Population – 33 million, Area - 3,851,809 sq. mi. (9,970,610 sq. km.), Currency – Canadian Dollar (CAD, $) and Cents, Flight times – To Toronto from London is 8 hours; from New York is 1 hour 30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 4 hours 35 minutes and from Sydney is 18 hours 15 minutes; To Vancouver from London is 9 hours 45 minutes, from Toronto is 4 hours and 30 minutes, from Los Angeles is 2 hours and 55 minutes, from Tokyo is 8 hours and 50 minutes, from New York is 5 hours and 15 minutes, Cities - Ottawa (capital), Toronto (largest city), Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, Time Zone – Canada has six time zones: Newfoundland Time Zone (GMT -3.30), Atlantic Time Zone (GMT -4), Eastern Time Zone (GMT -5), Central Time Zone (GMT -6), Mountain Time Zone (GMT -7), and the Pacific Time Zone (GMT -8), Weather - varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north, Languages – English and French, Religion - Roman Catholic 43%, Protestant 23%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, none 16%, Electricity - 110 Volts and 60 Hertz (cycles per second), electrical supply and electrical outlets (sockets, wall plugs) are the same as those of the US.

Located in northern North America, extending from the 49th latitude north to the islands of the Arctic Ocean, Canada’s eastern and western boundaries end at the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The easternmost portion of the country is a riverine and maritime environment, consisting of the provinces of Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. The central portion of the country, in its southern areas, is primarily boreal forest (the provinces of Ontario and Quebec). A section of the country westward from the Great Lakes basin along the southern extent of this forest region is a prairie made up mostly of flat grasslands (in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta). The westernmost portion of the country is dominated by the Rocky Mountains, with a narrow riverine environment, made up of northern rain forests, west of the mountains (in the province of British Columbia). Across the northernmost portion of the country from east to west lies a region dominated by tundra and finally at its most northern reach, an arctic eco-zone (in northern Ontario and Quebec and in the territories of Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and the Yukon).

Canada is the second-largest country in the world, and comprises seven percent (7%) of the earth's total surface area. It stretches more than 4,600 km. from Cape Columbia on Ellesmere Island (Canada's northern extremity) to Middle Island, Ontario (the southern-most point). From west to east, Canada covers 5,047 km., from Victoria, B.C. to St. John's, Newfoundland. A marine border is shared with both Greenland (a Danish territory) and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (a French overseas collectivity).

Made up of 10 distinct provinces and three unique territories, Canada offers a broad range of cultural and geographical features. The mighty Rocky Mountains and powerful Pacific tides meet with vibrant communities in British Columbia, while urban flair mixes with cowboy culture in Alberta. Rural living comes alive under endless skies in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, while Ontario offers a diverse mix of big-city sophistication and relaxed country living. The sights and sounds of historic Quebec are not to be missed and the friendly fishing villages of Atlantic Canada are well worth the visit. Northern Canada offers visitors a chance to take in some of the only truly untamed landscapes in the world.

Population – 33 million, Area - 3,851,809 sq. mi. (9,970,610 sq. km.), Currency – Canadian Dollar (CAD, $) and Cents, Flight times – To Toronto from London is 8 hours; from New York is 1 hour 30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 4 hours 35 minutes and from Sydney is 18 hours 15 minutes; To Vancouver from London is 9 hours 45 minutes, from Toronto is 4 hours and 30 minutes, from Los Angeles is 2 hours and 55 minutes, from Tokyo is 8 hours and 50 minutes, from New York is 5 hours and 15 minutes, Cities - Ottawa (capital), Toronto (largest city), Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, Time Zone – Canada has six time zones: Newfoundland Time Zone (GMT -3.30), Atlantic Time Zone (GMT -4), Eastern Time Zone (GMT -5), Central Time Zone (GMT -6), Mountain Time Zone (GMT -7), and the Pacific Time Zone (GMT -8), Weather - varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north, Languages – English and French, Religion - Roman Catholic 43%, Protestant 23%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, none 16%, Electricity - 110 Volts and 60 Hertz (cycles per second), electrical supply and electrical outlets (sockets, wall plugs) are the same as those of the US.

In comparison to US medical costs, medical tourism patients can save 30 to 60 percent on health costs in Canada. Canada's quality of healthcare is cited by the World Health Organization as equal to, if not better than, that of the US in most categories.

Why Canada?

People traveling to Canada for medical tourism purposes mostly from the United States. Medical care in United States is almost double the cost of what it is in Canada, making Canada an attractive medical tourism destination for Americans.

Those who are still skeptical about medical care in Canada, should take a close look at the facts provided:

• Average treatment costs are nearly twice as much in the U.S.
• There are 9.9 qualified nurses per 1000 population in Canada as compared to 7.9 nurses per 1000 population in US (so you get a highly personalized care!).
• Canadians have lower rates of in-hospital mortality (1.4% Canada vs. 2.2% U.S.).
• Administrative costs consume more of the total cost of treatment in the U.S. (38.2% of total costs in the U.S. vs. 31.7% in Canada).
• In-hospital cost of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in the U.S. is 82.5 % higher in the U.S. than in Canada.
• The mortality rate for end-stage renal disease is 47% higher in the U.S. than in Canada. Adjusted monthly costs of treatment are $503 higher in the U.S.
• Fifty-seven percent (57%) of U.S. patients have reprocessed dialyzers used on them, compared with 0.0% of Canadian patients.
• One-year mortality rates following myocardial infarction are virtually identical for both countries (34.3% U.S. vs. 34.4% Canada).
• Canada has a higher rate of annual bone marrow transplants (0.89 per 100,000 population vs. 0.81per 100,000 in the U.S.)
• Canada has lower mortality rates for patients.
• Survival rate for four disease condition is higher in Canada than in America
• American citizen do not need visa if the length of stay is less than 180 days.
• Prescription drugs and medicines are far less expensive in Canada.

The high cost in America is mainly attributable to higher resource prices for products and labor and higher overhead costs resulting from a nonsocialized medical system.

In addition to the cost effective medical care, medical tourism to Canada is an opportunity to explore places of interest and relax in beautiful ambience.

Popular surgeries & procedures:

• Knee replacements
• Hip replacements
• Hip resurfacing

Early History

The earliest records of life in North America begin in a warmer age, when people moved across the Bering land bridge or travelled by water and ice and made a home in what is now the Canadian Arctic. People have been living in the Yukon region for almost 30,000 years. The aboriginal people who crossed the land bridge were the first inhabitants of North America. Many settled in various areas, including the northern tundra, while some moved south to the warmer climate and good hunting found there. The first inhabitants of Canada were native Indian peoples, primarily the Inuit (Eskimo).

Eric the Red brought the Vikings to Greenland, where they lived for about 500 years, then died out. They were farmers who built their huts of dirt and timber, with sod roofs. They raised sheep, goats and cattle imported from Norway. Life span of these early Viking settlers was about 30 to 35 years. It is believed they died of disease or starved to death when crops failed due to severe weather (possibly a mini ice age) about the year 1500. Remains of their settlements remain today.

Around the year 1000 Leif Ericsson and other Vikings explorers sailed into into Labrador waters and at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland they made landfall to gather provisions and replenish their supply of drinking water for the long return voyage to Europe. Historians believe that Leif landed somewhere on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland on the Strait of Belle Isle. The theory was confirmed in 1963, after a Norwegian expedition uncovered the remains of a Viking settlement near the fishing village. Some hut ruins and small stone markers have been credited to them. It is believed that they stayed in the area for a period of time to rest and hunt.

In 1497 John Cabot claimed Cape Breton Island for Henry VII of England during his first voyage to the new world. 1498 saw John Cabot make his second voyage to North America and it is believed he went ashore in Newfoundland and the mainland. In 1577 Martin Frobisher of England made the first of three futile attempts to find the northwest passage to Asia, sailing as far as Hudson Strait. Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c1537-1583) arrived off Newfoundland in 1583 with his ships Delight, Golden Hind, Swallow and Squirrel. He entered St. John's Harbour two days later to claim Newfoundland for Queen Elizabeth I of England. Gilbert set up the first English colony in North America on 5 August 1583.

The first permanent English settlement in the new land that was to later become Canada, was at Cuper's Cove in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. It was founded in 1609-1610 by John Guy and a group of 39 settlers who came there because of the vast quantities of fish found there. They fell upon hard times within a few years and many of them died. A very harsh climate forced the few survivors to abandon the settlement and return to England in 1613.

Canada throughout its history might best be described as a nation of nations. Two European colonial powers dominate the history of Canada and its emergence as a nation: France and Great Britain. In time Britain emerged as the dominant political and cultural force in Canada, but that emergence exemplifies the sense of compromise and cooperation on which Canadian social identity is founded. While Britain, and later English Canada, came to be and remain the most powerful part of the Canadian cultural landscape, this dominance and power exists in a system of joint cultural identity, with French Canada, in Quebec and in other parts of eastern Canada, remaining a singular and distinctive cultural entity in its own right.

Origin of the name ‘Canada’

In 1535, the aboriginal people told French explorer Jacques Cartier about the route to ‘kanata’. They were referring to the village of Stadacona – ‘kanata’ was simply the Iroquois word for ‘village’. Cartier used ‘Canada’ to refer not only to Stadacona (site of present-day Quebec City), but also to the entire area. Maps as early as 1547 designated everything north of the St. Lawrence River as ‘Canada’.

Shopping is fun in Canada. Whether you’re looking for a specific item or just browsing around, the wide variety of big box stores, shopping malls and specialty boutiques is sure to satisfy the shopoholic in you. You can spend your way through the intriguing neighborhoods of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, or spend several days browsing the world's largest shopping center in Edmonton. You can dig up a bargain on Arctic diamonds fresh from the mine or sweeten your life with authentic Canadian maple syrup from a sugar shack in the woods. Unique finds await you in cosmopolitan centers and out-of-the-way spots alike. The challenge isn't finding things to buy, it's figuring out how to get all your purchases home.

AIRPORT & TRAVEL:

Direct flights connect the major cities of the globe with the larger Canadian airports, and frequent connecting flights will help you get to any Canadian destination efficiently.

From the U.S., direct flights whisk you from most major air terminals to many Canadian cities including Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, London, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City, Saint John, Halifax and Yarmouth.

The three main international airports are:

Pearson International Airport, Toronto - 27 km from downtown Toronto, it is Canada's busiest airport. It's the primary hub for Air Canada and a major hub for WestJet.

Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver - About 15 km from downtown Vancouver, it is Canada's second busiest airport. It's an Air Canada hub and a focus city for WestJet.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Montreal - 20 km from the center of the city of Montreal, it is Canada's third-busiest airport, and serves as the headquarters for Air Canada, Air Transat and Skyservice.

Visas

Citizens of the US, Britain, Mexico, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, Japan, Singapore and some other countries do not require a visa to visit Canada. Please check on if you do require a visa to enter Canada.

PLACES TO SEE, THINGS TO DO:

Ottawa, ONTARIO

Behind all the pomp and circumstance, the national capital of Ottawa is a place where everyday citizens can feel at home, where nature is never far away, and all are invited to celebrate the values that make Canada great.

Parliament Hill: Three Gothic Revival-style buildings, located on a 170-foot bluff overlooking the Ottawa River, house the offices of the members of Parliament, the House of Commons and the Senate. Free guided tours delve into Canadian history and explain the workings of the political system.

Changing of the Guard: Formal ceremony taking place daily during the summer on Parliament Hill that shouldn't be missed.

Byward Market: This traditional farmers' market surrounds a two-floor building of boutiques and features some fine restaurants as well as numerous places to grab a snack or a glass of wine or beer.

National Gallery of Canada: Dating back to 1880, this visual arts museum holds in trust a collection of European and Canadian paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photos.

Canadian War Museum: The Canadian War Museum presents Canada's rich military history from earliest times to the present day, featuring the viewpoints of the people who lived it, both at home and on the world stage. Located in a spectacular new building in downtown Ottawa, the Museum is a must-see attraction.

Rideau Canal: One of the oldest landmarks in Ottawa, this canal is filled with boats in the summer and becomes the "World's Longest Skating Rink" in the winter.

Vancouver, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Vancouver, the largest Canadian metropolitan area west of Toronto, is one of Canada's most multi-cultural cities, with a large proportion of people of Asian origin. Being a harbor city, Vancouver enjoys beautiful landscapes of mountains and ocean.

Sites of interest in Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge: A 136m long bridge 70m above the Capilano River.

Stanley Park: a large forested park near downtown, with a wonderful mix of cultivated gardens, playing fields, recreational space and densely wooded forest.

Granville Island: an artsy, posh neighborhood on a small island near downtown, with quaint shops, cafes and bookstores, marina and theaters.

Vancouver Lookout: High above the ground, the Vancouver Lookout provides a fascinating bird's eye view of the city. Glass elevators whisk visitors from street level to the Observation Deck at 130 meters in 40 seconds. Enjoy a spectacular 360° view of Vancouver, the Pacific Ocean and the North Shore Mountains.

Chinatown: One of the largest in North America, it houses the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. An oasis of tranquility, this garden is modeled on a 15th-century Chinese garden and is named after the founder of modern China.

Toronto, ONTARIO

CN Tower: The tallest building in the world is a must-see for visitors: on a clear day, the view from the top extends as far as Niagara Falls.

Casa Loma: Toronto’s Majestic Castle, with its soaring battlements, secret passageways, and underground tunnel, Casa Loma pays homage to the castles and knights of days gone by.

St Lawrence Market: Once housing city hall, this Victorian building is surrounded by other historically significant architectural gems.

Harborfront Centre: The whole world can be found at Canada's foremost center for contemporary culture.

Toronto Island Park: Park consisting of four main islands and containing trails, beaches and children's amusement rides.

George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art: This famous museum houses a wide variety of works ranging from pre-Columbian times to the 20th century.

Spadina: Historic home of financier James Austin houses an impressive collection of furniture and decorative art.

Black Creek Pioneer Village: With its 35 restored buildings from the 1860s, this village recreates Victorian-era pioneer life for visitors.

Bata Shoe Museum: Visit this fantastic collection of more than 10,000 items of footwear spanning 4,500 years.

Niagara Falls : Seeing the Falls from the sidelines as well as getting up close are musts. The Maid of the Mist tour takes visitors on a boat ride at the foot of Niagara Falls for a wet and wild view of the 13-story falls from below. A completely different sensation, Journey Behind the Falls sounds like thunder as you descend to tunnels that travel to Observation Decks literally behind the falls. In winter, it is a sight to behold, as the mist freezes into beautiful formations.