Country Overview
Canada is one of the best study destinations for students. In 2017, Canada experienced almost 500,000 international students studying at all levels in the country; which explains its popularity across the globe.
Canada is as varied as it is vast, stretching over 7,000km from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 90% of the country’s 34 million inhabitants live less than 100 miles of the US border in the south leaving the majority of the 10,000,000 square kilometers of wilderness untouched.
Canada is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories in the north. The Yukon Territory, Northwest Territory and Nunavut make up Canada’s three territories which umbrella the provinces in the south. The majority of the territories remain uninhabited and air transport is often the only way around.
Economy
Canada is the world’s tenth-largest economy as of 2016, with a nominal GDP of approximately US$1.52 trillion.
Canada is a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Group of Eight (G8).
It is one of the world’s top ten trading nations. Canada is a mixed market, ranking above the U.S. on the Heritage Foundation’s index of economic freedom and higher than most western European nations.
As of June 2018, Canada’s national unemployment rate was 6.0%. Provincial unemployment rates vary from a low of 3.2% in Yukon to a high of 15.5% in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Canada is one of the few developed nations that are net exporters of energy. Canada is one of the world’s largest suppliers of agricultural products. It is the largest producer of zinc and uranium, and is a global source of many other natural resources, such as gold, nickel, aluminium, and lead.
Canada also has a sizable manufacturing sector centered in southern Ontario and Québec, with automobiles and aeronautics representing particularly important industries.
Climate
In Canada, there are four different seasons: spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter. In the winter, the days are shorter and colder. In the summer, the days are longer and warmer. Overall, the climate varies dramatically across Canada. Many factors influence climate, such as distance from large bodies of water, latitude, elevation, and prevailing winds.
Some regions, particularly the southern coastal regions, have relatively mild climates. Temperatures might range from -10° to 5° Celsius in the winter and 10°C to 30°C in the summer. In these coastal regions, there is more rain than snow during the winter. Some parts of Canada, such as the West Coast, are quite humid. Other parts, like the Prairies, are very dry.
Culture
Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. Many Canadians value multiculturalism and see Canada as being inherently multicultural. The country’s culture has been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and the high rate of migration between the two countries. The great majority of English-speaking immigrants to Canada between 1755 and 1815 were Americans from the Thirteen Colonies; during and immediately after the War of Independence (46,000 Americans loyal to the British crown came to Canada).
American media and entertainment are popular, if not dominant, in English Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful in the United States and worldwide. Many cultural products are marketed toward a unified “North American” or global market.
Food
The favorite foods of Canadians vary slightly from region to region, and are strongly influenced by their family heritage, especially in relation to holiday celebrations. Along the Atlantic coast, seafood and dishes derived from English traditions (except in Québec) are common. In Québec, favorite foods come from the area’s French heritage. Throughout Canada, maple syrup and maple products are popular, reflecting the significance of the maple tree, whose leaf adorns the flag of Canada.
Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day – Jan. 1
- Good Friday – varies every year
- Easter Monday – varies every year
- Victoria Day – the Monday preceding May 25
- Canada Day – Jul. 1 (observed on Jul. 2 if Jul. 1 falls on a Sunday)
- Labour Day – first Monday of Sept.
- Thanksgiving Day – second Monday of Oct.
- Remembrance Day – Nov. 11
- Christmas Day – Dec. 25
- Boxing Day – Dec. 26
Time Zones
| Time Zone |
IST Offset |
Province / Territory |
| Newfoundland | 9 hours behind IST* | Newfoundland |
| Atlantic Standard Time | 9:30 hours behind IST | Nova Scotia |
| Prince Edward Island | ||
| New Brunswick | ||
| Eastern Parts of Québec | ||
| Eastern Standard Time | 10:30 hours behind IST | Eastern Parts of Nunavut |
| Western Parts of Québec | ||
| Eastern Parts of Ontario | ||
| Central Standard Time | 11:30 hours behind IST | Western Parts of Ontario |
| Manitoba | ||
| Central Parts of Nunavut | ||
| Saskatchewan | ||
| Mountain Standard Time | 12:30 hours behind IST | Alberta |
| Northwest Territories | ||
| Western Parts of Nunavut | ||
| Pacific Standard Time | 13:30 hours behind IST | British Columbia |
| Yukon |
Facts
- Full name: Canada
- Population: 37,742,154 (2020 estimates according to UN data)
- Capital: Ottawa
- Largest city: Toronto
- Area: 9.98 million sq km
- Major languages: English & French
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 81.2 years (men), 84.7 years (women)
- Monetary unit: 1 CAN dollar = 100 cents
- Main exports: Crude Petroleum ($54.1B), Cars ($46.5B), Refined Petroleum ($11.5B), Vehicle Parts ($10.4B) and Petroleum Gas ($10.2B)
- GNI per capita: CAN $47,590 (World Bank, 2018)
- Internet domain: .ca
- International dialing code: +1
Admission Support Kit – Canada
| Admission Checklist | SOP- Guidelines |
SOP – Do’s & Dont’s |
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| Sample SOP | Resume – Guidelines | Resume – Sample | |||
| CV v/s Resume | General RECO Letter |
Business RECO Letter |
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| CV – Guidelines | CV – Sample |
