Life in Canada
Known around the world for its high standard of living, safety and top-ranked universities, Canada is among the top three most popular destinations for international students.
“I visited Victoria for the first time 10 years ago as a tourist, and I fell in love with the city. The location is beautiful, and also has a good proximity to Vancouver, which is a booming market.”
Chehak from India,
earning an MSc in Computer Science
Canada Locations
Learn more about studying abroad in Canada.
Victoria, British Columbia >
An aerts and culture hotspt, Victoria is consistently ranked among the top small cities in the world.
Edmonton, Alberta >
Known as Canada’s “festial city”” Edmonton is the capital of Alberta and a vibrant urban centre
Food, music and sport
Canada has a thriving sports culture and very diverse restaurant and art scenes.
Must-try foods in Canada
Poutine
Originally introduced in the 1950s, poutine has gained such enormous popularity across Canada that it is now considered the country’s national dish! It consists of hot, crispy chips smothered in a savoury, salty brown gravy and is topped off with chunks of fresh cheese curds.
Bannock
A traditional Indigenous bread once made from lichen, moss, and other plants, bannock is now typically made from wheat flour, fat, baking powder, and water. It can be sweetened with sugar or fruits, like Saskatoon berries, or enjoyed with savoury toppings.
Nanaimo bars
This multi-layered treat comes from the city of Nanaimo in British Columbia. The perfect distribution of wafer crumbs, nuts, coconut, custard, and chocolate is what makes this one of Canada’s favourite desserts.
A closer look at Canada’s most popular music festivals
Spring
- Metro Metro Festival (Montreal, QC)
Canada’s largest urban music festival features hip-hop, R&B and Latin music, and music lovers can attend performances by the world’s top artists. - Canadian Music Week (Toronto, ON)
The largest music festival in Canada, Canadian Music Week hosts 900 bands in over 60 venues for five nights of music.
Summer
- Shambhala Music Festival (Salmo, BC)
In the heart of the British Columbia backcountry, this five-day camping festival is consistently chosen as fans’ favourite of the summer. - Boots and Hearts (Oro-Medonte, ON)
Taking place at the Burl’s Creek Event Grounds, there’s plenty of room to camp and enjoy the incredible line-up of world-class country artists.
Fall
- Pop Montreal (Montreal, QC)
Fall is the best time to visit Montreal and take advantage of its unique appeal. Pop Montreal’s music venues range from large clubs and parks to cathedrals and even vintage clothing stores. - Scream Edmonton (Edmonton, AB)
Look into an immersive experience like Scream Edmonton. This event has more than 20 live performances, three stages and a haunted labyrinth that enhances the spooky atmosphere of this Halloween dance event.
The top five sporting events in Canada
Canada: things to know
Travel
Canada is huge, which makes long-distance travel by airplane quite popular. Traveling to nearby provinces and cities is super easy by bus or train. In coastal regions of Canada, ferry boats are a more common way to travel.
Cost of living
A single person’s estimated monthly costs are CAD$1,232.40 without rent.
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: CAD$20
- Cappuccino: CAD$4.70
- One-way ticket on public transport: CAD$3.25
Weather
Canada has eight different climate zones. Weather varies greatly by region, with the Northeast seeing very cold winters and lots of snow, and the Southwest experiencing mild winters and cool summers.
Generally, July and August are the hottest months, while December through February are the coldest.
Where to Study >
Study abroad at one of our Canada partner universities and experience student life in Canada for yourself
University of Alberta >
