🇨🇦map Canada [Overview]

Canada, or Canada in both English and French, stretches across the top of North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific and up into the Arctic. It’s the world’s second-largest country by land area, yet home to about 40 million people, most of whom cluster along the southern border near the United States. The country is famous for pristine wilderness, multicultural cities, and a welcoming social tone that makes it attractive for newcomers. It also has the longest coastline on Earth, touching three oceans and shaping everything from its fisheries to its maritime culture.

Life here feels both outdoorsy and urban. You can spend a morning commuting on a sleek city train and an afternoon in a national park, often within an hour’s drive. The climate swings widely—think rainy winters on the West Coast, brisk prairie winters with big skies, and longer winter nights in the North—but Canadians are well-practiced in making the most of every season. For expats and digital nomads, the blend of reliable infrastructure, strong public amenities, and easy access to nature is a big part of the appeal.

Economy

Canada’s economy is service-driven, with most people working in sectors like finance, healthcare, education, tech, logistics, and hospitality. You’ll notice strong regional specializations: energy and petrochemicals in Alberta, film and tech in British Columbia, aerospace and AI in Quebec, and finance, manufacturing, and life sciences in Ontario. Resource industries still matter a great deal—oil and gas, hydroelectric power, timber, and a wide range of minerals support both domestic use and export markets. Agriculture and agri-food are key outside the major cities, especially in the Prairies and parts of Ontario and Quebec.

Connectivity to the world is baked into Canada’s economic DNA. The United States is its largest trading partner by far, but Canada is also firmly tied into global markets through the USMCA trade pact, participation in the G7 and G20, NATO, and the CPTPP across the Pacific. Major ports in Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, and Halifax link North America with Asia and Europe, while tech and creative industries connect Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver to global talent networks. For professionals, that means a dynamic job market with cross-border opportunities and a steady flow of international collaboration.

Culture

Canada is officially bilingual, with English and French as the dominant languages. You’ll hear French most widely in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick and Ontario, while English is common across the country. The population reflects a highly diverse society: people of European, Asian, African, and Latin American descent live alongside Indigenous peoples—First Nations, Inuit, and Métis—whose cultures predate the country and continue to shape it. Modern Canada grew from Indigenous nations, French and British colonial roots, and waves of immigration that continue today, especially into Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.

Canadians tend to value politeness, fairness, and community life, and they’re enthusiastic about the outdoors, hockey, curling, festivals, and food scenes that borrow from every corner of the world. Religious life is mixed: many Canadians identify as Christian, a growing share report no religious affiliation, and there are vibrant Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, and Buddhist communities. Big moments on the calendar include Canada Day on July 1, Thanksgiving in October, Labour Day in September, and Victoria Day in May, along with widely observed cultural events like Montréal’s jazz and comedy festivals and Calgary’s Stampede. Newer commemorations, such as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, reflect an ongoing effort to acknowledge history and build a more inclusive future.

Sophia
Sophia is a relocation specialist and cross-border business consultant originally from Toronto, Canada, with over 13 years of experience in North American and Caribbean markets. Having worked for major international relocation firms and managed corporate assignments across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and popular expatriate destinations in Central America and the Caribbean, Sophia has extensive experience facilitating international moves for professionals and retirees. Her expertise spans both the practical aspects of visa navigation and the cultural nuances of adapting to life in North American and Central American communities.