Key Facts
Location
North America.
Time
Canada spans six time zones. Information on which time zone applies where may be found in the regional entries following this general introduction. The time zones are:
Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). Most of Saskatchewan does not observe DST.
Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Atlantic Standard Time: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Newfoundland Standard Time: GMT - 3.5. (GMT - 2.5 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
Area
9,017,699 sq km (3,481,753 sq miles).
Population
31.6 million (official census 2006).
Electricity
110-120 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style (flat) two-pin plugs are standard.
Money
Currency
Canadian Dollar (CAD; symbol C$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of C$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of C$2 and 1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.
Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.
2008
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21-24 Mar Easter.
19 May Victoria Day.
1 Jul Canada Day.
1 Sep Labour Day.
13 Oct Thanksgiving Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
10-13 Apr Easter.
18 May Victoria Day.
1 Jul Canada Day.
7 Sep Labour Day.
12 Oct Thanksgiving Day.
11 Nov Remembrance Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.
Climate
Climate graphs for the various provinces and territories may be found in the relevant entries below.
Summer thunderstorms are common throughout Canada. Occasionally, these may become severe. Tornados also occur throughout Canada, with May to September being prime months. The peak season is June and early July in southern Ontario, Alberta, southeastern Québec, and a band stretching from southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, through to Thunder Bay. The interior of British Columbia and western New Brunswick are also tornado zones. Earth tremors occur in the western mountains. Forest fires can occur at any time, regardless of the season, particularly in the grasslands and forests of western Canada.
