IEC-EIC Guide for Foreign Participants-Eng

7/28/2019 IEC-EIC Guide for Foreign Participants-Eng

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GUIDE FOR PARTICIPANTS

COMING TO CANADA


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GUIDE FOR PARTICIPANTS COMING TO CANADAUNDER INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE CANADA

Introduction

Section 1: Canada for Newcomers

Section 2: Obtaining Your Canadian Work Permit

Section 3: Obtaining Your SIN Card

Section 4: Preparing Your Rsum

Section 5: Looking for Work

Section 6: Worker Protection in Canada

Section 7: Filing a Canadian Income Tax Return

Section 8: Finding Accommodation

Section 9: Health Care

Section 10: Safety

Section 11: Currency, Retail Taxes and Banking

Section 12: Communications

Section 13: Travelling in Canada

Section 14: Enjoying a Canadian Winter

A Final Word


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Introduction

Although living in Canada is similar in many respects to livingelsewhere, you should be aware of certain aspects of daily life that are

specific to Canada. For example, familiarizing yourself with therestrictions associated with Canadian healthcare insurance andautomobile licensing before you arrive can save you time and moneyand make your stay more rewarding. We hope you find this guide auseful introduction to working and travelling in Canada, and that yourtime here marks the beginning of an enduring relationship with ourgreat country, its culture and its people.

Section 1: Canada for Newcomers

Land and weather; people; government; laws; human rights;

education; health care:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-canada.asp

Canadas history and symbols:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/look/look-06.asp

Section 2: Obtaining Your Canadian Work Permit

Upon arrival in a Canadian airport, you will be greeted by an officialfrom the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This Border ServicesOfficer (BSO) will request the following documents:

your passport; the letter of introduction you received from the Canadian Visa

Post approving your participation in International ExperienceCanada; and,

the CBSA Declaration Card you completed and signed on theairplane.

The BSO will ask you a few questions and will make a notation on your

CBSA Declaration Card before returning these documents to you.

You will then be directed to the Immigration Secondary ExaminationArea where another BSO will examine your documents and ask youquestions aimed at determining if you meet the entry requirements towork in Canada. You must have purchased private healthcareinsurance before entering Canada with coverage extending for theduration of your stay, at minimum. (See the section Healthcare.) As


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well, you must also demonstrate that you have brought with yousufficient funds to enable you to support yourself for two months.

The type of work permit you are issued depends on your situation andthe information you provide the BSO. Participants coming to Canada

for a pre-arranged job will be issued an employer-specific work permitwhile those coming to Canada for a working holiday will be issued anopen work permit.

Participants from certain countries must have received a Canada-approved medical examination and medical clearance before arriving inCanada. This is required in order to qualify them for a Canadian openwork permit that does not include employment restrictions. Allparticipants seeking work in the following fields require medicalclearance before arriving in Canada: child care, health services, in-home care services, and primary or secondary school education. These

medical examinations must be arranged through the Canadian VisaPost in the participants home country.

Check the work permit immediately after the BSO hands it to youitmay be stapled onto your passportto ensure it has been filled outaccurately. Errors can be easily corrected at this point, but could takeas long as two weeks to correct after you leave the Examination Area.

For open permits, check that the employer section is filled in asopen or any employer and the employer location section is left

blank.

For employer-specific permits, it is especially important to ensure theemployers name and location are provided accurately.However, if youmust change employers after the permit has been issued, call theCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) toll-free telephone numberat 1.888.242.2100 for assistance.

For either type of permit, check that the expiry date has been enteredcorrectly. Note: BSOs are authorized to issue work permits that mayonly cover a portion of a working holiday.

Once you have confirmed that the information on your work permit iscorrect, you may claim your luggage and then proceed to theExit/Sortie sign. At this point, a BSO will collect your CBSA DeclarationCard and will either invite you to exit the CBSA area or will escort youto another area to examine your luggage.


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Holding either type of work permit does not entitle you to enrol in aCanadian university or college program; to do this you require a studypermit. If you wish, however, you may take a short-term trainingcourse, provided it is less than six months in duration. If you havebeen granted an open work permit you may apply for a study permit

while you are in Canada. Note: you may not hold a work permit and astudy permit at the same time. For more information about studypermits, consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website(www.cic.gc.ca).

Section 3: Obtaining Your SIN Card

If you are comfortable staying with friends or in a hostel for a while,you can take time to look for work and your own accommodation. Youmay decide to find a job first and then find a permanent place to livenearby. Whatever the case, if you intend to work in Canada, and be

paid for your work, you must apply for a Canadian social insurancenumber (SIN) as soon after your arrival as possible (i.e. within threedays). A SIN is part of the Canadian system for cataloging workers,and as such is similar to the U.S. social security number or theAustralian tax file number. You do not need a SIN while you search fora job, but you must have one in order for your employer to pay youusing a legitimate payroll system.

You can pick up a SIN application form at the airport as soon as youarrive or afterward at any Canada Post outlet or Service Canada office(www.servicecanada.gc.ca).

To receive your SIN card, you must bring your completed applicationform to the Service Canada office nearest you, along with yourpassport and your work permit. You can expect to receive your SINcard the same day you apply or within a few days. You are notrequired to pay to receive a SIN card but you will be charged $10.00to replace one. A SIN issued to a foreign participant working in Canadaunder International Experience Canada is valid for one year.

Section 4: Preparing Your Rsum

In Canada, an acceptable rsum (pronounced res-u-may) differssomewhat from those used in other countries. Use the followingguidelines to create (or adapt) your rsum, which is also known as acurriculum vitae (C.V.):

Do include:


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Personal information (your name, address, contact telephonenumber and email address);

Skills/summary of qualifications; Education;

Work history; Volunteer experience; and Activities and interests.

Do not include:

Age/date of birth; Gender; Social insurance number; Personal information (e.g. height, medical status, race, religion);

or Photo of yourself.

Your rsum should be:

Typed and well-organized; Free of grammatical and spelling errors; Concise, i.e. one to two pages in length; Dynamic, using active verbs to describe your skills and

experience (i.e. accomplished, created, improvedachieved);

Formatted in point form and organized in reverse chronologicalorder, i.e. with most recent education, work and volunteerexperience presented first; and

Written in the past tense for completed jobs andaccomplishments.

Since educational systems and qualification standards in variouscountries are not always equivalent, use the following tips to adaptyour educational achievements for Canadian employers:

Do not list your university courses or results. Use generic terms to describe levels of education achieved e.g.elementary, secondary and post-secondary. (Canadianemployers are unlikely to be familiar with the British O-level forexample.)

Prepare a French version of your rsum if you plan to work inthe province of Quebec.


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Reformat and print your rsum on 8.5" x 11" paper which is thestandard paper size used in Canada.

Remember to tailor your rsum according to the prospective job, i.e.for some professional positions you will organize it to highlight your

best achievements while for more casual jobs a reverse chronologicallist of previous relevant positions held may be preferable.

Section 5: Looking for Work

Most participants coming to Canada under International ExperienceCanada tend to work in the hospitality and tourism sector (e.g.restaurants, bars, hotels), in retail or in offices. Others are able to findprofessional or career-related employment.

The more diligent you are about looking for work, you more likely you

will be to find a job quickly. If you are looking for work in a tourist-related field, your chances of finding a job are significantly higherduring peak season, i.e. during the winter months for ski resorts orduring the summer months for resorts that are centred on watersports. Note: ski resorts around Whistler, B.C., start hiring in October;however, these resorts are usually only open for part of the year, i.e.from mid-November or early December on. The fact that you may bewithout work for periods of time is another reason to come to Canadawith enough money to support yourself for at least two months.

In general, avoid the following:

Prospective employers who make a job sound unrealisticallyperfect (for example, they fail to mention that overtime istypically required or only evening and midnight shifts areavailable);

Unusual requests (for example, although some server positionsrequire you to carry a cash float so you can easily providecustomers with change, you should never be expected to buysupplies or to pay any type of deposit);

Door-to-door sales work; or

Unpaid training periods (see the section Worker Protection inCanada for guidelines about the employment protections towhich you are entitled when working in Canada).

Casual or Professional?

Your stay in Canada is meant to be exciting, fun and culturallyenriching, therefore we suggest you concentrate on finding casual


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employment rather than expending too much effort seeking theperfect job. Any experience you have working in Canada will makean impressive addition to your rsum: indeed, past participants havereported that their foreign work experience, even if only a casual job,played a far more important role than they would have imagined in

landing them a career-related job back home. Your ability to speakEnglish and/or French or other languages will also greatly improveyour future career prospects.

If you are intent on finding a professional position in Canada that isrelated to your career goals you should be prepared to spend moretime searching.

The Walk-In Method

Since many employers do not advertise job openings in localnewspapers, the walk-in method can be an effective strategy forfinding casual work. In other words, if you like the look of a particularworkplace, and think you would enjoy working there, ask to see themanager about job opportunities. This method works best if youconcentrate your efforts on retail businesses located on busy streets orin shopping malls.

Service Canada Centres for Youth (SCCY)

Most SCCY are only open during the summer months, usually from theend of April to the end of August, and the postings are generally forhospitality-related and manual labour jobs. The Centres offer group

sessions about job-hunting strategies, preparing rsums and beinginterviewed for jobs, and many also make available computers,telephones (for local calls only) and fax machines (for local faxingonly). For more information, visit this Service Canada website:www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/youth/centresyouth.shtml

Internet

An abundance of websites, including those provided by Canadianfederal and provincial governments, now provide online assistance tojob seekers in Canada.

Although not all are focused specifically on finding a job, the followingare among the most popular websites providing general employment-related assistance:

Brainhunter (for IT and engineering professionals):www.brainhunter.com

Canadajobs: www.canadajobs.com


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CareerBuilder: www.careerbuilder.com

CharityVillage (jobs in the non-profit sector):www.charityvillage.com

CoolJobsCanada: www.cooljobscanada.com

Craigslist (choose a Canadian province):www.craigslist.org/about/sites

Employment News: www.employmentnews.com

Go2 The resource for people in tourism:www.go2hr.ca/CareersbrinTourism/tabid/76/Default.aspx

Hotjobs: www.hotjobs.ca

Jobpostings (Canadas student job posting site):www.jobpostings.ca

Monster: www.monster.ca

Service Canada Job Bank: www.jobbank.gc.ca/Intro_eng.aspx

Superjobs: www.superjobs.net

Working.com (Canadian retail): www.canadianretail.com

Workopolis: www.workopolis.com

Employment Agencies

Employment agencies hire temporary personnel to fill vacancies inoffices where permanent staff are either ill or on holiday or if there is ashort-term project that requires extra staff. This is a good option forparticipants who are competent in office-related tasks, i.e. skilled inthe use of spreadsheet and slide presentation software. Some agenciesspecialize in accounting, financial services and IT. The Yellow Pages (abusiness telephone directory) lists these agencies under EmploymentAgencies. These agencies are paid by each clienti.e. yourprospective employerto be fully responsible for all aspects of youremployment, including making the appropriate deductions from yourpay. In that sense, the agency, not the company for which you areworking, is your employer.

Networking

As you become more acquainted with new people, tell as many as

possible that you are looking for work. Since many jobs are notadvertised publically these individuals may know when a position isabout to open up. In the services sector, staff turnover is high,especially in tourist areas near Whistler, B.C., and Banff, Alberta;someone you know may have a family member or a friend who willsoon be in a position to hire you.


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Classified Ads

Most local newspapers include an employment section in theirclassified ads.

Business Hours

In general, retail stores open at 9 or 10 a.m. and close around 6 p.m.(local time). Certain stores may be open late each Friday andsometimes each Thursday as well. Shopping malls may remain openuntil 9 p.m. on weekdays but will close at 5 p.m. each Saturday.Whether businesses are open on Sundays varies by province, and insuch cases it is usually only the branches of major retail chain storesthat open. Many, but not all, convenience or corner stores are open 24hours a day, seven days a week.

Writing a Cover Letter

Cover letters are not needed for every job, for example, for mostserver positions in restaurants or bars. However, for professionalpositions or management jobs a cover letter adds value to yourrsum, especially if you are submitting it via email or fax.

Stick to three paragraphs, if possible, and organize them as follows:

1: Express your interest in the job and where you saw theposition posted.

2: Link your experience and/or skills with the stated jobrequirements.

3: Refer readers to your rsum for further details (i.e. seeenclosed, see attached) and request an interview.

Include contact information, such as a telephone number and/or emailaddress that they can use to make further inquiries about you. Signthe letter. If you cannot provide a contact number, indicate to theprospective employer that you will contact them to follow up instead.It may be worthwhile to provide a general webmail address that youcan check from any public computer.

Meeting Face-to-FaceDo not accept the word of someone who says a particular business inwhich you are interested isnt hiring. Check it out yourselfin personif possible.

Use the following guidelines to make the best impression with aprospective employer:


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Contact them in the morning when they are more likely to berelaxed and willing to meet you. Avoid times of the day when thebusiness appears to be busiest.

Go alone. Do not take your friends with you.

Dress smartly. Be well-groomed and tidy.

Arrive on time for job interviewsperhaps even a few minutesearly.

Introduce yourself and shake hands firmly.

Avoid appearing overly shy or overly aggressive.

Thank the employer for taking the time to meet with you.

Leave your rsum with the manager because only thisindividual has the authority to hire you.

Make sure that you personally follow up your interview with anemployer for whom you would like to work. Either drop by a

second time, or phone or email them to express yourappreciation for the time they took to meet with you. Make itclear that you hope to hear from them again.

Section 6: Worker Protection in Canada

Canadian employment standards apply to all individuals working inCanadawhether foreign nationals or Canadian citizens. In otherwords, when working in Canada you are entitled to the sameemployment protections as Canadians. With respect to standards, aworkplace in Canada may be either federally or provincially regulated,

i.e. by the Canada Labour Code for the former or by individualprovincial or territorial labour ministries for the latter.

You should be aware of the employment standards that apply to yoursituation, but, that said most Canadian businesses are provinciallyregulated and employ 90 percent of the Canadian workforce. Theremaining 10 percent of Canadian workplaces are federally regulated,for example, banks, airports, and railway and highway operations thatinvolve inter-provincial or international transportation. Informationabout federally regulated businesses and industries is available on theHuman Resources and Skills Development Labour website atwww.labour.gc.ca.

Canadian labour laws address such employee protections as minimumwage, overtime, and vacation pay.

The following are examples of worker protections that are applicable inthe more populated provinces where most foreign participants coming


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to live and work in Canada under International Experience Canadareside.

Minimum Wage

Each Canadian province has enacted minimum wage legislation,

although the wage rates themselves vary slightly by province. Theminimum wage that applies to a worker in a federally regulatedworkplace is equal to the adult minimum wage rate of the provincial orterritory where the worker is usually employed.

Note: Canadian labour laws stipulate that all employers must pay atleast the minimum wage to any worker who is being trained. Avoidworking for any employer who offers you a job but says you will not bepaid while you are in training.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada presents theminimum wage guidelines for each Canadian province on its website:

http://srv116.services.gc.ca/dimt-wid/sm-mw/rpt1.aspx?lang=eng

Overtime

In most provinces, if you work more than a threshold number of hourseach week, you are entitled to receive one and a half times yourhourly pay for each hour of overtime you work. The weekly thresholdfor British Columbia and Quebec is 40 hours; in Alberta and Ontario itis 44 hours. For operations that are federally regulated the threshold is

8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, although in certain casessome flexibility exists in applying these overtime standards.

Vacation Pay

In Canada, when you leave a job you are entitled to receive 4 percentof your total wages as vacation pay. Some employers provide thisvacation pay in a series of installments each pay period, i.e. 4 percentwill be added to each of your pay cheques.

Holiday Pay

You may also be entitled to be paid for Canadian statutory holidayseven if you do not work on those days. For details about the standardsthat apply to the province in which you are employed, and todetermine whether you meet the requirements to be paid for thesedays, see the section Labour Standards Websites. Employees workingfor federally regulated businesses should consult the Human Resourcesand Skills Development Labour website (www.labour.gc.ca).


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Work Breaks

You are entitled to a half-hour unpaid meal break after every fivehours of continuous work. If you are on-call in the workplace duringyour break, you are entitled to be paid during this time.

Pay ChequesMost Canadian employers pay their workers every two weeks. Youremployer must provide you with a pay stub along with each paycheque or direct deposit.

The pay stub provides you with the following information:

Number of hours you worked in the pay period and the hourlywage (if you are paid by the hour);

Your gross pay (total amount before deductions);

Deductions e.g. Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec PensionPlan (QPP), employment insurance (EI) and income tax; and Your net pay (amount after deductions).

Deductions

The following provides a brief explanation of the payroll deductionsyou will see on each of your pay stubs:

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)

Each pay period, you are required to contribute to the Canada PensionPlan (or Quebec Pension Plan if you work in Quebec) an amount equalto approximately 4 percent of your gross pay for that period. Thesecontributions are non-refundable.

Employment Insurance (EI)

Each pay period, you are required to contribute to Canadas fund forunemployed workers an amount equal to approximately 2.1 percent ofyour gross pay for that period. Unfortunately, as a non-permanent

resident of Canada, you do not qualify to receive unemploymentbenefits if you are out of work. As with the CPP/QPP contributions, theamount you contribute to this fund is non-refundable.

Income Tax (see the following section Filing a Canadian IncomeTax Return.)


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Rights Upon Termination

Your employer may fire you without notice if you have been employedfor fewer than three months or if you have been proven guilty of willfulmisconduct. If your workplace is provincially regulated and you havebeen employed for more than three months but less than one year,

your employer must give you one weeks notice that you are to beterminated. If your workplace is federally regulated and you have beenemployed for more than three months, your employer must either giveyou two weeks notice or two weeks wages.

Complaint Process

You should keep a written record of the dates and times you workedas well as copies of your pay cheques or pay stubs. If you feel thatyour employer has not met the obligations stipulated under Canadianlabour standards laws, you may file a complaint with the ministry or

department of labour in the province or territory where you work or, ifyour workplace is federally regulated, you may file a complaint with afederal labour office. Consult the website for the area in which youwork provided in the section Labour Standards Websites.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Labour providesinformation for federally regulated workers on its website:www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/contact_us/labour.shtml

After filing a complaint, you may request a fact-finding meeting withyour employer and a labour standards officer. Note: although you may

wait to file a complaint after you stop working for that employer, thesooner you lodge a formal complaint after a problem arises the morelikely the issue can be resolved.

Remember that you have a responsibility to your employer as well. Ifyou decide to leave your job, be courteous and provide your employerwith adequate notice.

Labour Standards Websites

For more information about Canadian labour standards in provincially

regulated work places, visit the following provincial and territoriallabour department or ministry websites:

B.C. Ministry of Labour: www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/esaguide

Government of Alberta Employment and Immigration, EmploymentStandards: www.employment.alberta.ca/SFW/1224.html


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Saskatchewan Labour Standards: www.labour.gov.sk.ca/LS

Manitoba Employment Standards: www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards

Ontario: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es

Quebec: www.cnt.gouv.qc.ca/en/home/index.html

New Brunswick Employment Standards: www.gnb.ca/0308/index-e.asp

Nova Scotia Employment and Work Places:www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/employmentworkplaces

Prince Edward Island Labour and Industrial Relations:www.gov.pe.ca/cca/index.php3?number=1002354

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Standards:www.hrle.gov.nl.ca/lra/labourstandards/default.htm

Yukon Territory Employment Standards Act:www.community.gov.yk.ca/labour/esa.html

Northwest Territories Employment Standards:www.ece.gov.nt.ca/Divisions/Labour/index.htm

Nunavut Territory Labour Standards:www.entreprisescanada.ca/gol/bsa/site.nsf/en/su07097.html

Section 7: Filing a Canadian Income Tax Return

If you work in Canada, you will likely have to pay Canadian incometax. Starting at 15 percent of your gross pay, this constitutes thelargest deduction from your income. Those earning higher annualincomes (i.e. over $30,000) will be taxed at a higher rate. For moreinformation, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website: www.cra-

arc.gc.ca.

If you earned less than a threshold amount (set by the CanadaRevenue Agency), you may qualify the following year for a refund of aportion of the tax you paid. Alternatively, you may owe more tax if aninsufficient amount was deducted from your pay. In Canada, thetaxation year is the same as the calendar year (from January through


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December). You must file a Canadian income tax return by April 30 ofthe year following the year you worked in Canada.

The process for filing this income tax return is described below.

Step 1: Determine your Canadian residency status

Most participants of International Experience Canada are considerednon-residents for Canadian income tax purposes. However, if youlived in Canada for more than six months during the taxation year inquestion, you may file your income tax return as a resident. Youshould call the International Tax Services Office at 1-800-267-5177 tofind out if your home country has a tax treaty or agreement withCanada; this can affect your status with respect to income tax.

Step 2: Obtain your Canadian T4 form

Canadian employers are required by law to provide you with a T4form, which is a summary of your total Canadian earnings anddeductions for the taxation year in question. T4s for the taxation yearin question are generally mailed out any time between January andthe end of March of the following year. If you worked for more thanone employer during the taxation year in question, make sure youreceive T4s from each. To ensure you receive your T4s in time tosubmit your income tax return by the April 30 deadline, be sure toprovide each employer with your permanent mailing address.

Step 3: Obtain the income tax forms for the year you worked

The forms you will need are available from any Canadian post officeoutlet, along with a step-by-step guide to help you fill them out. Youmay also download the appropriate forms for the year in questionalong with the guide from the Canada Revenue Agency website(www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/pyrll/mply/menu-eng.html). Forexample, if your work in Canada in 2008 was primarily in Ontario,select Ontario and then download the T1 General 2008 Package.

The tax package for Canadian non-residents includes the followingforms:

Schedule 1 Federal Tax, and the 428 form for your province; Schedule A (under Non-Residents of Canada); T1234 (to access and download this form, use the Search

function on the site).


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If you qualify as a Canadian resident for taxation purposes, you onlyrequire Schedule 1 and form 428 for the province in which youprimarily worked.

If you do not feel comfortable filling out the forms yourself, you maypay an accountant or tax services specialist to help you. The typicalfee for such service is between $40 and $60. You can find theseindividuals listed in the Yellow Pages business telephone directory orby searching online (www.canada411.ca). If you have access to acomputer, you can also use tax preparation software available inCanada, for example, QuickTax.

If you are filing from overseas, help is available online atwww.taxback.com; you will be charged a processing fee.

Step 4: Mail in your completed tax package

Send the completed forms, along with the originals of your T4 slips,to:

International Tax Services Office102A 2204 Walkley RdOttawa, ONK1A 1A8 Canada

Special ConsiderationsIf you file as a non-resident, you do not need to declare income youearned outside Canada, i.e. claim $0.00 as your world income outsideCanada on the forms. If you are filing as a resident, you must claimyour total world income.

If you file as a resident, you are entitled to the basic personalexemption, which is the amount of income you can earn tax-free,($10,100 for 2008), as detailed in Schedule 1. Non-residents are alsoentitled to this amount if they earned 90 percent of their total income

for the year in question in Canada. In this case, the basic personalamount must be adjusted for the amount of time you spent in Canada(for example, if you worked in Canada for six months your basicpersonal exemption would be adjusted down to $5,050, i.e. one half of$10,100.)

If you file your Canadian income tax forms from outside Canada, andyou are entitled to a tax refund, you must include a letter with your


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forms indicating where you would like your refund sent, and in whatcurrency. The Canada Revenue Agency can issue refunds in eitherCanadian dollars, U.S. dollars or euros.

If you still have questions, call the International Tax Services Office at

1-800-267-5177. Alternatively, you may call 1-613-952-3741 whichaccepts international collect calls.

Section 8: Finding Accommodation

While you have been searching for work, you may also have beenconsidering where you would like to live during your stay in Canada.After you find work you may want to live nearby, or at least near apublic transit station that will make getting to work easier.

The following tips may help:

Once you decide you like a particular area, look for For Rentsigns posted in windows or on front lawns.

Check the Classified section of the local newspaper or ahousing magazine for apartments you can afford.

Head to a local university or college, which usually have housingboards posted in their student union offices. Sharingaccommodation with Canadian students could be a greatexperience. During summer months, many university and collegeresidences are made available for short-term tenants; however,

you must vacate by late August. Check out notice boards in public laundromats, health food and

grocery stores.

Landlords typically require a deposit to cover the last monthsrent. Always insist on a receipt for this deposit.

Rental Terms

The following chart explains the most common abbreviations you willencounter in classified ads for housing:

appls appliance lrg or lge large

apt apartment lux luxuryavail available min minutes

bachbachelor (one room withkit & bath)

mo month

BR or br bedroom mod modernbsmt basement prof professional

c/port parking available ref reqreferencerequired


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cable cable television reno renovatedd/w dish washer rm roomequip equipped shr shareevgs evenings spac spaciousf/p fireplace ste suite

flr floor studio

expensive

bachelor

furn furnished subletrental fromsomebody who isalready renting

h/w hot water tank unfurn unfurnished

hwd flr hardwood floors + utilextra for heat andelectricity

immac immaculate w/d washer and dryer

immed immediately 1st and lastfirst and lastmonths rent inadvance

lndry Laundry facilities hydro electricity

In every province except Quebec, a bachelor or studio unit comprisesone room with a kitchen area and bathroom. In Quebec, these unitsare advertized as 1 or 2 bedroom.

In every province except Quebec, a one-bedroom apartment typicallycomprises a living room, kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom. InQuebec, these units are advertized as 3 bedroom.

In every province except Quebec, a two-bedroom apartment

comprises a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. InQuebec, these units are advertized as 4 bedroom.

Rental Agreements

Avoid signing a lease, if possible; some landlords will rentaccommodations month-to-month. Remember: leases are legallybinding, so do not sign a one-year lease if you only plan to live therefor six months. If your landlord insists on a lease, ask if you maysublet the unit when you leave.

The person who signs such a contract is the only one responsible for

any payments owing (including compensation to the landlord for anydamage caused to the unit). Therefore, if a lease is required for aspace you will be sharing, all occupants should sign the agreement andshare the responsibility.

Both you and your landlord will each keep a copy of your lease.


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Tenant Safety Checklist

Before you sign a rental agreement, make sure your new apartment issafe:

Does each room have a window? If accessible from the street,

can these windows be locked? Is there at least one smoke alarm and a fire escape route?

Is public transportation available nearby?

Does the neighborhood feel safe, i.e. would you feel comfortablecoming home alone after dark?

Do all of the fixtures included in the rent work properly? Is thewater coming from the faucet scalding hot? Do toilets flushproperly?

Are mouse traps and cockroach bait evident, i.e. signs that you

may be sharing your apartment with unwanted insects and/orrodents?

Other questions to consider before you sign a rental agreement:

How much is the rent and when are my payments due? Takinginto account my prospective income, is this affordable?

Is the unit furnished?

Can I pay by cheque or cash? If cash, will I be given a receipt?

Does the rent include utilities, i.e. heat, water and electricity?

Can I install a telephone?

Are there laundry facilities in the building? If not, are theylocated nearby?

Are food stores located nearby?

Can I control the heat in my unit?

Can I smoke or drink alcoholic beverages in my unit?

Can I smoke in the hallways or elevators?

Do the appliances included in my rent work properly?

How many days notice must I provide before moving out?

How many people share the bathroom or kitchen? May I meetmy roommates beforehand to see if we would be compatible?

Make a list of existing damage to your unit before you move in andprovide a copy to your landlord. This way, your landlord cannot chargeyou to repair any pre-existing damage. Insist on receipts from yourlandlord for all cash deposits or rents paid.


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Similar to any Canadian citizen, you are obliged to understand theimplications of a rental agreement you sign. Once you sign such anagreement, you agree to take on certain legal responsibilities;breaking the terms of your lease can have legal consequences.

Tenant Protection

You are entitled to the same rights as Canadian citizens with respect torental agreements. The government of the province in which youreside can intervene on your behalf if you believe you are being dealtwith unfairly by your landlord. In such cases, use the websiteaddresses below to contact the appropriate provincial ministry ordepartment.

British Columbia Residential Tenancy Branch: www.rto.gov.bc.ca

Service Alberta (Landlords and Tenants):www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/Landlords_Tenants.cfm

Saskatchewan (Justice and Attorney General, The Landlord and TenantAct): www.justice.gov.sk.ca/Landlord-and-Tenant-Act

Manitoba (Residential Tenancies Branch):www.gov.mb.ca/finance/cca/rtb

Ontario (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Landlord and

Tenant Issues): www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page2082.aspx

Quebec (Service Quebec): www.logement.info.gouv.qc.ca/fr/index.asp

New Brunswick (Service New Brunswick): www.snb.ca/irent

Nova Scotia Canada: www.snb.ca/e/1000/1000-2/e/1000-2_004_e.asp

PEI: www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=20580

Newfoundland and Labrador Government Services (ResidentialTenancies): www.gs.gov.nl.ca/cca/tp/residential-tenancies

Nunavut (Canada Mortgage and Housing): www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/yogureho/fash/fash_008.cfm

Yukon: www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/landtact.html


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NWT: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/yogureho/fash/fash_006.cfm

Section 9: Health Care

Health Care Insurance

Canadians benefit from universal access to public health care that isadministered by the provinces and which meets the requirements ofthe federal Canada Health Act. As with mandated protections foremployees and tenants, the provinces differ slightly in terms of howthey deliver health care coverage, especially with respect to non-residents. In most Canadian provinces, non-residents are simply notcovered for any part of their stay in Canada.

Because it is unlikely that you will be covered by Canadian publichealth care insurance, it is vitally important that you arrange to becovered by your own private health care insurance from the momentyou arrive Canada, and that you ensure this insurance coverage lastsat least until you leave. Extending your medical insurance coveragecan sometimes be difficult when you are in Canada, so make sure theterm of your insurance covers your entire stay. Arranging for your owninsurance before you arrive will be less expensive in the long-run thanpurchasing a Visitor to Canada insurance package once you are here.

Medical costs can be very expensive in Canada (up to several thousand

dollars a day) so maintaining your coverage is very important. Theprocedures for which you are covered will depend on your individualinsurance policy so read your policy or contact your insurancecompany to be sure.

If you need to extend your insurance term while in Canada, do sobefore your existing term expires. You will need to provide yourinsurance company with the policy number, the date the policy wasissued, the expiry date and the type of insurance. Ensure yourpayment for extended coverage is received by your insurancecompany prior to the expiry date of the existing policy.

There are two ways to extend your insurance while in Canada:

Ask a family member or friend back home to contact yourinsurance company or your sending organization on your behalf.


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Phone or fax your insurance company or sending organizationwith the information; use a credit card to pay or mail thecompany a money order.

Although it is unlikely that you will be covered by Canadian public

health care insurance during your stay, you may neverthelessinvestigate the provincial websites below in case there is a possibilitythat public medical coverage may be extended to you in the particularprovince in which you are residing.

B.C.: www.health.gov.bc.ca/insurance/msp_register.html

Alberta: www.health.alberta.ca/health-care-insurance-plan.html

Saskatchewan: www.health.gov.sk.ca/health-benefits

Manitoba: www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/index.html

Ontario: www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip

Quebec:www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citoyens/assurancemaladie/arriver/ext_can.shtml

New Brunswick:http://app.infoaa.7700.gnb.ca/gnb/Pub/EServices/ListServiceDetails.asp?ServiceID1=9035&ReportType1=All

Nova Scotia: www.gov.ns.ca/health/msi

PEI: www.gov.pe.ca/health/index.php3?number=1020790

Newfoundland and Labrador: www.health.gov.nl.ca/mcp

Yukon:www.hss.gov.yk.ca/programs/insured_hearing/health_card

NWT:www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/english/services/health_care_plan/default.htm

Nunavut:www.gov.nu.ca/hr/site/HR_Manual/1600_Insurances/1607_Nunavut_Health_Care_Plan/1607%20-%20Nunavut%20Health%20Care%20Plan.pdf

Medical and Dental VisitsIn most areas of Canada, if you experience a medical emergency you,or someone helping you, will dial 911 on a landline telephone. In someremote parts of Canada, you may have to dial 0 to reach the operator.You will be charged for ambulance services if these are required.


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For less threatening situations, for example, if your stomach hurts oryou have twisted your ankle, your best bet is to visit a walk-in clinicwhere you will be examined by medical staff, i.e. a physician or anurse practitioner.

You can expect to pay between $50 to $100 for an examination by amedical doctor. In emergencies in which you are admitted to hospital,the hospital will contact your insurance company directly on yourbehalf. Always carry the emergency contact number of your insurancecompany and your policy number with you.

You will be required to pay up-front costs for medicine you receive andfor medical services, so keep all receipts. You will need these to claimyour expenses through your insurance company, in accordance withthe conditions of your particular policy. Make sure you are adequatelycovered to avoid taking thousands of dollars in medical debt home as asouvenir!

Fees for dental services can vary depending on the dentist and therequired procedures. You can save money by having minor dentalwork performed by supervised dentistry students at local colleges.Dental work is not covered by public health care insurance in Canada.

Section 10: Safety

Alcohol

The minimum legal drinking age in Prince Edward Island, Quebec,Manitoba, Alberta and the three Canadian territories is 18 years ofage; in the rest of Canada the legal age limit is 19 years. Canada hasrecently lowered the legal limit for blood alcohol while operating amotor vehicle: if you drink and drive while under the influence ofalcohol, under Canadian law you are likely committing a criminaloffence. Therefore, if you go out drinking with friends and will need aride home afterward, either designate one individual who agrees torefrain from drinking alcohol during that period as the driver, take acab home or use public transportation.

You may notice signs posted in public places bearing the wordsArriveAlive! Don't Drink and Drive! These notices are part of a publiccampaign in Canada to stop the deadly practice of driving afterconsuming alcohol.

While in many other countries people are permitted to drink alcohol inpublic placesfor example, they can appear in public holding an open


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can of beerCanada is not among them. Your insurance policy mayalso deny any expenses you submit that are associated with an injuryyou sustained while under the influence of alcohol.

Smoking

You will see No Smoking signs posted in public places across Canada.By law, smoking is prohibited indoors in office buildings, restaurants,bars shops and most other public spaces. Be courteous before decidingto smoke in private homes or apartments: always ask for permissionto smoke. The minimum legal smoking age varies across Canada; it istypically either 18 or 19 years, depending on the province. Theenforcement of smoking laws in various Canadian municipalities canalso vary.

Drugs

In Canada it is illegal to possess, use or sell marijuana, hashish orother kinds of recreational drugs; the penalties for doing so aresevere. Avoid any activity that will result in you spending your workingholiday in a Canadian prison.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

STDs are international travelers too. Diseases such as HIV can becontracted by engaging in unprotected sex with an infected person orby sharing injection needles with people who carry the virus. Toprotect yourself and your partner, always use a latex condom. Theseare available from some public health clinics, at no cost, and in all

drugstores.

Section11: Currency, Retail Taxes and Banking

The official monetary unit in Canada is the Canadian dollar ($), whichconsists of 100 cents (). Coinage comprises: the penny (one cent);the nickel (5 cents); the dime (10 cents); the quarter (25 cents); theloonie ($1); and the toonie ($2). Paper currency (bills) comprises $5,$10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations and, unlike U.S. currency, iscolour-coded. The $50 and $100 bills are less frequently used becauseof counterfeiting issues; some Canadian businesses refuse to accept

bills in denominations over $50.

Who's on the Money?

In case you were wondering about the faces on our bills:

$5: Sir Wilfrid Laurier, our first francophone prime minister; $10: Sir John A. MacDonald, our first prime minister;


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$20: Elizabeth II, head of state of the U.K. and 15Commonwealth countries, including Canada;

$50: Sir Robert Borden, our prime minister during World War I;and

$100: William Lyon Mackenzie King, our longest-serving prime

minister, served during World War II.

All Canadian coins depict Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse (heads).The reverse (tails) has the following variations:

Nickel: Beaver, Canadas national emblem;

Dime: Bluenose, the famed Nova Scotia schooner;

Quarter: Usually the caribou, but the design can be used tocommemorate major events;

Loonie: Loon, a duck-like bird found primarily on waterways in

Canadian cottage areas; and Toonie: Polar bear.

Sales Tax

When you purchase goods or services in Canada, you will be chargedtwo types of sales tax: provincial sales tax (PST) plus the Goods andServices Tax (GST). All provinces (except for Alberta) charge PST.Although the PST rate varies by province, the GST is a federal tax andit is a standard 5 percent of the cost of the goods and servicespurchased.

These sales taxes are not included in the retail price tag, i.e. they areadded to the price of your purchases at the cash register when youpay. Some provinces charge an HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) whichcombines the GST with the PST.

Banking

You will need to set up a bank account in order to receive your pay; itis unwise to keep large sums of cash at home. Your employer caneither deposit your pay directly into your bank account or issue you acheque. Opening a bank account is easy: you need proof ofidentification, such as your passport, work permit and credit cards,and a nominal amount of money. If you have not yet received yoursocial insurance number, you may show the individual creating yourbank account the Acknowledgement of Application for a SocialInsurance Number that you received from Service Canada. Althoughyou can choose to open any of several types of accounts, a chequingaccount is the most convenient.


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Choose one of the five major Canadian banks because these haveoutlets across Canada:

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)

Bank of Montreal (BMO) Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank)

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

Toronto Dominion (TD Canada Trust)

Most banks charge monthly service fees and/or charge for eachtransaction, i.e. each time you use your bank card or issue a cheque,unless you maintain a minimum balance in your account. Services,fees, and hours of operation vary from bank to bank, although mostbanks are open from Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., andclose at 6 p.m. on Fridays. Some banks are open for a few hours onSaturday as well. Choose a bank appropriate to your needs. Also findout how long you will have to wait to withdraw cash after you havedeposited your pay cheque as some banks will place a temporary holdof five to seven days for new customers.

Most banks will provide you with a card that allows you to access anautomated banking machine (ABM) also known as an ATM (automatedteller machine). ATMs allow you to deposit and withdraw money, paybills and transfer funds between accounts at your convenience 24

hours a day. Remember that the bank may charge you each time youuse an ATM unless you keep a minimum balance in your account. Mostbanks are part of the Interac system, which will allow you to accessyour account from any ATM in Canada. Please note that automaticservice charges apply whenever you use an ATM from another bankcorporation.

Canadian banks have arrangements with U.S. banks (usually throughthe Cirrus network) that will allow direct access to your account frommost ATMs in the United States. Most European, Australian and New

Zealand ATM cards will work in Canada and in the United States too.

There are a number of ways in which you may transfer money fromhome:

By wire from your home bank account to your Canadian bankaccount; fast and reliable;


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By mail via international money orders or postal orders; lessexpensive but also slower;

By Western Union, which is a worldwide service with the capacityto transfer money within an hour. Visit www.westernunion.ca tofind the nearest agent location.

Credit Cards

A credit card is a very useful financial tool. You can use your card tomake a deposit when purchasing concert or airline tickets or makinghotel reservations, to rent a car or top up your cell phone account.Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted cards throughoutNorth America.

U.S. Currency

U.S. coins are accepted on par with Canadian coins in Canada so they

have same purchasing power. If you need to convert U.S. dollars intoCanadian, check with several different banks to get the best exchangerate.

Tipping

Unlike in some European countries, a charge for service is not includedin the final bill so many people coming to Canada will be unfamiliarwith the practice of tipping for a meal or a cab ride. While in Canada,you will be tipping quite frequently; servers, bartenders, cab drivers,hairdressers and people who deliver pizza count on tips to make adecent living! It is appropriate to tip between 10 to 15 percent of thebill before taxes, more if the service was excellent. Use your discretionwhen deciding to tip if the service was poor. Do not tip sales staff inretail stores.

Section 12: Communications

Landline Telephones

Bell Canada is named after Alexander Graham Bell, the Canadian whoinvented the telephone. Although Bell is the largest telephonecompany operating in Canada, you will have a choice among other

telephone companies, e.g. Rogers, Telus and Shaw, if you decide toinstall a landline phone in your home. You can also choose to rent thetelephone handset itself from the company or purchase your own froma retail store.

The company performing the installation will require your full addressand the room in which you want the telephone installed. A deposit ofbetween $200 to $300 is sometimes required, as well as valid


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identification. You will be charged a monthly fee for your telephonerather than pay-as-you-go, as is the case in some other countries, andyou will pay extra for features such as voice mail.

A growing number of private long-distance providers have also entered

the market in Canada so shop around for the best deal.

Depending on the province,local calls at a pay phone cost between25 and 50 per call of any duration. You can also purchase phonecards or use credit cards to make calls, which can be cheaper thangoing through one of the major telephone companies (although youwill still need access to a telephone.)

Cell Phones (Mobiles)

If you come to Canada from outside North America, it is likely that themobile phone you brought with you will not work hereor using it willbecome prohibitively expensive. (North Americans tend to use theterm cell rather than mobile.) If you have a GSM cell phone, youonly require a SIM card, not a new phone.

In any case, you may want to consider purchasing a cell phone inCanada. Various cell phone companies offer a full range of services,features and rate plans. On most plans, you will be billed for bothincoming and outgoing calls. Purchasing a cell phone will cost about$75 to $100 for the phone itself. In addition, you can purchase cellphone Pay-as-you-Go cards that cost about $25 for 60 minutes of talk

time within Canada. Most companies also now offer month-to-monthbilling plans that do not require you to sign a contract.

The following are the most well-known cell phone service providers:

Bell Mobility: www.bellmobility.ca

Fido: www.fido.ca

Koodo Mobile: www.koodomobile.com

Rogers: www.rogers.ca

Solo Mobile: www.solomobile.ca

Telus Mobility: www.telusmobility.ca

Virgin Mobile: www.virginmobile.ca

The following dialing rules apply:


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Local (most Canadian municipalities): 10-digit number, i.e. 3-digit area code followed by 7-digit phone number

Long Distance (within North America): 1 + 3-digit area code +7-digit phone number

Long Distance (overseas): 011 + country code + city code +local number, e.g. 011 44 71 251 3472

Directory Assistance: 411 (for local phone numbers); 1 + areacode + 555 1212 (for long distance numbers). (You will becharged 75 cents per call for this service.)

Operator: 0

Emergency: 911

Postal Service

Canada Post outlets are located inside many drug stores and

convenience stores. Mail is delivered from Monday to Friday but largepackages will not be delivered to your home; instead, you will receivea notice in the mail that you must take with you, along with someidentification, in order to collect your packages. Canada Post will holdthese for two weeks. In small towns, mail is not delivered to individualhomes; residents must pick up their mail at the local post office. Mailis kept at general delivery for one week only. Postal rates are thesame for both envelopes and postcards. You must include the six-character postal code on anything you mail.

The cost to mail:

One standard letter anywhere in Canada is 54 cents;

One standard letter to the United States is 98 cents; and

One standard letter overseas is $1.65.

Time Zones

Canada, the worlds second-largest country (by territory), spans sixtime zones. Sir Stanford Fleming, the Canadian engineer responsiblefor launching the Canadian Pacific rail system, created theinternational time zone system because he needed to develop

workable timetables for a rail service that operated from sea to sea. Allprovinces except Saskatchewan switch between daylight saving timeand standard time to make optimal use of daylight throughout theyear. In early April, clocks are set one hour ahead; in mid-October,clocks are set back one hour.


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Section 13: Travelling in Canada

Your Canadian experience should take you beyond the area where yousettle and workso go ahead, explore the beauty and diversity thatmakes our country special. While our cities are wonderful, you mustventure into the magnificent countryside to really appreciate Canada.According to The Economist, Canada is among the three most sceniccountries on earth, along with Norway and New Zealand. Discover theunique arts and crafts of our First Nations people.

By Airline

Flying is the most efficient and fastest way to travel across NorthAmerica. Canadas two largest air carriers, Air Canada and WestJet,serve most Canadian cities. Regional carriers include Porter Airlineswhich flies out of the Toronto Island Airport to Ottawa, Montreal,Halifax and a number of U.S. cities.

All Canadian carriers provide on-line booking services and most offer arange of prices for one-way flights. So if you find an exceptionallyinexpensive one-way price to your destination, you will need to beflexible about your return date if you want the same low price for thefinal leg of your journey. All Canadian travel agencies can assist youbooking domestic flights; the fees they charge are more than offset bytheir knowledge, which can end up saving you significant money andtime. Most travel agencies offer on-line booking services which includedomestic flights.

By Bus

Canadians use the word bus to refer to either local transit vehicles orhighway coaches. Canadian bus line companies offer an extensivenetwork of reliable bus service throughout the country, which includesfrequent downtown-to-downtown services between major cities.Voyageur is the major bus company in eastern Ontario and westernQuebec, while Greyhound services most of Canada, offering severaltypes of passes such as the Greyhound Canada Pass and the Point-to-Point Pass. Acadian bus line services Atlantic Canada. The MooseTravel Network offers a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of central and

western Canada which starts in Toronto.

By Train

VIA Rail Canada provides passenger rail service in Canada, and offersan extensive schedule of operations in the Qubec City-Windsorcorridor, an area straddling Ontario and the province of Quebec whereclose to 50 percent of Canadians live. The Ocean provides twice-


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weekly service between Montreal and Halifax and the Canadian runsbetween Montreal and Toronto to Vancouver. Regina, Calgary andBanff are not served by the Canadian.

By Automobile

Car rental agencies are located across Canada. Check the Yellow Pagesunder Automobile Renting. Prices are competitive, so check morethan one agency to get the best deal. Most agencies will not rent a carto you unless you are at least 25 years of age and hold a major creditcard. Buying a car while in any foreign country, including Canada, isnot recommended because the process can be complicated and theinsurance costs can be quite high, particularly for young people.

Driving in North America

If your home drivers permit is not in English or French, obtaining an

International Drivers Permit is wise; however, you must apply for itbefore coming to Canada. If you are interested in working as a driver,you must obtain a Canadian driver's licence at a ministry oftransportation office in the province where you intend to drive. Bringyour home drivers licence and your birth certificate with you when youapply.

Citizens from countries that have reciprocal licensing agreements withthe Canadian provinces can exchange their home drivers licence for aCanadian drivers licence. If this does not apply in your case, you maybe required to pass the complete drivers test.

In Canada, the speed limits are posted in kilometres (kms). The legalspeed limit in urban areas is typically 50 km per hour while the legalspeed limit on highways is 100 km per hour. Traffic at intersections isregulated by automatic lights, and roundabouts are rare; traffic moveson the right.

Short-term Accommodation

You will find youth hostels in major Canadian cities, such as those runby Hostelling International, or independently run hostels such as

Global Village Backpackers, the Canadiana Backpackers Inn, andSameSun.

The following websites link to information about the major hostels:

Hostelling International Canada:www.hihostels.ca/en/home.aspx

Global Village Backpackers: www.globalbackpackers.com


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Canadiana Backpackers Inn: www.canadianalodging.com

SameSun Backpackers Lodges: http://samesun.com

During the summer months, many university residences also offershort-term accommodation. In fact, many participants of InternationalExperience Canada will opt to rent accommodation for the entiresummer from these residences even though they must vacate by lateAugust to make room for Canadian university students who begin theirfall terms in early September.

Section 14: Enjoying a Canadian Winter

Winter is not equally intense everywhere: in a country the size ofCanada, the weather varies from region to region. For example, winterin Toronto, Ontario, can be milder than in Chicago, a U.S. neighbour;Winnipeg, Manitoba, can be downright frigid; while in Victoria, B.C.,

located at the southern end of Vancouver Island near the Pacific coast,golf courses remain open year-round.

Nevertheless, during the winter months (December through March)you can expect major snow storms anywhere in Canada, and severesub-zero temperatures in the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewanand Manitoba), Ontario and Quebec. Winter weather in areas along theAtlantic coast is typically not as mild as in areas along the Pacific.

The Chinook is a type of weather pattern unique to Calgary and the

area around southern Alberta. On some winter days, people who livethere can leave their homes in the morning in minus 20 degree Celsiustemperatures wearing their parkasand return home that eveningcarrying their parkas because temperatures have soared to plus20 degrees Celsius! This is a naturally occurring phenomenon but thewarmth only lasts a few hours. Meanwhile, Torontonians enjoy aphenomenon known as the lake effect; nearby Lake Ontarioproduces a moderating influence on the weather which means a majorsnowstorm occurring in the far northern suburbs of the city may notextend southward to the areas closer to the lake.

Canadian homes are heated centrally and heating costs can be high inwinter since it takes a considerable amount of fuel to maintain indoortemperatures around 19 degrees Celsius when it is minus 19 degreesCelsius outside. So factor this cost in if you are renting a home andmust purchase your own heating fuel. Most apartment units areheated electrically and although the cost of heat may be included inthe rent, it is worth confirming this with your landlord.


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To keep warm outside, Canadians tend to layer their winter clothing,i.e. they wear shirts and sweaters beneath their outer winter jackets.Canadians can be style-conscious as well, so although being warm isimportant, looking good is too! You can find attractive winter clothing

in a multitude of discount clothing stores in Canadian cities or insecond-hand shops such as those operated by charitable organizationslike the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul. If you are living in oneof Canadas colder regions, you will be more comfortable if you wearinsulated gloves and boots and a heavier winter coat. These can bereasonably priced if insulated with synthetic materials. And wear a hat,even though it may interfere with your hairstyle: hat hair is betterthan frost bite.

So cover up if you plan to be outdoors in temperatures below minus20 degrees Celsius, or in cold temperatures accompanied by a highwind chill factor, because exposed human skin, particularly theextremities, can freeze in minutes. In sub-freezing temperaturesexpose as little skin as possible, and avoid long hikes. If you must beoutside for any length of time, take shelter indoors often to warm up.

Some large Canadian cities have connected their transportation gridsto pedestrian underground walkways, which makes getting around inthe winter much easier. Both Toronto and Montreal have constructedextensive networks of well-lit tunnels in their city cores which connecttheir subway systems with hotels and shopping malls. Large buildings

in Calgarys downtown core are linked through a series ofinterconnected above-ground glassed-in passagewaysthe Plus 15system, so-called because these are approximately 15 feet aboveground. Halifax, Nova Scotia, has built a similar, although much lessextensive, system in its downtown core. Downtown Winnipeg,Manitobawhich can be so cold during the winter its citizens oftenrefer to it as Winterpegalso features underground passageways.

The Last Word

We hope you enjoy discovering Canada and its people, and that thewonderful memories you bring home with you are among your mosttreasured souvenirs. We also invite you to email your comments andsuggestions about this guide to [email protected].

Documents

IEC-EIC Guide for Foreign Participants-Eng