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| Explore Canada |
Canada is the second largest
country in the world with 10 million square kilometres of
land mass. Three oceans border country – the Atlantic,
the Pacific and the Arctic. Due to its size, there are many
different geographical areas and regions. Canada is divided
into five main regions: the Atlantic Region, Central Canada,
the Prairie Provinces, the West Coast and the North. Canada
is a confederation of 10 provinces and 3 territories, each
with different weather, geography, cultures and job opportunities.
Besides Ottawa, the federal capital city, every province or
territory has its own capital city.
Choosing your destination
and finding helpful information about the various regions
and cities can be very difficult, especially from outside
of the country. This information is very important, however,
in allowing you to determine which province and city within
Canada is most suitable. |
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Click on the names below to learn
more about a Canadian province or territory.
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| Average Daily Temperature (Celcius) |
| City
|
J |
F |
M |
A |
M |
J |
J |
A |
S |
O |
N |
D |
|
Vancouver |
3.0 |
4.7 |
6.3 |
8.8 |
12.1 |
15.2 |
17.2 |
17.4 |
14.3 |
10.0 |
6.0 |
3.5 |
|
Calgary |
-9.6 |
-6.3 |
-2.5 |
4.1 |
9.7 |
14.0 |
16.4 |
15.7 |
10.6 |
5.7 |
-3.0 |
-8.3 |
|
Edmonton |
-14.2 |
-10.8 |
-5.4 |
3.7 |
10.3 |
14.2 |
16.0 |
15.0 |
9.9 |
4.6 |
-5.7 |
-12.2 |
|
Saskatoon |
-17.5 |
-13.9 |
-7.0 |
3.9 |
11.5 |
16.2 |
18.6 |
17.4 |
11.2 |
4.8 |
-6.0 |
-14.7 |
|
Regina |
-16.5 |
-12.9 |
-6.0 |
4.1 |
11.4 |
16.4 |
19.1 |
18.1 |
11.6 |
5.1 |
-5.1 |
-13.6 |
|
Winnipeg |
-18.3 |
-15.1 |
-7.0 |
3.8 |
11.6 |
16.9 |
19.8 |
18.3 |
12.4 |
5.7 |
-4.7 |
-14.6 |
|
Toronto |
-4.5 |
-3.8 |
1.0 |
7.5 |
13.8 |
18.9 |
22.1 |
21.1 |
16.9 |
10.7 |
4.9 |
-1.5 |
|
Ottawa |
-10.7 |
-9.2 |
-2.6 |
5.9 |
13.0 |
18.1 |
20.8 |
19.4 |
14.7 |
8.3 |
1.5 |
-7.2 |
|
Québec City |
-12.4 |
-11.0 |
-4.6 |
3.3 |
10.8 |
16.3 |
19.1 |
17.6 |
12.5 |
6.5 |
-0.5 |
-9.1 |
|
Halifax |
-5.8 |
-6.0 |
-1.7 |
3.6 |
9.4 |
14.7 |
18.3 |
18.1 |
13.8 |
8.5 |
3.2 |
-3.0 |
|
Charlottetown |
-7.2 |
-7.5 |
-3.0 |
2.7 |
9.2 |
14.8 |
18.8 |
18.4 |
14.0 |
8.6 |
3.1 |
-3.6 |
|
St. John's |
-4.0 |
-4.6 |
-2.0 |
1.8 |
6.4 |
11.3 |
15.8 |
15.6 |
11.8 |
7.3 |
3.3 |
-1.4 |
|
Fredericton |
-9.6 |
-8.5 |
-2.5 |
4.0 |
10.8 |
16.2 |
19.3 |
18.3 |
13.0 |
7.3 |
1.2 |
-6.6 |
|
|
 ALBERTA
Capital City: Edmonton
Other major destinations: Calgary, Banff and Jasper
Alberta's economy reflects the
diverse nature of its people. Principal industries in Alberta
include agriculture and related industries, forestry, telecommunications
and oil and gas.
Alberta is the second westernmost
province next to British Columbia. It has an area of over
600,000 square kilometres and is home to more than three million
people. Alberta is bordered to the east by the province of
Saskatchewan, to the west by the Rocky Mountains and British
Columbia, to the north by the Northwest Territories and to
the south by the state of Montana in the United States.
Located where the Rocky Mountains
meet the prairie, Alberta's varied landscape provides Albertans
with a quality of life second to none. It's also known for
its sunny climate and varied geography. The breathtaking
views, abundant natural resources, and skilled workforce make
Alberta an excellent place to work, live and do business.
Banff National Park was Canada’s first national park. Banff
features a striking landscape of beautiful valleys, mountains,
glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers.
Alberta's coat of arms is designed
to convey the natural diversity of the province, with both
the mountains and wheat fields given prominence. It also reflects
the abundance of energy, forest and agricultural reserves
that contribute to the province's high level of growth and
prosperity. |
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 BRITISH
COLUMBIACapital City: Victoria
Other major destinations: Vancouver and Whistler
Canada's super, natural province and it's
the best of several worlds. Clean fresh air, pristine mountains
and oceans surround a multicultural world-class urban Mecca.
British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province and one
of North America's most mountainous regions. Because of its
coastal location, it is considered a gateway to the Pacific
and Asia. BC is bordered by the province of Alberta, the Yukon
Territory and several American states, including Alaska.
BC continues to attract Canadians and foreigners alike: 40,000
people settle in the province each year, and its population
now exceeds 4.1 million. The thriving, cosmopolitan city of
Vancouver is home to nearly two million people, and is the
third-largest in Canada. It has the second-largest Chinese
community in North America, more than 60,000 inhabitants of
Indian descent and 24,000 of Japanese descent. The provincial
capital of Victoria is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver
Island, just 85 miles northwest of Seattle, USA. The 312,000
inhabitants of this scenic city enjoy a "sub-Mediterranean"
climate with moderate weather year-round. Government and tourism
are the two main employers in Victoria.
Mountains such as Whistler-Blackcomb offer excellent skiing
and snowboarding. In the interior, fertile valleys are
known for producing mouth-watering fruits and vegetables and
award-winning wines. Along the coast are inlets, sounds
and islands, and visitors can relax on the beach, surf,
hike, and whale watch.
With a spectacular
natural landscape and a vibrant and diverse culture, B.C.
is one of the world’s great year-round tourism destinations
– and has now been named the host of the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympics Winter Games. |
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 MANITOBA
Capital City: Winnipeg
Other major destinations: Churchill and Brandon Manitoba is one of three Prairie Provinces
and is located in the centre of Canada bordered by Ontario,
Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Hudson Bay and the United States. For
many years, most Manitobans were of British origin. But changes
in migration and immigration patterns have produced a province
where no ethnic group is numerically dominant.
Sparkling waters and golden fields of wheat
blend into a clear never-ending horizon. In Manitoba, you
can relax on a beach by the lake, enjoy the Royal Winnipeg
Ballet and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, watch thoroughbred
horse racing at Assiniboia Downs, fly-fish at a wilderness
lodge, or spot polar bears in Churchill during their annual
migration. Manitoba is also home to the International Peace
Garden - the world's largest garden dedicated to world peace.
About 60 per cent of Manitoba's one million people live in
metropolitan Winnipeg, the provincial capital. The second
largest city is Brandon, in south-western Manitoba.
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 NEWFOUNDLAND
AND LABRADOR
Capital City: St. John's Newfoundland features beautiful seascapes,
majestic icebergs, quiet coastal villages and a bustling capital
city. Nestled into the northeast corner of North America,
facing the North Atlantic is Newfoundland, Canada's most easterly
province. This province consists of two distinct geographical
entities: Newfoundland and Labrador. Its historical settlers
ranged from the 16th century Basque whalers to the famous
Viking warriors. The province's present population of 570,000
is largely descended from settlers from south-western England
and southern Ireland, who immigrated to Newfoundland in the
late 1700s and early 1800s.
The pattern of settlement was mainly determined
by the fishing industry, and persists to this day. The most
heavily populated area is the Avalon Peninsula and north-eastern
Newfoundland, the traditional base for the fisheries. More
than half of the people live in fishing villages along the
coastline. St. John's, the historic commercial centre and
capital of the island, is the province's largest city, with
a population of approximately 172,000.
You can visit a glacier-carved fjord in Gros
Morne National Park, admire the oldest surviving lighthouse
in Newfoundland on Cape Spear, and pause to reflect at L'Anse
aux Meadows, a 1000-year-old Viking settlement. |
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 NEW
BRUNSWICK
Capital City: Fredericton
Other major destinations: Moncton and Saint-John
New Brunswick is a seaside province in eastern Canada with
a diverse and fascinating cultural heritage. It borders
Nova Scotia, Québec and the American state of Maine.
It is also bordered on most of three sides by water, including
the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Northumberland Strait, and
the Bay of Fundy.
Almost rectangular in shape, it extends about 322 kilometres
from north to south, and 242 kilometres from east to west.
The eastern coast boasts sandy beaches and warm, salt waters.
The Bay of Fundy features the highest and wildest tides
in the world – up to 54 feet – which have helped
to carve a spectacular coastline. Twice a day, 200 billion
tonnes of water enter and leave the Bay, which is equal
to the water in all the rivers on the planet.
About 750,000 people live in New Brunswick, 35 per cent
of which is French-speaking. This is due largely to the
500,000-strong Acadian community. Acadia was originally
a French colony dating back to the 1500s.
In New Brunswick, you can participate in coastal activities
such as swimming and whale watching, enjoy extensive trails
and campgrounds, watch for wildlife, and take in a range
of festivals, galleries, and cultural events.
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 NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES
Capital City: Yellowknife
The Northwest Territories is a land of contrasts. It is
1.17 million square kilometres of mountains, forests and
tundra threaded by wild, clean rivers feeding thousands
of pristine lakes. Over 40,000 people live amid this rugged
natural beauty. Yellowknife, the capital, has a population
of more than 16,000. Mining drives the territory's economy.
This is the land where the world's best northern lights
dance during the dark winter months and where the sun never
sets during the summer.
Northwest Territories are bordered by the Yukon to the
west, the prairies to the south, and Canada's newest territory,
Nunavut, to the north and east. With the creation of Nunavut
on April 1, 1999, the area of Northwest Territories was
reduced from close to three and a half million km²
to less than two million km².
Starkly beautiful, powerful and immense, Canada’s
northern world is still wild and pristine. Nature rules
here, in a diversity of landscapes ranging from towering
mountains to rolling tundra, and from seacoast to boggy
lowlands and boreal forests.
The Northwest Territories has amazing potential, from its
land and resources to its people and spirit. Continuing
development in non-renewable resources, local businesses,
tourism and people's skills and abilities will ensure that
the NWT is a prosperous and secure place to live and to
raise a family in the years to come.
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 NOVA
SCOTIA
Capital City: Halifax
Nova Scotia's 580-kilometre long peninsula is surrounded
by four bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of
Fundy, the Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Its geographic location, together with large, ice-free,
deep-water harbours, has been key factors in the province's
economic development.
The province thrives on its harmonious relationship with
the sea - its endless coastlines are dotted with rustic
fishing villages and lighthouses. With an area of 55,491
square kilometres, Nova Scotia is larger than Denmark, although
somewhat smaller than Scotland, after which it is named.
Over 80 per cent of Nova Scotia's population of 943,000
trace their ancestry either wholly or partly to the British
Isles. Those with French origin rank second: 18 per cent
of residents have some French ancestry. The largest concentration
of population is found in the Halifax metropolitan area,
which has a population of 359,000.
Eleven scenic travel ways wind through Nova Scotia, taking
you through breathtaking shores, towering cliffs, historic
seaside towns, peaceful beaches, picturesque bays and charming
villages. One of the most spectacular, Cabot Trail, is carved
into mountainsides looking down onto the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Nova Scotia also offers more than 800 lively festivals and
events, kayaking, hiking, whale watching, golfing, and delicious
seafood dinners.
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 NUNAVUT
Capital City: Iqaluit
On April 1, 1999, Nunavut became Canada's newest territory,
encompassing the central and eastern Arctic regions - nearly
one-fifth of Canada's land mass. Originally part of the
Northwest Territories, its creation was first proposed in
the mid-1970s as part of the Inuit land claim. The establishment
of Nunavut, which means "our land" in Inuktitut,
represents a landmark event in the history of Inuit and
Canada.
Nunavut has a population of about 28,000 - of whom 85 per
cent are Inuit and 60 per cent are under the age of 25.
Close to one-fifth of the population lives in Iqaluit. There
are 28 communities scattered through Nunavut’s vast
arctic tundra, some of which are hundreds or thousands of
years old. Winter is close to nine months long in this region,
with snow covering the ground for most of the year. Mining,
shrimp and scallop fishing, hunting and trapping, and arts
and crafts production are the key industries.
Tourism is also a growing industry, with the chance to
experience rich Inuit culture first-hand, and major attractions
such as Auyuittuq National Park. Three new national parks
will be created under the terms of the Nunavut land claim
settlement.
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 ONTARIO
Capital City: Toronto
Other major destinations: Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls
Ontario is Canada’s second largest province, and
home to the world-famous Niagara Falls and the nation’s
capital - Ottawa. It's a province where people representing
70 international cultures welcome you to some of the biggest,
tallest, longest, most unusual, most exciting of everything.
It is bounded by Québec to the east, Manitoba to
the west, Hudson Bay and James Bay to the north, and the
St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes to the south. Ontario
covers 1.1 million square kilometres and boasts over half
a million lakes and 60,000 kilometres of rivers. Overall,
it is an area larger than France and Spain combined and
has a population of over 12 million people.
Ontario has a diverse and well-balanced economy with high
concentrations of manufacturing and financial and business
services. There has been a marked shift towards export-oriented,
higher value-added industries. The manufacturing sector
accounts for 21 per cent of the total provincial output
and is supported by a strong and growing service sector.
The top four manufacturing industries are transportation
equipment, metal products, food processing and electrical
and electronic products. Ontario's leading exports are autos
and auto parts, machines, electrical products, metals, and
plastics. In the service sector, the fastest growing industries
are finance, tourism and culture.
Ontarians, in most years, can expect the province to be
one of the fastest-growing regions in the advanced industrial
world. Ontario benefits from a growing labour force, which
is attracted and sustained by a high quality of life and
equipped with the education, skills and initiative needed
to compete in today's knowledge-based market place. Centrally
located within North America and offering a hospitable business
climate, Ontario is a prime location for investment.
Canada has a well-developed financial system with a variety
of institutions providing a complete range of financial
services. Toronto is an international financial centre and
the centre of Canada's capital and money markets. Firms
raising short-term funds through loans, trade credit, commercial
and financial paper, acceptances or factoring, and companies
seeking long-term funds through open market borrowing, new
securities issues, loans, or sales financing and leaseback
arrangements will find in Toronto all the financial expertise,
institutions and capital markets to meet their needs.
Located in the heart of North America, Ontario businesses
have easy access to prosperous consumer and industrial markets.
The province has an up-to-date, integrated transportation
infrastructure, including highways, commuter and urban public
transit, province-wide and internationally connected railways,
worldwide cargo aviation systems and among the most extensive
in-land and international marine shipping facilities anywhere.
The Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Canada's transportation
infrastructure as #1 relative to other G-7 countries in
2001-2005.
Manufacturers located in Ontario are close to major North
American industrial markets. Ontario shares 13 border crossings
with the U.S., by road, rail and water.
Ontario's communications networks are efficient, affordable
and among the best in world. Ontario firms are leaders in
communications technologies, including telecommunications,
broadcasting, satellite and space technologies.
Diversified and secure, Ontario's energy resources constitute
an important international advantage for investors. Ontario
has low energy prices compared to most developed nations.
Plentiful domestic resources and an efficient energy industry
are major factors. Almost all of the energy consumed in
Ontario is sourced in Canada.
Ontario welcomes more immigrants than any other Canadian
province, and with good reason. It is interesting to note
that over 50% of immigrants land in Ontario province every
year. With over 11 million people, Ontario is home to more
than one-third of Canada's population. It is also Canada's
economic giant supporting one of the most advanced and dynamic
economies in the world. Ontario has an excellent, highly
developed standardized public education system. Some of
the well-known cities in Greater Toronto Area include Scarborough,
Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Oakville, Etobicoke etc.
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 PRINCE
EDWARD ISLAND
Capital City: Charlottetown
Other major destinations: Cavendish
Canada's perfect little island jewel of red soil and green
rolling hills is renowned for sweet lobster, stunning beaches,
top-rated golf and the world-famous Anne of Green Gables.
Canadian history is alive and celebrated in Charlottetown.
The 1864 Charlottetown Conference was the first meeting
that eventually led to the proclamation of the Dominion
of Canada in 1867. Because of this meeting, the City of
Charlottetown is now known as the "Birthplace of Confederation".
PEI is just 280 kilometres long so it's quite possible to
explore every nook and cranny. Rich soil and a temperate
climate make Prince Edward Island an ideal place for mixed
farming. Half of its land is under cultivation, earning
it the nickname, "the Garden Province".
In 1991, the population of Prince Edward Island was 130,000.
Charlottetown, with a population of 33,000, is the Island's
only urban centre. Prince Edward Island's population is
quite young - about 38 per cent of the people are under
25. On May 31, 1997, Prince Edward Island celebrated the
official opening of the Confederation Bridge. The 12.9-kilometre
bridge spans the Northumberland Strait and offers easy access
from the mainland to the Island beyond ferries and air travel.
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 QUEBEC
Capital City: Québec City
Other major destinations: Montréal, Québec City,
Mont-Tremblant, Gaspé and Charlevoix Located in the northeast of the North American
continent, Canada's largest province covers an area of 1,667,926
km2 (643,819 sq. mi.). Québec borders Ontario on the
west and New Brunswick on the east. It is twice the size of
Texas and seven times the size of the United Kingdom. Almost
80 per cent of Québecers live in urban centres located
along the banks of the historic and scenic St. Lawrence River.
Out of a total population of about 7.4 million,
more than five million people are of French origin. French
is the mother tongue of 82 per cent of Québecers. Since
1970, immigration has been an integral part of this province's
cultural and economic wealth. Between 1986 and 1991, 78 per
cent of the gains in Québec's population came from
people with origins other than French, British or Aboriginal.
Renowned for its rich history and its lively
cultural activity, Montreal has a population of 3.4 million.
It offers jazz, comedy and film festivals, fashionable boutiques,
and world-class dining. Québec City is the province's
capital and third largest city. It is the only fortified city
in North America. In addition to historic neighbourhoods,
Québec City features contemporary exhibitions and theatre,
and a famous winter carnival.
Québec is part of the league of high-tech
industrialized countries. It is noted for aerospace products,
pharmaceuticals, information technology, telecommunications,
hydroelectricity and metallurgy. Because of this, the quantity
of finished products which Québec exports has increased
tremendously. Québec bases its growth on the development
of high-tech industries and competitive industrial sectors
in international markets. In order to further strengthen the
industrial base and meet the new challenges resulting from
the global market, Québec has adopted an industrial
development strategy designed to help businesses increase
their medium and long term competitiveness. This is especially
so for businesses which have high added value to their products.
Like the majority of industrialized countries, Québec
has over the past years made a major financial investment
in scientific and technological development.
Foreign investment is a major contribution
to Québec's economy. It is estimated that 1200 foreign-owned
businesses employ some 200,000 Quebecers as well as generating
just as many indirect jobs due to sub-contracting. |
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 SASKETCHEWAN
Capital City: Regina
Other major destinations: Saskatoon Located in the western part of the country,
Saskatchewan is bordered by Manitoba, Alberta, the Northwest
Territories and the United States. The province is almost
rectangular in shape and is 651,900 km² in area. Saskatchewan
is famous for its prairies and wheat fields. Its population
stands at about one million, or 3.6 per cent of Canada's population.
The people of Saskatchewan come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds,
which is why the provincial motto is "From many peoples,
strength". The never-ending stretches of land and vast
skies also make this province well-known for its beautiful
sunsets.
The largest cities are Regina, with a population
of close to 200,000, and Saskatoon, with about 225,000 residents.
The province also boasts the largest area of active sand dunes
in Canada. The Athabasca Sand Dunes stretch about 100 kilometres,
with giant dunes rising as high as 30 metres. From city experiences
to rural getaways and outdoor adventures, Saskatchewan offers
a range of enjoyable experiences.
From natural wonders to vibrant arts communities,
from local and provincial sports to symphonies and professional
theatres, from educational institutions to world-class health
care facilities, Saskatchewan provides a quality of life with
opportunities as wide open as the sky for people of all ages.
Life expectancy, education levels, and air and water quality
are all high in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan offers a special
quality of life that supports the individual, the family and
the community. Saskatchewan residents are known for their
friendly, welcoming disposition. Saskatchewan residents are
generous, they lead the nation in volunteer activity with
400,000 volunteers participating in about 17,000 community
and regional groups |
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 YUKON
Capital City: Whitehorse
Other major destinations: Dawson Creek
Bordering Alaska, the Yukon Territory is tucked in the
northwest corner of Canada. It is fairly large in area (483,450
km²) yet only 29,000 people call it home. Its capital,
Whitehorse, is home to 60 per cent of the population. The
territory's other major centre, Dawson City, was one of
largest Canadian cities west of Winnipeg in the late 1800s
during the famous Gold Rush days. It is now an important
historical site.
The Yukon got its name from a Hudson's Bay trader, who
called it "Yu-kun-ah", or "greatest river",
referring to the historic river that runs through the territory.
In this region, you'll find an abundance of unique wildlife
- from the great polar bear to the caribou. You can explore
scenic vistas, waterways and trails, and backcountry adventures.
You can also enjoy museums and interpretive centres, dining
and shopping, and the work of Yukon’s visual artists.
Like its neighbour, the Northwest Territories, the Yukon
is the "land of the midnight sun" during the summer
months.
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