Changes

Hitchability: {{Good}} to {{Very GoodInfobox 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 = <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.'''

'''For specific information about 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, have a look at 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 bottom convenience of the pagecommon hitchhiker the provinces and territories are discussed in detail, along with their capitals, in separate pages.'''

'''Canada''' is the northernmost country of [[North America]] and is composed of ten provinces and three territories. English and French are the two official languages of the country, English being spoken by 2/3 of the population is the majority language in most provinces while French is the main official language in the province of Quebec but 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 widely spoken. So for the convenience of the common hitchhiker these provinces and territories are discussed in detail along with their capitals in the following pages.__NOTOC__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 === Local attitude ===Even if the country bears some similitude with its southern (and only) 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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 always in good condition and reliable so always make sure to have a few 'quarter' available. Local calls now costs two 'quarter' (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. If the person you are trying to contact is expecting a call from you, it would be worth to contact them 'collect'. It usually cost less than the amount requested by the booth and it is normal practice (does not apply for mobile phone!) to receive and accept collect call. To do a collect call, simply dial '0' and follow the instructions of the operator. Mobile phone are not widely spread within the country and the networks are expensive, unreliable, primitive and only cover certain urban areas. A mobile phone user usually pay to make call and to receive call, he will also usually have no signal when he reaches the nearest mountains or hills. Internet cafés are rare and will only be existing in main urban and touristic centre. They are usually not used by locals, so it is possible that nobody knows if there is one in the surrounding. In rural areas, Internet might not even exists or be limited to dial-up only. Colleges and Universities are usually providing huge computer classes for their students but those are only accessible with username cultural and password, it might be worth to ask though people might be keen enough to help you with it. == Winter Hitch-hiking == BE CAREFUL! With temperature often dropping beneath -30 Celsius, you should not stand outside more than 15 minutes, wear the appropriate gear and make sure that you are never being stuck anywhere. The majority life outlook of the roads will be slippery, icy or narrowed by the snowbank. 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 of causing an accident might be too high and the driver would have to bear entire responsibility of it towards his insurance. On another hand, every citizen should be bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen in needs by the hazard of temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, going from immediate support to a 'where have you left your brain... being out by this weather'. It population is true that it will be perceived as quite stupid and irresponsible to have dared outside without all the effective preparation by such weather, locals way prefer to enjoy the cosiness of their home by such extreme temperaturemarkedly unique.

Although and for that reason, no shops, restaurants or gas stations would be allowed to kick you out The majority of the Canadian population lives in harmony within their propertyvast country. Either no car should be The size of the country has allowed people to ignore you if the needs is there. This would usually be the case in rural areas while people in urban areas might simply thinklive using their own beliefs, someone languages or religion without being bothered by anybody else can do it. If you feel your life threatened by the hazard of nature, you are allowed to do anything possible to get help by the surrounding. Which would include entering in a house, 'stoppingLive and let live' a car or denouncing to the authorities any refusal for helpmotto. This does not mean Therefore, hate crimes are mostly absent and major ''abusedifference'' andclashes even rarer, is to be use logically and tactfullybut may exist. Bear in mind that if you attempt such behaviour, an investigation It might be done afterwhile useful for a traveler to verify if you didn't put yourself at risk at your own will and full knowledge be aware of the consequences! Which current political situation you areto avoid getting into a discussion which may offend more than anything else. Sometimes, by lawduring such situations, it might not allowed be helpful to find yourself into!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.

Canada has only one neighbour, the [[United States]], and even if this border It is known as the longest unprotected border worth noting that in the worldQuebec, entering the country as carshare website "AmigoExpress" is extremely popular. Worth checking out if a bit pressed for time and have a backpacker, hiker or hitch-hiker might reveal bit of cash to be a hard thing, especially since 2001spare. The border control is now There are more thighten, especially since the nonthan 50 rides a day between Quebec and Montreal at costs of 10-proven allegation that some terrorists came from Canada, and several questions are asked according to the relations between the passengers in a car15 CAD.

Because of these strong security measures, a hitch-hiker probably will have to cross the border by foot and start again once the control is done. You might also discuss with your driver beforehand in the matter to get to know each other and to ensure that everything will be alright with the crossing and 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 a stranger to cross from Canada to the States in their car. The best way to be at a border control is too remain calm, be confident, do not lie and simply answer the question as asked without being witty or vague. Just remember that you do not have to tell that you are bumming around and bring some suspicious travelling plan (yes, hiking and hitching around in a == [[Winter]] hitchhiking ==''blown by the wind way'Be careful!''' is a suspicious thing! Especially for the the average citizen!). So just be reliable, show enthousiasm and that your adventure is part of a life plan holiday... not a way to escape reality.

It Canada is custom a vast country (the second biggest in the world) and many visitors do not realize its size or extremes in temperature prior to arrival. Certain northern rural regions are inhabited by few or even no permanent population, so it might not always be ask bright to prove that you have adventure by yourself into some wild or less inhabited part of the country without the means proper equipment or having registered yourself to sustain your holiday (money) some local authorities prior to such a journey. As a simple reminder, the density of population is about 3.2 habitants/km², and about 75 % of that your holiday population lives in the south, nestled by the US border. It is part normal in some parts of the country to drive a plan (a return ticket)hundred kilometres without any living soul.

===== While Crossing With temperature often dropping beneath −30 Celsius, you should not stand outside more than 15 minutes. It's VERY important to make sure you wear the Border =====appropriate gear and take precautions to never be stuck anywhere outside without shelter.

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 In winter the encounter and roads can be icy or narrowed by the guard snowbank, so it will more likely respect you (even if he or she doesnoften be hard for cars to stop by and pull over safely. Drivers won't show do it). Trust me, things will go more smoothly. If you're passing the border inside a car, if they don't volunteer feel safe as the fact that you are a hitchhiker. But if it becomes obviousrisk of causing an accident might be too high, don't try and deny the driver would have to bear entire responsibility of it, eithertowards their [[insurance]]. Remember, there It's no shame even more important in icy conditions to make sure you find a hitchingspot where there is good visibility and a safe place to pull over.

=== Passports In some areas, especially in the northern territories, every citizen is bound by law to provide help and safety to every citizen in need from the hazards of temperature and nature. The reaction towards that will often differ, going from immediate support to a 'where have you left your brain!?!? being out by this weather!'. Your actions may be perceived as quite stupid and irresponsible to have dared outside without being prepared for Uthe weather, as most locals prefer to enjoy the cosiness of their home in winter storms.SFor that reason, shops, restaurants, or gas stations usually won't kick you off their property in extreme weather. In the summer it's different, and Canadian citizens ===you may be asked to leave if there is no danger from the outside elements.

U== Personal Experiences ==''I have hitchhiked many thousands of miles through most of the provinces.SGetting rides is usually slightly easier than the [[United States]], 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 six hours of intense interrogation of myself and Canadian citizens are NOT required to show a passportviolation of the privacy of other people in my life. At least not yet. That doesnThe first time I was held and interrogated for over six hours and eventually turned away because I couldn't mean provide documentation proving that I had a border guard won't ask reason to return to the states; they wanted me to buy a return bus ticket to see oneprove I was only staying a short while, though. Butsorry, not happening! Well I got a border guard is not supposed little crafty with their requirements and subsequent attempts to deny you just because you don't enter have a passportbeen easier, heh. Until January of 2008You may have to get creative, border guards are supposed to continue accepting "oral declarations of citizenship" which basically meansbut where there's a will, "you have to believe me because I told you sothere'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)

If you are Hitchhikernick - I have hitched across the country twice from west to east and been up to Alaska 3 times. Generally hitching is pretty reasonable though there can be tough spots like I experienced on the north side of lake superior, west coast north of Kitwanga on highway 37, Dempster highway to Inuvik (crazy Japanese guy pulling a Ucart whilst walking from whitehorse to Tuk and saw two grizzlies straight out of hibernation 10 miles beyond him next to the road) and road to Yellowknife.S 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. citizen going Never had issues getting into Canada or being a Canadian Brit and most overland borders into USA have been easy going into though the Uborder between Seattle and Vancouver can be a little more strict at times.SAverage waiting time 3hrs. Most of my hitching has been around BC and it's pretty good there, a guard can deny you entry for a number of reasons (usually because of a criminal record or you donit't look like you s technically illegal but I have enough money for lunch at never had any issues with cops about this. Be a fast-food restaurant). But don't think that just 'cause you don't own little careful around Thunder Bay area as few methheads and one driver I got a passport you can't cross. You canlift with was windscreen punching loopy.

[[Categoryde:Canada|*Kanada]][[Categoryes:North AmericaCanadá]][[Categoryfr:AmericasCanada]]