1. Location of the country in the world &map

GENERAL LOCALITATION: 
Canada is a country occupying most of northem North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward in to the Arctic Ocean. It is the world´s second largest country by total area and its common border with the United States.    

 

SPECIFIC LOCALITATION:         
The geographic coordinates of Canada:  60º 0´ 0´´ N, 95º 0´ 0´´ W     



3. Population of the Country

Total population is a simple count of the number of people  (citizens and landed immigrants) living in Canada.

 

 Canada's population is growing slowly, our growth rate is higher than that in most industrialized countries. Our population growth is concentrated in areas with considerable environmental stresses, particularly around Toronto and Vancouver.

 



4. Capital City

Ottawa lies in northeast North America, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by the Ottawa River to the north, while the historic Rideau River and Rideau Canal meander north to south through the city. Directly across the Ottawa River are the City of Gatineau and the picturesque Outaouais region in the Province of Québec.

Ottawa can be found at Latitude 45° 22' N and Longitude 75° 43' W, and it is 114 metres (374 feet) above sea level.

5. Official language

 A multitude of languages are spoken in canada. According to the 2006 census, English and French are the preferred language ( " home language", or language spoken most often in the home) of 67,1% and 21,5% respectively. English and French are recognized by the Constitution of Canada as " official languages". 


6. Main Characteristics of people in the country 


Canadian Culture
 Canadians come from many different racial and religious backgrounds. Consequently, it is not easy to define a typical Canadian family. Although the majority of Canadians are Catholic or Protestant, many belong to other religions. Some cultural characteristics, however, are shared by most Canadian

Introductions in Canada 
In Canada, people use their given name first and their surname (family name) last. If you meet someone older than you for the first time, you should probably not use the person's first name. It is safer to use the surname, preceded by a courtesy title such as: Ms., Mrs., Mr., or Dr.
Formal Greeting to a Stranger: "Hello Mr. Martin. I am very pleased to meet you. My name is Yuri."
Informal Greeting to a Friend: "Hi Thomas. How are you?"

In the home 
Canadians often behave quite casually at home. Some families do not put an emphasis on greetings and salutations, so do not be disappointed if your host family does not show a lot of emotion when you arrive or leave. Many Canadians do not wear shoes or hats inside their homes

Smoking in Canada 
Smoking is becoming increasingly unpopular and is not permitted in most public buildings. Many families do not allow smoking in their homes. If you smoke, please mention it on your application for admission, so that we can match you with hosts who will not mind.

Equality 
Canada enjoys a society that is open and relatively free of class distinctions. Most Canadians take pride in the fact that all people deserve the same rights and respect, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or cultural background. People in Canada usually resent comments that seem disrespectful to anyone from a particular background.