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Toronto, Canada

A little history Canada’s history is a rich tapestry of cultures. Thousands of years before Europeans landed on Canada’s shores, indigenous groups including the Acadia, Iroquois and Cree, made Canada their home. Inuit aboriginals also spread into Arctic Canada about a thousand years ago. Today, indigenous Indian communities in Canada are widely called the ‘First Nations’. England became aware of Newfoundland in 1497 when an Italian-born navigator John Cabot sailed from Bristol to the coast of North American. Cabot claimed Newfoundland for the English King, Henry VII but it was only in 1583 that it was declared an English colony. In 1534, the French explorer Jacques Cartier claimed the shores of the Gulf of St Lawrence for France. In the 1600’s a fierce rivalry between the French, English and Dutch sprang up around the lucrative fur trade. Their rivalry exploited existing rivalries among the indigenous Indian nations.
The Seven Year’s War broke out in 1756 between New France and the British Colonies. The British colonies were larger and economically stronger than New France so in 1759, Quebec fell to the British. The British also claimed all the French colonies east of the Mississippi River. Following the Seven Year’s War, acts were signed that joined or split provinces to form the Canada we know today.

In 1931, Canada gained autonomy from Britain. In 1982, Canada created a new constitution and declared independence from Britain. However, Canada remains part of the Commonwealth. First Nation, French, British and other European cultures plus Métis (a mix of American Indian and Euro-American) influences all remain strong.
From the mountains to the sea Most of the northern most part of the North American continent belongs to Canada. It has the world’s longest coastline stretching 202, 080 kilometres. Canada spans a massive territory between the Atlantic to the east and the Pacific to the west, with the US to the south, the Arctic to the north (the magnetic North pole lies in Canada), Alaska to the northwest and Greenland to the northeast.
The Appalachian Mountains stretch from the Atlantic Provinces to part of southern Quebec. The Great Lakes and St Lawrence River lie between the Canadian Shield, an immense rock base with hilly terrain and the Appalachian Mountains.
The interior is mostly vast plains naturally divided from east to west by the Rocky Mountains. Canada’s highest point is Mount Logan at 5,959 metres. Mount Logan forms part of the Saint Elias Mountains in Yukon Territory.
It is not just snow-capped peaks that line the Canadian horizon; Western Canada has volcanoes that form part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
When to travel The temperature in Canada swings from 40ºC to -40ºC. Spring can arrive as early as February on the west coast and as late as April in the rest of Canada.
Summer is from June to August and is the ideal time for trekking, golf and water sports. Autumn is spectacular in eastern Canada, with golden leaves crowning the trees and fairly pleasant temperatures.
Winter is when the ski season kicks off and can run from December to June in the hills and eastern Canada. From late October, the Canadian landscape is covered in a blanket of snow and temperatures head down below zero.
After an adventurous day in the great Canadian outdoors, relax your muscles in a natural hot spring. Take your pick of hot springs in British Columbia, the Queen Charlotte Islands and Banff in Alberta.
Just remember, outdoor activities can affect your travel insurance. So before you go, make sure your travel insurance covers you for all the activities you plan to do on holiday.
Natural wonders With 42 National Parks, Canada’s nature reserves cover an area roughly the size of New Zealand. There is plenty of fresh air, wildlife and natural wonders to discover including, the Rocky Mountains; Niagara Falls; the Great Lakes of Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior; the St Lawrence River; the Bay of Fundy; the Canadian Arctic and Quebec’s Percé Rock.
A taste of France Quebec is home to 85% of the seven million French-Canadians residing in Canada. Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world but has a 50:50 French/British cultural split. Montreal is a melting pot of cultural experiences including the city’s famous jazz festival in June and July. Try a little French faire from a gourmet restaurant, or a traditional poitine (chips, gravy and melted cheese). There are plenty of fine French pastries and croissants on offer too.
Travelling by plane You can catch a flight to Toronto from London, Manchester, Cardiff, Exeter and Belfast. You can also get a direct flight from London to Ottawa, St Johns, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.

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