A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CANADA
AND THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC
About Canada
You can stare in wonderment at the majestic Rockie Mountains bordering British Columbia and Alberta, gaze endlessly at waving, rolling grain fields through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, become completely inspired by the brilliant fall colours in Ontario and Quebec, and finally see an almost perfect blend of nature, farm and town in the maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland- Labrador. Those craving adventure and sights, whether or not found near the American border, can travel as much as 5500 kilometers from east to west and as much as 4600 kilometers north to the high arctic.
It does not take long for a visitor to realize that there is a lot to like in Canada! It covers almost 10 million square kilometers and is the third largest country in the world next to Russia and China. But unlike these countries, Canada has only 30 million inhabitants. Canada is divided up into 10 provinces and two immense territories to the north but the vast majority of the population is located in a narrow band along the United States border. Canadians are an urban people with 75% living in cities, leaving huge tracts of largely unspoiled wilderness with low population densities. In touring Canada, you can meet and mingle in multicultural environments as in few other countries, from native Indian and Inuit to many European and Asian ethnic groups. However, the 2 predominant cultures remain British and French.
A visitor to Canada will find the amenities of the world's larger cities here in our metropolitan areas but on a smaller, less hectic scale. Canada is also a nation of sport enthusiasts with golf, softball, baseball and football being predominant in good weather and basketball, bowling, skiing, curling and hockey are our winter season choices. The less confining sports in our vast territory involve outdoor activities like hunting, fishing (there are 400,000 lakes in Ontario alone), sailing, swimming, biking, hiking and mountain climbing. Name a sport and chances are you can become involved in Canada, either as a participant or as a viewer of the action and every region throughout this country can rightfully boast of dedicated sports activity!
About Quebec
Quebec has a population of approximately 7 million people, the vast majority of whom live in the vicinity of the St Lawrence river. Also, 70,000 Amerindians, belonging to 10 different nations, live in approximately 50 villages spread throughout the territory of Quebec. French is the language used by the majority of Quebecers, although English is spoken or understood almost everywhere in the province, particularly in the large urban centres.
Quebec is a rich blend of the Old and New World. Deeply rooted in the soil of North America and fiercely proud of their French heritage, the Quebec enthusiastic and friendly people are known for their passion, spontaneity and unique “joie de vivre”. Because of its history and culture, Quebec has created a unique and unaffected personality. Québecers enjoy fine dining and like to have a good time, as can be seen from the very busy calendar of festivals and other events. As a place where both European and North American cultural influences play out, Quebec has long been typified by an incredibly fertile creative energy and cultural vitality. The numerous festivals that take place each year showcase the tremendous quality of Quebec’s cultural output.
Not to forget that every season high-level international sports events take place in Quebec. The most popular include car races, skiing, mountain biking world cups, and tennis championships… As a student, Quebec will appeal to you as a unique place to discover!