CANADA
Area: 9.984.670 sq km
Population: 33.3 million
Capital: Ottawa
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Language: English, French (mainly Quebec State)
Head of state: Prime Minister Stephen Harper
3 famous people: Avril Lavigne, Pamela Anderson, Neil Young
Area code: +1
British Columbia 250 Labrador 902
Alberta 780 New Brunswick 902
Saskatchewan 877 Nova Scotia 902
Manitoba 877 Prince Edward Isl 902
Ontario 877 Yukon Territory 867
Quebec 877 Northwest Territories 867
Newfoundland 902 Nunavut 867
Driving in Canada
If you are staying for more than three months you will need to obtain a International Driving Permit which you should get before you leave home. If you are staying for less than three months you can use your current valid license. You must wear your seat belt otherwise you face a big fine. There are a few other laws that you should aquaint yourself with but if you are renting a car the rental company will tell you what to do and not to do.
Communications
Post: All post offices will keep poste restante mail for two weeks before returning it to sender.
Telephone: When calling home don’t forget you have your VIP Card which is also an international phone card offering competitive rates. Public telephones are readily available throughout the country.
To dial an international number you need to place 001 in front of the country code.
Operator service: dial 0.
Telephone information number: 411.
Emergency number: 911.
Email: Email access is available in almost all VIP Backpackers Hostels. Most Cities and Towns will also have internet cafes.
Medical Matters
Canada does not have too many ‘nasties’ so you don’t need any jabs before you go. However things that you should remember:
Frost bite in the winter, usually happens in low tempretures and high winds. There will be warnings on the radio which will tell you how many minutes it will take you before you may suffer, so remember to wrap up warm. If you are camping or hiking remember to take the mosquito repellant. If you are spending any time hiking remember that some wild animals carry rabies. If you do get bitten seek medical help immediately.
Travel Tips
If you are camping in the wild and you have food don’t leave it out as it WILL attract bears and that is last thing you want creeping into your tent at night!! Always keep it in a sealed container and if you have a vehicle, keep it there.
Pack some dental floss….it can be used as a string to tie up your pack, used to help pitch your tent if you are camping, it is strong enough to use as a clothes line and yes, it can be used to floss your teeth!
If you are planning on working in Canada email yourself your CV so you don’t have to carry it around with you. Don’t forget that different countries like the format in different ways, so it may be a good idea to contact an employment agency before you go to check how to set your CV out.
Canada is not a third world county so there is no need to load up with loads of lotions and creams ‘just in case’. You will be able to buy it there.
If you are taking loads of photos and getting them developed, send the photos home and keep the negatives with you. That way you don’t have to carry loads of photos with you and if something happens to the photos en route you will have the negatives to reprint them.