Canadian Miscellaneous - Canada FAQ
Besides the major Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter, etc., most people throughout Canada observe several other holidays. Victoria Day (also known as Sovereign's birthday) is celebrated on Monday or prior to May 24. Canada Day also known as Dominion Day or Memorial Day is observed on July 1. Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October while Remembrance Day is observed on November 11. Boxing Day is another holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas, December 26.National Anthem of Canada
The song O Canada has been the national anthem of Canada since July 1, 1980. The patriotic lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier - a poet and judge. The music of the anthem was composed by Calixa Lavallee in 1880. The original poem was in French and there are several literal translations in English but the official English version of the lyrics was written by Robert Stanley Weir in 1908.
Official Bilingualism
Canada is officially a bilingual country and both languages - English and French - have equal status in all federal institutions. However, English is the mother tongue of approximately 60 percent of the country's population while French is the mother tongue of 24 percent of the Canadian citizens. The Francophone Canadians live mainly in Quebec but there are French-speaking people in New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba.
Universities in Canada
There are three types of universities in Canada - major, mid-sized and small ones. Universities are located across the territory of the country, with at least one educational establishment in every province. They educate thousands of students in undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs. Canadian degrees are recognized around the globe and regarded equivalent to those from Commonwealth and US institutions. University tuition fees for full-time students vary from $2,000 (for Canadian citizens) and $7,000 (for international students) up to $18,000 for Canadians and $20,000 for foreigners. Conducting 35 percent of Canada's research, worth about $10.2 billion, universities are the largest performer of research in the country, besides the industry.
National Symbols of Canada
One of the most popular symbols of Canada and its national emblem, the Maple leaf appears on the coins and the national flag. The Indians used the sap of the tree long before the continent saw the ships carrying immigrants. It is considered that the maple leaf turned into a Canadian symbol in the 1700s. The Beaver is another major symbol of the country and has been the emblem of Canada since March 24, 1975. Today, the Beaver is depicted on the back of 5-cent coins and on a few provincial coats of arms. And besides, the Nova Scotia Association of Architects celebrates the National Beaver Day on the last Friday of February.
Canada's Most Popular Attractions
As a matter of fact, there are thousands of natural and manmade attractions in Canada, but the top ten gained worldwide popularity are: Niagara Falls, Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis - an amazing colorful dance of air), CN Tower, the second highest building in the world, Cabot Trail, a unique and unforgettable adventure, and Old Quebec City, one of the oldest fortified cities in North America. Banff National Park is the oldest park in Canada and a divine chain of mountains, situated west of Calgary. Peggy's Cove, one of the major attractions in Nova Scotia, is among the most remarkable lighthouses in the world. Bay of Fundy is a kind of a mediator of two provinces that boosts the highest tides in the world. In Stanley Park, visitors can see the rumored world's biggest cedar and the National Geographic tree. Parliament Hill, situated on the banks of Ottawa River, is the symbol of the Canadian democracy.
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