At 9,985,000 square kilometers in size, Canada is huge! From the Pacific Ocean in the West, to the Atlantic Ocean in the East, Canada stretches 5,158 kilometers from coast-to-coast. The motto of the Dominion of Canada is a Mari usque ad Mare, which is Latin for "From Sea to Sea." Just over 36 million people live in Canada, and if we all spread out evenly we'd have 250 m2 to each and every person; man, woman, or child.
Inside the massive area Canada covers, there are some of the world's largest mountains, jagged peaks, and deep glaciers. There are sprawling forests, impressive valleys, and tens of thousands of lakes and rivers. There are prairies so wide and ripe that you cannot see anything else all the way to the horizon, even in a plane; seas of wheat and canola and corn and other crops as far as the eye can see.
Canada is one of the world's leading nations and Canada has been active at the United Nations since its foundation in 1945. Canada has played a key role in drafting the UN Charter - an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. Canada is rated as one of the world's most economically, scientifically, and culturally progressive countries and many of the world's notable artists, actors, scientists, researchers, and thinkers are Canadians.
Canada regularly contributes Peacekeepers to international peace efforts and active theaters of war, to protect and safeguard the innocent, everyday citizens of many nations. Canada contributes millions of dollars every year to international aid and medical charities, and works with other countries to improve their prospects for the future. Through education, welfare, and new technologies and medicines Canada works to make the world a better place.
Canada is a Nation which has been built by its indigenous population, it's immigrants, and it's naturalized citizens. When the Viking Leif Ericson came to Canada around the year 1000 A.D., he and his crew had no idea that people had already been here for almost 13,000 years. We have a long and proud history, as Canadians, and our people have been characterized as courageous, fair, even-tempered, and giving. Whether you're visiting Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, or Vancouver, British Columbia, there will always be someone willing to help you.
Canada also has a reputation for being progressive, and willing to brave social changes which other countries have not yet adopted. Canada was one of the first modern countries to recognize women's right to vote, to abolish slavery, and to recognize the rights of people to maintain their cultural and religious beliefs. All people, regardless of race or creed have rights protected by Canadian laws.
Canada has one of the 10 best economies in the world as rated by production, inflation, and labour force. Canada's GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is expected to be almost 1.6 trillion dollars by the end of 2016! Our strongest sectors are Services, Industry, and Agriculture.
Because Canada is a wealthy, developed nation we import a lot of goods. Our biggest imports are vehicles, machinery, electronic and medical equipment, computers, oil, plastics, pharmaceuticals, precious metals, iron or steel, and aircraft.
Our largest exports are Oil, vehicles, machinery, precious metals and gems, electronics, computers, aircraft and spacecraft, wood, aluminum, and paper. Don't blink; those aren't duplicates you're seeing! Canada imports almost as many of the same products as it exports! This is because Canada enjoys thriving industrial, technical, and scientific sectors, and these goods are both used and made by Canadians and our businesses.
Services make up 70% of our GDP, and many immigrants find work in the service sector. This may include work in hospitality, food service, logistics, cleaning, administration, retail, or industry. Like the United States and the UK, big-box stores and resellers are a common sight. Business services, education, health care, and tourism make up the other 30% of the economy and Canada is always looking for skilled workers and entrepreneurs to fill these roles.
Canadian farmers and growers also need help, and our agricultural sector is thriving.
Canada's government is a Parliamentary Democracy, which means that the decisions of government are made by a body of publicly elected officials, and the party with the most representation forms the government. The leader of the biggest party becomes Prime Minister of the nation.
Canada's government is further divided into three levels: Federal, Provincial, and Municipal. Elected federal officials are called Members of Parliament (MP's), and sit in Ottowa to make decisions on spending, government programs, and contribute to the creation of laws. These members inform and help revise income and business taxation, criminal prosecution laws, and prohibitions under Canadian code of law. Any decisions which affect the whole nation, like military action and spending, happen at the federal level.
Canada has 10 provinces and three 3 territories, and Provincial/Territorial officials are called Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's). These officials help to form laws and bylaws at the provincial level, and to make decisions which impact citizens within their regions. These decisions may cover how health care and education are funded, what types of businesses may operate, and how the province's natural resources are harvested, refined, and transported – such as lumber and agriculture.
At the municipal or city level, elected politicians are called Councilors. City Councilors inform and create bylaws around property taxes, business zoning, policing, and the day-to-day decisions which impact their neighborhoods and nearby communities. Municipalities are also often the ones who organize arts initiatives, create and fund school programs, and help new immigrants integrate into Canadian society.
Canada has two official languages – English, and French. Under the Official Languages Act, English and French have equal status in the government of Canada. The official mandate to bilingualism means that for any dealings with the government, at any level, you may request to receive your correspondence in either English or French.
Though Canada has two official languages, Canadians speak many, many languages! Almost 20% of Canadians reported speaking at least two languages at home. Among these are Spanish, Italian, German, Mandarin or Cantonese, Arabic, Punjabi, Dutch, Tagalog/Filipino, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Greek, Persian, Tamil, Korean, Sign Language, and even Gaelic!
More impressive are the more than 60 distinct indigenous languages in Canada, which are comprised of 10 separate language families. These languages have developed across our great land over the course of the last 14,000 years and some exist very close together, but are very, very different. For example, the Salishan language group of British Columbia includes almost half the indigenous languages in Canada, but exist within an area only as big as France and Germany combined.
Canada is a peaceful, progressive, liberal, and multi-cultural nation with a strong legal support of individual and familial rights, the rights of women, and the rights of children. People from almost every world nation have immigrated to Canada, from Polynesia to Kenya, and from Norway to Chile. All people in Canada have rights protected by a Charter of Rights and Freedoms; the most basic human rights all Canadian residents and Citizens have privilege to receive.
Among these is the right to basic health care. Canadians receive the protection of a health care system which is free to access for all acute care. If you break a bone or suffer a traumatic accident in Canada, your injuries should not result in crippling hospital bills or debt. Many Canadians also enjoy a set number of sick days they are permitted to take off of work, paid, without fear of repercussion.
In Canada you have a protected right to pursue any career, vocation, art, passtime, or relationship you choose as long as it is not harmful to other citizens. If you want to go to school and become a doctor, be a doctor. If you want to be a woodworker or tradesperson, you are free to do so either as a worker, or as a hobbyist. If you want to marry for love, marry for love. If you want to be an artist, author, musician, or dancer, you can do that; in fact, Canadians value art very highly and the Canadian Council for the Arts has programs designed to help new artists thrive.
Canadians love experiences, and enjoy our multicultural status as a nation. We love food, music, and dance, and every city in Canada has annual events which celebrate the diversity and rich culture in our communities. At these events you can experience the tastes and sounds of other countries without ever leaving your neighborhood.
Canadians hold education to be a right which is supported and protected by the government. All Canadians, male or female, have the right to a basic education and are expected to complete their matriculation to be effective members of society. Because of this focus on education, Canadian schools are among the best in the world. The education, however, does not stop at age eighteen.
Canadian Universities, Colleges, Trade Schools, and Institutes are highly respected institutions. Whether you want to be a doctor or a welder, a school teacher or a cook, or even a police officer, Canadians can attend further schooling to improve their professional prospects. Our educational institutions produce leading researchers, instructors, thinkers, makers, and professionals.
Getting an education in Canada is also significantly less expensive than it is in the United States, with even professional programs costing just a fraction of the tuition as compared with US institutions.
Canadians love the arts. We love theater, music, dance, food, movies, poetry, and literature. These tastes aren't limited to any particular culture or nationality, either. It's not just rock concerts by big name bands, or high-profile Canadian artists. It is not just opera and the ballet. Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and other cultural groups sell out shows when they tour in Canada. Canadians work hard, and play hard, and we like to be entertained.
The world's biggest and best-known circus troupe, Cirque du Soleil, is Canadian! They are based in Montreal, Quebec, and run a school of circus arts to train new performers and devise new and innovative shows.
If your tastes are traditional, you can take up a music instrument or put on your dance shoes. Canadians love music, and music festivals for every genre run seasonally in every Canadian city and town. Canadians love a party, and it's not uncommon in many parts of the country for people to bring instruments over and have an impromptu concert in the kitchen. Or, if you want a night out on the town, you can attend a play in the park or listen to the local orchestra.
Canadians are a diverse and spiritual people. Every major world faith has a significant representation in Canada, and all are treated equally under the law, and enjoy the same rights. As such, there are thriving communities of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, and other groups in Canada. All observant religious practitoners have the right to assembly, and the protection of a safe place to worship in common. Religious communities are a common sight in Canada, and many meet regularly and openly, especially on holy days and dates of celebration – these often coincide with cultural music and food festivals.
While Canada is multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and accepting of all religions, Canadians are predominantly Catholic or Christian (more than 60%). As such, several statutory holidays coincide with religious and social holidays, such as Good Friday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Canadians value honesty, integrity, hard work, equality, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religious expression, and the freedom to live one's life as they see fit. Canada's legal system carries steep penalties for residents and citizens who bring harm to the rights or person of other Canadians.
The Criminal Code of Canada is 1,231 pages long in print form. The Canadian Labour Code is even longer. Canadian laws protect the rights of the individual to safety and freedom from harm, but they also protects residents and Canadians from other things. Canadian laws protect you from predatory or unfair business practices, fraud, extortion, coercion, and unfair treatment.
Canadian laws mandate how many hours a week an employer is permitted to ask you to work. You are legally permitted to refuse work if you feel it is unsafe. Your home and your privacy are protected by law, as are your cultural and religious expressions. However, your cultural and religious rights do not supercede the Criminal Code. Abuse of any kind is not tolerated on any person under Canadian law.
Canadians are permitted to own and use firearms for hunting, sport, or enjoyment. However, all firearms in Canada are required to be registered with the government, and there are prohibitions on what kinds of firearms you are permitted to own. You are also required to possess special licenses to bring firearms of any kind into Canada. Without these licenses and special transportation rules, you can find yourself imprisoned or your firearms confiscated (or both) if you attempt to bring unregistered firearms into Canada.
The world’s second-largest country, at 9,970,610 square kilometers
Constitutional monarchy and federal state with democratic parliament
Official languages are English and French
Largest province is Quebec, at 1.5 million square kilometers
Climate spans all four seasons, especially in the regions lying along the U.S. border