A - About Canada - Canada Course for Education Agents - Online Training Now

A - About Canada

A1 Overview

Students who have never been to Canada often have an image of it as the land of snow and hockey. What

they find when they come to the country is quite different. Polar bears stick to the northern regions and there

are beautiful seasons other than winter in Canada. Hockey is our national game but there are a thousand other

sports and activities to choose from—some on sunny beaches, some near vast lakes or oceans, and some in

the midst of busy modern cities.

Canada is a land of rich diversity, encompassing urban sophistication and abundant nature and wildlife. It is

safe yet also exciting; stable yet also filled with adventure. It features cutting-edge technology, inspiring

cultural icons, and a vibrant society that is open to everyone. Canadians tend to be modern, welcoming, and

open-minded.

Across Canada are examples of excellence, innovation, and beauty, all of which—along with top-notch

educational institutions—make Canada one of the leading study abroad destinations in the world.

In this section, agents will learn what makes Canada attractive to students considering study abroad

—beginning with quick facts about Canada, and progressing to a more detailed look at the country’s history,

economy, government, people, culture, geography, and climate.

Here are some quick facts about Canada:

Canada Is a Wonderful Place to Live and Study: Since 2004, the United Nations has ranked Canada in the

top 10 countries in the world in its Quality of Life Index. Combining excellent educational institutions, an

innovative economy, a tolerant and safe culture, and extraordinary beauty, Canada is an ideal destination for

international students.

Canadian Education Is World Class: Canada is also ranked #1 by the Organization for Economic

Cooperation and Development (OECD) for higher education achievement—more than half of its citizens

between the ages of 25 and 64 have a post-secondary education. The Times 2012–2013 World University

Rankings placed eight Canadian universities in the top 200 (and five of these in the top 100). As well,

Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s prestigious 2012 Academic Ranking of World Universities placed four

Canadian institutions in its top 100.

Canada’s secondary school students excel in science, reading, and mathematics. In the 2009 PISA results

testing Grade 10 students from 65 countries around the globe, Canada ranked 6th on the Reading Scale, 8th in

Science, and 10th in Maths ahead of the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. High-quality French and

English language teaching are also reasons students choose Canada.

Canada Is Multicultural and Open to the World: Canada is officially bilingual (English and French), and

across the country, more than 200 languages are spoken. The biggest cities, Vancouver, Toronto, and

A - About Canada - Canada Course for Education Agents - Online Traini... http://ccea.onlinetrainingnow.com/subjects/27/units/118/print

1 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

Montreal, are home to many immigrant communities and one finds all sorts of ethnicities across the country.

A tolerant culture is among the top Canadian values—informally, on the streets and public venues, and

formally, in Canada’s laws and government. Of particular note is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that

enshrines equality for all.

Canada Is Innovative: Canada’s educational institutions have long been incubators for innovation. The

BlackBerry, flat-screen technology, SMART boards, voice compression applications for cell phones and

computers, and IMAX film are among the many revolutionary technologies invented and developed by men

and women who studied in Canada.

Canada Produces Leaders: Among these are the environmentalist David Suzuki; the famous architect Frank

Gehry (Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, etc.); the economist John Kenneth Galbraith

(who served in the administrations of US presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F.

Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson); the cinematographer James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar); the author

Margaret Atwood; musicians Justin Bieber, Sarah McLachlan, and Celine Dion; and actors Rachel

McAdams, Jim Carrey, Kiefer Sutherland, and Ryan Gosling.

Canada Is a Highly Competitive Economy: Canada has one of the fastest economic growth rates among the

G8 countries, and the International Monetary Fund predicts this trend to continue. Moreover, it ranks:

In the top 10 most innovative economies in the world

In the top 10 most competitive economies in the world

1st among G8 countries as “the best place to invest and do business

1st among G8 countries in “ease of doing business"

As the best place to do business in the G8 for the next five years

1st among the G8 countries in providing equal opportunities for individuals, whether born in Canada or

a new arrival, according to OECD data

1st among G8 countries for “soundest banking system"

Canada Is a Major Player in Collaborative Research and Development: Many of Canada’s educational

institutions are engaged in international research partnerships to address major issues in our world today.

They fully recognize that Canadian research receives a crucial boost in terms of reputation and impact when

quality international partners contribute, and that many of the world’s most pressing problems are

international in scope.

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) notes:

“Canadian research facilities attract thousands of foreign researchers each year and are helping to make

Canada a hub for international research collaboration. In 2010, 6,500 researchers from around the world

made use of state-of-the-art infrastructure, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, at Canadian

universities and research hospitals. More than 900 projects at these centres have international linkages with

a total of 73 countries."

Examples of projects include the innovative NEPTUNE ocean floor laboratory, the Canadian HIV Vaccine

Initiative, ArcticNet, a revolutionary approach for studying the effects of climate change, and Canada’s

Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE Inc.), which facilitates research and development

around the world.


2 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

A1.1- Focus Questions

A2 History, Economy, and Government

History

Canada’s first inhabitants were Native Canadians—also known as aboriginal peoples or First Nations

—including Inuit peoples in the North. These peoples spanned the entire territory of modern-day Canada and

had unique vibrant cultures and economies. Canada was then settled by the British and French, and for most

of its modern history was governed as a British colony.

In 1982 the country formally severed its legal dependence on the British Parliament with the Canada Act and

gained its own constitution and the important Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Today’s Canada enjoys strong

historical links with Britain but has more real ties with the US (its largest trading partner), though its foreign

policy and political structure are distinct.

Canada was a founding member of NATO, the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Francophonie.

Economy

One of the world’s wealthiest countries, Canada is a major industrialized trading nation. It is a member of the

G7/8, the G20, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and many other

international bodies. It boasts a highly educated workforce and an increasingly diversified economy, but it is

unusual among developed nations in the continuing importance of its natural resources sector (e.g., logging

and oil)—even as it is one of the world’s most computer-literate and technologically sophisticated markets.

The Canadian economy is free-market-oriented like that of the US; yet the Canadian government tends to

provide more social support services and economic intervention than does the US government.

Canada’s currency is the Canadian Dollar.

Government

Formally considered a constitutional monarchy, Canada is governed by its own House of Commons. The

Governor General is officially the representative of Queen Elizabeth II and serves as Head of State in Canada

and abroad.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Prime Minister is responsible for most important government decisions. While

Canada’s two main political parties tend to go back and forth in terms of who is in power, and other political

parties are engaged in the democratic process, Canada’s government is overall incredibly stable and secure.



3 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

A3 Population and Culture

Canada’s population is now just over 34 million, which is relatively small for a country of this size (since

Canada is the second-largest country in the world). Much of Canada’s vast area is still wilderness and most

Canadians live in highly urbanized centres in the south; 80% of the population is concentrated within 160

kilometres of the southern (US) border.

As of 2011, the largest Canadian cities are Toronto (5.5 million), Montreal (3.8 million), Vancouver (2.3

million), and Ottawa (1.2 million).

Canada is a multicultural and diverse country. The majority of Canadians are of European ancestry, primarily

descendants of the early French and British colonists, as well as later immigrants from eastern and southern

Europe.

However, as patterns of immigration have shifted over the years, so has the ethnic mix of the Canadian

population. The second half of the twentieth century saw a great influx of people from Asia, the Caribbean,

and Africa. In the 2006 Census, more than one-third of Canadians reported having one or more of 200 ethnic

origins and over 16% of Canadians classified themselves as a visible minority. Over the past 150 years,

Canada has welcomed 15 million immigrants from a vast number of countries thanks to national policies

supporting immigration and multiculturalism.

“Aboriginal peoples" is a collective name for the original peoples of North America and their descendants.

Aboriginal peoples inhabited what became Canada before European settlers arrived. The Canadian

constitution recognizes three broad categories of Aboriginal people: Indians (commonly referred to as First

Nations), Métis, and Inuit. These are three distinct groups of peoples who enrich the country with unique

histories, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. More than one million people in Canada identify

themselves as an Aboriginal person, according to the 2006 Census.

Canada has two official languages: English and French. English is the native language for 59% of the

population and French is the native language for 22% percent (2006 Census, Statistics Canada). Chinese

dialects are the third most common native language in Canada, followed by German, Italian, Punjabi, and

Spanish.

Many religions are practised in Canada, but almost 20% of Canadians say they have no religious affiliation.

Canadians are remarkably tolerant of different religions, and religion does not play a prominent role in

political or economic life relative to other parts of the world.

Culture

To many people in other countries, the word “Canada” evokes images of wide-open spaces, dramatic

mountains, pristine forests, and majestic lakes. All of this is true, and our landscape and beauty is a huge part

of Canadian identity. But it’s not all of it.

Canada is also known to be a modern, progressive nation with open-minded citizens who are proud of our

diverse origins and ethnic diversity. We produce athletes, artists, and engineers, doctors and architects, writers

and scientists. There is a place for every type of talent in Canada, and the mix of people and specializations

creates a vibrant, exciting society that’s secure but also dynamic and open to change


4 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

A few years ago back one of Canada’s national newspapers, The Globe and Mail, interviewed various people

about how they would sum up Canadian culture in an article entitled, “Canadian culture: A category?” One

respondent, an immigrant, was quoted as saying:

“Canadians are very accepting people, very polite, very honest. It’s part of their culture. That’s why they

accept new people. They are also more interested in other cultures these days. People like to try different

foods, different ways of dress. They want to see the world and learn about new cultures. Not only do

Canadians accept people into their country and their society, they accept aspects of other cultures into

their own. Canadian society is composed of many different cultures, sharing their culture with each

other. Canada is definitely multicultural. It’s also Canadian.”

With a country as large as Canada, there are also very different regional cultures: people in the Maritime

region in the east of the country are quite different than those on the West Coast (e.g., in British Columbia).

And Quebec, Canada’s French-speaking province, has its own unique customs and sense of identity (often

deemed more “European” than the rest of Canada), with a rich arts, entertainment, and music scene. See more

about regional culture in an upcoming section, Geography and Regions.

There are dozens of different sports played, among them hockey, baseball, basketball, and soccer (often

known as football in Europe)—and skiing is another national passion. Canada is home to every cuisine in the

world: diners can choose anything from Indian, Thai, or Chinese to Ethiopian, Mexican, or French—and

that’s not including all the other options.

Major national, regional, and international festivals either originate or pass through Canada during the year,

providing another wonderful benefit to studying in Canada.

Perhaps stemming in part from the rich culture and lifestyle Canadians enjoy, Canada placed 5th in the first

World Happiness Report (a 2012 United Nations survey) after Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the

Netherlands. The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2012 liveability report ranks three of Canada’s largest cities

in the top five ideal destinations in the world to live due to a widespread availability of goods and services,

low personal risk, and an effective infrastructure. According to the Global Peace Index (2012) Canada rose to

4th on an annual ranking of world peacefulness, trailing only Iceland, Denmark, and New Zealand. Canada

consistently ranks in the top 10 on the United Nations’ list of the best countries to live, and has held the top

spot eight times between 1990 and 2012.

When choosing a place to study, students often factor in culture and lifestyle as well as educational merits,

whether their program is for six months or several years. For this reason as well as the quality of education,

Canada continues to rise as a destination for high-calibre students.


A4 Geography, Regions, and Climate

Occupying the northern half of the North American continent, Canada’s land mass is 9,093,507 square

kilometres, making it the second largest country in the world after Russia. In addition to coastlines on the


5 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Canada has a third seacoast on the Arctic Ocean, giving it the longest coastline

of any country. To the south, Canada shares an 8,893-kilometre land border—the longest in the world—with

the United States. To the north, the Arctic islands come within 800 kilometres of the North Pole. Canada’s

neighbour across the Arctic Ocean is Russia.

Among Canada’s most distinctive features are the vast mountain ranges: the Torngats, Appalachians and

Laurentians in the east, the Rocky, Coastal, and Mackenzie ranges in the west, and Mount St. Elias and the

Pelly Mountains in the north.

There are more than two million lakes in Canada covering about 7.6 percent of the country. The main lakes

are Huron, Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie, and Ontario (known as the Great Lakes) as well as Great Bear,

Great Slave, and Winnipeg. The St. Lawrence River (3,058 km long) is Canada’s most important river,

providing a seaway for ships from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. In total, Canada has almost 900,000

km2 of fresh water.

There are ten provinces and three territories in Canada spanning a few geographic regions, detailed in brief

below with links to more reading and pictures on the Canadian Tourism Commission website. Agents should

direct students wanting to learn about Canada to this website, and use it to familiarize themselves with the

different parts of Canada.

Atlantic Canada: This region includes the provinces of Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick,

Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia. In these picturesque and charming provinces, you’ll find

some of the most unique and friendly people in the world. The music, folklore, seafood, and scenery in

Atlantic Canada are unlike anywhere else. The region boasts countless beaches, coves, parks, and forests, and

the towns and cities are often quaint and filled with Maritime artifacts. Tiny villages abound, but there are

also exciting cities like Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax and St. John’s. Read more.


6 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

Central Canada: Quebec and Ontario are the provinces of Central Canada, and the exciting cities of Toronto,

Ottawa (Canada’s capital city), Montreal, and Quebec City are found in this region. Excellent cuisine is to be

found in these cosmopolitan centres, but also in the smaller villages and towns, where fresh, local ingredients

are proudly featured. There are glorious wine regions, the largest skating rink in the world (the Rideau

Canal), Parliament Hill, dense forests, and excellent lakeside camping grounds. Central Canada is a perfect

mix of urban delights and outdoorsy adventure. Read more.

The Prairies: In the prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba is some of the most extraordinary

natural beauty anywhere—from seemingly endless fields of wheat in the summer to almost Arctic conditions

in the winter. This region is made for those who love hiking, boating, skiing, or fishing—and lots of space. At

the same time, the cities and towns of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are incredibly diverse, friendly, and

interesting—boasting a wonderful mix of immigrant cultures, cuisines, and celebrations. Read more.

The West: Like Central Canada, the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta feature an

extraordinary mix of nature and ultra-urban delights. But the nature is on a different scale— bigger, taller,

and more open. Think mountains, ocean (British Columbia), wineries, golf, whale watching, stunning

gardens, and the mildest climate in Canada. World-renowned ski resorts Whistler and Banff are in this region,

as are the famous Rocky Mountains. British Columbia’s city of Vancouver is one of the world’s most

beautiful with an eclectic mix of ethnicities and influences, many from Asia. Alberta’s Calgary is one of the

fastest-growing and newly affluent, thanks to an oil boom. Read more.

The North: Canada’s North—encompassing the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut—is one of the

most striking examples of pristine wilderness left in the world. Arctic creatures include polar bears, walruses,

seals, white wolves, snowy owls, and caribou. Yet, while this region draws rugged adventurers and thrill-

seeking tourists, it also contains some of Canada’s most interesting, vibrant cities (e.g., Yellowknife,

Whitehorse, Iqaluit) and amazing arts festivals featuing Inuit art and culture as well as those from more

recent arrivals in the region. Read more.

Educational Options by Region

Agents and students can make use of two excellent web resources as starting points for their exploration of

Canadian educational options:

Imagine, Education au-in Canada website: Comprehensive information on the benefits and logistics of

studying in Canada, including information on working while studying, financial assistance, and

considerations when choosing which Canadian region, institution, and program to study in:

www.educationau-incanada.ca

The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC): Authoritative information

on foreign credential recognition and the assessment of diplomas and qualifications in Canada:

www.cicic.ca

Climate

Canada’s climate is characterized by its diversity, both from region to region and from season to season.


7 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

While extreme northern temperatures climb above 0°C for only a few months every year, about four-fifths

Canadians live within 160 kilometres of the country’s southern border, where warm springs, hot summers,

and pleasantly crisp autumns prevail for at least seven months. Canada has four very distinct seasons: spring

(March–May); summer (June–August); fall (September–October); and winter (November–February).

Canada’s seasonal temperature variations are embraced by Canadians: there are so many leisure activities to

choose from as a result, from swimming outdoors in the summer to skiing in the winter! Foreign students

should know that all buildings in which they will study are well heated in winter months. Many campuses

have underground tunnels through which students can move from building to building in the wintertime so as

not to get cold. In short, winter is beautiful in Canada, and it is very easy to stay warm simply by dressing

properly when going outdoors. Agents should advise students studying in Canada during winter months to

invest in needed clothing, including a warm coat, a hat, mittens or gloves, a scarf, and boots.

For more detailed weather information visit: www.weatheroffice.gc.ca



8 of 8 2/20/2014 11:19 AM

A - About Canada - Canada Course for Education Agents - Online Training Now

Documents

Transcript of A - About Canada - Canada Course for Education Agents - Online Training Now