Canada Travel
Lively cities, spectacular scenery and outdoor adventures from coast to coast; Canada is a country of wide open spaces, pristine wilderness areas and cultural heritage. Canada’s west contains some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, with harbour front cities, the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, bear watching and the Yukon. In the east visit bustling cities and thundering Niagara Falls. Experience the wild coastlines of the Maritime Provinces and in the north visit the small seaport of Churchill, the “polar bear capital of the world”.
WHEN TO VISIT
A year round destination, Canada’s magnificent scenery and cultural treasures welcome visitors especially during summer. Autumn particularly during September and October, offers stunning colour across the country.
HIGHLIGHTS
WILDLIFE Canada offers many opportunities for wildlife viewing. See belugas, orca and bowhead whales, caribou and moose in their natural environment. View grizzly and black bears as they feast on salmon or observe polar bears at close range.
WINTER From the unusual to the more traditional winter activities, winter in Canada is an amazing experience. See frozen mountains, lakes and glaciers, walk through an ice canyon, or discover the beauty of snow-covered forests.
RAIL JOURNEYS Travel along Canada’s famous ‘ribbons of steel’ and experience remarkable landscapes that come alive with rushing rivers, mountain peaks, and profuse wildlife. An exhilarating way to discover the true character of this country.
Elk at the Park Omega Montebello
EVENTS & FESTIVALS Canada is well known for amazing festivals and events, and is home to “the Greatest Show on Earth”, the Calgary Stampede, a popular event held every summer for over 100 years.
FRENCH HERITAGE Québec offers travellers a rich French heritage to explore. From the spoken language and cuisine, through to its street signs and traditions, discover the cobbled streets of “French” Canada.
MEET THE LOCALS Whether eating your way around Vancouver on a food truck excursion or visiting indigenous communities in the Arctic, the locals you meet along the way will be the highlight of your Canadian experience
A country of scenic wilderness, exotic animals and uniquely friendly locals, Canada is a little slice of heaven on earth. Its west is renowned for its harbour front cities, the Rocky Mountains, bears and the Yukon, while its east boasts the thundering Niagara Falls.
Canadian Currency
The Canadian currency system uses dollars ($) and cents (¢) similar to the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Canada now has one- and two-dollar coins, often called the “loonie” and the “toonie” respectively, in addition to 0.01¢, 0.05¢, 0.10¢ and 0.25¢ coins. Paper money comes in different colors and designs. The most common are $5 bills (blue), $10 bills (purple), $20 bills (green), $50 bills (red) and $100 bills (brown).
Most hotels, stores and restaurants will accept US dollars, though sometimes at a lower exchange rate than at banks or airports. Large hotels will usually give you a rate similar to those at the bank. It is always a good idea to convert some of your money to Canadian currency prior to leaving home.
Canada encompasses six of the world’s 24 time zones. From east to west, they are: Newfoundland Standard Time Zone, Atlantic Standard Time Zone, Eastern Standard Time Zone, Central Standard Time Zone, Mountain Standard Time Zone and Pacific Standard Time Zone. Some provinces and territories encompass two time zones within their borders. View the interactive map to show the six Canadian time zones as well as current times in all zones.
Pacific Time, Canada’s westernmost time zone, is eight hours behind Coordinated Universal Time during the observance of Standard Time; it is seven hours behind during Daylight Saving Time. The easternmost time zone is Newfoundland Time, which is 4-1/2 hours ahead of Pacific Time.
Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time is in effect in Canada (except Saskatchewan) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. Saskatchewan observes Standard Time year-round. For information on the start and end of Daylight Saving Time across the provinces and territories, visit the National Research Council website.
Retail Shopping Hours
You’ll enjoy convenient shopping hours across Canada with many stores open from 9:00 or 10:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week. City stores and suburban shopping centers are also open until 9:00 pm on several weeknights, particularly on Thursday and Friday.
Sunday Shopping
Sunday shopping is permitted in all provinces and territories across Canada. Some store owners may choose not to open on Sunday so call ahead before you set out on your shopping excursion.
