Language: The official languages are English and French (predominantly in
Quebec).
Currency: The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD), which is divided into 100 cents. One-dollar coins are also known as loonies (due to the picture of a loon, a type of bird, on the coin), and two-dollar coins as toonies. Banks and bureaux de change will change money and travelers cheques, as will some hotels, but the rate will not be as good. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are plentiful. US Dollars are largely accepted, though due to fraud, larger notes might not be
and change is usually given in Canadian dollars.
Time: Canada covers six time zones, from GMT 8 in the west to GMT -3.5 in the east.
Electricity: Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. American style flat two-pin plugs and one with a third round grounding pin is standard.
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); the outgoing code is not necessary for calls to the US and the
Caribbean. The area code for
Ottawa is (1)613, and (1)416 for
Toronto. Internet cafes are widely available. Most international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with Canadian operators, however it may be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card if visiting the country for long periods.
Duty Free: Travelers to Canada are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring custom duties: gifts to the value of C$60 per recipient (excluding advertising material, tobacco and alcoholic beverages); 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos and 200g of tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks; 1.14 liters of liquor or wine or 24 x 355ml bottles or cans of beer or ale. There are strict regulations governing the import of the following: explosives, endangered animal and plant species, items of heritage, fresh foodstuffs and weapons. The plant Qhat (Khat) is illegal in Canada and prison sentences are heavy.
Tourist OfficeCanadian Tourism Commission,
Vancouver: +1 604 638 8300 or www.travelcanada.ca
EmergencyEmergencies: 911 (in most provinces).
Embassies
Canadian Embassy,
Washington DC,
United States: +1 202 682 1740.
Canadian
High Commission,
London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7258 6600.
Canadian High Commission,
Canberra,
Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4000.
Canadian High Commission,
Pretoria,
South Africa: +27 (0)12 422 3000.
Canadian Embassy,
Dublin,
Ireland: +353 (0)1 417 4100.
Canadian High Commission,
Wellington,
New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 9577.
United States Embassy, Ottawa: +1 613 688 5335.
British High Commission, Ottawa: +1 613 237 1530.
Australian High Commission, Ottawa: +1 613 236 0841.
South African High Commission, Ottawa: +1 613 744 0330.
Irish Embassy, Ottawa: +1 613 233 6281.
New
Zealand High Commission, Ottawa: +1 613 238 5991.
