Climate

Climate

Contrary to popular belief, Canada experiences a variety of different temperatures and seasons apart from its wintry deep freeze. Depending on where you choose to study, you can enjoy brisk winters, sunny summers, refreshing springs and beautiful autumns. Winters in Canada can begin around the end of October and may continue into late April depending on one’s location in the country. During the Canadian summers, temperatures can rise up to and above 30 degrees Celsius. Because of its 4 seasons, Canada experiences a wide variety of plant and animal life, in spring tulips sprout plentifully painting the sidewalks and parks vibrant shades of yellow, orange, pink and purple. In fall, the burning hues of red and orange are contrasted by the rich tones of gold and brown as the leaves all change color in preparation for the coming winter.

Recreation and Sports

Recreation and Sports

Sports in Canada are as diverse as the population itself in both spectatorship and competition. Although Canada is best known for Hockey, its national winter sport, and Lacrosse, its national summer sport, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, curling also make up the most commonly followed and enjoyed sports in the country. As well, Canada has a wide variety of sports organizations dedicated to : street hockey, cricket, rugby, auto racing, boxing, cycling, golf, horse racing, ice skating, skateboarding, swimming, tennis, and many, many more. Canada participates in both the winter and summer Olympics, and recently hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010 where it acquired 14 Gold medals, 7 Silver medals and 5 Bronze medals for a total of 26 medals. They garnered the most Gold medals in the competition but were 3rd in total medals behind the United States’ 37 medals and Germany’s 30 medals.

Recreation in Canada is likewise as varied as the tastes of its residents. While in Canada you can enjoy the thrills of extreme winter sports and activities all year round, these include: Snowboarding, Downhill Skiing, Dog sledding, and Skating. During the winter months, also make sure to check out Carnival, Quebec City’s famous Carnival held in celebration of the chilly weather near the end of January. Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal all hold winter light festivals one can enjoy affordably throughout winter.

The summer months also hold great prospect for adventure, white water rafting, one of Canada’s most popular attractions for adrenaline seekers, will leave you navigating the turbulent waters of Canada’s river system. Looking for something a little more mellow? Why not ride a hot air balloon over the gorgeous vineyard scenery of the Niagara region? Or perhaps a camping trip to one of Canada’s vast provincial parks. Regardless of your physical ability or personal preferences, Canada will have a sport or activity suited to your taste and/or budget.

Culture

Culture

Canadian culture is best described as a cultural mosaic. Each piece retains its individual quality but it is also contributes to the overall sum, which is distinctly beautiful. While there is a strong Canadian identity, immigrants to Canada still value their roots and are free to express their original cultural heritage openly. Canada’s culture is not one of assimilation but rather acceptance, and so on one street in any corner of the country you will see many different people with many different backgrounds interacting on a daily basis. One of the direct benefits of this symbiotic system is that cultures collide and blend, creating a multitude of interesting combinations that everyone is free to enjoy. Canadian culture was originally European dominated, specifically French and British as they were the earliest settlers of the land, but the aboriginal population has been pushing for greater and greater influence and has seen much more participation in the public and bureaucratic sphere recently. Also, Canada’s welcoming immigration policy has lead to an influx of migrant peoples from all over the world, and so even when travelling from afar, it is never hard to find a little piece of home in Canada.

 

 

Night Life

Night Life

Night Life in Canada is active to say the least, whether you want to dance the night away in one of night clubs in the heart of the city, or go for a romantic dinner in a classy and sophisticated lounge there is plenty to do once the sun goes down. Live theatre and musical performances happen nightly, weekly, monthly, depending on what you are looking for. Dine on cuisine from around the world or grab one of Canada’s proudest accomplishments, a nice cold beer. The legal age to consume alcohol in Canada is 19, except in Quebec where it is 18. Coffee shops are always bursting with activity and usually hold events Friday to Sunday to entice caffeine cravers. There are also thousands of social unions that you can join to meet like minded people to accompany you on your nighttime excursions. If all else fails you can always catch a movie on the big screen as there are many theatres open 7 days a week. In the warmer weather why not try a drive in theatre and enjoy the latest releases in the comfort and privacy of your own car.

Part Time Work

Part Time Work

Job opportunities in Canada are varied and diverse; your ability to find a job in Canada is directly related to your fluency in English. The more comfortable you are with English the better, as the customer service sector is where you are likely to find work. Retail is the most popular choice for part time work in Canada but there is are great opportunities everywhere if you know where to look. Finding part time employment in Canada is not difficult and there are usually student unions and employment advising centres that will help students find suitable employment that will give you more than just a pay cheque at the end of the day. These services are aimed directly at finding relevant and satisfactory work for students and can be very helpful to those who utilize them. Students can expect to work as waiters, shop clerks, office assistants, kitchen hands, customer service reps, junior camp counselors etc. Be sure to check out your schools website as they should have job search engines that will help you figure out what kind of employment you are looking for.

Wages
Usually, part time workers make the general minimum wage rate which is between $8.75 $10.25/hour, however, as students, companies may pay you a student rate which is $9.60/hour in Ontario , be sure to clarify this with your employer at your interview so you can have a full picture of what your job will entail. Working at a mall will usually result in a general minimum wage. Working as a waiter or waitress, you will make a lower base rate, at least $8.90 in Ontario but due to the type of shifts and tips you receive from customers, you may find yourself making more money this way than at a mall or clothing store.

Minimum Wage (Ontario)

General Minimum Wage $10.25 per hour

Student Minimum Wage $9.60 per hour

Liquor Servers Minimum Wage $8.90 per hour

Minimum Wage (Alberta)

General Minimum Wage $8.80 per hour

Minimum Wage (British Columbia)

General Minimum Wage $8.75 per hour

Minimum Wage (Manitoba & New Brunswick)

General Minimum Wage $9.50 per hour

Minimum Wage (Newfoundland and Labrador)

General Minimum Wage $10.00 per hour

Minimum Wage (North West Territories & Yukon)

General Minimum Wage $9.00 per hour

Minimum Wage (Nova Scotia & Quebec)

General Minimum Wage $9.65 per hour

Minimum Wage (Nunavut)

General Minimum Wage $11.00 per hour

Minimum Wage (Prince Edward Island)

General Minimum Wage $9.30 per hour

Minimum Wage (Saskatchewan)

General Minimum Wage $9.25 per hour

Transport

Transporation In Canada

There are many options for commute in Canada, when travelling to school, train, bus, or subway are your best and most affordable options. In major cities, like Toronto or Ottawa, you are sure to have access to a complete system of travel. In Toronto, you can access the subway, an underground system of trains, on one side of the city, ride to the other side of the city and then, if necessary, take a bus to your specific location. There is also an intricate system of railways that connect one end of Canada to another. The cost of public transportation depends on your method of travel, and what city you are travelling in. Fares can range from $3 cdn. for the bus to almost $8 for a ride on the GO train. Depending on your needs, you might make use of a carpooling strategy to get to school instead, check postings on school bulletin boards for such information; it can save you a lot of time and money.

Health Care

Health Care

Along with your tuition fees, health insurance will usually be included in the charges you are required to pay. You are allowed to opt out of the health insurance provided by the university but most Canadian universities require that you are covered by health insurance of some kind. If you choose to opt out of the insurance provided by the university there are several private firms that will provide health insurance for you. Without health insurance, hospitals may refuse to treat you in event of an emergency. If you do require medical assistance, there are plenty of options available to you, there are walk-in clinics, hospitals and telephone health lines you can call for advice about a medical situation.