TOURIST AND GENERAL SAFETY IN CANADA
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TERRORISM: The Canadian Government believe it
is of utmost importance to protect its communities from the threat of
terrorism. The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness is the lead
Minister for overall counter-terrorism planning, preparedness and response
within the Government of Canada, and for national leadership and coordination
on matters relevant to national security. Canada's first Counter-terrorism
Strategy was released in 2012. It explains the national approach to countering
terrorism. This comprehensive Strategy
guides more than 20 federal departments and agencies to better align them to
“prevent, detect, deny and respond” to terrorist threats. The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency
Preparedness, in consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is
responsible for the Strategy’s implementation.
BORDER LAW ENFORCEMENT: Public Safety Canada provides law enforcement through its Border Law Enforcement Initiatives. The team are working to keep the Canadian border secure, both at marine and land ports of entry. Public Safety Canada supports ongoing dialogue between Canada and the United States on strategic and operational border policy issues, develops and implements innovative cross-border law enforcement practices and models relating to the movement of goods both at and between land and marine ports of entry and provides policy advice, leadership and horizontal coordination to Public Safety Portfolio agencies and other federal departments regarding border issues. When travelling to the country, make sure you know all the information regarding proper immigration and declaration of goods and your belongings. Make sure your passport and visa are valid.
CRIME: Public Safety Canada coordinates leadership and funding to help address the ongoing challenges of police services within Canada and around the world. Their work provides national leadership on effective and cost-effective ways to prevent and reduce crime by intervening on the risk factors before crime happens. Their approach is to promote the implementation of effective crime prevention practices. Public Safety Canada and its police force are working hard every day to prevent crime inside the country using innovative law enforcements and a wide surveillance cover. You must keep alert of pickpockets and snatchers whilst on the street. Also, be very vigilant when you are on your own.
DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES: The ultimate purpose of emergency management is to save lives, preserve the environment and protect property and the economy. Emergency management is comprised of four interdependent risk-based functions: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Public Safety Canada promotes a common approach to developing emergency management plans to strengthen the Government of Canada's capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from major disasters and other emergencies. Disasters are usually taken into consideration at a local level, using hospitals, fire/police departments etc. But if the disaster turns out worse than expected, it is easy for the coordination of resources to reach a national level. Some examples of national disasters include a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosives (CBRNE) disaster. Canada’s network of Regional Offices across Canada serve as the Department's primary link to provincial and territorial emergency management counterparts, as well as federal departments in the region, to ensure a whole-of-government response.
GENERAL SAFETY: When out with family or just simply driving around, always be cautious of your surroundings and environment. If there is anything wrong, do not hesitate to dial 911.
BORDER LAW ENFORCEMENT: Public Safety Canada provides law enforcement through its Border Law Enforcement Initiatives. The team are working to keep the Canadian border secure, both at marine and land ports of entry. Public Safety Canada supports ongoing dialogue between Canada and the United States on strategic and operational border policy issues, develops and implements innovative cross-border law enforcement practices and models relating to the movement of goods both at and between land and marine ports of entry and provides policy advice, leadership and horizontal coordination to Public Safety Portfolio agencies and other federal departments regarding border issues. When travelling to the country, make sure you know all the information regarding proper immigration and declaration of goods and your belongings. Make sure your passport and visa are valid.
CRIME: Public Safety Canada coordinates leadership and funding to help address the ongoing challenges of police services within Canada and around the world. Their work provides national leadership on effective and cost-effective ways to prevent and reduce crime by intervening on the risk factors before crime happens. Their approach is to promote the implementation of effective crime prevention practices. Public Safety Canada and its police force are working hard every day to prevent crime inside the country using innovative law enforcements and a wide surveillance cover. You must keep alert of pickpockets and snatchers whilst on the street. Also, be very vigilant when you are on your own.
DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES: The ultimate purpose of emergency management is to save lives, preserve the environment and protect property and the economy. Emergency management is comprised of four interdependent risk-based functions: prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Public Safety Canada promotes a common approach to developing emergency management plans to strengthen the Government of Canada's capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from major disasters and other emergencies. Disasters are usually taken into consideration at a local level, using hospitals, fire/police departments etc. But if the disaster turns out worse than expected, it is easy for the coordination of resources to reach a national level. Some examples of national disasters include a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosives (CBRNE) disaster. Canada’s network of Regional Offices across Canada serve as the Department's primary link to provincial and territorial emergency management counterparts, as well as federal departments in the region, to ensure a whole-of-government response.
GENERAL SAFETY: When out with family or just simply driving around, always be cautious of your surroundings and environment. If there is anything wrong, do not hesitate to dial 911.
HOTELS
There are
so many beautiful hotels to visit and stay in for a while in every Canadian
city. The different types of accommodation in the country range from overnight motels
and inns in a residential neighbourhood to luxurious, sky-rise hotels in the
CBDs. If you’re staying for one night and have a small budget, you can check
into a motel – wherever you need to be at. If you are willing to spend a little
more money on a luxurious and splendid hotel, you can check into a hotel inside
the city.
When you have found the perfect place for you and maybe some friends/family, you can book a room on the hotel’s official website, a Canadian tourism page, a hotel booking website, or you can just check-in in person once you arrive.
If you check in online, you must pay using a credit card. Choose a room and amount of people with you and hit ‘checkout’. Carefully enter your personal details as follows on the website and you have booked a room! All you have to do now is arrive at your destination.
An example of a luxurious Canadian hotel is the Blue Horizon Hotel at Robson St in Vancouver, BC. The hotel rooms available range from standard king and queen beds to executive suites on the 30th floor. There is a swimming pool and sauna, as well as a tiny gymnasium for its customers. Located in the lobby level of the hotel open 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a business centre. There are computers available with high-speed internet access, faxing, scanning and printing capabilities.
Looking to cater your next big private event or corporate function? If you are on a business trip to the hotel, at ABODE Restaurant, located inside the hotel, their talented full service kitchen staff will exceed your expectations for your next event. Providing fresh, seasonal menus or uniquely crafted menus for that special day, ABODE’s delectable culinary style, quality and vision make the hotel an industry leader in crafting home-style edibles for your featured event. The hotel’s banquets team can book a function in ABODE Restaurant or in one of their 6 Meeting + Banquet rooms located on the 31st floor of the Blue Horizon Hotel. For more information regarding the restaurant or if you would like to book a function or party, please contact sales@[email protected].
That was just one of the thousands of hotels in Canada – please pick one that will suit your taste and you will definitely enjoy your time at. Hopefully your time at your selected hotel will be enjoyable!
When you have found the perfect place for you and maybe some friends/family, you can book a room on the hotel’s official website, a Canadian tourism page, a hotel booking website, or you can just check-in in person once you arrive.
If you check in online, you must pay using a credit card. Choose a room and amount of people with you and hit ‘checkout’. Carefully enter your personal details as follows on the website and you have booked a room! All you have to do now is arrive at your destination.
An example of a luxurious Canadian hotel is the Blue Horizon Hotel at Robson St in Vancouver, BC. The hotel rooms available range from standard king and queen beds to executive suites on the 30th floor. There is a swimming pool and sauna, as well as a tiny gymnasium for its customers. Located in the lobby level of the hotel open 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a business centre. There are computers available with high-speed internet access, faxing, scanning and printing capabilities.
Looking to cater your next big private event or corporate function? If you are on a business trip to the hotel, at ABODE Restaurant, located inside the hotel, their talented full service kitchen staff will exceed your expectations for your next event. Providing fresh, seasonal menus or uniquely crafted menus for that special day, ABODE’s delectable culinary style, quality and vision make the hotel an industry leader in crafting home-style edibles for your featured event. The hotel’s banquets team can book a function in ABODE Restaurant or in one of their 6 Meeting + Banquet rooms located on the 31st floor of the Blue Horizon Hotel. For more information regarding the restaurant or if you would like to book a function or party, please contact sales@[email protected].
That was just one of the thousands of hotels in Canada – please pick one that will suit your taste and you will definitely enjoy your time at. Hopefully your time at your selected hotel will be enjoyable!
INTER-CITY TRANSPORT
Canada,
like any other country, uses transport to take its citizens from one place to
another. I will show you some examples below on what kinds of transport are
available to you across the country:
AIR - Canada is definitely a large country – and it would take a long time to travel from one city to another using on a road trip, using a car etc. Because of the country’s vast size, most people around the country travel in the air to get from place to place. In most major cities, there are functional airports with organised, daily scheduled flights from city to city. If you are travelling to a place that does not have a main airport (for example, a town or rural area), then you will need to fly to the nearest main airport and either rent a car or take a bus to your final stop. To fly in Canada, you need a piece of photo identification issued by the federal, provincial or territorial government in Canada, or a foreign passport. RAIL - Canada’s rail network runs across the country, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the east to Vancouver and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, in the west. Canadian trains are safe to travel in, are comfortable and are affordable. Though tickets are at an affordable price when you purchase them on the day you travel, it would be cheaper to purchase tickets in advance. For more information regarding Canadian rail and if you would like to purchase tickets, visit the Via Rail Canada website or go to a train station in person. BUS – Catching a bus can be the cheapest way of travelling between cities and across the country. It is often the only way of getting to smaller towns without airports if you are not driving a car. Remember that bus travel from city to city can be very long due to the great distances involved. Most buses have air conditioning and a washroom on board. Remember to stay safe if you easily get bus-sick or car-sick. Have your equipment with you just in case anything does happen on-board. The largest network of bus routes in the country is run by a company called Greyhound. You can get more information and buy bus tickets by calling or visiting your local bus station. FERRY - In coastal areas of Canada such as British Columbia and the Atlantic region where water is present, ferry boats are a common way to travel. Many ferries transport both passengers and vehicles from island to island. You can get more information and buy tickets from ferry companies that operate routes in your area. CAR – Canada is home to a large network of roads and highways across the country that will get you to where you want to go. Make sure you have a country road map or GPS device with you just in case you get lost. The country’s large road system is what makes a lot of long distance travel possible. If you are a tourist, rent a car from your nearest or trusted dealer and you can start driving around! WALKING/CYCLING - Walking and cycling are healthy and cheap ways of getting around Canadian cities and towns. You can generally get a map of bicycle networks from local bike shops or from the municipal government (at information kiosks or online). TAXIS - All cities and towns have one or more companies that offer taxi service. Taxis have meters that use set rates to calculate the cost of your trip. The rates are fixed and cannot be negotiated. You pay the amount shown on the meter at the end of your trip. If you want to know how much your trip will cost, ask the driver before the trip starts. Many drivers will also hope for a tip, especially if they help you with lots of bags. Taxis are quite expensive, so most people only use them when they do not have another option. Taxi drivers have an official identification card to show that they are licensed by the city. You can find the card on the dashboard of the taxi. There are two ways of catching a taxi: Call for a taxi to pick you up. You can find the telephone numbers of taxi companies on the Internet or by contacting the transportation department of your municipal government. When you call for a taxi, the operator will ask you to give the pick-up address, your name and the destination address. Catch a taxi at a taxi stand or “hail” a taxi on the street by standing on the sidewalk and waving your hand at an empty taxi driving past. |
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
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Within each
major city/town of Canada, there are large public transport networks available
with one or more ways to travel (bus, train etc.). If you plan to use public
transportation when traveling to and from a destination, you should research
transportation options before deciding where you will live (or stay if you are
a tourist).
Canada’s most common form of urban transport is the bus, while people also commute using trams, trains and subways. Public transport is widely distributed across most of the cities in Canada, so getting from one place to another is simple with just one form of transport.
In order to be able to use public transport, you must purchase a ticket or transit pass. A ticket is valid usually for a one way or return trip, while transit passes are valid for a longer period of time and allow you to travel unlimited times (for example, some transit passes allow you to travel unlimited times for a month or year). If you are planning to use public transport often, it would be easier and cheaper to purchase transit passes.
You can get more information about public transportation in your city or town by:
•visiting an information kiosk at a main transit station;
•calling a transit information line; or
•visiting the website of your municipal government.
In most cities, you can buy tickets at major transit stations, convenience stores or from the bus driver (you will need to give the exact amount).
Transportation for people with physical disabilities:
Public transportation often has features to help people with physical disabilities. In many cities and towns, there are services specifically for people with limited mobility. You can find out about these services in the same way you would learn more about other public transportation options.
Canada’s most common form of urban transport is the bus, while people also commute using trams, trains and subways. Public transport is widely distributed across most of the cities in Canada, so getting from one place to another is simple with just one form of transport.
In order to be able to use public transport, you must purchase a ticket or transit pass. A ticket is valid usually for a one way or return trip, while transit passes are valid for a longer period of time and allow you to travel unlimited times (for example, some transit passes allow you to travel unlimited times for a month or year). If you are planning to use public transport often, it would be easier and cheaper to purchase transit passes.
You can get more information about public transportation in your city or town by:
•visiting an information kiosk at a main transit station;
•calling a transit information line; or
•visiting the website of your municipal government.
In most cities, you can buy tickets at major transit stations, convenience stores or from the bus driver (you will need to give the exact amount).
Transportation for people with physical disabilities:
Public transportation often has features to help people with physical disabilities. In many cities and towns, there are services specifically for people with limited mobility. You can find out about these services in the same way you would learn more about other public transportation options.