Canada, stretching from the U.S. in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north, is filled with vibrant cities including massive, multicultural Toronto; predominantly French-speaking Montréal and Québec City; Vancouver and Halifax on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, respectively; and Ottawa, the capital. It’s also crossed by the Rocky Mountains and home to vast swaths of protected wilderness.

CANADA FACTS & FIGURES

• Occupying the northern half of North America, Canada is the second-largest country in the world (after Russia.)
• From east to west, the country encompasses six time zones.
• Canada shares a 5,525-mile boundary with the U.S.
• The Atlantic Ocean hugs the coastline to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west.
• The country is made up of 10 provinces and three territories.
• When it comes to geography - diversity is the word. Fertile plains, vast mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, wilderness forests and Arctic tundra to the far north.
• Canada has a population of about 32.5 million.
• The official currency is the Canadian dollar.
• In random order, the major cities are Victoria, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Halifax.
• The country enjoys four distinct seasons and six time zones.
• English and French are the two official languages. English is the mother tongue of 59 per cent of the population.
• Canada has 11 national holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day (Monday preceding May 25), Canada Day (July 1 or July 2 if July 1 is a Sunday, Labour Day (first Monday of September), Thanksgiving (second Monday of October), Remembrance Day (November 11), Christmas Day and Boxing Day (December 26)and new to 2008, February 18 is Family Day.
• The maple leaf is the national symbol.