Canada: Living

Communities of Expatriates

The Number of Expatriates: There are 6 186 950 expatriates.
Blogs For Expats: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Internations Forum
Hotel reservation websites: Welcome to Canada
Immigration Authority: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Transportation Companies For Moving/Removals: Canada Moving
Allied Van Lines

Ranking of Cities

Cost of Living: According to the latest available edition of the Cost of Living Worldwide City Rankings Survey by Mercer, Toronto is ranked 90th out of 227 cities worldwide in terms of cost of living, followed by Vancouver (116th) and Montreal (135th).
Quality of Life: Major Canadian cities have one of the highest qualities of living in the world. The latest edition of the Quality of Living Survey ranks Vancouver 3rd, Toronto 16th and Ottawa 19th out of 231 cities worldwide.
Hotel reservation websites: Quality of Living Worldwide City Rankings (Survey by Mercer)
Cost of Living Worldwide City Rankings (Survey by Mercer)

Renting an Apartment

Average Lease Term: 1 year lease, 3 months' written notice for any suspension of the lease.
An apartment can be sub-let with the agreement of the landlord; unless there is an understanding with the landlord, the main tenant stays responsible for the lease until the end.
Average Rental Costs: The rent is payable on the 1st of each month. Most landlords ask for 12 post dated checks, but they do not have the right to demand this. The landlord can require a cosignatory or a guarantor. A deposit is rarely required.
Rental Agency Websites: Realtor.ca
Du Proprio
Remax Real Estate Group
Century 21
Boardwalk
Hotel reservation websites: The guide to buying a house for newcomers
The guide to renting a house for newcomers

School System

The Education System: The school system is under provincial and territorial jurisdiction; the Canadian government plays an indirect role. School is compulsory from age 6 or 7 to age 15-16. Education is free in public schools. Some provinces offer schooling from age 4 (nursery school) to age 6 when primary school begins (for 6 years), and then secondary school (for 5 years) in preparation for post-secondary education. In Quebec, post-secondary college studies for 2 or 3 years (CEGEP : College of General and Vocational Education) are also free. Canadian universities are private institutions with a worldwide reputation.
International Schools: International school of French
Catalog of universities, colleges and schools in Canada
International school of Montreal
Hotel reservation websites: Council of Ministers of Education, Canada

Health System

The Healthcare System: Canada's medical care is of a high standard but is government-controlled and rationed. The public healthcare system (health insurance) in Canada is a group of ten provincial regimes and three territorial regimes financed by public money. It is a universal system which covers all medical and hospital services. These services are free. The governments of the provinces and territories finance health services with the help of the federal (national) government.
International Hospitals: The staff in Canadian hospitals generally speak English and French, but some health care professionals in the province of Quebec may speak only French.
Health System Insurance Body: Links to provincial and territorial websites concerning healthcare.
Health Ministry: Health Canada

Tourism and Culture

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical: There are more than 154 historical sites listed in Canada.
Parks: 46 national and 82 historical national parks.
Montreal: the old quarter; the Cathedral-Basilica of Mary Queen of the World which is a copy of St Peter's in Rome; the Olympic park.
Cultural: Canada has more than 2900 museums. There are also many festivals and events, about 267 a year, spread over all Canadian cities.
Nature: Canada's territory is immense and overflows with natural beauty. There are more than 46 national parks and many marine conservation areas, especially in the St Lawrence river, the Great Lakes, Niagara Falls and the Montmorency Falls. For further information, consult the Parks Canada website.
UNESCO has named 18 Canadian jewels World Heritage Sites.
Religious: Canada's religious heritage is concentrated especially in Quebec where the Catholic religion had a strong foothold. Some of its churches are part of the religious heritage.
Thermal: The hot springs in the Canadian Rockies are very well-known and managed by Parks Canada.
Beach: There are many kilometers of beaches on the Pacific coast, the Atlantic coast, the Bay of Chaleur, the Gaspé Peninsula, Georgian Bay, the Thousand Islands region in the St Lawrence river, the Magdalen Islands.
Winter Sports: Due to the climate, mountain ranges, as well as the vast expanses of land and frozen lakes, you can practice downhill skiing, cross-country skiing or ski touring, snowboarding, ski-pulka, sledding or tube sliding, paraski, skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc.
To practice these winter sports you can go to the Rockies in British Columbia, or to the Laurentians and the Appalachians in Quebec.
Outdoor Activities: There are plenty of outdoor activities all year round in Canada. During winter and summer there are many festivals and events: Events in Quebec; Festivals Alberta.
Possible summer activities include: whale and beaver watching, sea and river canoeing, rafting, black bear watching, contact with wolves, quad riding, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, diving, and canoe, rowboat, motor boat or sail boat trips.
Shopping: Tourists especially want to taste and buy Canada's famous maple syrup. They also like to taste the renowned 'Smoked Meat', and 'Ribs', or 'BBQ Chicken'.

Top Highlights in the Main Cities
Parliament of Canada
Rideau Hall
Supreme Court
Château Laurier
Outaouais museums
Ottawa tulip festival
Canada Day - Parliament Hill

Top Highlights of the Country
Niagara Falls (Ontario)
Montmorency Falls(Quebec)
Château Frontenac (Quebec)
The Thousand Islands (Ontario)
The Saguenay Fjord (Quebec)
CN Tower (Toronto)
Calgary Stampede (Calgary)
Georgian Bay- 30 000 islands Ontario
Rocky Mountains

Tourism Organisations: Canadian Tourism Commission
Canada Keep Exploring
Cultural Organizations: Canadian Heritage
Hotel reservation websites: Canada Border Services Agency

Individual and Civic Freedoms

Civil Liberty: 1/7
: World Ranking of Freedom of the Press According to "Reporters sans Frontières", 2021 report : 14/180

Religion

Beliefs: Catholics 39%, Protestants 24.1%, Orthodox Christians 1.7%, Non-religious 23.9%, Muslims 3.2%, Jews 1%, Buddhists 1.1%, Hindus 1.5%, Sikhs 1.4%.

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