Canada Fact File
Canada - Climate
Canada has four very distinct seasons which all occur at roughly the same time of year as they do in the UK, although because Canada is such a vast country their arrival times can vary slightly. As in the UK the further north you go the colder it gets. Both the east and west coasts can get extremely wet, but the majority of rainfall occurs during the winter. Canadian winters are long and extremely cold, with the temperature in January averaging -18 degrees Centigrade in over two thirds of the country (which admittedly does make for great skiing conditions). The months of July and August are the warmest in Canada with temperatures in the south of the country usually in the high 20s.
Canada - Money
The currency of Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD). As in the UK it's more commonplace these days for people to pay for larger transactions with a credit or debit card so, if you're going to be in Canada for some time, it's well worth considering opening a bank account whilst you're there (a GYFGU's travel adviser can advise you on how to go about doing this). As in the neighbouring USA you're expected to tip 10-15% of a restaurant bill. Tips are considered as being an essential additional income within service professions in Canada and are usually also given to concierges, bell hops, room cleaners, taxi drivers, hairdressers, hotel attendants, bar staff, etc.
Canada - Health and Safety
Crime rates are much lower in Canada compared to the neighbouring USA and, so long as you take the same sensible precautions as you would at home (avoiding dubious areas and not flaunting valuables etc), it's highly unlikely you'll experience any difficulties whilst you're there. Similarly you're no more likely to experience any problems with your health in Canada than you would at home. Canada is renowned for its wildlife but, if you do venture out in to the Canadian wilderness, you do need to be on your guard. Bear encounters in particular are common so always heed local safety advice and warning signs. So long as you follow certain rules, for example not leaving food in your camping equipment, the safety risk is minimal. Mountain lions roam British Colombia but are rarely seen and tend to keep themselves to themselves. Blackflies, mosquitos and ticks can be a real nuisance during Spring, particularly from March to June. As mentioned above Canadian winters are extremely cold so it's important to wrap yourself up at this time of year in order to guard against frostbite.
Canada - Highlights
Canada is the world's second largest country so there's certainly no shortage of things to do there. Although it has some fantastic cities most people head to Canada in order to experience the Great Outdoors and Canada's vast unspoilt wilderness. Canada has a whole host of national parks to explore and, in the Rocky Mountains, some of the world's best ski resorts.
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