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Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border.
The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonial expeditions explored, and later settled, the region's Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America to Britain in 1763 after the Seven Years' War. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces.
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border.
The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonial expeditions explored, and later settled, the region's Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America to Britain in 1763 after the Seven Years' War. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. This began an accretion of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy, culminating in the Canada Act 1982.
Canada is a federal state governed as a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. The country is officially bilingual and multicultural at the federal level, with a population of approximately 35 million as of 2013. Canada's advanced economy is one of the largest in the world, relying chiefly upon its abundant natural resources and well-developed trade networks, especially with the United States, with which it has had a long and complex relationship.
Canada is one of the world's most developed nations, with the ninth highest per capita income globally, and the sixth highest ranking in human development. Subsequently, Canada performs above-average in international measurements of education, government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, and economic freedom. Canada is a recognized middle power and a member of many international institutions, including the G7, G8, G20, NATO, NAFTA, OECD, WTO, Commonwealth of Nations, Francophonie, OAS, APEC, and the United Nations.
Climate/
Average temperatures in January and July are different for each area. Winter can be very severe in some regions of the country, average temperatures can reach 15 ˚ C below zero in the southern part of the country, and sometimes -45 ˚ C with strong icy winds. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Canada is -63 ˚ C (in the Yukon). Each year, the snow level to several hundred centimeters (for example, in Quebec, on average 337 cm). Coast of British Columbia, particularly Vancouver Island, is an exception and has a temperate climate with mild and rainy winters. Summer temperatures can reach 35 ˚ C and 40 ˚ C even given the humidity index.
Government and politics
Canada has a parliamentary system within the context of a constitutional monarchy, the monarchy of Canada being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II, who also serves as head of state of 15 other Commonwealth countries and each of Canada's ten provinces. As such, the Queen's representative, the Governor General of Canada (at present David Lloyd Johnston), carries out most of the federal royal duties in Canada. The direct participation of the royal and viceroyal figures in areas of governance is limited.In practice, their use of the executive powers is directed by the Cabinet, a committee of ministers of the Crown responsible to the elected House of Commons and chosen and headed by the Prime Minister of Canada (at present Stephen Harper),the head of government.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is thus one of the most powerful institutions in government, initiating most legislation for parliamentary approval and selecting for appointment by the Crown, besides the aforementioned, the governor general, lieutenant governors, senators, federal court judges, and heads of Crown corporations and government agencies. The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually becomes the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition (presently Thomas Mulcair) and is part of an adversarial parliamentary system intended to keep the government in check.
Law
The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of the country, and consists of written text and unwritten conventions. The Constitution Act, 1867 (known as the British North America Act prior to 1982), affirmed governance based on parliamentary precedent and divided powers between the federal and provincial governments. The Statute of Westminster 1931 granted full autonomy and the Constitution Act, 1982, ended all legislative ties to the UK, as well as adding a constitutional amending formula and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees basic rights and freedoms that usually cannot be overridden by any government—though a notwithstanding clause allows the federal parliament and provincial legislatures to override certain sections of the Charter for a period of five years.
Provinces and territories
Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories. In turn, these may be grouped into four main regions: Western Canada, Central Canada, Atlantic Canada, and Northern Canada ("Eastern Canada" refers to Central Canada and Atlantic Canada together). Provinces have more autonomy than territories, having responsibility for social programs such as health care, education, and welfare. Together, the provinces collect more revenue than the federal government, an almost unique structure among federations in the world. Using its spending powers, the federal government can initiate national policies in provincial areas, such as the Canada Health Act; the provinces can opt out of these, but rarely do so in practice. Equalization payments are made by the federal government to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces.
Language
Canada's two official languages are Canadian English and Canadian French. Official bilingualism is defined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Official Languages Act, and Official Language Regulations; it is applied by the Commissioner of Official Languages. English and French have equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and in all federal institutions. Citizens have the right, where there is sufficient demand, to receive federal government services in either English or French, and official-language minorities are guaranteed their own schools in all provinces and territories.
Culture
Historically, Canada has been influenced by British, French, and aboriginal cultures and traditions. Through their language, art and music, aboriginal peoples continue to influence the Canadian identity. Many Canadians value multiculturalism and see Canada as being inherently multicultural. American media and entertainment are popular, if not dominant, in English Canada; conversely, many Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful in the United States and worldwide. The preservation of a distinctly Canadian culture is supported by federal government programs, laws, and institutions such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
Religion
Canadians profess a lot of religions . According to the last census, 77.1% of Canadians
consider themselves Christians , most of them are Roman Catholics (43.6% of Canadians).The most important Protestant
Church - United Church
of Canada ( Calvinists ), approximately 17% of Canadians are not affiliated
with any religion, and the rest of the population (6.7%) than the professed
Christian religions ( Judaism , Islam , Buddhism ,
The contribution to popular culture
Canada has produced a large number of well-known pop, folk and jazz musicians .
Canadian cinema has developed recently. In 1939, A National Film Board, and in 1967 the Government established the Canadian Film Development Corporation (now known under the name "Telefilm Canada") to assist film producers to shoot movies. Soon after, there were such outstanding films on Canadian themes as "Down the Road" Shebiba Don (1970) and " My Uncle Antoine "by Claude Zhyutra (1971). Gained international recognition by Canadian director Denys Arcand (" Decline of the American Empire "), Atom Egoyan (Exotica), Norman Jewison and David Cronenberg.
A number of world-renowned filmmakers, as actors and directors were born or lived a long time in Canada, but has made an artistic career in the United States. Can be called a well-known actors like Tommy Chong , Mary Pickford ,Matthew Perry , Erik Knudsen, Michael J. Fox , Keanu Reeves , Ryan Reynolds , Jim Carrey , Ellen Page , Francois Arnaud andJessica Lowndes . Of directors is primarily a James Cameron ( The Terminator ) and Norman Jewison ( Jesus Christ - Superstar ).
Symbols of Canada
Maple
Maple-leaf
Beaver
Elk
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Uniquely Canadian symbols are the maple leaf and maple syrup , Canadian beaver , loon , Canada Goose , the Crown and the officer in a wide-brimmed hat and red uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. State symbols - is the fruit of natural and historical sources, as well as indigenous peoples. In particular, the maple leaf is used as a Canadian national symbol since the XVIII century and is depicted on the old flag of Canada, in its current flag, a penny (cent, pronounced [sənt] or usually [sən]), as well as on the arms.
Education
For education in Canada, the provinces and territories are responsible, at the moment in Canada, there is no state Department of Education. Each of the educational system is similar to the others, while displaying their own history, local culture and geography of the province. Only system in Quebec is most different from the others: there at the end of primary school studies in the School of continuing general professional education (Cégep) - school, prepare for university and preparing technical specialists. Age training varies across Canada, but this is usually the period from 5-7 to 16-18 years, contributing to 99 percent of adult literacy. For upper secondary and higher education meet provincial and territorial governments, which are mostly his and finance, the federal government provides grants for further research activities. For 2002, 43% of Canadian adults 25 to 64 years have already been completed secondary or higher education, and from 25 to 34 years, the number of such people is 51%.
Higher education in Canada. Universities and Colleges of Canada
Canada - one of the safest countries in the world and the country, suitable for comfortable training. In Canada, there are about 100 universities and university colleges (University Colleges).
The Universities to study in an undergraduate program and a bachelor's degree, training lasts 3-4 years.Students who already have a degree can continue their education in their field, learning graduate program (Post Graduate Diploma), training lasts 1-2 years.
Besides the universities, in Canada, there are a large number of colleges with different programs for 20-30 specialties varying duration.
Catalogue of Canadian universities
Cape Breton University
Location: g.Sidney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Programs: Bachelor's programs, diploma and certificate programs, English Academic Preparation (EAP)
Centennial College
Location: city Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Program: the program should be undergraduate, graduate and certificate authority software, University Transfer Program
Conestoga College
Location: city Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Bachelor's programs, diploma and certificate programs, programs Co-op, post-graduate education programs, training of English language ESL
George Brown College
Location: city Toronto, Ontario
Programs: Certificate Authority, degree programs, bachelor degree, the program Co-op, graduate programs, training programs for English language
MacEwan University
Location: city Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Programs: University International Studies Program, 9 undergraduate programs, 50 graduate programs, and University Transfer program
McGill University (1921): www.mcgill.ca
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Description: In recent years, Business School McGill consistently among the 15 strongest on the North American continent. In 2011, the London Times gave the university honored the 28th place among the educational institutions in Canada and the U.S.. Along with excellent practical results of research McGill is characterized by high frequency of its citation of documents. Particular attention is given to attract foreign students.
Number of students : 34 thousand
Specialties : linguistics, economics, ecology, chemistry, finance, philosophy, physics, statistics, social sciences, agriculture, crop production, psychology, law, political science, music, management, medicine, materials science, mathematics, marketing, culture, communication, art, computer science, engineering, zoology, geography, accounting, business, anthropology.
Classes start in September / October and January
Duration of training : four years (undergraduate) from a year to eighteen months (MA).
Tuition : CAD15'000 - 27'000 / year
The cost of room and board : CAD11'000 - 14'000 / year
Entrance Requirements : Age 17 +; TOEFL ibt: 80-100; certificate of previous academic education
McGill University ( English. McGill University ) - the oldest and most famous university in Canada. Founded in 1821 , and opened in 1829 , inMontreal ( Quebec , Canada )
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