Canada is a big spacious country, the largest in the world, a total of 3,851,809sq miles/9,976,185sq kms, it reaches from the Pacific in the west to the Atlantic in the east, a distance of 7000km, and from the latitude of Rome it reaches beyond the Magnetic North Pole. Its landscapes are varied between, mountains, fjiords, praires, lakes, forests, deserts and tundra, in southern canada you can visit desert and rainforest in the same day, whilst in the east you can see fjiords and orchards, they are so close together. Vast areas of Canada are totally unspoilt, in fact there are numerous National Parks that are only accessible by float planes. Canada like America, is a very cosmopolitan country, its people come from all corners of the Earth, English, German, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Ukrainian, Dutch, French, Indian, Austalian, Tibetan, It is a very racial tolerant country, which adds to the visitors pleasure, and indeed the Canadians themselves. Vancouver has the largest Chinatown in the western world. Asked to describe a Canadian, Pierre Berton (a famous Canadian writer) answered with the imortal words " Canadians are people who know how to make love in a canoe" another famous writer and once Governer-General of Canada, John Buchan, once said "you have to know a man very well before you know his surname". Canadians have a great sense of pride in their country and its history and take great delight in utilising its beautiful scenery by "doing the great outdoors".



Hostels and Accomodation

There are two main Hostelling organisations in Canada, the largest is Hostelling International (HI) Canada with aprox 90 hostels Canada wide, non members can use these but at $2 -$5 per night extra it makes sense to join. The other is Backpackers Hostels Canada. The prices for these vary from$10 - $20 with the majority around $13 - $16 per night. As well as these there are numerous other places for the budget travelers ie. Salvation Army, also some Universities often rent out their rooms during the holidays, YMCA / YWCA, very often the Canadian people will have a spare room to rent, also there are numerous B & B's, and Guesthouses where the prices are very reasonable. Not to forget there are countless thousands of motels that also have cooking facilities, these are very reasonable and great if you remain in one area for a few days.

Some addresses for the above are:

Hostelling International (HI) Canada,
National Office, 1600 James Naismith Drive, Suite608,
Gloucester, Ontario K1B 5N4
phone: 613-748-5638
fax: 613-748-5750

Longhouse Village Hostel, RR13, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7B 5E4,
phone: 807-983-2042.

YMCA Canada, 2160 Yonge St, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2A9
phone: 416-485-9447

You can now book reservations on-line
at the following HI-C locations:
British Columbia Region
Alberta Region:
Lake Louise, Banff (also includes Mosquito Creek, Castle Mountain, Ribbon Creek, Rampart Creek and Hilda Creek) & Calgary
Ontario - Great Lakes Region:
Toronto & Niagara Falls
Ontario East Region:
Ottawa
Quebec Region, Tourisme Jeunesse:
Montreal
Mont Tremblant
Wakefield


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