last edited Dec 11, 2019
Other Practical Information for Canada
Location Map of Canada
Luggage and Equipment to Bring
Communications
Phone
International dialling code: (00 +) 1.
Internet
Wi-Fi is available in most Canadian cities. It’s relatively easy to access, as there are many internet cafés and café-restaurants that offer this service to their customers. Hotels generally also provide Wi-Fi for their guests, and public libraries even offer free internet access for a limited period.
Post
Post offices can be found in most Canadian cities. Some pharmacies, convenience stores ("dépanneurs"), and shopping centres also have postal counters.
If you plan to stay in the same region for several weeks without a fixed address, you can use the general delivery service. This allows you to collect your mail at the postal counter corresponding to the city indicated in the shipping address.
Time Difference
Canada spans six time zones, from east to west:
- "Newfoundland Time" (GMT-3.5) . Applies only to the island of Newfoundland and a small part of Labrador. It is 4.5 hours behind metropolitan France and 1.5 hours ahead of Montreal.
- "Atlantic Time" (GMT-4) . This is the time zone for New Brunswick, among others. It is 5 hours behind metropolitan France and 1 hour ahead of Montreal.
- "Eastern Time" (GMT-5) . Covers much of Ontario and almost all of Quebec (including Montreal). It is 6 hours behind metropolitan France.
- "Central Time" (GMT-6) . This is the time zone for Manitoba and western Ontario, among others. It is 7 hours behind metropolitan France in winter and 8 hours behind in summer, and 1 hour behind Montreal in winter and 2 hours behind in summer.
- "Mountain Time" (GMT-7) . Includes Alberta and the Northwest Territories, among others. It is 8 hours behind metropolitan France and 2 hours behind Montreal.
- "Pacific Time" (GMT-8) . Applies to Yukon and most of British Columbia. It is 9 hours behind metropolitan France and 3 hours behind Montreal.
Electricity
110 V (60 Hz) with "American" outlets, featuring flat pins (officially types A and B). This will require an adapter for "French" plugs.
Opening Hours
Laundromats
Local Tourist Offices
Weights and Measures
Canada has used the metric system since 1970.