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{{Infobox Country
|country = Canada
|map = <map lat='60.673178565817715' lng='-97.03125' zoom='2' view='0' float='right' country='Canada'/>
|language = English, French
|capital = [[Ottawa]]
|pop = 34,001,000 (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, see the bottom of the page.'''
'''Canada''' is the northernmost country of [[North America]] and is comprised of ten provinces and three territories. English and French are the two official languages of the country, . English, being spoken by 3/4 of the population, is the majority language in most provinces. 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. For the convenience of the common hitchhiker the provinces and territories are discussed in detail, along with their capitals, in separate pages.
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 let live' motto. Therefore, hate crimes are mostly absent and major ''difference'' clashes even rarer, but may exist. It might be useful for a traveler to 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 hitchhike as a white in a First Nation reserve, or sound French in an English area, or visa versa. That said, Canadians are generally friendly and forget their stereotypes once they meet you in person.
The rural population will usually be keen to help if the traveler is making the first steps into breaking the 'stranger in the locality' image, as the split between country- and city-folk is also existent. The rural community feeling is usually pretty strong and when people believe you belong there and act more altruistic. However, some rural regions have large populations of urban commuters which has the tendency to bring a more individualistic mentality.
== [[Winter]] hitchhiking ==
'''Be careful!'''
=== Passports for U.S. and Canadian citizens =Personal Experiences ==From Summer 2009 on''I have hitchhiked many thousands of miles through most of the provinces. Getting rides is usually slightly easier than the [[United States]], Ubut harder in some places.SThe cost of food makes travel here very expensive. Border crossing as an American citizen is incredibly frustrating! It usually takes four to six hours of intense interrogation of myself and Canadian citizens are required violation of the privacy of other people in my life. The first time I was held and interrogated for over six hours and eventually turned away because I couldn't provide documentation proving that I had a reason to return to show the states; they wanted me to buy a passport return bus ticket to cross the borderprove I was only staying a short while, sorry, not happening! Well I got a little crafty with their requirements and subsequent attempts to enter have been easier, heh. You may have to get creative, but where there's a will, there's a way.Don't give up! This is a beautiful country!'' [[User:Thewindandrain|Thewindandrain]] ([[User talk:Thewindandrain|talk]]) 00:45, 5 June 2013 (CEST)
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{{Provinces Canada}}
{{IsIn|North America}}
[[Category:Canada| ]]
[[de:Kanada]]
[[es:Canadá]]
[[fr:Canada]]