Interesting Facts About Canada

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. It is the world’s second-largest country by total area of 9.98 million square kilometers and home to more than 37 million people. 

Canada’s capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Canada has ranked as one of the top ten places to live in the world for over twenty years. It has become a popular hub for international students looking to stay in the country after completing their studies. It also offers a direct path to permanent citizenship, an option for many international students seek. 

That said, here are some interesting facts about the Land of the Maple Syrup:

• Canada has more than 31,700 big lakes. In fact, more than half of the world’s lakes are located in Canada. The country has two of the biggest lakes in the world: Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
  
  
  
• The literacy rate is 99%, so almost all Canadians can read and write.
  
  
  
• The Blackberry smartphone was developed in Ontario, at Research in Motion’s Waterloo offices.
  
  
  
• Canada is home to celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Leonard Cohen, Avril Lavigne, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, and Justin Bieber.
  
  
  
• High Rankings- There are 98 Universities in Canada with multiple institutes and colleges. 26 of these 98 Universities have been listed in the QS World University Rankings of 2016-2017.
  
  
  
• Intake System – There are three intakes for students per year: January, May, and September. May has the least intake, and September has the maximum intake. University applications should start 1 to 1.5 years in advance as universities close their application 5-6 months prior to intake.
  
  
  
• Permanent Residency- The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students to apply for a work permit after course completion. The stay back in the country option depends on the course that you choose.
  
  For the 8-month program, the stay-back period is 8 months, whereas for a 1-year program, you get a 1-year work permit. Similarly, for 2 years or more, you get a 3-year work permit.
  
  
  
• Canada has two official languages – English and French. Millions of Canadians can converse in both languages.
  
  
  
• Students can work while studying in Canada. You are allowed to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic session and full-time during scheduled breaks. You do not need to apply for a separate work permit.
  
  
  
• Compared to other countries, the student visa process in Canada is relatively straightforward. However, for any Bhutanese student, you must score an overall IELTS of 6.5 with no band score below 6. The visa application process is easy and fast for Bhutanese students wishing to study in Canada.
  
  
  
• According to a survey, Canada ranked 4^th worldwide in terms of quality of life. The art, music, theater, and food scenes are lively in every province; you don’t need to travel far to find fun. Canada is a peaceful and politically stable country for international students.