7+ Special things about Canada you should know

Here are a few basics about Canada:

Let's find out what Canada is like with IDP in every detail!

1.1. History of the formation of Canada

Canada is a country with a long history:

• Thousands of years ago, the appearance of the Paleo-Indian tribe marked the beginning of the formation of Canada.

• Many of you ask the question of which continent Canada belongs to, but in ancient times when Europeans discovered the land of the Americas. This caused the Indian culture to fade and collapse. And from here, Canadian history has entered a new phase.

• By the end of the 15th century, the British and French had appeared, settled here and turned Canada into a French colony. Later, France transferred Canada to a British colony.

• In 1867, Canada became an autonomous country. The important event marked the opening of a new era in 1931, Canada officially became an independent country, no longer dependent on any other country.

• In 1982, the Constitution of Canada was enacted. Since then, Canada has gradually grown and progressed to become one of the world's most powerful countries with diverse and rich cultures and ethnic identities.

1.2. Geographical location of Canada

Canada is an extremely large country and is geographically bordered by many countries:

• The vast territory, the 2nd largest in the world, is located in the northern part of the Americas.

• To the north, it is bordered by the Arctic and the U.S. state of Alaska. In addition, Canada shares a land border with the United States.

• To the west, it is bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

• To the east, it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean

• The world's longest coastline is 243,042 km with vast maritime terrain

• There are many forests throughout the country, and the steppe is vast, which creates favorable conditions for the development of agriculture and production and animal husbandry.

1.3. Climate of Canada

Canada has a diverse climate and is distributed in different regions. The climate changes from temperate zones on the west coast to cold snow in the northern part of the Arctic Ocean.

• Land area: warm continental climate

• Areas in Vancouver Island: warm summer Mediterranean climate

• North: subarctic climate

• Western British Columbia: temperate climate

• Western Canada: semi-arid climate

Winters in Canada are very cold, suitable for playing snow sports such as hockey

In addition to dividing the climate by region, Canada as well as Vietnam, has 4 distinct seasons:

• Spring (from March to June):

The temperature at this time ranges from -7 to 19 degrees Celsius. This is the beginning of life in 1 year, the ice and snow melt, and the trees begin to sprout.

• Summer (from June to September):

The temperature is always in the range of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, this is the most beautiful time of the year, with pleasant weather. Canada is a country located close to the sun, with a much longer sunshine time than Vietnam. Here, you can watch the sunrise from 4 am and sunset until 9 pm.

• Autumn (from September to November):

The temperature in autumn ranges from 10 to - 12 degrees Celsius. This is considered the most romantic and poetic season of the year when the leaves turn beautiful red and yellow. If you want to find a warmer place in the fall, then check out the Montreal and Toronto regions.

• Winter (from November to February):

The temperature at this time is in the range of 0 to -25 degrees Celsius. Winter in Canada is very cold, snowy, very suitable for playing some sports such as skiing, figure skating, hockey, etc.

1.4. Canada Time Zone

Canada is a country with a territory that stretches from East to West, which is reflected in the fact that it has all 6 separate time zones:

• Newfoundland: About 10 hours and 30 minutes later than Vietnam applies to the Atlantic region (Newfoundland Island, Labrador mainland) and St. Johnn's City.

• Atlantis (Atlantic): About 11 hours later than Vietnam applies to the states of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

• Eastern: About 12 hours later than Vietnam, applicable to Ontario, Quebec, and the Middle East Nunavut.

• Central (Central): About 13 hours later than Vietnam applies to Manitoba and Winnipeg City (Ontario).

• Mountain (mountainous): About 14 hours later than Vietnam applied in Alberta, Northwest Territories, Northeast British Columbia, Calgary, and Edmonton.

• Pacific: About 15 hours slower than Vietnam is applied to the Pacific region and the British Columbia region.

1.5. Economy of Canada

Canada is an economically developed country, ranking in the top 10 in the world in terms of the countries with the strongest and richest economies. That is reflected in the per capita income here. The average for 1 year is about 46,212 USD/year, equivalent to 1 billion 82 million VND/year.

Canada's strong economy is concentrated in the services and mining industry (accounting for about 3/4 of the country's economy) due to its long coastline and vast maritime terrain. Besides, the beautiful country of Maple leaves has a very low unemployment rate and has the lowest government debt in the G8 group (the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Russia).

1.6. Laws of Canada

Canada is a country governed by a clear, transparent legal system:

• Everyone is equal before the law and justice. As long as you have talent, you will get a better job, regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, someone with status, name, or fame.

• The law applies to all people living in Canada, regardless of position and occupation including policemen, prime ministers, lawyers, political leaders, etc.

• In addition, a few laws are also applied within the family such as: Children from 6 to 16 years old must go to school, domestic violence is considered illegal, children over 12 years old can leave home and live independently...

1.7. Religion in Canada

Canada is a country of faith and religious freedom. Therefore, when studying, settling, and living in a multicultural environment like Canada, you need to consider some points such as respecting other people's beliefs, and not discriminating against race, color, or religion in any form.

Some of the major religions, which make up the majority in Canada, can be mentioned as follows:

• Christianity: About 67.3% of the population

• Protestantism: About 27% of the population

• Anglo-Saxon: About 5.0% of the population

• Islam: About 3.2% of the population

• Hinduism: About 1.5% of the population

Canada is known as the "land of maple leaves" and is a beautiful country with a top quality of life. Especially, the people here are always gentle, ready to receive with all their hearts. However, before coming to Canada, you still need to learn about the living environment, especially if you intend to study abroad or settle down permanently. This makes it easier for you to adapt and show respect for where you're going and who you're going to meet. Stay tuned for the next part with IDP!

2.1. Language

In Canada, 2 languages are popular, English and French. In Canada's education system, children must know both English and French right from the elementary level. In particular, up to 57.8% of the population uses English for daily communication and most international students choose English as the language used in study and daily life.

In addition, about 22.1% of the population speaks French and it is the official language of the state of Quebec. French was introduced to Canada in the 17th century by more than 10,000 French settlers. And the remaining 17.4 percent of the population speaks both English and French.

2.2. Culture and people

Canada has the following cultural and human characteristics:

1 - Culture

Canada has a diverse and rich culture because it was deeply influenced by French and British cultures when it was still dependent. Canada is also the land of festivals with dozens of festivals taking place throughout the year such as the Gay Pride Parade in Toronto, the Festival of Lights in Vancouver, the Tulip Festival, the Winterlude Festival in Ottawa...

The popular culture of communication in Canada is handshakes with warm eyes exchanged with each other, which shows a respectful attitude at the beginning of the meeting. However, you need to note that when you are not too familiar, you should keep your distance, do not call names directly, and do not touch your hands and feet such as patting your shoulders, wrapping your shoulders... Because doing so when you are not too close will make the other person feel uncomfortable.

2 - People

In order not to be surprised when interacting with the people of the land of maple leaves, you need to get acquainted with the culture here and understand how to behave in communication. Canadians have always been gentle, and famous for their sophistication and lightness in daily life. The four words "thank you" and "sorry" always come up in conversation, as a habit.

Besides, to describe the people here, you can mention 2 words "simple, natural". In daily life, they dress very simply, some companies even allow them to dress according to their preferences and do not force uniforms (except for important events) to create a comfortable feeling for employees.

2.3. Cuisine

Cuisine is a major factor in the diversity of cultures in Canada, due to the combination of rich natural resources and cuisines of First Nations, England, Scotland, and France. It is this combination that has brought uniqueness and uniqueness that is only available in the land of maple leaves, not overlapping with any country in the world.

Maple leaves are not only a symbol of the country but are also used to prepare in dishes. The unique and unique taste of cuisine brings diners a very new and exciting experience. Some of the famous dishes here can be mentioned such as:

• Món Poutine:

With the main ingredient being curd, and chips, covered in a spicy meat sauce. Eating poutine when hot will retain the same flavor and taste much better than when cold, this is a dish that is often used for lunch.

• Canadian Bacon:

It is a meat dish that is rolled through cornstarch before being left in the oven. This is a dish that is very popular with Canadians because they can eat it with many other dishes while still retaining the delicious taste of bacon.

• Maple leaf syrup:

This is the Canadian brand, a special syrup extracted from the sap of the maple tree. Maple leaf syrup brings many great effects such as cancer prevention, and beautiful skin, and contains many antioxidants...

• Bloody Caesar:

It is a cocktail that contains vodka, Caesar mix, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. It is usually presented in a large glass decorated with a salt rim, celery, and a thin slice of lemon.

2.4. Public transport

Canada is a vast country with many diverse and unique geographical landscapes. Here, people travel mainly by 3 types of public transportation such as:

• Skytrain – Metro:

It is the largest and oldest transportation system in the world in general and Canada in particular. The 3 cities that own the largest subways in Canada are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The speed of the subway is much faster than that of buses and cars, so you should refer to it when you intend to study abroad. Ticket price: 20 CAD/week and 65 CAD/month.

• Seatrain - Ferry:

It is an extremely convenient and popular means of waterway transportation in the area near the Sea of British Columbia.

• Bus:

It is considered the cheapest and most popular public transportation worldwide. When you first arrive, you can use the bus as a means of traveling around the country, exploring the people and culture.

2.5. Healthcare system in Canada

Canada is known as the country with the world's leading health and care system. The health system will be managed separately by each state, state, and island region in order to meet the needs as quickly as possible, and promptly handle when people need it.

Besides, the care services here will provide you according to your needs without worrying about the cost. According to statistics, Canada is the country with the lowest infant mortality rate and the highest average life expectancy in the world. The superior medical and healthcare system is probably one of the reasons why millions of students and people from other places come to settle here.

As analyzed above, Canada is a country with a diverse culture, advanced transportation system, and world-leading healthcare services. Therefore, the quality and standard of living in Canada is very high, the cost of living is therefore also relatively high compared to the general level of other countries.

Please refer to the living expenses that can be incurred when studying abroad in Canada below, so that you can be better prepared financially before officially studying here:

Read more: Cost of Living Calculator for Living in Canada

Not only is it the country with the best economy, but it also owns many famous landscapes and landscapes, recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to set foot in this beautiful land of maple leaves, please immediately refer to the 4 famous places below!

4.1. Rockies

For professional climbers, who like adventure and exploration, the Rockies in Canada are the perfect choice. The Rockies are located in the state of British Columbia, located in the west of Canada, with an altitude of 3954m surrounded by lakes, waterfalls, wide valleys, rocky mountains covered with ice and snow... These majestic mountains have formed a popular tourist spot regardless of summer or winter.

4.2. Vancouver Island

Referring to Vancouver Island, people will immediately associate the name "paradise island in Canada", which is the 3rd most beautiful island in the world. Although Vancouver Island has a small area, about 31,285 km2, it contains all the beauty of nature inside such as the blue coast, tall trees protecting the 2 sides of the sea, white waterfalls, mysterious caves, primeval forests... This is really a paradise on earth that you can't miss when you come to Canada, you can fish, play golf, watch giant whales spray water, ride bicycles on trails, camp...

4.3. Lake Louise

Lake Louise is known as the green pearl of Canada surrounded by majestic mountains, formed by the melting of glaciers. Lake Louise is located in the state of Alberta, at an altitude of 1750m above sea level. If you come here in the summer, you can experience boating or skiing on the surface of the lake if you go in winter, it is also very interesting.

4.4. Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is a separate island, covered by the Atlantic Ocean, and it is its unique uniqueness that has been called "paradise on earth". Regardless of the expectation with the name of paradise on earth, when coming to Nova Scotia, everyone will be able to see the poetic shimmering rivers in the sunset, clear blue beaches with stretches of sand, or luxurious resorts with full facilities...

If you intend to study abroad or settle in Canada permanently, education is your top concern right now. Let's follow IDP to better understand the education of the country you are about to study!

5.1. Education system

The education system in Canada consists of schools from kindergarten to tertiary level. Most schools include public and private schools so that people can easily choose depending on their economic ability as well as the distance to send their children to school. Particularly at the university level, Canada is not divided into private or public schools, but only public schools, because of this, the education system at the university level in Canada is equal across the country.

Each school year will start in September and last until June of the following year:

• Primary level: From grade 1 to grade 6.

• Secondary Rank: From 7th to 11th grade (or up to 12th or 13th grade depending on the hierarchy of each state or state).

• After high school, students can choose a vocational college, a professional high school or a university depending on their abilities and preferences.

5.2. World-leading education quality

Canada is rated by the United Nations as one of the countries with the highest education in the world. Canada is the only country to invest in the education system at 7.1% of GDP, the highest of all countries participating in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This shows that Canada always focuses on the quality of training, improving the education system to serve the future generation of preschoolers.

5.3. Some Famous Universities in Canada

According to statistics from QS World University Rankings, Canada has 26 universities in the top universities in the world. Some of the famous universities in Canada can be mentioned:

University of Toronto: A leading public research institute in Canada, founded in 1827. The university owns the 3rd largest library in the world (only Harvard and Yale graduate universities) to help provide the most complete and modern materials for the learning process of students. Every year, this place attracts millions of students to register.

The University of British Columbia: As a research institution that has been established for more than 100 years, British Columbia is by far one of the best quality universities in Canada. When studying at the university, students will enjoy modern facilities and facilities that fully serve the research process. In addition, after graduation, students can also stay and work for up to 3 years. British Columbia is known as the "paradise of learning" in Canada.

McGill University: It is a public research university with the highest teaching quality in Canada, known as the Harvard of the land of maple leaves. Not only that, McGill is located in Quebec, where the cost of living and tuition are lower than in Ottawa or Toronto, Vancouver. Therefore, you can study here if you intend to study in Canada.

When arriving in the romantic country of Canada, Vietnamese students need to pay special attention to some of the following issues:

6.1. Immigration procedures

Immigration procedures in Canada are very strict, you need to follow the steps below to avoid being denied:

• Canada Visa:

This is a mandatory prerequisite that you must have when you want to go to Canada. The procedure for applying for a Canadian visa is quite long, about 3-6 weeks, so you should prepare in advance so that you don't miss the travel time just because you are waiting for the visa.

• Book the plane and get there:

After you have a visa, book your flight ticket and travel. Booking flight tickets will help you save costs and choose the desired seat compared to ordering directly. Currently, there is no direct flight route from Vietnam to Canada, but it is necessary to transit in any country such as Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Taipei, Seoul, etc.

• Online customs declaration:

Currently, Canada has ignored paper customs declaration and replaced it completely online. Therefore, as soon as you get off the plane, look for a "Non-Canadian Citizen" sign. Place your passport in the scan and follow the steps required by the computer. These are just basic questions, after completion, the machine will print a slip with all the information that you have just entered, so complete the online customs declaration step.

• Obtaining a Study/Work Permit:

The process of waiting for a Study/Work Permit takes quite a long time, about 2-3 hours, so you should book the next flight about 4 hours from the first flight to avoid missing the flight time.

A small note when arranging your luggage when going to Canada is that it prohibits the import of meat and vegetables. Therefore, you should not bring it with you to avoid any hassle when going through immigration procedures.

6.2. Currency

When preparing to travel to Canada, you don't need to prepare too much cash, just prepare enough money from home to the airport. Because carrying a lot of money makes it inconvenient for you, Vietnamese money cannot be used in Canada, at this time you will have to go to exchange it takes a lot of time and effort. Instead, you should:

• Withdrawing money from an ATM:

ATMs are present in many places on the streets of Canada similar to Vietnam. Therefore, you can withdraw your funds anytime you want.

• Using a credit card:

Prepare a foreign credit card before flying to Canada so you can use it right away.

• Currency exchange at the Bank:

If you bring too much cash when you come to Canada, find the nearest bank where you can convert money from VND to CAD.

6.3. Luggage to prepare

You need to prepare your luggage well to ensure you don't have any difficulties and embarrassments when you arrive in Canada, including:

• Passport

• Letter of acceptance

• Study Permit

• Search for accommodation

• Student Health Insurance

• Copies of medical records and prescriptions in use

• A Canadian bank account

• List of emergency contacts

6.4. What not to do when coming to Canada

If possible, when you come to Canada, you need to avoid doing the following things so as not to get into trouble or offend others:

• Rubber Time:

Canadians take time very seriously. When you're late, they'll feel uncomfortable because they're not being respected, but don't come too early because they'll feel like you're bothering them with the work they're doing. Therefore, please arrive about 5 minutes earlier than the scheduled time or arrive on time!

• Say bad things about hockey:

Hockey is considered the king of sports in the land of maple leaves, and the people here are very proud of this sport. Therefore, when talking to native speakers, give good words to this sport.

• Give white lilies, cash to Canadians:

White lilies are a symbol of death, dullness, and are often used at funerals. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, you should choose other flowers instead of white lilies. Besides, giving cash also makes the other person unhappy, instead you can give a cute gift, which means they will be happier.

• Consider Canada as the 51st U.S. state:

The United States and Canada are two completely independent countries. However, because it is located next to the United States, Canada is often misunderstood by some people as an American state, so you need to remember this taboo to avoid offending them.

• Say what is forbidden when communicating:

Some things that should not be said when communicating in Canada that you should not bring up as a topic for conversation such as: Politics, sexuality or religious beliefs...

• Stock up on alcohol at home:

Canadian law prohibits the storage of alcohol at home, and it can only be carried from province to province or abroad with permission from the Provincial Alcohol Administration. Therefore, in order not to be fined, when studying abroad, you should pay attention to this law.

6.5. Tips

As a rule, when you are satisfied with a service, you should tip the service staff more. Tipping is a habit of Westerners to show gratitude. For example:

• Tip 15 - 20% of the bill paid to the restaurant waiter.

• Tip for porters 1 - 2 USD.

• Tip 10 - 15% of the bill value when taking a taxi.

However, you need to note that you should tip with paper money instead of coins and exchange money for Canadian units and then tip.

6.6. Keeping the community clean

When you come to Canada, learn how to keep the community clean because here everyone does, when they finish eating, they will automatically bring the garbage to the trash and clean it up before leaving. If you finish eating.

Do not litter while on the street, besides the objection of the people around you, you can also receive a fine of 500 $ (equivalent to 11.7 million VND) if you are caught by the police. Please note this so as not to lose money when you first suddenly step into a new land.

Currently, in Canada, there are 5 main categories of immigration, including:

• Skilled immigration

• Immigration as a start-up entrepreneur

• Immigration as entrepreneurs and high-skilled workers

• Family reunification settlement

• Studying Abroad Immigration

Below is specific information about 5 types of immigration in Canada, please pay attention to follow!

See more: Study in Canada & Post-Graduation Immigration Programs

7.1. Skilled immigration

Skilled Worker is a program that allows workers to work and settle permanently in Canada.

Conditions for participating in the program:

• Highly skilled and qualified workers.

• Must meet foreign language proficiency

• Must have work experience (the number of years depends on the profession you are working in)

7.2. Immigration as a start-up entrepreneur

Startup Entrepreneur Immigration is a program for entrepreneurs who wish to start a business and settle in Canada. When participating in the program, entrepreneurs will receive:

• The government is committed to tax incentives.

• The government issues residence permits to families as soon as they arrive in Canada.

• High success rate.

Condition:

• Meet the language proficiency (English or French).

• Receive a letter from a designated organization.

• Entrepreneurs have sufficient economic conditions.

7.3. Immigration as entrepreneurs and high-skilled workers

Entrepreneurial and skilled worker immigration is Canada's main immigration PNP (Provincial Nominee Program). At this time, the provinces, provinces, and provinces will nominate an individual who wants to immigrate, and the PNP will help that individual become a permanent resident of Canada.

Condition:

• Have one year of full-time work experience.

• Achieve a minimum score of 67 points for skilled workers.

• Take a language test with a minimum score of 7 points.

• Have enough finances.

• Have good health.

• Do not violate the law.

7.4. Family reunification settlement

Family reunification is the 2nd largest immigration in Canada. The procedure for doing this program is not too difficult or troublesome. As long as you complete the procedure, you can sponsor your relatives to settle in Canada with you.

Condition:

• Being a worker or legal immigrant of full age (over 18 years old).

• During the time you participate in the family-wide immigration program, you are still immigrating and continue to legally reside in Canada.

• You prove how much you contribute to the country during your time here.

7.5. Studying abroad

International students who study abroad in Canada will be able to study, live, and settle here. Your immigrant visa will be provided by the embassy. After graduating from universities and colleges, international students will be able to stay and settle for about 3 years. During this period, students have the right to apply for residency in the country.

If you are cherishing your dream of studying abroad in the beautiful land of maple leaves in Canada, contact IDP Education to receive useful advice, suitable for your needs, qualifications, and abilities.

IDP currently has a network of 80 international admissions offices in 30 different countries and is the official admissions representative of more than 600 prestigious schools in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland. Besides, IDP is also the co-founder and organizer of the IELTS test worldwide, which will best support you to have a great study abroad experience! IDP Education is recognized as a reliable address in studying abroad advice for students.

Hopefully, the above article has given you a glimpse of the culture and people in Canada - the land of beautiful and dreamy maple leaves. Since then, international students who cherish many plans and ambitions when studying in Canada can be more fully prepared in terms of knowledge and spirit before starting a journey to explore a new land.

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See more:

Study in Canada: Eligibility, Cost and Scholarships, Visas

Do I need IELTS to study in Canada?

Why should you choose to study in Canada

Canadian culture: taboos you must know