Your Guide to Canada’s Provinces

The famous Aurora Borealis can be seen from numerous points across the country and is a bucket list item for almost everyone in the world. The likes of Lake Louise in Banff, Alberta can regularly be found on lists of the world’s most beautiful places. In contrast, the striking Canadian Rockies also play host to many worldwide visitors. Throw in some of the world’s best ski resorts and eclectic cities and it’s easy to see why everyone wants to visit all the provinces in Canada.

British Columbia, Canada

Biking in British Columbia, one of the provinces in Canada.

Capital City: Victoria

Interesting Facts:

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It’s the third most populous province in Canada, with an estimated population of 4.7 million

The largest city is Vancouver, which is the third-largest in Canada

It has over 600 provincial parks, with 7 national parks

It’s home to Whistler, which is one of the most famous ski mountains in the world

British Columbia has about 10% of Canada’s land surface

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Description: From the whale migrations in the Pacific Ocean to the endless hiking trails towering from the Rocky Mountains, British Columbia has it all when it comes to epic scenery. Defined by the Pacific Ocean and the mountainous ranges, ‘BC’ is the ultimate area for the adventurous.

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Alberta, Canada

Alberta is one of the most picturesque provinces in Canada.

Capital City: Edmonton

Interesting Facts:

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It’s the fourth most populous province, with nearly 4 million people located here

It’s home to the famous Rocky Mountains

It has 76 provincial parks and 5 National Parks

Also located here is Banff, famous for its incredible scenery and the gorgeous Lake Louise

The first city in Alberta was called Medicine Hat, incorporated on May 9th, 1906.

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Description: This is where those stunning stock photos of the Canadian Rockies are all taken and where you’ll spot an incredible range of wildlife - moose, bears, beavers, mountain goats, elk, and caribou, to name just a few. Another outdoor province, you’ll never be short of opportunities to connect with nature in Alberta.

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Saskatchewan, Canada

Saskatoon is one of the major cities in Saskatchewan, a province in Canada.

Capital City: Regina

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Interesting Facts:

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Saskatchewan has a unique shape in the fact that it follows the lines of longitude and latitude, therefore having a geometrical shape

It has more roads than anywhere else in Canada, with over 150,000km, meaning it could circle the equator over 4 times

With over 2000 hours of sunshine on average, it’s the sunniest place in Canada.

It has nearly 100,000 lakes

A lake called Little Manitou has a mineral density three times more than the ocean, so you can float very easily on the water

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Description: If you’re looking for incredible sunsets across endless skies, a classic country lifestyle, and the home of the famous Canadian Mounted Police, then Saskatchewan is the place for you. Steeped in history and culture, you can learn a lot about the background of the country.

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Manitoba, Canada

One of the many lakes in Manitoba, Canada.

Capital City: Winnipeg

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Interesting Facts:

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Another province full of water, Manitoba has over 100,000 lakes throughout.

Little Limestone Lake is the largest marl lake in the world (where the colour changes depending on temperature)

The town of Churchill, Manitoba, is considered to be in the top 3 places in the world to observe the Aurora Borealis.

Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a black bear called Winnie, affectionately named after the capital city of Winnipeg.

It’s also known as the Heart of Canada, as it is, quite literally, located at the heart of Canada geographically!

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Description: Another place with wide-open skies and stunning sunsets, Manitoba is also home to the best freshwater fishing spots, where the forested Canadian Shield meets the classic prairies.

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Ontario, Canada

Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is one of the major cities in Canada.

Capital City: Toronto

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Interesting Facts:

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Ontario is absolutely huge, with an area larger than France and Spain combined.

In Toronto, 51% of residents were born outside of Canada and it has over 140 languages/dialects spoken throughout.

It is the most populous Canadian province, accounting for 40% of all Canadians.

The province has around a quarter of a million lakes.

It’s clearly a creatively artistic province, with it being the home of comedians such as Jim Carey, Mike Myers and Dan Aykroyd, singers such as Alanis Morisette and Shania Twain and musicians such as Justin Bieber.

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Description: Home to Toronto, the cultural hub of Canada where there are always new things around the corner, Ontario also houses the famous cottage country (the Muskokas) where the people are friendly and the lakes are endless. Ontario is one of the most populous areas of Canada and that's reflected in the fact that Camp Canada works with over 75 summer camps in the province.

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Quebec, Canada

Quebec is The French-speaking province in Canada. It’s a beautiful place with a mixture of French and North American culture, architecture and food.

Capital City: Quebec City

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Interesting Facts:

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Although Quebec City is the capital, many mistake the more famous Montreal as the capital

Over 95% of the population is French-speaking, yet a third of the population can speak both French and English

It’s home to Montmorency Falls, which is 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls.

Old Quebec is surrounded by fortified walls, which were given UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1985.

The famous Canadian dish poutine originated in Quebec.

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Description: This is the French-speaking population of Canada (don’t worry, they also speak English) and is home to some of the most flavoursome food in the world - poutine, maple syrup, crêpes - and some epic mountain ranges less travelled by tourists. If you want to match flavour with scenery and culture, then Quebec is for you.

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Nova Scotia, Canada

Nova Scotia is one of the provinces in Canada that is largely surrounded by water.

Capital City: Halifax

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Interesting Facts:

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Due to its shape, it’s almost completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.

No area of Nova Scotia is any more than 60km away from the ocean.

The name is Latin for ‘New Scotland’

There is a small island off the coast called The Sable Island, which is only occupied by wild horses.

The capital, Halifax, is closer to Dublin, Ireland than it is to Victoria, BC.

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Description: The east-coasters are known for being the nicest Canadians out there. It is also the place where you’ll find incredibly fresh seafood and the stunning Cabot Trail seaside highway, which is one of our top 5 scenic Canadian Road trips.

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Other Provinces in Canada (and the 3 Canadian Territories)

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There are also 3 further territories, which are also known for their stunning beauty. Below is the remaining list of Canadian provinces and Canadian territories, so have a read to see if any of these sound like a bit of you.

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New Brunswick - New Brunswick is one of the provinces that borders the United States and is known for its incredibly picturesque coastline, which is interspersed by loads of different lighthouses. It’s also Canada’s only officially bilingual province with a rich French and British history.

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Prince Edward Island - Don't be fooled by the name, Prince Edward Island (or PEI) isn't just one island, it's actually loads, with over 230 smaller ones making it up. It’s Canada’s smallest province, famous for its red soil, welcoming people and Anne of Green Gables. 

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Newfoundland & Labrador - This double-barrelled province in Canada is made up of the island of Newfoundland and then the mainland part of the Labrador Peninsula (yes, where the dogs come from). Surprisingly, they’re actually closer to Ireland than they are to Winnipeg, Manitoba in the middle of the country, that’s just how big the place is.

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Yukon - Yukon is one of the vast territories of Canada. It has a couple of small cities and vast expanses of wilderness. Famous for the gold rush, dog-sledding and amazing wildlife (Black, Grizzly and Polar bears all live in this territory). 

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Northwest Territories - Unsurprisingly, you can find the Northwest Territories in the, yep you guessed it, the northwest region of the country. Another spot known for spotting the Northern Lights, the Northwest Territories also plays home to Nahanni River, which runs through the spectacular Nahanni National Park Reserve.

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Nunavut - Easily one of the world's most remote locations, Nunavut is where adventurers and explorers come to get off the beaten track. Although it's the newest province in Canada, it is absolutely huge, in-fact, it is the largest province in Canada.

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Wherever you end up in Canada during your working holiday, it’s guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. With hundreds of things to see in every province, you have an unrivalled opportunity to become an explorer of the unknown in your own right. 

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Applications are well underway for summer 2024 in Canada, so if you wish to work and travel in Canada, now is the time to apply for Canago.