Europe, South America & Asia Vacation Packages from Monograms

Canada

 

 

Our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada is a wellspring of natural beauty, tranquility and hospitality. A fusion of French, British and immigrant influences, modern Canada is both a bilingual and multicultural society. The landscapes here are as diverse as the people-from the craggy shores and picturesque isles of the East Coast to the azure mountain lakes of the Canadian Rockies and the cosmopolitan cities of Toronto and Victoria. What remains constant as you travel here, however, is the ability of the country's pristine surroundings to inspire.

History

Canada's prehistory dates back thousands of years, with indigenous tribes having developed a prosperous way of life centuries before the arrival of European explorers. French explorers Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain are credited with staking the first claim on Canadian land in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Just as the French began to thrive by investing in the Canadian fur trade, Britain joined the game by establishing the Hudson Bay Company in 1670. For a while, the two European countries coexisted in the new territory peacefully.

In short order, however, the hostilities of Europe's Seven Years' War spilled over into North America, and after several years of fighting, the British defeated the French at Quebec City. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 transferred power over Canada into British hands. In 1867, Britain was fearful of losing Canada, as it had the American colonies, and proclaimed the British North America Act, which became the equivalent of Canada's constitution. By 1912, all provinces had become part of the central government-save Newfoundland, which held out until 1949.

Throughout the twentieth century, Canada grew in stature and prosperity, becoming a voluntary member of the British Commonwealth in 1931 and fighting alongside the U.S. and Britain in WWI and WWII. In the years following WWII, an influx of immigrants flooded the country, and Canada became a markedly diverse and multicultural nation. The social upheaval of the 1960s brought resentment to the surface between French-speaking Quebec and the rest of Canada. The resulting quest for a separate, independent Quebec continues to this day, with popular opinion on the matter constantly changing.

Fast Facts

  • Capital: Ottawa
  • Population: 33 million
  • Language: English, French
  • Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
  • Time Zone: EST minus 0-4 hours
  • Electricity: 110/120V, 60Hz

Weather

Canada enjoys four distinct seasons with very long winters. The North is colder, the South is warmer and more populated, and the East and West coasts are very wet. Most of the rain falls in the winter months. Pack warm clothing, a heavy coat and boots in winter. Bring lightweight clothing in summer. Rain gear is recommended on the Coasts year-round.
Europe, South America & Asia Vacation Packages from Monograms