Get to Know Canada

Once I read a book which said that whenever we speak of Germany we imagine the Germans and their traditions, if we think of the French we picture the French culture, people and history, but when we think of Canada we can only think of the majesty of the land. Being the second largest country in the world with almost 10 million square kilometres of awesome lakes, rolling prairies and majestic ice-capped mountains, with a population of just about 30 million people, Canada is certainly a place where wilderness and nature stand out.

However, I have to personally disagree with the fact that the land shades the culture and the people. Canada's culture is rich and the Canadian people are so unique in so many aspects. Canadians are friendly, environmentally aware, extremely honest, graciously sober, polite, generous, cultured, helpful, and so much more.

Canadians are also famous for respecting established laws and rules. I read an American book about Canada some years ago that said in America there were men before there was a law, but in Canada there was a law before there were men. From my personal experience, I can attest to the integrity and honesty of most Canadians.

Canada National Anthem

MARITIMES

Canada is made up of ten provinces and three territories. On the Atlantic coast you will find the Maritimes: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. There you will enjoy the best seafood you have ever tasted and in the summer you will gawk at the beauty of their beaches and be surprised at the warmth of their waters. For a virtual tour click on the links below:

Newfoundland: www.gov.nf.ca
Nova Scotia: www.gov.ns.ca
Prince Edward Island: www.princeedwardisland.ca
New Brunswick: www2.gnb.ca

QUEBEC

Moving to the west you'll get into Quebec, Canada's French-speaking province, home of Quebec City, the only walled-in city in North America and of Montreal, the second largest French-speaking city in the world, second only to Paris, France. There you will have a chance to enjoy the friendliness and grace of the amiable "Quebecois." For a virtual tour click on the links below:

Quebec: www.gouv.qc.ca

TORONTO

Between the provinces of Quebec and Ontario lies the city of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, with its beautiful parks and many attractions. In Ontario, you will visit Toronto, Canada's largest city with its almost 4 million inhabitants. This active cosmopolitan metropolis is home to more than 100 different cultures and it is where you will see the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the world, raising 555 metres from the shores of Lake Ontario. In Toronto you may also visit the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada's largest museum and one of the top ten museums in the world. For a virtual tour click on the links below:

Ontario: www.gov.on.ca

CANADA'S BREAD BASKET

Going westward you will get to the prairies. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are sometimes called "Canada's bread basket" because of the amount of grains that they produce. Those awesome rolling prairies will give you an idea of the immensity of the land. On the west side of Alberta you will get to the Canadian Rocky Mountains where Banff, Canada's oldest and most cherished national park, is located. For a virtual tour click on the links below:

Manitoba: www.gov.mb.ca
Saskatchewan: www.saskatchewan.ca
Alberta: www.gov.ab.ca

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Finally, west of the Rockies, on the Pacific coast is the province of British Columbia, with Canada's third largest city - Vancouver. In British Columbia you will also visit the city of Victoria, the "City of Gardens" with its mild climate and enchanting charms. For a virtual tour click on the links below:

British Columbia: www.gov.bc.ca

TERRITÓRIOS

Canada's three territories, located in the northern half of the country, are the Yukon with its countless tales from the gold rush days, the Northwest Territories and the recently formed Nunavut, where the Inuit can preserve their cultural heritage. For a virtual tour click on the links below:

Yukon: www.yukon.ca
Northwest Territories: www.gov.nt.ca
Nunavut: www.gov.nu.ca

I hope you take some time to click on these links to take a virtual tour of Canada and then you will be looking forward to visiting this splendid country and get to know more about its culture and people. I am sure you will fall in love with it just like I did.

Ray von Schmalz

Visit the official Government Web Site of Canada: www.canada.gc.ca

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