MUST-KNOW FACTS BEFORE TRAVELING TO CANADA

Canada is also known as the Great White North
Canada is “Great” because it’s the second-largest country in the world. It’s “White” because of the amount of Arctic frozen tundra and snow within the country. Finally, it’s “North” of the United States. Hence, the Great White North was born.

The Infamous Canadian Weather
Be prepared for a range of comments on Canadian weather. Here is the fact: Canada is an incredibly vast country, so the weather varies based on the region you are to visit. The best advice is to prepare for the cold, even if you are visiting during the summer.

Enormous Distances
It is important to be reminded that Canada is the second-largest country in the world, with a population of just about 37.6 million (in 2019). The country’s population is no match for its vastness.

Canadian Public Transport
There is normally a bus and metro system in the cities that work excellently to take you around the entire city. If you are not visiting the city, or you have somewhere to stay outside the cities, you need to be prepared to spend hours between towns. The countryside is mostly made up of forest, farmland, and other landscape. Renting a car is thus the best option.

Driving & Renting a Car in Canada
Note that in Canada, cars are driving on the right side of the road. So, when renting a car, you need a right-handed one. When on highways, the speed limit is set at 100 km/hr. For smaller highways, the limit ranges from 60km/hr to 80km/hr, while in the cities and residential neighborhoods, the limit is set at 40 km/hr and 25 km/hr for school areas.

Canadians Are Very Polite
Canadians are known to be extremely polite and sometimes unnecessarily so. You could get so many, “are you okay?” and “so sorry” for bumping into someone. To some extent, it might seem as though there is a national handbook on politeness distributed to all residents  They are very welcoming and well-mannered, which is why they frequently see a reason to engage even strangers in a chat.

Canadian Languages
There are two official languages spoken in Canada – English and French. While you wouldn’t have to speak French in parts of Toronto, in some rural areas in Quebec, you can’t communicate with locals in English. However, Montreal is one of the country’s bilingual cities, which means you can flow in English.

Canadian Slang
Don’t expect to be exempted from the Canadian jolly slang because you’re not a native. Don’t be surprised if your first conversation with a local hit you with slang. This is why you need to be fully prepared for possible unknown words to come your way. Here are some typical Canadian slang words:

Toque: A winter hat that comes with a pom-pom, also called beanie.

Double Double: Meaning a cup of coffee with two sugars and two creams at Tim Hortons.

Clicks: Meaning kilometers.

Timbit: Tim Horton’s small donut.

Pop: Refers to soft drinks or soda.

Timmies: This is what you hear when they are referring to Tim Hortons.

Loonie/Toonie: Loonie means a one-dollar coin, while toonie means a two-dollar coin.

Kerfuffle: This is an argument or a disagreement.

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