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Apr 14, 2023 06:38 PM
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Canada is a gorgeous country inhabited by gregarious people. The beauty of the land and the bonhomie of its residents ensure that Canada is a happy place to live in. The Canadian lifestyle and culture make life in Canada an enjoyable experience. The country has evolved over the years to become one of the strongest economies with a good quality of life.
Canadian History
Before the European colonization of Canada, the country was inhabited by indigenous people or Native Canadians. The start of the European colonization dates back to 1534, when Jacques Cartier, a French explorer first landed on the Gulf of St. Lawrence; however a permanent settlement was not established until the 15th century. Meanwhile, the British occupied the east coast of the North American continent.
Although Canada had its own government since 1848, it was still under the rule of the British government until the First world war. It was only 1931, after the passing of the statute of Westminster, did Canada become a truly independent country that was equal to the United Kingdom.
Geography of Canada
Canada occupies the majority of the area in the North American continent. It is surrounded by the United States of America to the south, the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic city to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Canada has a total area of 9,984670 km2 and is considered the second-largest country in the world after Russia, in terms of the land and water area occupied by the country. Canada not only has the longest coastline in the world but also shares the longest border in the world with the US.
Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories, with Ottawa as its capital. Canada is blessed with over 20,000 lakes and 8 distinct forests and has one of the largest reserves of freshwater in the world. Mount Logan at the height of 19.500 feet is the highest point, and the Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet is the lowest point in the country. Since Canada is geologically active, it is home to many active volcanoes such as Mount Meager massif, Mount Garibaldi, the Mount Edziza volcanic complex and more.
General facts about Canada:
- As of 2018, Canada had an overall population of 35,881,659.
- English and French are the official languages of Canada.
- The currency used in Canada is the Canadian Dollar (CAD).
Climate in Canada
Canada is the fourth largest country in the world in terms of land area. The country has a climate that varies from temperate in the south and west coast to subarctic and arctic in north. While Northern Canada experiences a very cold climate similar to the Polar climate making life in Canada a bit difficult, landlocked areas experience the warmer continental climate and western Canada experiences a semi-arid climate. Temperatures in Canada may range from 45.0 °C to −63.0 °C.
Canadian Culture and Life in Canada
Canadian culture is a blend of British, French and indigenous cultures. However, the huge number of immigrants from various countries around the world and its American culture has also largely influenced the current culture of Canada.
The Canadian culture is considered to be one of the most progressive and diverse cultures. The Canadian city of Toronto is branded as the most diverse city in the world. The federal government of Canada is known for its easy immigration policies and multicultural ideology.
Languages
Canada is one of the few countries to have two official languages, namely, English and French. Ninety-eight percent of Canadian citizens have reported that they have the ability to communicate in English. Other commonly spoken languages in Canada include Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, German and Arabic
The languages commonly spoken by the indigenous families in Canada include Eskimo-Aleut, Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Wakashan, Salishan, Algic,Beothuk and Siouan.
Folk Costumes
Canada’s national dress is influenced by the 17th-18th century Native Indians who first colonized Canada. While the female folk costumes include the Crinoline or hoop skirt with gigot-style sleeves and peplum attached bodice, the male folk costumes include decorative waistcoats, shorter trousers known as breeches, cane, and cufflinks and sash.
Festivals
Source : TripSavvy
A country so vibrant is bound to have colourful festivals. Life in Canada is made more cheerful by these wonderful festivals:
- Canada Day – People across the country celebrate ‘Canada Day’ on the 1st of July every year in Canada. Fireworks, outdoor barbecues, carnivals are some of the celebratory events organized on that day.
- Edmonton Folk Festival- This Edmonton Folk festival is a four-day music event held on the second week of August every year in Edmonton, Alberta.
- Montreal Jazz Fest- The Montreal International Jazz Festival is a music festival that offers about 500 concerts by artists from over 20 countries every June or July.
- Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival- If you are a fan of comedy, then attend the famous Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal every July.
- Toronto International Film Festival- Watch the creative talents from around the globe at the world-renowned Toronto International Film Festival.
- Vancouver Celebration of Light- The Vancouver Celebration of light is the largest fireworks competition in the world held every summer in Vancouver.
- Winterlude- Every year, Ottawa celebrates a winter festival called the Winterlude in the month of February, featuring the world’s longest ice rink, ice playground and more.
Canadian Food
Source: Kitchen Sanctuary
A French influenced Canadian dish made of French fries, cheese curds and brown gravy called the Poutine is considered to be Canada’s national dish. Canada is a huge country with dishes varying from one region to the other. Some of the traditional Canadian dishes include butter tarts, Nova Scotian donair, Montreal–style bagels, Saskatoon berry pie, split pea soup, maple taffy and ketchup chips.
However, the food journey in Canada is never complete without Canada’s most iconic food, ‘The Maple syrup’. Canada produces 85 percent of the delicious caramelized Maple syrup in the world. The maple syrup has been linked to the Canadian culture for so long now that some people have even voted it to be the National dish of Canada.
Canadian Sports
Source: Georgetown University Athletics
Just like there are two official languages in Canada, there are two games that are recognized as national sports of Canada, namely, ice hockey and lacrosse. While ice hockey is considered to be the official winter sport, lacrosse, the oldest sport in the country, is considered the official summer sport.
There is no doubt that Canadian’s love ice hockey, but they are also very fond of football. Football is the second most popular sport in Canada, with the largest number of registered players compared to any other Canadian sport. Other popular sports include Rugby, Tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Curling and Cricket.
Economy
With an estimated nominal GDP of $1.741 trillion, Canada has the 10th largest GDP in the world. Canada has the third-highest value of the natural resource and fourth-largest exporter of petroleum around the globe. Its huge volume of natural resources and relatively small population has made it an energy superpower. The country also has the lowest unemployment rates in the whole of the American continent.
In 2018, Canada earned nearly $ 585 billion from the export industry. The major goods include auto vehicles and their parts, industrial machinery, chemicals, plastics, petroleum, natural gas and electricity. It is also a member of important international organizations such as NAFTA, G7, G20, APEC and more. All these factors give a good fillip to life in Canada.
Transportation
Source: Green Action Centre
The efficient and high capacity transportation in Canada is designed for a busy life. The transportation system in Canada mainly consists of railway, roadways, airways and waterways. The largest transportation system in Canada is roads running up to 1,400,000 kilometres which are followed by railway tracks spread across 72,093 kilometres. Canada also has 300 smaller and 10 major airports and over 300 ports and harbours that allows you to travel through the oceans and great lakes of the country.
Attractions in Canada
Source: Moraine Lake Lodge
Canada is a diverse nation with very vibrant and beautiful cities. Below listed are some of the must-visit places in Canada that every traveller must visit to experience the culture and life in Canada:
- Moraine Lake
- Vieux-Quebec
- Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Churchill Town
- Athabasca Falls
- Bay of Fundy
- Victoria's Inner Harbour
- Calgary Stampede
- Gros Morne National Park
- Banff National Park
- CN Tower
- Old Quebec
- Old Montreal
- Stanley Park, Vancouver
- Jasper National Park
Conclusion
From breathtaking scenery to high standards of living to progressive culture, there are so many reasons that make Canada one of the best countries in the world. Life in Canada comes with a lot of perks. The progressive and broad-minded outlook of the government certainly makes it a favourite among the immigrants from across the world. We hope this blog will give you a pretty good insight into the country’s rich history, culture, sports, attractions and much more.
