Travel Information for Canada

Weather in Canada:

The vast landscape of Canada encompasses a dramatic variety of climates throughout the year. For example, much of southern Ontario has a mild climate, similar to that of the neighbouring north-eastern US but Nunavut shares the cold climate of the Arctic Circle, where the temperature only creeps above 0°C for four months of the year. The inland cities of the Prairies, an area encompassing Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, experience extreme changes in weather, with freezing winters and hot summers. On the east coast, the Atlantic Provinces (which includes Newfoundland, Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) often experience heavy snowfall and blizzards, whilst Victoria and Vancouver in British Columbia are more temperate, with little snow and temperatures remaining above freezing point on the whole. Such coastal areas can have high levels of rainfall but are dry in the summer. The individual weather information for each province can be found in their travel guides, so you can tailor your holiday to the specific time and area you are searching for.

Global Visa and Medical Requirements:

International visitors to Canada must carry a valid passport. Citizens from the United Kingdom do not require a visa to enter Canada.

There are no medical requirements for travelling to the Canada, but it is always advised to contact your medical practitioner and check that all vaccinations are up to date. Healthcare is not free for visitors, so be sure to check that you are covered by your insurance before travelling to Canada.

Currency:

The currency in use in Canada is a system of dollars and cents. Along with the 0.01¢ (penny), 0.05¢ (nickel), 0.10¢ (dime) and 0.25¢ (quarter), there are one and two dollar coins are often called ‘loonie’ and the ‘toonie’ respectively. In addition, the paper money bills range from $5 bills (blue), $10 bills (purple), $20 bills (green), $50 bills (red) and $100 bills (brown).

You can convert your currency into Canadian dollars at any recognised financial institution, bank or currency store, as well as some large shops, hotels and restaurants, or use at ABM/ATM to access cash. Furthermore, major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in Canada.

Transport & Travel:

One can travel to Canada in a variety of ways. Air Canada is the national flagship carrier, but there are multiple companies that serve international destinations on a regular basis. There are also frequent connecting flights within Canada, which will help you reach any destination for your holiday.

Once you have arrived at your holiday destination it is easy to travel around the area. The methods of transportation included hiring a car, using buses, trains as well as streetcars, trolleys and sea buses.

Time Zones:

Due to Canada’s vast size, the country uses different time zones:

British Columbia and Yukon – Pacific Time – GMT-8

Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut – Mountain Time – GMT-7

Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario – Central Time – GMT-6

Ontario and Quebec – Eastern Time GMT-5

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island – Atlantic Time – GMT-4

Newfoundland and Labrador – Newfoundland Time – GMT-3.5

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