Characteristics of Canadians

Character 
Canadians are very hospitable, welcoming people - particularly in provincial and rural Canada. 

The majority of Canadians are very tolerant and follow a live and let live philosophy. There is often a stronger sense of community and duty in Canadian towns than can be found in other countries. 

Visitors to Canada may find it difficult to tell the difference between its English speaking provinces and the USA. 

There is no danger of mistaking French-speaking Quebec for the USA. A degree of hostility to Canadian English speakers can be encountered at times in Quebec. Getting a job or running a business in Quebec requires fluency in French. 

Most of Canada has a semi-continental or a continental climate. 

Depending on the exact location, summers are warm or hot and winters are cold or very cold (or brutally cold). The exception is Canada's Pacific coast, where summers and winters are mild. 

Sunshine is abundant in most provinces, particularly the prairie provinces in the middle of Canada. 

Toronto and Vancouver are Canada's most multicultural and cosmopolitan cites. They are rich in cultural and artistic activities and their restaurants offer many of the world's cuisines.

Housing 
Canada has traditionally offered its residents some of the cheapest housing in the developed world. In recent times, house prices in a number of cities have risen sharply and can no longer be considered cheap. 

The country has huge forests and timber is readily available as a building material. 

Houses in Canada are typically timber-framed and, because of climate extremes, the housing stock is usually high quality and well insulated. 

Canadian Cities Compared

Canada's Cities Compared

City	Toronto	Montreal	Vancouver	Calgary	Edmonton	Ottawa	Winnipeg	Halifax
Population (metropolitan)	5.1 million	3.6 million	2.1 million	1.1 million	1.0 million	1.1 million	0.7 million	0.37 million
Born Overseas	49 %	21 %	38 %	22 %	19 %	18 %	17 %	7 %
Visible Minorities	43 %	16 %	37 %	19 %	23 %	14 %	13 %	7 %
Average House Price Late 2010	$427 K	$303 K	$679 K	$401 K	$325 K	$325 K	$223 K	$240 K
Average Full Time  Income (2006 Census)	$45,400	$39,419	$43,200	$46,200	$44,515	$50,300	$38,800	$40,200
Median Income  Per Household (2008)	$68,120	$65,660	$68,670	$91,570	$88,190	$90,990	$70,510	$74,040
Unemployment Rate Late 2010	9.4 %	9.5 %	7.5 %	6.8 %	6.2 %	7.1 %	6.1 %	6.8 %

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Why Canada - Why Only Canada For Study?

Why Canada?

For several years now, Canada has been accepting about quarter of a million new Permanent Residents each year. 

For people with skills, work experience and a good standard of English or French, qualifying for residence is not a huge barrier. 

Once accepted, you can take pleasure from the fact that you will be free to live permanently in a country consistently rated by the UN as the world's best country to live in. 

Furthermore, Canada is the world's second biggest country, rich in natural resources including oil reserves second only to Saudi Arabia. 

Despite the abundance of natural wealth, real estate in many Canadian locations is cheap compared with other developed countries - although a combination of a rising currency and rapidly rising prices in some cites means this is no longer the case in a number of locations. 

If you are bringing children to Canada, it's likely their education will be important to you. The OECD compared the performance of school students in 65 countries in mathematics, reading and science. Canadian students performed better than students from any other English speaking country.

Canada's health care is publicly (tax-payer) funded: payment is generally not required for medical treatment, although depending on the province you live in it's probable you'll pay for pharmaceuticals and dental care. 

Canada's 34 million residents enjoy virtually unlimited recreational opportunities and you might be forgiven for thinking you have found paradise. 

Unfortunately, for many migrants, Canada has been less than paradise. The Canadian government is aware that many migrants have struggled economically in Canada and it is now striving to improve migrant-outcomes. 

So, although Canada is a fantastic choice for most people, it's not for everyone. 

We do try reflect this fairly by presenting the cons as well as the pros.

Living in Canada

Location 
Canada lies to the North of the USA and, behind Russia, is the world's second largest country. The vast majority of Canada's population lives near the southern border with the USA. 

Employment 
In recent years, Canada's agricultural and mineral exports have performed well in world markets. Economic conditions are relatively good for most of the country. 

A few years ago, you would not have been advised to come to Canada to improve your salary. 

Canadians enjoyed, and still enjoy, a very high quality of life but, compared with salaries available in the USA, UK and Northern Europe, Canadians were not highly paid. 

Now rising wages and a strengthening currency have pushed Canada's average wage higher than the USA's, the UK's, and most of Europe's. 

A major advantage of living in Canada is that, in most locations, it's possible to buy a comfortable, large, detached house on a normal income. 

Jobs tend to be most plentiful in Toronto / Southern Ontario, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. 

Canada has not been immune to the general economic downturn, however, unemployment rates in Toronto and Vancouver hover (early 2011) at about 8 percent while Calgary's and Edmonton's are about 6 to 7 percent. 

Getting work can be difficult for migrants when they first arrive in Canada. Ideally you should arrange a job before you go to Canada. 

Before seriously considering moving to Canada, it is absolutely vital you check that Canadian employers will accept your qualifications and experience. 

If you have specialist, in-demand skills you are less likely to encounter difficulties but that is no guarantee of finding a suitable job. 

When they have a position to fill, Canadian employers tend to look first for a local employee - someone they can get the low-down on from trusted industry contacts. If they can't find a suitable local employee, employers will consider taking on a migrant. 

Given the potential difficulties in finding suitable work, migrants are strongly advised to bring plenty of money to live on while job-hunting. 

If your English language skills are not excellent, you may find it almost impossible to get a job appropriate to your skills. 

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Top 10 colleges in Canada

Every year almost 150,000 international students come to Canada to pursue one or another higher study program. They come from nations all over the globe to pursue an education at Canadian high-schools, colleges and universities. Canadian place great importance on learning, and have developed a first-rate education system with very high standards.

Canada offers number of advantages to the international students. Canada has an excellent reputation around the world. It provides safe and healthy environment to students. The country offers multicultural environment to study. Canadian educational institutions internationally acclaimed for their quality education, and Canadian certifications are recognized all over the world. While studying in Canadian institutions students need to spend comparatively low tuition fee which makes education an excellent value. International students also come for the experience of a country with incredible diverse natural and cultural environment.

Students came in this country from all over the world to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Some of the famous courses in Canada are language, fine arts, agriculture, mass communication, design, multimedia, journalism, engineering, business studies and management. If you are planning to study in Canada's top 10 colleges and universities, the below list will help you to select from among the best Canadian universities. These world-class institutions offer a wide range of programs to match student's academic and professional goals and interests.

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Top 10 colleges in Canada:

Rank      University Name              Score

1              Mc Gill University             89.3

2              University of Toronto     84.3

3              University of British Columbia    77.4

4              University of Alberta      69.4

5              Queen's University         58.2

6              Université de Montréal       56.9

7              University of Waterloo  54.8

8              McMaster University     51.9

9              University of Western Ontario   51.8

10           University of Calgary      51.8

1.            Algonquin College

2.            Bow Valley College

3.            Cambrian College of Applied Arts & Technology

4.            Camosun College

5.            Centennial College of Applied Arts & Technology

6.            College of New Caledonia

7.            College of the Rockies

8.            Columbia College

9.            Conestoga College

10.          Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology

11.          Douglas College

12.          Durham College

13.          Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology

14.          George Brown College

15.          Georgian College of Arts & Technology

16.          Grant MacEwan University

17.          Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

18.          Kwantlen Polytechnic University

19.          Lambton College of Applied Arts & Technology

20.          Loyalist College of Applied Arts & Technology

21.          Marine Institute of Memorial University

22.          Medicine Hat College

23.          Mohawk College of Applied Arts & Technology

24.          New Brunswick Community College

25.          Niagara College

26.          North Island College

27.          Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

28.          Northern College

29.          Northern Lights

30.          Okanagan College

31.          Red River College of Applied Arts, Science & Technology

32.          Selkirk College

33.          Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology

34.          Sheridan College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

35.          St-Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology

36.          St. Lawrence College

37.          University of the Fraser Valley

38.          Vancouver Island University

39.          Vancouver Community College

40.          New Brunswick College of Craft and Design

41.          Fleming College

42.          Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (SIAST)

43.          Parkland College

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Accounting & Finance Careers in Canada

Students planning on a career in finance or accounting often graduate from commerce or business program. Finance and accounting professionals work in auditing or accounting firms, government, banks or other financial institutions, investment companies or securities-related businesses such as stock brokerages or any corporate environment.

According to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) work prospects in these areas are fair to good. The most recent survey published by HRDC showed lower than average unemployment rates and higher than average earnings for people in these occupations.

HRDC advises that more than 90 percent of graduates from commerce and business programs were satisfied with their work, and more than 70 percent said they would make the same educational choice again. About 30 percent of graduates felt they were overqualified for their work, which is about average for all graduates, but almost 60 percent, slightly higher than average, thought their training directly matched the work they were doing.

Statistics showed that graduates in the area of auditing, accounting and investing did not change jobs frequently.

According to Canada's Best Career Guide, the number of accounting graduates is declining, which it suggests means there will be less competition for jobs. It also suggests, however, that large auditing/accounting firms are merging, which will result in the reduction of full-time employees. This said, the author Frank Feather -- reported to be Canada's leading business futurist -- still lists accountant/ auditor in the top 30 careers for 2000-2010, noting reasonably low (2 out of 5) stress levels and relatively high income (3 out of 5).

In the areas of banking and brokerage, Canada's Best Career Guide suggests that the old standard jobs, such as bank tellers and stock brokers, are disappearing. Automated services are eliminating jobs in those areas, which are being replaced by either broader skilled employees or more specialized positions.

Human Resources Development Canada seems to agree. HRDC noted that financial institutions are increasingly seeking professionals with a broad range of financial sector skills and that computerization increasingly affects these occupations: "With the re-engineering of the workplace, administrators with specialized skills in data or communications should be more successful in the labour market."

HRDC predicted that most of the increase in labour requirements in finance and accounting will occur in professional services, insurance and real estate and business service sectors.

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Study in Canada

Canada Education System

The structure of Canadian education system includes kindergarten, elementary/junior high/middle school, secondary/high school and post-secondary education. Education in Canada is administered by each provincial and territorial government hence there are some differences between the education systems in each province and territory. All provinces and territories offer free and universal elementary and secondary schooling for 12 years, except Quebec where it is up to 11 years. Education is mandatory to the age of between 15 and 18, based on the province.

Kindergarten

Education generally begins with kindergarten. British Columbia and Ontario also provide Junior Kindergarten. In some areas, kindergarten is either not needed or it is not available at all. Generally, five years old children enter kindergarten.

Elementary

Elementary school generally includes grades one through six (for students aged approximately six to 12 years), when junior high school is the next step. In some areas, elementary school is stretched up to grade eight.

Secondary

Secondary school, often called high school, generally runs grades 9 through 12. In regions having middle school and junior high, it also includes grades 7 and 8.

Post-secondary

Post-secondary education is also termed as Career College, Vocational School, Community College, University and Grad School. At this level you can earn a Bachelor\'s degree, and can continue studies to acquire a Master\'s or a Doctorate degree. Vocational students can earn certificates and diplomas that can count as an added skill in various trades.

Public and Private

Canada\'s education system encompasses public schools, which are free and funded by the government, and private schools, for which students have to pay. At the post-secondary level, public colleges and universities still need students to pay tuition, but it is comprehensively less than tuition at private universities.

Life in Canada

Canada is a large country. The land area of 9,984,670 square kilometers makes it the second biggest country in the world. Canada perhaps is the only country in the world that is rarely in the news for any controversial issues. It is known to be a peace loving and one of the most preferred countries to migrate to. Following are a few fun facts about Canada, that make this country stand apart from the rest.

• An unusual fact about Canada is its name origin, it comes from a St. Lawrence Iroquoian word, kanata, which means village or settlement.
• An interesting fact about Canada is that it\'s the world\'s largest country area wise (including its waters),
• It also has the longest coastline in the world, about 243,000 kms in length.
• The country shares the world\'s longest common border with the United States of America, which is also the only unprotected border in the world
• An interesting fact for kids, is that Canada is widely believed to be the home of Santa Claus.
• The belief that the North Pole is owned by Canada is false. No country owns the North Pole.
• Canada is also the largest producer of a refreshingly sweet dessert wine called Icewine.
• It features in the list of top five world\'s producers of gold, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and natural gas.
• A funny fact about Canada\'s city of Montreal, sometimes called The City of Churches, is that it has more churches than houses!
• Canada is also home to the world\'s smallest jail, located in Ontario. It is only 270 square feet.
• It also has the highest tertiary education enrollment in the world, which includes locals as well as international students.
• Toronto is the largest city of Canada, with a population of more than 5 million people. Toronto dwellers hold more university degrees than any other big city in the world.
• Despite being a really big country, it has the fourth lowest population density in the world, with only three people living per square kilometer! Almost half of the population in Canada was born in other countries.
• Here\'s a weird fact about Canada, it produces so much energy, that it provides it to the US too!
• The Ice Hotel in Quebec, known as Hotel de Glace is created every year using 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow. It melts away every summer and is recreated every winter.
• Canada has just one desert in British Columbia, towards the southernmost corner of the Okanagan Valley in Osoyoos.
• The desert is only 15 miles long, with over 100 rare plants, and over 300 rare animals. It is also the only desert in the world that has a long boardwalk, for people to walk on!
• Canadian winter temperatures fall below freezing point, with snow covering some parts of the country for nearly six months!
• In 1883, the baseball glove was invented in Canada.
• Many inventions including basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, the telephone, standard time, the television, and the zipper, and the first snowmobile were invented in this remarkable country.
• The Niagara Falls, one of the largest and most popular waterfalls is in Ontario.
• Half of Canada is covered with forests, which should not be surprising, considering one-tenth of the world\'s forests are here. It is also home to the polar and the grizzly bear.
• Canada has two national sports; Lacrosse as the country\'s national summer sport, and Ice Hockey as the national winter sport. Its citizens invented the game of Lacrosse.
• Canada is also known to have the highest quality of life in the world, according to the United Nations Human Development Index.

Multicultural Society

Being a multicultural society Canada allows you to understand each other and does not encourage hatred and violence. Canada is high on tourist preferred destination itineraries, as it offers a unique peek into its multi-cultural and bio-geographical diversity. It is relatively free from all sorts of discrimination and divide, a fact most Canadians are proud about. Canada advocates multiculturalism by encouraging all Canadians to participate in all aspects of life. Everyone in Canada is treated as equal. Everyone has a right to say. Hatred is not encouraged in Canada. Everyone has a right to preserve and protect their own tradition and people there respect each other’s right to do the same. They will respect and accept anyone who respects and accepts them.

Canada celebrate religious freedom

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects your freedom to practice your tradition and religion. It advocates that you must be respectful of others’ beliefs as well.Canadians use their right to vote and decide who will govern the country. Canada is a democratic country. People in Canada have several rights to amend laws and the governments.

Canada’s public health care system

Canada’s health insurance system is set up to address people’s requirements for health care rather than their ability to make the payment. Often termed as Medicare, the system is tailored to ensure that all residents of Canada have easy access to health care facilitations from doctors and hospitals. All Canadians and permanent residents may get health insurance. Getting a health insurance allows you to get medical treatment without making direct payment. They are paid through your taxes. Simply presenting your health insurance card to the hospital or medical clinic will get you medical services.

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Recognition

WIES represents several leading State / community Colleges / Universities of Canada, the UK and Australia. As a policy, WIES also submits itself to statutory or standards oriented certification procedures in order to qualify as genuine education counselors for each country or academic institution.

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