defined region All the provinces, save the Maritimes,
contain dry, largely barren and mostly uninhabited northern areas prone to long, cold winters,
heavy snow, and perpetually frozen soil.
In a more specific sense, however, the capital-n North usually means the vast, northwestern half of
Canada that contains the country’s three northern territories: Yukon, Nunavut, and the less
creatively-named Northwest Territories. Though Yukon possesses a more forested, Cordillera-style
environment in contrast to Nunavut and the NWT, all three most mostly rocky, barren terrain with
only sparse vegetation.
The extreme north of Canada, where virtually no humans live at all, is an archipelago of massive
islands covered by snowy tundra, vast, frozen glaciers, and towering mountains. Home to polar
bears, seals, and narwhals — but very little plant life and almost no human beings — this unique
and exotic region forms an important part of Canada’s image, even if it’s an area few will ever visit
in person.

9. Traditions and customs

Because Canada is so diverse historically and ethnically, there is no single national culture; the
melting-pot ideal of the neighbouring United States is translated in Canada as something of a stew,
with distinctive flavours from the hundreds of influences that make up the larger Canadian culture.
Although French and English share official-language status, the particular culture of an area is
generally a reflection of the dominant language; thus, French influences are confined largely to
Quebec and New Brunswick.
Although people around the world celebrate Halloween, it’s a big deal in Canada. Between 2004
and 2014, the commercial revenue from the holiday doubled. 
In Vancouver, the only time residents can legally set off fireworks in their backyard is on
Halloween. Permits must be obtained, and people must be over 19 to buy and set off the fireworks.
But this tradition means the city gets very loud on Halloween night.
Canada has its own Thanksgiving tradition, which is slightly different to its American counterpart.
Turkey and pumpkin pie are still both centerpieces of a Thanksgiving meal in Canada. However,
the date is always the second Monday in October, and it’s a statutory holiday across the nation,
except for in the Atlantic provinces.
Thanksgiving was celebrated on different days and for different reasons until January 31, 1957,
when Canadian Parliament said: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful
harvest with which Canada has been blessed…to be observed on the second Monday in October.”
Quebec has a few unique traditions. For example, in spoken French, Quebec locals usually use
the formal pronoun “vous” when speaking to someone new. They don’t switch to the more casual
“tu” unless invited. It’s also common for people to greet each other with a kiss on each cheek (left
then right), while handshaking is the tradition in the rest of Canada. Finally, when attending dinner
parties, purchasing high-quality wine and sending flowers beforehand are both common
occurrences.
Cottage culture
The cottage on the lake, the cabin in the woods — cottage culture is an essential part of the
national lore. When I first moved to Canada, I really didn’t understand the significance of spending
the weekend “up north,” but after almost a decade I do say I miss them terribly. Particularly in
Ontario, the term cottage induces memories of summers spent on lakes, filled with crackling
campfires, picturesque sunsets and afternoons full of boat rides and water sports. There are
hamburgers and milkshakes, and spending all day on a lakeside dock listening to music with
friends that live around you. Google “Muskoka sunsets” or “Muskoka chairs” and you will get the
vibe. 
Cottages are not necessarily a status thing either — sure, there are some Hamptons style cottages
in Canada, but for the majority of the country it is an opportunity to leave the business of cities
behind and spend some time unwinding. There are regional words for them as well: in British
Columbia, you’ll encounter a cabin, French Quebec welcomes you at chalets, English Quebec will
have a lake house, parts of Manitoba and North Canada call the log houses camps.  When I was
asking around my friends for the purpose of this article, one of them laughed: “Our holidays are
quite honestly surrounded by our cottages. August long weekend is there so we can enjoy the
cottages without mosquitos. February Family Day is there so we could go skiing near our cottages.
And then there is May 2-4.”
May 2-4
Pronounced as ‘May Two-Four’, also known as Victoria Day, it is a public holiday in Canada,
celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 25. Originally there to celebrate Queen Victoria’s
birthday, it has since been celebrated as the official birthday of Canada’s sovereign — but to many
Canadians May Two-Four is considered to be the start of summer. And yes, there is a high chance
that you will be heading to cottage country to open up your house for the summer and spend the
majority of the weekend sipping cold beverages on a dock. 
Canadian Thanksgiving
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, which to me personally
makes a lot more sense — you have two months to get ready for another Turkey feast. Canadian
Thanksgiving is closely linked to the harvest festival, which is why it takes place in autumn, and is
a very relaxed affair. There are no parades or floats, but there is the warmth of your Canadian
friends that invited you over to stuff your stomachs with turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pies. 
Beaver tails 
Do not be alarmed — Canadians do not eat tails of actual beavers. In Canada, beaver tails are
giant, deep-fried sweet delicacies. A ball of dough is stretched into a long, flat oval, fried in oil and
served in a paper sleeve. If you are a purist, you stick to a mix of sugar and cinnamon to be
sprinkled on top, but there are other options like maple cream, cookies or chocolate spread. It
makes for an especially brilliant snack when you have spent the evening on a skating rink or pond.
Check out the skating rink Nathan Phillips Square next time you find yourself in Toronto during the
cold season. 
St Jean Baptiste Day
A hugely popular holiday with the Francophone culture, St Jean Baptiste day takes place on June
24 and is known as la Fête nationale du Québec (the National holiday of Quebec). If you find
yourself in Canada’s French province, brace yourself for a day of concerts, parades and firework
displays. Families get together to have bonfires and barbecues, and Montreal and Quebec City
brim with energy and people.
St Patrick’s Day Parade in Montréal 
The longest-running parade in Canada (uninterrupted since 1824), St Patrick’s Day Parade is one
of the best days to find yourself in Montréal. Depending on the weather (and sometimes you even
get T-shirt weather in the city in March), there are crowds anywhere from 250,000 to 700,000,
watching hundreds of floats, marching bands and performers stroll down Saint-Catherine Street
(one of the city’s main arteries). 
Bloody Caesar
One of the country’s most beloved drinks, the Canadian Caesar had to make it on to this list as its
own item (I miss it desperately). It makes an appearance at almost every summer party — and
while it looks a lot like a Bloody Mary, it is hundred times better than its American cousin. Instead
of mixing your cocktail with tomato juice, Canadians use Clamato juice — a mixture of clam and
tomato juices — and although it sounds weird, I promise you my life has been separated into BC
and AC: before Caesar and after Caesar.
Canada’s aboriginal peoples also maintain their own distinctive cultures, particularly in the North,
and immigrants have both integrated into Canadian daily life and continued to maintain some
unique elements of their ancestral homelands. Still, the country unites to celebrate Canada Day
(July 1), which commemorates the formation of the country in 1867.

10. Religion
About four-fifths of Canada’s population claim affiliation to some degree with an organized religious
faith. Most are either Roman Catholic or Protestant; the major Protestant churches are the United
Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Lutheran church. Roman Catholics
constitute the largest single religious group, accounting for more than two-fifths of the population.
Protestants, the second largest group, make up about one-fifth of the population.
In Quebec more than four-fifths of the population is at least nominally Roman Catholic, and New
Brunswick also has a Roman Catholic majority. Canada’s religious composition reflects the most
recent immigration trends; in the last two decades of the 20th century, the numbers of Muslims,
Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists rose sharply. The numbers of Jews and adherents of the Eastern
Orthodox faith also has risen. About one-fifth of Canadians classify themselves as nonreligious.