Aylesford International

Canada

Canada's Northern Beauty Often overshadowed by its southern cousin, Canada has a unique character that's surprisingly distinct from America. It's the second biggest country in the world, which means there's plenty of room for the contrasting cultures of French Quebec, laid-back Vancouver, the frozen North and the American-influenced border towns. Toronto often doubles for New York in films.

Fast Facts

Did you know? 85% of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the US border.

Capital: Ottawa

Government: Democracy

Religion: 54% Catholic, 36% Protestant

Population: 31.8m

Language: English, French

Climate: The south of the country is warmer; the Northern states border the Arctic and get very cold. Although Canadian summers are pleasant, you'll need to wrap up in the winter months – children often wear skiing clothes to school.

Currency: Canadian dollar (C$)

Healthcare: Hospitals and doctors are excellent, and less expensive that in the US.

Electricity: 110-120 V 60 Hz (American-style 2-pin plug)

Time zone: GMT minus 5 hours (East Coast), GMT minus 8 hours (West Coast)

Dialling code: +1

Airports: All major cities have international airports, and there are numerous internal connections to smaller destinations.

Getting around: Canada is a big country, so it's best to fly in order to cover large distances.