Essential info for Canada
Time: There are six time zones in Canada, ranging from GMT 8 in the west to GMT -3.5 in the east.
Electricity: 110 volts, 60Hz. Standard plugs are flat two-pins, or plugs with a third round grounding pin.
Language: Canada’s official languages are English and French. French is the predominant language in Quebec but English is spoken and understood nationwide.
Safety Information: Canada is often lauded for its safe reputation, and has considerably less crime in its big cities than in major US metropolises. Crime that does occur is typically non-violent, and includes property theft, shoplifting and theft from within autos. Still, sensible precautions are advised, and expats should take measures to safeguard property and belongings as normal.
Additionally, Canada is politically stable, and there are no recent recorded threats of terrorism directed at the nation. The crime rate is low but sensible precautions to safeguard property and belongings are advised. Canada often experiences tornadoes between May and September.
Local Customs: There is no smoking allowed within enclosed public areas such as restaurants, bars and shopping malls, and some cities have made smoking indoors entirely illegal.
Business: Canada’s primary business centres and expat hubs are Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal. English is generally the main business language, but French is used more than English in Quebec. Business cards are not often exchanged during an initial meeting; it is best to wait for the host to offer their card first. Greetings are carried out with a firm handshake. A conservative and smart personal appearance and punctuality for meetings are essential in business. Taking clients out for a meal is a good way to conclude business dealings. Business hours tend to be from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Communications: The international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); this is not necessary for calls to the US or the Caribbean. The area code for Ottawa is (1)613, and for Toronto it’s (1) 416 or 647. There are Internet cafés available throughout Canadian cities and towns. Most international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with Canadian operators, but it may be cheaper to use a pay-as-you-go SIM card.
Emergencies: 911 is the emergency number used in most provinces of Canada.
Climate: The climate in Canada varies according to area, and there are very distinct seasons. The warmest months are July and August; in winter, between December and February, it is generally very cold with heavy snowfall. Autumn and spring are synonymous with beautiful flora in Canada.
