Being the largest country of North America, and 2nd largest country on earth Canada deserves a special place in the heart of winter sports lovers and the fans of maple syrup. It is the only monarchist state in both Americas, with the monarch residing in Buckingham palace however the prime minister is the true head of the Canadian state. Although English is the primary speaking language used by over 60% of the inhabitants, French is also an official language used by roughly 20% of the population with most native speakers residing in Quebec. Although being the 2nd largest country, Canada is ranked 38th in terms of population. Canada is one of the safest tourist destinations ranked 8th place on the Global Peace Index.

Traveling info

Canada exempts 33 countries from Visa when traveling to Canada by sea or land. (List of countries in sources) If traveling by air, Visa exempt travelers must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation. (link to eTA in sources). All remaining nationalities are required to obtain a Visa in order to travel to Canada by any route.
Also, it is recommended to get an International Driving Permit. IDP holders must beware it does not substitute for the original driving permit and must always be complemented by it.

Travelling Hazards

Driving in Canada is similar to driving in many parts of the United States. Distances and speeds, however, are posted in kilometers per hour and some signs, particularly in Quebec, may only be in French. Some provinces require drivers to keep their vehicles’ headlights on during the day. Many highways do not have merge lanes for entering traffic. Emergency vehicles frequently enter the oncoming traffic lane to avoid congestion. Winter travel can be dangerous due to heavy snowfalls and hazardous icy conditions. Some roads and bridges are subject to periodic winter closures. Snow tires are required in some provinces. Highway 401 from Detroit to Montreal, which is one of the busiest highways in North America, has been the scene of numerous deadly traffic accidents due to sudden, severe, and unpredictable weather changes, high rates of speed, and heavy truck traffic.

Environmental Hazards

What Canada lacks in crime makes up in dangerous wildlife. Some of the most deadly animals known to man happen to live in the wild of Canada. Although encountering any of these animals is rather rare, a close up meeting can be deadly. Many tourists don’t realize that if you’re outside of a Canadian city you’re in the bear country. Canada is home to an estimated 300 thousand black bears, 25 thousand grizzly bears, and about a thousand polar bears. Encounters with polar bears are extremely rare due to the fact that very few Canadians inhabit the most northern parts of the country, although since the melting of the ice caps more Polar bears are moving south. Grizzly and black bears encounters are on the rise due to the bear’s attraction to human food. When hiking through the rural areas it is advised to travel in groups and make a lot of noise. The bears are less likely to take interest in a group if at all. Wolves and bobcats also pose threats to the hikers although fatal encounters with wolves are virtually unheard of, the bobcat’s attacks on humans, especially children or solitary units occur more often. Moose and Elk can also be dangerous especially around the mating season. Although most will flee when spotting a human, attacks do happen.
Weather hazards in Canada are mainly linked with the colder seasons although tornadoes and heavy thunderstorms may occur in the summer season. Extreme temperatures may also pose a danger to unsuspecting tourists.

Health Hazards

There are no required vaccines in order to enter Canada however there are several recommended vaccines. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccines. Canada has free public healthcare however not for foreign tourists. While traveling to Canada buy a travel and health insurance because a non-resident visitor can expect to pay up to $5,000 per day in a hospital and double that for the intensive care unit. Overall the Canadian healthcare system is on par with most of the European public healthcare. There are no ongoing outbreaks of any sort of diseases. The emergency lines are mostly bilingual (French and English) and in such cases dial 911.

Crime

Crime is very low in Canada, it has systematically dropped since the 90s. Since the early 2000s crime has dropped by 30% up until now. Gang-related violence is nearly non-existent. Although the least populated the northern provinces of Canada seem to be where most crime takes place. North Battleford in the province of Saskatchewan seems to be the most notorious town for crime to be committed to. Alcohol is legal but drinking in public is banned everywhere except for the area of Quebec. Drugs of any sort are also illegal in all states. Tourists like anywhere else in the world are still vulnerable to mugging, pickpocketing, scams, etc. It is advised not to carry all of your valuables with you, leave most in the hotel if possible. Avoid physical contact with strangers, money belts are the best way to prevent pickpocketing from happening to you.

Summary

Canada is the safest tourist destination on the North American continent. Canada also exempts 33 states from Visa requirements which makes it easier for tourists to travel to Canada. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa exempt nations list)
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/entry-requirements-country.html
(eTA)
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html
(Vaccines list)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/canada
(Crime)
http://www.macleans.ca/canadas-most-dangerous-places/