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10 / Canada essentials
CANADA 101
the essentials Canada is in demand and ready to meet the expectations of clients in 2022. Below are our essential starting pointers as to why Canada is perfectly positioned to fulfil that dream trip
Flight options There are non-stop, direct flights between the UK and Canada, with both scheduled flag carriers and lowcost airlines. These include Air Canada, British Airways, WestJet and Air Transat.
Time difference Canada is closer than many think! The flight time is between five and 10 hours, depending on whether you are flying to the east (St John) or west (Vancouver) coasts. The flying time to Montréal is around seven hours and 15 minutes. Time differences vary between five and eight hours behind GMT.
Languages Canada is both an English- and French-speaking destination – an interesting cultural mix for visitors. French is the mother tongue of 7.2 million Canadians (about 20% of the population), with most of these living in Québec.
Infrastructure Wherever your travels take you in Canada, there is (a) a modern health system and (b) a well-developed road, transport and tourism infrastructure – which makes travelling around the country both easy and a pleasure. Driving is relatively stress-free with most roads usually quieter than those in the UK.
UK/Canada ties Due to the historic close links between the UK and Canada, visitors have always been guaranteed a warm, friendly and genuine welcome – but this will be more evident than ever in 2022 after the many ‘missed’ months of tourists due to Covid.
Looks familiar Those shared historic links and Commonwealth ties between Canada and the UK provide a reassuring familiarity! After all, Queen Elizabeth II is the monarch of both countries!
Indigenous tourism A burgeoning Indigenous tourism industry makes for unique and authentic experiences. In every province and territory, festivals, events and immersive experiences showcase the culture and history of Canada’s First Peoples through a unique and authentic Indigenous lens (for more on these, see pages 26/27).
Unique culture However, Canada is still a unique country with its very own diverse history, traditions, sports – such as hockey, curling and lacrosse – and activities, culture, cuisine and, most importantly, people.
Typically Canadian These cultural traditions are also illustrated in major annual events. These include the Calgary Stampede, a celebration of the Canadian West and its pioneering spirit featuring rodeos, parades, concerts and more, and the
New France Festival in Québec City, which celebrates the arrival of the first Europeans and includes costumes artistic, and culinary events. Across the country, world-class museums feature arts and crafts that pay homage to Canada’s nature, sweeping landscapes and mosaic of cultures.
Fabulous food Lobsters, halibut, bison, wild foraged mushrooms, Alberta steak, French Canadian maple syrup, oysters, scallops, and berries all contribute to an exciting culinary scene being driven by internationally trained chefs. Then there is some of the best Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food outside of Asia. For something more homely, warm up with a hot chocolate and a beavertail (a type of donut) or tuck into a plate of poutine (cheese curd and gravy served over chips).
Room to move Canada offers space –
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