Vacation My last vacation was good. I did a lot of things. I traveled to Natal, I worked, I slept. my trip to Natal Was so great, I went with my familly and some friends. We stayed in a good hotel. In our hotel room we had an awesome view of the beach. I ate a lot there, the food was terrific. I swam a lot, I played soccer, I met some interesting people and I did a lot of new things. I went sandboarding there, I tried to learn how to surf and I rode a buggy. the trip to Natal was so good I enjoyed a lot and made new real friends. I went to the club to swim. I worked a lot. I enjoyed my vacation and I hope my next vacation is so good like this one BY: Hugo 2º EM

Where does the name Canada come from?

In 1535, two Aboriginal youths used the word " Kanata, " which means " village " to refer not only to Stadacona ( that is Quebec city now adays ) but also to the entire area subject to Donnacona, by 1547, applied the word " Canada " to the area north of the St. Lawrence gulf. The first use " Canada " as an official name came in 1791 when the Constitutional Act divided Quebec, into the provinces of Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

Fernanda Naníbia Oliveira, 17/03/08

The maple leaf

The maple leaf is a popular symbol of Canada. It was used as a symbol of Canada as early as 1700. It is on the penny, our one-cent coin.

Since february 15, a red maple leaf has been on the national flag of Canada.

Demographics

Toronto is Canada's most populous metropolitan area with 5,113,149 people.
Canada's 2006 census counted a total population of 31,612,897, an increase of 5.4% since 2001. Population growth is from immigration and, to a lesser extent, natural growth.
According to the 2001 census, it has 34 ethnic groups with at least one hundred thousand members each, with 83% of the total population claiming they are white. The largest ethnic group is English (20.2%), followed by French (15.8%), Scottish (14.0%), Irish (12.9%), German (9.3%), Italian (4.3%), Chinese (3.7%), Ukrainian (3.6%), and First Nations (3.4%).
Canada has the highest per capita immigration rate in the world. According to the 2001 census, 77.1% of Canadians identify as being Christians; of this, Catholics make up the largest group. The largest Protestant denomination is the United Church of Canada. About 16.5% of Canadians declare no religious affiliation, and the remaining 6.3% are affiliated with religions other than Christianity, of which the largest is Islam numbering 1.9%, followed by Judaism at 1.1%.

Languages of Canada

Canada's two official languages are English and French. Official Bilingualism in Canada is law, defined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Official Languages Act, and Official Language Regulations; it is applied by the Commissioner of Official Languages. English and French have equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and in all federal institutions. The public has the right, where there is sufficient demand, to receive federal government services in either English or French, and official language minorities are guaranteed their own schools in all provinces and territories.[82] English and French are the mother tongues of 59.7% and 23.2% of the population respectively,[83] and the languages most spoken at home by 68.3% and 22.3% of the population respectively.[84] 98.5% of Canadians speak English or French (67.5% speak English only, 13.3% speak French only, and 17.7% speak both).[85] English and French Official Language Communities, defined by First Official Language Spoken, constitute 73.0% and 23.6% of the population respectively.[86] Although 85% of French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec, there are substantial Francophone populations in Ontario, Alberta and southern Manitoba, with an Acadian population in the northern and southeastern parts of New Brunswick constituting 35% of that province's population, as well as concentrations in Southwestern Nova Scotia and on Cape Breton Island. Ontario has the largest French-speaking population outside Quebec. The Charter of the French Language in Quebec makes French the official language in Quebec, and New Brunswick is the only province to have a statement of official bilingualism in the constitution.[87] Other provinces have no official languages as such, but French is used as a language of instruction, in courts, and for other government services in addition to English. Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec allow for both English and French to be spoken in the provincial legislatures, and laws are enacted in both languages. In Ontario, French has some legal status but is not fully co-official. Several aboriginal languages have official status in Northwest Territories. Inuktitut is the majority language in Nunavut, and one of three official languages in the territory. Non-official languages are important in Canada, with 5,202,245 people listing one as a first language.[83] Some significant non-official first languages include Chinese (853,745 first-language speakers), Italian (469,485), German (438,080), and Punjabi (271,220).[83]

The Canadian Music

The history of music of Canada has mirrored the history and evolution of the country. From early British-style patriotic songs and the folk traditions of the many founding cultures, to the international success of cutting-edge alternative music bands, music has been an ever evolving part of Canada's cultural life. In recent decades, Canadian music, in all its forms, has come to be one of the most fully developed expressions of the Canadian identity. The country's tradition of folk music, with its basis in every region and community in the country, is complemented by strong domestic and international contributions to popular music.From artists like country singer Hank Snow in the 1950s, to the hard rock of bands like Rush and The Guess Who in 1960s and 1970s, to worldwide pop stars like Bryan Adams, Céline Dion, Shania Twain in the 1980s and 1990s, to the promise of the current wave of the Canadian sound typified by performers as diverse as the Arcade Fire, Billy Talent, k-os, and Alexisonfire, music has become the country's most successful and well-known contribution to global culture.

The Canadian tipical food

Because the large number of immigrants, its food is formed by plates of lot countries: Koreans, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, Portuguese, Greeks and even Brazilians. The main meal of Canada is the dinner. In the breakfast, they have coffee, orange juice, bread, cereals and yogurt. They frequently eat sandwiches, salads, soups or other light dish for lunch.

Ottawa

Nestled on the banks of the majestic Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers, Ottawa is one of the most beautiful G8 capitals in the world. A thriving international technology and business centre and world class tourism and convention destination, Ottawa is also rich in culture and heritage with its many national institutions, parklands, waterways and historic architecture. It is home to a large number of foreign embassies and is a recognized centre for both academics and professional training. The city offers an open and welcoming environment to cultures from around the world, providing service in English, French, and a host of other languages. The city’s residents enjoy an enviable quality of life that is recognized around the world.

Culture of Canada‏

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, seen here at Expo 67, are the federal and national police force of Canada and an international icon.

Canadian culture is an umbrella term that encompasses the artistic, musical, literary, culinary, political and social elements that are representative of Canada, not only to its own population, but to people all over the world. Canada's culture has historically been influenced by European culture and traditions, especially British and French. Over time, elements of the cultures of Canada's Aboriginal peoples and immigrant populations have become incorporated into mainstream Canadian culture. Canada's culture

has also been strongly influenced by that of its linguistic, economic, and cultural neighbour the United States. These four influences have combined over centuries to form the modern culture of Canada, that will be discussed in more detail in this article.Canada's federal government has influenced Canadian culture with programs, laws and institutions. It has created crown corporations to promote Canadian culture through media, such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), and promotes many events which it considers to promote Canadian traditions. It has also tried to protect Canadian culture by setting legal minimums on Canadian content in many media using bodies like the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).Canada’s culture, like that of most any country in the world, is a product of its history, geography, and political system. Being a country mainly of immigrants, Canada has been shaped by waves of migration that have combined to form a unique blend of customs, cuisine, and traditions that have marked the socio-cultural development of the nation. In this article, several aspects of Canadian culture will be discussed. Though this article attempts to feature a variety of subjects pertinent to the culture of Canada, it is in no way exhaustive, and to gain a much deeper knowledge of Canada and its culture, one must also consult the other articles pertaining to Canada and its peoples.

CANADA