Overview

Geographical Conditions:

Canada is the second-largest country in the world. It has a vast geography that occupies the top half of the North American continent, sharing land borders with the contiguous United States to the south and the U.S. state of Alaska to the northwest. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean. Greenland is to the northeast and to the southeast Canada shares a maritime boundary with France`s overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

The country has a wide variety of climates due to its great latitudinal extent. It ranges from perma-frost in the north to four distinct seasons towards the equator. Ocean currents play an important role, with both the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and the Alaska Current in the Pacific affecting climate.

Political & Legal System:

Canada is divided into ten provinces: Ontario, Quebec,  Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,  Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and three territories:  Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon. Each province has a different system of local government which may include upper-tier or rural jurisdictions such as counties, municipal districts, regional municipalities, regional districts or regional county municipalities. These divisions are then divided into lower-tier or urban jurisdictions such as cities, towns, villages, townships, and parishes. Unlike the provinces, the territories of Canada have no inherent sovereignty and have only those powers delegated to them by the federal government. Ottawa has been the capital city of Canada ever since Canada became a self-governing country.

The Government of Canada, officially Her Majesty`s Government, is the corporation responsible for the federal administration of Canada. The monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II) is personally represented by the Governor General of Canada (currently Julie Payette). The Queen`s Privy Council for Canada is the body that advises the sovereign or viceroy on the exercise of executive power.  The fundamental principles of Canadian law are based on British rule and Canadians` legal rights are protected by a written constitution and a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Only the Canadian federal government has the ability to make criminal law. For other types of law, Canada`s federal, provincial, and municipal divide up the responsibilities. Laws that violate the Constitution can be overturned by Canadian courts, with the Supreme Court of Canada being the highest authority.

Economic Status:

The economy of Canada is a highly developed market economy. Canada is one of the world`s top ten trading nations, with a highly globalized economy. It has the world`s third largest proven petroleum reserves and is the fourth largest exporter of petroleum. It is also the fourth largest exporter of natural gas. As with other developed nations, the country`s economy is dominated by the service industry which employs about three quarters of Canadians. Canada ranks well on economic and human development indexes. The financial services industry is an important pillar of the Canadian economy, which employs 550,000 employees. In terms of employment for the majority of students, Canada provides a broad platform. Canada is home to large companies which were listed in the Fortune Global 500 list, some of which are: Manulife Financial, Power Corporation of Canada, Magna International, George Weston Limited, Royal Bank of Canada, Air Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, Imperial Oil, Brookfield Asset Management, etc. Canada has a large domestic and foreign tourism industry.  It is the 10th largest economy in the world by GDP.  

Soceity and Culture

Language:

A multitude of languages are used in Canada. English and French have official federal status, in all government services, courts and all federal legislation. Canada`s linguistic diversity extends beyond the two official languages. The country is also home to 12 indigenous language groups, which are made up of more than 65 distinct languages and dialects, including many sign languages. These languages include: Chipewyan, Cree, Gwich?in, Montagnais-Naskapi (Innu), Inuinnaqtun, Dene, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Mi`kmaq and T??chQ.

Cuisine:

The three earliest cuisines of Canada have First Nations, English, Scottish and French roots. The cuisine varies widely depending on the regions. Foods typically considered national dishes of Canada include poutine, Canadian bacon, butter tarts, Nanaimo Bars and Maple syrup.  While many ingredients are commonly found throughout Canada, each region with its own history and local population has unique ingredients, which are used to define unique dishes.

Tourist Attractions:

Canada has a large domestic and foreign tourism industry. Its incredible geographical variety is a significant tourist attractor. There are 20 World Heritage sites in it, including one of the oldest, Nahanni National Park, Northwest Territories, and one of the newest, the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta. Of these 20 sites, 9 are Cultural Heritages and 10 are Natural Heritages. Pimachiowin Aki is a combination of cultural and natural heritage.  Much of the country`s tourism is centered in the following regions: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver/Whistler, Niagara Falls, Vancouver Island, Calgary/Canadian Rockies, British Columbia`s Okanagan Valley, and the national capital region Ottawa. The large cities are known for their culture, diversity, as well as the many national parks and historic sites.

The tourist spots in Canada attract a large number of people all over the world, thanks to the initiatives of the Canadian Government from time to time. Canada is overall, very safe. It`s actually known for its peacekeeping diplomacy, respect and tolerance for everyone, so the foreign travelers can rest assured that they will probably encounter no problems. Transportation is very safe and reliable in Canada.

Lifestyle:

Canadian culture values honesty, sensitivity, empathy, and humility in their relationships both with friends and strangers. The country is an egalitarian society, meaning everyone is equal. Canadians are known for being polite, friendly and unpretentious. Canadians take it punctuality very seriously and literally. The etiquettes of the country advise people not to call people in the early morning hours or late at night. Canadians are very politically correct; therefore the foreigners must avoid making any comments / jokes on sensitive or controversial topics.

Canadian national clothing was formed under the influence of Native Indians who lived on these lands for centuries and colonizers from Europe who came to Canada in 17-18th century. Also traditional garments in Canada correspond with the weather conditions and climate in this part of the world. That`s why traditional Canadian pieces of clothing are: parkas, tuques, ojibwa shirts, mittens, ear muffs and so on..

Immigration is one of the strengths of Canadian society; therefore it lures lot of people from other countries. The growing population of Canada reflects a cultural, ethnic and linguistic mix, which is the unique feature of the country.  Many expatriates find that the cost of living in Canada is much lower than that in their home country. The Canadian government employs skilled foreign workers, for which friendly immigration policies have been adopted.

Health Care:

Canada is a healthy nation; therefore the overall mortality rate and life expectancy have improved considerably. Both life expectancy (LE) and health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) in Canada have been steadily increasing in the past decade, and the gap of gender equality is bridged.  Healthcare in Canada is delivered through the provincial and territorial systems of publicly funded health care, informally called Medicare. The universal health-care system is paid for through taxes. Each province and territory has their own health insurance plan. In some cases, the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides temporary health insurance to refugees, protected persons and refugee claimants. The temporary care covers them and   their dependents until they are eligible for health plan coverage through the province, territory or private plan.

Students planning to study in Canada should explore the availability of insurance in their intended province of study. International students in Canada are required to obtain health insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada. Certain provinces offer provincial health coverage to certain international students, either for free or for a premium. In these cases, they are usually required to apply to the province. Often, in cases where provincial health insurance is not available, students are required to purchase private insurance. This can often be done through their school in Canada. Institutions in provinces which do not offer provincial healthcare coverage to international students may require these individuals to subscribe to mandatory health plans, while other institutions may offer optional coverage plans.

Education in Canada

Canada has a strong and well-funded system of public education, largely managed provincially.  The government heavily subsidizes education from kindergarten to the post-secondary level, spending on average almost six percent of its GDP on education.  The Canadian education system prides itself on being a world-leader in research while still remaining accessible and diverse. Canadian degree programs are very flexible. No matter what degree the students pursue, they are given some choice when it comes to picking classes. Therefore, Canadian students have more control over their workload and what subjects they will study, depending on the discipline.

Canada is an international computer and information technology leader, and enjoys an excellent reputation in communications, transportation and engineering. Aviation, urban transport, microelectronics, medical devices, advanced software, hydroelectric and nuclear power, lasers and optoelectronics, biotechnology, food and beverage processing, geometrics and ocean and environmental industries are more prominent.

Overseas students can choose from over 200 institutions of higher education at which to pursue a bachelor’s, masters or doctorate degree. International students are welcome to complete all or part of their education in Canada. Some of the top universities in Canada include University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, University of Waterloo all feature in top 50 engineering and technology institutes in the world. Like other countries, there are both public and private universities. A vast majority of degree programs in Canada are taught in English. Therefore, students from countries where English is not the native language will have to prove their English proficiency through either the TOEFL or IELTS. 

Reasons to Study in Canada

• Canada is a reasonably tolerant and accepting society, which means that international students will feel at home regardless of their social background.
• The education quality in Canada is quite good and cost of education is comparatively less.
• A Canadian degree, diploma or certificate is globally recognized.
• If overseas students graduate from Canadian Universities, they will be awarded points for permanent residency.
• The educational institutions in the country offer wide range of modern amenities including sports facilities, public concert halls, and art galleries and thereby encouraging the foreign students to prove their metal on their co-curricular activities.
• Friendly immigration policy if obtained for study abroad, obviously help to get permanent residency status.
• Cost of living and study in Canada at all levels right from schooling to university is lower than the United States, Britain, Australia and other countries.
• Students from overseas country can get into financial service industry, soon after completion of their education in a Canadian University.
• Canada is a very safe country to pursue studies since the crime rates in this country are very low.
• Certain provinces offer provincial health coverage to certain international students, either for free or for a premium.
• Working while studying in Canada is one of the major advantages of choosing Canada. Most international students with a study permit in Canada can work off campus for up to 20 hours per week, without a work permit. 
• Working while studying will help students support their financial expenses and help build connections and experience that could make them stand out in their job hunt later on.