Welcome to Canada! Whether you are considering a move or visit to Canada, or whether you are already starting a new life here, we hope this page will give you a better understanding about Canada and all the wonders it has to offer!

Canada at a glance:

• Consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories
• 9.98 million square kilometres in size, making it the second largest country in the world by area
• Population of 33 million people
• Shares the world’s longest common land border, with the United States

History

• Founded in

Politics

The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonial expeditions explored, and later settled, the region’s Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America to the United Kingdom in 1763 after the French and Indian War, which was essentially the North American theatre of the Seven Years’ War. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades, the territory was explored and additional self-governing Crown colonies were established. On July 1, 1867, three colonies federated, forming a federal dominion that established Canada.

Canada is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. The country is officially bilingual at the federal level. It is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries, with a population of approximately 35 million as of December 2012. Its advanced economy is one of the largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed trade networks. Canada’s long and complex relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its economy and culture.

Canada is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the eighth highest per capita income globally, and the eleventh highest ranking in the Human Development Index. It ranks among the highest in international measurements of education, government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, and economic freedom. Canada is a recognized middle power and a member of G7, G8, G20, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, NATO, North American Free Trade Agreement, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization, Commonwealth of Nations, Francophonie, Organization of American States, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the United Nations.

Canada has made great contributions to the world in everything from arts and music to astronomy and science. Here are some of Canada’s most famous citizens:

Architects

• Étienne Gaboury  (born 1930) – architect of the Embassy of Canada in Mexico and the Royal Canadian Mint building in Winnipeg
• Frank Gehry   (born 1929) – architect of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Experience Music Project, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Art Gallery of Ontario
• E.J. Lennox RAIC (1854–1933) – architect of Old City Hall in Toronto, and Casa Loma
• John M. Lyle FRIBA (1872–1945) RAIC – architect of the New York Public Library, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, and Toronto’s Union Station

Artists

Actors

• Pamela Anderson (Scary Movie)
• Will Arnett
• Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbuster)
• Jay Baruchel (How to Train Your Dragon)
• James Cameron (Avator, Aliens)
• Neve Campbell (Scream)
• John Candy
• Jim Carrey
• Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City)
• Hayden Christensen (Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith)
• James Doohan (Star Trek)
• Brendan Fraser (The Mummy)
• Michael J. Fox (Back to the Future)
• Ryan Gosling (Crazy, Stupid, Love)
• Tom Green (The Tom Green Show
• Lorne Greene
• Graham Greene (The Green Mile)
• Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek)
• Corey Haim (The Lost Boys)
• Phil Hartman
• Joshua Jackson (Cruel Intentions)
• Margot Kidder (Superman)
• Eugene Levy (American Pie)
• Rachel McAdams (Midnight in Paris)
• Eric McCormack (Will & Grace)
• Howie Mandel
• Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters)
• Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix)
• Mike Myers (Austin Powers)
• Leslie Nielsen (The Naked Gun)
• Catherine O’Hara (Home Alone)
• Sandra Oh (ER, Sideways)
• Ellen Page (Inception)
• Anna Paquin (The Piano)
• Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan)
• Matthew Perry (Friends)
• Mary Pickford (Coquette)
• Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music, Up)
• Sarah Polley (Dawn of the Dead)
• Jason Priestley (90210)
• Ryan Reynolds (Green Lantern)
• Caroline Rhea (The Perfect Man)
• Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express)
• William Shatner (Star Trek)
• Martin Short (Frankenweenie)
• Donald Sutherland (The Italian Job)
• Kiefer Sutherland (24)
• Alan Thicke (Growing Pains)

Musicians

Astronauts

• Roberta Bondar (born 1945) – first Canadian woman in space.
• Marc Garneau (born 1949) – first Canadian man in space.
• Chris Hadfield (born 1959) – first Canadian to walk in space. First Canadian to command the International Space Station.
• Steven MacLean (born 1954)
• Julie Payette (born 1963)
• Robert Thirsk (born 1953) Holds record for longest time spent for a Canadian astronaut in space.
• Bjarni Tryggvason (born 1945)

Fashion

• Barry, Ben (born 1983) – founder and CEO of the Ben Barry Agency
• Beker, Jeanne (born 1952) – reporter
• Caten, Dean and Dan (born 1965) – renowned designers known as Dsquared, honoured on the Canadian Walk of Fame
• Collison, Meghan (born 1988) – model
• Chante, Keshia (born 1988) – model and singer
• Cojocaru, Steven (born 1962) – (known as Cojo) critic and correspondent on Entertainment Tonight
• Evangelista, Linda (born 1965) – model
• Harlow, Shalom (born 1973) – model and actress
• Lazareanu, Irina (born 1982) – model
• Manuel, Jay (born 1972) – expert on America’s Next Top Model and “Canada’s Next Top Model”
• Marks, Heather (born 1988) – model
• Mills, Kenneth G. (1923–2004) – designer
• Muise, Alana (born 1987) – model
• Nygård, Peter (born 1943) – designer
• Ogilvie, Lana – model
• Rocha, Coco (born 1988) – model
• Schnarre, Monika (born 1971) – model
• Stam, Jessica (born 1986) – model
• Werbowy, Daria (born 1983) – Polish-born Canadian model.
• Zimmer, Alana (born 1987)- model
• Taryn Davidson (born 1991) – model

Inventors

• Bell, Alexander Graham (1847–1922) – invented the telephone
• Bombardier, Joseph-Armand (1907–1964) – invented the snowmobile
• Evans, Mathew (unknown) – co-inventor of the first electric light bulb
• Fessenden, Reginald (1866–1932) – radio inventor who made the first radio-transmitted audio transmission and the first two-way transatlantic radio transmission
• Sir Fleming, Sandford (1827–1915) – inventor of the system of Standard Time zones
• Gesner, Abraham Pineo (1797–1864) – inventor of kerosene; known as the “Father of the Petroleum Industry”
• Gosling, James OC (born 1955) – invented Java computer language
• Klein, George (1904–1992) – developed: electric wheelchairs, microsurgical staple gun, the ZEEP nuclear reactor, and the Canadarm
• Le Caine, Hugh (1914–1977) – invented the music synthesizer in 1945
• MacPherson, Cluny (1879–1966) – invented the first general-issue gas mask used by the British Army in World War I
• Naismith, James (1861–1939) – invented basketball
• Ryan, Thomas F. (1872–1971) – invented five-pin bowling
• Sicard, Arthur (unknown) invented the snowblower in 1925
• Woodward, Henry (unknown) – co-inventor of the first electric light bulb

Medical

• Sir, Major Banting, Frederick (1891–1941) – Discoverer of insulin
• Bigelow, Wilfred OC LLD (hc) FRSC (1913–2005) – inventor of the first artificial pacemaker
• Callaghan, John OC AOE (1923–2004) – pioneer of open-heart surgery
• Dick, John FRSC (born 1957) – credited with discovery of cancer stem cell
• Douglas, Tommy PC CC SOM LLD (1904–1986) – introduced publicly funded health care in Canada; commonly known as the Father of Medicare
• Mance, Jeanne (1606–1673) – established the first hospital in North America – the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal – in 1644
• Osler, Sir William Bt (1849–1919) – physician, called “father of modern medicine”

The following is a list of Canada’s statutory holidays. Some are celebrated across the country, while some are specific to certain provinces.

In your journey to becoming a Canadian citizen, the first step is to become a permanent resident of Canada. This section will explain the steps involved and provide links and other resources to help you navigate this process.

This page will soon feature all the information you need to know about obtaining a Canadian citizenship.

To live in Canada, it will help you immensely if you are able to speak either English or French – Canada’s two national languages. If you can speak both, the opportunities available to you will be even greater.

This page will soon include information about government programs offered to help you learn English and French, as well as links to other language resources.

It’s generally not too difficult to understand most Canadians (with the exception of some Newfoundlanders). But here’s a list of some of the typical terms you could expect to hear a Canadian use.

The decorations are out, the lights are up and Christmas music can now be heard in stores across the country – sure signs that Christmas is just around the corner!

Will this be your first Christmas in Canada?

While this time of the year can be difficult and sad for those without family here, it is also a chance to create new traditions as part of your new life in Canada.

Here is what you need to know about Christmas in Canada:

When is it celebrated?

Christmas in Quebec City

Christmas Day is December 25. This day is a statutory holiday, meaning most people have this day off. Most retail stores, grocery stores, banks and government offices are closed. If Christmas Eve (December 24) falls on a weekday, many people who have to work will leave work early to begin preparations for their family celebrations.

What do people do?

In many Latino countries, it is common to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a gathering of family and friends, and perhaps a party that lasts well into the night.

In Canada, many people attend special Christmas Eve church services. It is customary for many Canadians to exchange gifts on Christmas morning, followed by a large meal (typically a turkey) later in the day. Many people do, however, exchange gifts on Christmas Eve to carry on the tradition of their home countries.

It is common to erect a Christmas tree (either real or artificial) inside the house. The tree is then decorated and gifts are typically placed underneath it until Christmas morning when it is time to exchange and open them.

Santa Claus is one of the principal figures in the celebration of Christmas. He is a heavy-set, bearded man dressed in red and who is said to travel the world delivering presents to the children of the world. He travels in a flying sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, and enters the homes by sliding down the chimney.

Food

Food is a key component of the Christmas celebration, and it is generally a time when diets are put on hold in order to enjoy the many delicious treats that are eaten at this time of year.

For some families, Christmas day may start with a cooked breakfast, such as ham and eggs or pancakes. Lunch/dinner is often a very large meal consisting of a stuffed roast turkey (or cooked ham), potatoes, a variety of vegetables as well as cranberry sauce and gravy.

Traditional desserts include plum or Christmas pudding, or possible an assortment of Christmas cookies. During the day, many types of sweet and savory snacks are served, including candy, oranges or mandarins, nuts and butter tarts or shortbread.