Visas and Officialdom

The best source of border-crossing immigration is Citizen and Immigration Canada (888/242-2100); the website lists contacts for consulates and embassies around the world.

If you travel with a passport, keep it with you at all times. The only time you should give it up is at the border for officers to examine. If you lose your passport while in Canada, go directly to the nearest embassy or consulate of your own country.

ENTRY FOR U.S. CITIZENS

Technically, for entry to Canada, U.S. citizens are required to show a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or voter registration card and a some form of photo ID (such as a passport). The best practice is to be prepared and at least carry a passport. A driver’s license isn’t considered proof of citizenship, but may help in a tight spot.

OTHER FOREIGN VISITORS

Visitors from countries other than the United States require a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa for entry to Canada. Presently, citizens of the British Commonwealth and Western Europe are granted a Temporary Resident Permit upon arrival and do not require a visa, but check with the Canadian embassy in your home country. The standard entry permit is valid for six months; proof of onward tickets and/or sufficient funds are required in order to obtain the permit. Extensions are possible from Citizen and Immigration Canada offices across the country (USD 75 per person). All non-U.S. visitors to Canada will be asked to produce onward tickets and sufficient funds upon arrival in Canada.

Canada Visit Visa

Visit Canada with a Canadian Tourist Visa. A Canadian Visitor Visa will allow you to visit Canada for up to 6 months. Canada is very attractive destination for people wishing to temporarily visit, welcoming over 35 million tourists, students, visitors etc. every year.

The Canada Visitor Visa is a popular choice for applicants wishing to visit Canada for a temporary period of up to 6 months.

The international access code for Canada is +1. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not necessary for calls to the US and the Caribbean.

Internet cafes are widely available. Most international mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with Canadian operators, however it may be cheaper to buy a pay-as-you-go SIM card if visiting the country for long periods.

No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Canada. West Nile Virus, spread by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water, poses a threat during summer months in rural areas, so insect-repellant measures are advised for those visiting the countryside particularly in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec.

Rabies is a problem and can be spread by small animals such as racoons and bats. Medical care is excellent, but expensive - medical insurance is essential. Food and water is entirely safe.

Alberta is bounded on the E by Saskatchewan, on the N by the Northwest Territories, on the W by British Columbia, and on the S by Montana. Westernmost of the Prairie Provinces, it lies on a high plateau that rises in the west through the Rocky Mts. to the Continental Divide at the British Columbia border. The foothills of the Rockies and the mountains themselves, with three noted national parks-Jasper, Banff, and Waterton Lakes (the Canadian section of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park)-are famed for their beauty.

Although Alberta is known as a Prairie Province, only about one quarter of its area is actually treeless-chiefly the undulating prairie of S Alberta. Central Alberta has parklike, partly wooded country, and in the north are vast tracts of virgin timberland. Endowed with many lakes, streams, and rivers, the province is drained by the Peace, the Athabasca, the north and south branches of the Saskatchewan, the Red Deer, the St. Mary, the Milk, and many other rivers.

Visitors are impressed by the grand scale of Alberta’s landscape-its rolling wheat fields, huge granaries, sprawling cattle ranches, and vast oil refineries. Annual festivals include the Indian Days Celebration at Banff, which attracts thousands of native peoples from a wide area, and the famous Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Other attractions include Elk Island National Park and the huge Wood Buffalo National Park (shared with the Northwest Territories), home to wood bison, whooping cranes, and other rare species.

The population is concentrated in S and central Alberta; except for farm centers in the fertile wheat-growing valley of the Peace, the north is sparsely settled. Edmonton is the capital and second largest city. The largest city is Calgary; other important cities are Lethbridge, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, St. Albert, and Fort McMurray.

Food and Dining
Alberta’s prairie is ideal for cattle rearing and its Western beef is world famous. Beef is barbecued, braised, grilled, minced and skewered with different complements such as onions, mushrooms, green peppers, rice, sauces and beans. Unusual beef dishes are stew (combination of diced steak, garden vegetables and biscuits cooked in rich gravy) and beef mincemeat (combines chopped suet, fruits and spices) used in pies and tarts and as a traditional Christmas dish served with ice-cream, cream or rum sauce.

Wild berries and nuts are used in desserts. During the season, try the blueberry muffins from local bakeries. Honey is made from alfalfa and clover nectar and is a widely used sweetener and breakfast food. Apart from traditional foods, Alberta’s towns and cities offer an excellent range of international cuisine.

Alcohol is sold in ‘liquor stores’, although beer may be obtained in the majority of hotels. The minimum legal drinking age is 18 years old.