It’s difficult not to be excited about moving to Canada. The area is stunning, and the locals are renowned for being kind. You start your day with a bowl of maple syrup and apologize to everyone you encounter on your way to work. Just avoid bumping into any bears! From ice hockey and double-doubles to packaged milk, we’d like to share the most interesting and significant facts about living in this Great Country.
1.Canada is Huge
With over 10 million square kilometers of territory, Canada is the second largest country in the world (behind Russia). If you can’t imagine what that means, think of it in another way: you can fit the United Kingdom into Canada over 40 times! The city of St John’s in Newfoundland on the east coast is closer to London than Vancouver on the west coast! Wood Buffalo National Park is bigger than the Netherlands!
2.The Capital and the main Canadian cities
The Capital of Canada is Ottawa.
In Canada, urban life is the best. Three Canadian cities made the top ten list of the world’s desirable places to live in the Economist’s 2017 report. They were Calgary (fifth), Toronto (seventh), and Vancouver (third) (fifth). The five factors were stability, environment, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Yes, these cities beg for more people to live in them.
3.It’s Multicultural
People love moving to Canada, and Canada loves having more people. By 2031, the percentage of Canadians born abroad is projected to rise to nearly 50% from the current level of over 20%. But even though the rate of immigration is insane, there is more than enough room for everyone. Over 250 ethnic origins are represented among the nation’s approximately 200 ethnicities, including a sizeable Aboriginal population. To summarize all that, Canada is simply a vast, stunning rainbow.
4.Two Official Languages
English and French have equal status as official languages in Canada. If you think it sounds challenging, imagine being in Singapore, which has four official languages or India, with sixteen! Unless you’re in Quebec, the country’s eastern province, where residents are trying hard to preserve its French culture, you won’t realize the Frenchness. To ensure that everyone uses enough French, laws are enforced by the OQLF, or language police, which might sound a little bit crazy. If a shop or business doesn’t advertise or greet customers in both languages will be in big trouble.
5.Free Healthcare
Canada’s healthcare system is a tax-funded Medicare system, where the government pays for people’s basic health insurance, which is then delivered by the private sector. So, if you require essential medical services, you get them free. You also have the option of additional private medical insurance with different coverage levels, adding extra levels of protection and services to protect you and your family.