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|pop = 3134,612001,897000 (2009 est.)|currency = Canadian Dollar($CAD)|hitch = {{good}} to {{very good}}<rating country='ca' />|BW = CA|neighbour = ([[Greenland]]), [[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon|Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] (''incorporated''), [[United States of America]]

'''For specific information about provinces and territories, have a look at see the bottom of the page.'''

'''Canada''' is the northernmost country of [[North America]] and is composed comprised of ten provinces and three territories. English and French are the two official languages of the country. English, English being spoken by 23/3 4 of the population , is the majority language in most provinces while . French is the main official language in the province of Quebec , but also widely spoken in New Brunswick and some areas of Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba. Inuktitut is the main language in Nunavut and has official status there but English is still widely spoken. So for For the convenience of the common hitchhiker these the provinces and territories are discussed in detail , along with their capitals , in the following separate pages.

Canada is a wide country where many visitors do not really realise its scale prior to their arrival and neither realise the various extreme temperature that can suddenly happen and hit at different season. Certain nothern rural regions in each provinces are inhabited by a scarce or even absent permanent population. It might not always be bright to adventure yourself into some wild or less inhabited part of the country without the proper equipement nor having registered yourself to some local authorities prior to do such journey. As a simple reminder, the density of population is about 3,2 habitants/km² and about 75 % of that population lives in the south by the border with the USA. It is common and normal in some part of the country to drive few hundreds km without any living soul in the area. Noneless to say, even if the country bear some similitude with its southern and only neighbour, the [[United States]], the cultural and life approach of the population is quite unique. For a journey over across the country, the [[Transcanadian Trans-Canada Highway]] is the main road crossing the country coast east to coastwest. The However, the highway system numbering system is specific to every provinces and usually quite comprehensive. === Local Attitude ===The vast majority of the population lives in harmony within their vast country, this has been enabled by the size of the country which allowed people to live using their own belief, languages or religion without necesserily being bothered by anybody else in a 'Live and let live' motto. Therefore, hate crime are absent and major ''difference'' clash more rare but especially existing during some specific peak situation usually caused by an intern political tumult. It might be useful for a traveller to know if there is an important referendum or political crisis going on, deciding on the future of the country as your accent might 'tag' you to one or another of the country's nation and therefore become a ball and chain. For example, it might not always be of good help to be White in some First Nation reserves, sounding French in some parts of the country or English in others during a National Referendum or Election time. As many people might think you are from the other part of the country when approaching them and be less keen to helpprovince.

Just like it's its southern neighbour, the [[United States of America|United States]], every provinces are issuing their own specific car plates. For example, a car from Manitoba will have a specific [[wikipedia:License plates of Canada|Car licenses]] tagged as such. == Telecommunication ==The best and cheapest way is to contact people in the area you are is to find the nearest phone booth, there are usually plenty within in a city and even the in country side, usually you will find one by every petrol station, shops or restaurant. Unlike many countries, they are usually in good condition and reliable so always make sure to have a pre-paid phone-card or a few 'quarters' available. Local calls now costs two 'quarters' (50 cents) although for some stupid historical divisions and economical reasons, in some areas some phone booths will belong to another company and what seems to be a local call will in fact be a 'long distance call' and will request an higher amount. It's often simplest to call using pre-paid calling cards. You can make calls from public phones without using coins when you dail the card's toll-free "1-800" number, and, for many of these cards, there is no extra fee for making the call from a public phone. Credit is deducted from the card at the same rate as with calls from land-lines. Most cards will cost somewhere between 2 and 10 cents per minute for calls to anywhere in Canada. The same, or similar, rates will often apply to calls to the States and parts of Europe as well.

If === Local attitude ===Even if the person you are trying to contact is expecting a call from you, country bears some similitude with its southern (and you don't have a pre-paid phone cardonly) neighbour, you can also try to call them 'collect'. It usually cost less than the amount requested by [[United States of America|United States]], the booth and it is normal practice (does not apply for mobile phone!) to receive cultural and accept collect call. To do a collect call, simply dial '0' and follow the instructions life outlook of the operatorpopulation is markedly unique.

Mobile phone are not widely spread The majority of the Canadian population lives in harmony within their vast country. The size of the country has allowed people to live using their own beliefs, languages or religion without being bothered by anybody else, in a 'Live and the networks let live' motto. Therefore, hate crimes are expensivemostly absent and major ''difference'' clashes even rarer, unreliable, primitive and only cover certain urban areasbut may exist. A mobile phone user usually pay It might be useful for a traveler to make call and be aware of the current political situation to avoid getting into a discussion which may offend more than anything else. Sometimes, during such situations, it might not be helpful to receive callhitchhike as a white in a First Nation reserve, or sound French in an English area, he will also usually have no signal when he reaches the nearest mountains or hillsvisa versa. That said, Canadians are generally friendly and forget their stereotypes once they meet you in person.

Internet cafés are rare and The rural population will only usually be existing in main urban and touristic centre. They are usually not used by locals, so it is possible that nobody knows keen to help if there the traveler is one making the first steps into breaking the 'stranger in the surrounding. In rural areaslocality' image, Internet might not even exists or be limited to dialas the split between country-up only. In most Canadian cities and towns of significant size, there are public libraries which offer free internet access to the general public city- regardless of where you are fromfolk is also existent. This The rural community feeling is generally the best bet for travelers without their own computer or access to a friend'susually pretty strong and when people believe you belong there and act more altruistic. If there are several people waiting to use them thoughHowever, you may some rural regions have large populations of urban commuters which has the tendency to wait bring a while for one to be available. You'll usually be given a time block of anywhere from 15 minutes to one hourmore individualistic mentality.

Colleges It is worth noting that in Quebec, the carshare website "AmigoExpress" is extremely popular. Worth checking out if a bit pressed for time and Universities are usually providing huge computer classes for their students but those have a bit of cash to spare. There are only accessible with username more than 50 rides a day between Quebec and password, it might be worth to ask though people might be keen enough to help you with itMontreal at costs of 10-15 CAD.

== [[Winter Hitch-hiking ]] hitchhiking ==

With Canada is a vast country (the second biggest in the world) and many visitors do not realize its size or extremes in temperature often dropping beneath −30 Celsiusprior to arrival. Certain northern rural regions are inhabited by few or even no permanent population, you should so it might not stand outside more than 15 minutesalways be bright to adventure by yourself into some wild or less inhabited part of the country without the proper equipment or having registered yourself to some local authorities prior to such a journey. As a simple reminder, wear the appropriate gear density of population is about 3.2 habitants/km², and make sure about 75 % of that you are never being stuck anywhere. The majority of population lives in the roads will be slipperysouth, icy or narrowed nestled by the snowbankUS border. So it will often be impossible for cars to stop by and pull over safely and they won't do it if they can't as the risk It is normal in some parts of causing an accident might be too high and the driver would have country to bear entire responsibility of it towards his insurancedrive a hundred kilometres without any living soul.

On another hand, every citizen should be bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen in needs by the hazard of With temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differdropping beneath −30 Celsius, going from immediate support to a 'where have you left your brainshould not stand outside more than 15 minutes... being out by this weatherIt'. It is true that it will be perceived as quite stupid s VERY important to make sure you wear the appropriate gear and irresponsible take precautions to have dared never be stuck anywhere outside without all the effective preparation by such weather, locals way prefer to enjoy the cosiness of their home by such extreme temperatureshelter.

Although and for that reasonIn winter the roads can be icy or narrowed by the snowbank, no shops, restaurants or gas stations would so it will often be allowed hard for cars to kick you out of their propertystop by and pull over safely. Either no car should be allowed to ignore you if the needs is there. This would usually be the case in rural areas while people in urban areas might simply think, someone else can Drivers won't do it. If you if they don't feel your life threatened by safe as the hazard risk of naturecausing an accident might be too high, you are allowed to do anything possible to get help by and the surrounding. Which driver would include entering a house, 'stopping' a car or denouncing have to the authorities any refusal for helpbear entire responsibility of it towards their [[insurance]]. This does not mean ''abuse It'' and, is to be use logically and tactfully. Bear s even more important in mind that if you attempt such behaviour, an investigation might be done afterwhile icy conditions to verify if make sure you didn't put yourself at risk at your own will find a hitching spot where there is good visibility and full knowledge of the consequences! Which situation you are, by law, not allowed a safe place to find yourself into!pull over.

== Border Crossing ==Canada has only one neighbourIn some areas, especially in the [[United States]]northern territories, every citizen is bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen in need from the hazards of temperature and even if nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, going from immediate support to a 'where have you left your brain!?!? being out by this border is known weather!'. Your actions may be perceived as quite stupid and irresponsible to have dared outside without being prepared for the weather, as most locals prefer to enjoy the longest unprotected border cosiness of their home in the worldwinter storms. For that reason, shops, entering the country as a backpackerrestaurants, hiker or hitch-hiker might reveal to be a hard thing, especially since 2001gas stations usually won't kick you off their property in extreme weather. The border control is now more thighten, especially since In the non-proven allegation that some terrorists came from Canadasummer it's different, and several questions are you may be asked according to leave if there is no danger from the relations between the passengers in a caroutside elements.

Because == Personal Experiences ==''I have hitchhiked many thousands of miles through most of these strong security measuresthe provinces. Getting rides is usually slightly easier than the [[United States]], a hitch-hiker probably will have but harder in some places. The cost of food makes travel here very expensive. Border crossing as an American citizen is incredibly frustrating! It usually takes four to cross the border by foot six hours of intense interrogation of myself and start again once violation of the control is doneprivacy of other people in my life. You might also discuss with your driver beforehand in the matter to get to know each other The first time I was held and to ensure that everything will be alright with the crossing interrogated for over six hours and eventually turned away because I couldn't provide documentation proving that he is fine with the hassle (or fine waiting for you if you are being interogated aside). The vast majority of the drivers will most likely be frisky at helping I had a stranger reason to cross from Canada return to the States in their car. The best way states; they wanted me to buy a return bus ticket to be at prove I was only staying a border control is too remain calmshort while, be confidentsorry, do not lie happening! Well I got a little crafty with their requirements and simply answer the question as asked without being witty or vaguesubsequent attempts to enter have been easier, heh. Just remember that you do not You may have to tell that you are bumming around and bring some suspicious travelling plan (yesget creative, hiking and hitching around in but where there's a will, there''blown by the wind s a way. Don'' t give up! This is a suspicious thing! Especially for the the average citizenbeautiful country!'' [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]). So just be reliable00:45, show enthousiasm and that your adventure is part of a life plan holiday... not a way to escape reality.5 June 2013 (CEST)

It Hitchhikernick - I have hitched across the country twice from west to east and been up to Alaska 3 times. Generally hitching is custom to pretty reasonable though there can be ask to prove that you have tough spots like I experienced on the means north side of lake superior, west coast north of Kitwanga on highway 37, Dempster highway to sustain your holiday Inuvik (moneycrazy Japanese guy pulling a cart whilst walking from whitehorse to Tuk and saw two grizzlies straight out of hibernation 10 miles beyond him next to the road) and that your holiday is part road to Yellowknife. Nearly got stuck south of Calgary where temps were about to drop to -40, but managed to convince a truck driver to drive me to Montana, so be well prepared for cold. Never had issues getting into Canada being a Brit and most overland borders into USA have been easy going though the border between Seattle and Vancouver can be a little more strict at times. Average waiting time 3hrs. Most of my hitching has been around BC and it's pretty good there, it's technically illegal but I have never had any issues with cops about this. Be a plan (little careful around Thunder Bay area as few methheads and one driver I got a return ticket)lift with was windscreen punching loopy.

==Nomadwiki & Trashwiki === While Crossing the Border =====Don't panic! Just because a border guard treats you like a scumbag doesn't mean you are one. Armed with this attitude try and maintain your dignity and self-confidence throughout the encounter and the guard will more likely respect you (even if he or she doesn't show it). Trust me, things will go more smoothly. If you're passing the border inside a car, don't volunteer the fact that you are a hitchhiker. But if it becomes obvious, don't try and deny it, either. Remember, there's no shame in hitching.

=== Passports for U.S. and Canadian citizens ===U.S. and Canadian citizens are NOT required to show a passport. At least not yet. That doesn't mean a border guard won't ask to see one, though. But, a border guard is not supposed to deny you just because you don't have a passport. Until January of 2008, border guards are supposed to continue accepting “oral declarations of citizenship” which basically means, “you have to believe me because I told you so.” If you are a U.S. citizen going into Canada or a Canadian going into the U.S., a guard can deny you entry for a number of reasons (usually because of a criminal record or you don't look like you have enough money for lunch at a fast-food restaurant). But don't think that just 'cause you don't own a passport you can't cross. You can.  ''Every border crossing point will usually be discussed in greater details in the appropriate province page.''{{nomadwiki}}

 {{IsIn|North America}}