A nice place to start to learn about Canada is to see a series entitled, "Canada, A People's History"; this television series provides an historical overview of the history of this country.

Canada has fine writers; my favourites: Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Rohinton Mistry, Carol Shields, Will Ferguson, John Ralston Saul, Lawrence Hill, David Suzuki, Bernice Morgan, among many. Reading these authors can provide not only an idea of Canadian culture, but also how some Canadians view world issues.

Canadian films (short and long) are powerful and peculiar; there is something that sets them apart from American productions, I can think of a few: "Buried on Sunday", "Leolo", "Jesus of Montreal", "Black Robe" and "Highway 51".

Canada's multicultural character offers a host of cultural experiences and possibilities. The most visible ones are culinary and cultural (writing, music, cinema, clothes) expressions. It is possible to have breakfast in China (dim sum), lunch in Lebanon (shawarma) and dinner in Italy (fettuccini Alfredo or Mushroom Risotto), or, if one prefers to stay more local, there are great places to enjoy mussels, good fish or lobster, or fish n' chips in the Maritimes, or a good portion of poutine in Quebec. To celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, families get together and they enjoy turkey dinner complete with cranberry sauce and, many times, wild rice.

Of course one should not miss any opportunity to canoe in Canada. During summer time hardcore nature lovers embark in projects such as "portaging" which involves walking and canoeing for miles into the heart of the forest, a very Canadian experience. There are number of national and provincial parks and nature reserves with facilities and campgrounds for amateur and experienced campers.

Of course, one cannot come to Canada and not attend the national sport: HOCKEY! It is a Canadian must!

"Summertime, when the living is easy" goes the line in one of Gershwin's songs. Nowhere is this as true as in Canada. After a long winter (6 to 8 months), Canada wakes up to a very intense period of activity including music and cultural festivals. In Calgary, for instance, it is the time to challenge wild bulls and horses during the Stampede; in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton one can catch a good Jazz festival, the largest being the Montreal one; if one prefers to be tickled, the "Just for Laughs" and Ha-Ha- Halifax comic fests might just be the ticket; one can also celebrate difference during the Pride Parade in Toronto, which is the kick-off of a series of cultural days culminating with largest Caribbean fete in North America in August.

In terms of radio and television, I would recommend the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), on radio I am particularly fond of "The House: the week on national politics", the local morning radio show (which varies from city to city), "As it Happens", "The Current", "The Vinyl Café" among others - My personal favourites on television, "This Hour has 22 minutes", "Made in Canada", "The Nature of Things", and of course "The National" with Peter Mansbridge. Of course, one must do this in both official languages. CBC (the English network) and Radio Canada (the French network) are the best sources of information on Canadian culture and current issues. The networks are also an alternative to the overwhelming presence of American culture, news and programming in Canadian television.

One of my most favourite people in Canada is David Suzuki, a man whose fierce commitment and dedication to the environment has inspired millions in Canada and abroad. He can be seen on the TV program, the Nature of things, and read in the many books he has published.

On the sports front, there are many Canadian heroes: Wayne Gretzky is the king and there are other hockey heroes every year. Check the NHL website for more info: www.nhl.com.

Canadian comedians are well known because of the power to make people laugh more than because they are Canadians of international repute, for instance, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Jim Carrey, Howie Mandel, Mike Myers all of them known for their appearances in "Saturday Night Live" and movies. More locally known are David Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, and Mark McKinney all from the "Kids in the Hall" show.

The music world also has a few Canadian stars: Bryan Adams, Barenaked Ladies, Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, The Crash Test Dummies, Celine Dion, Glenn Gould, Diana Krall, Chantal Kreviazuk, k.d. lang, Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Oscar Peterson, Stan Rogers, Rush, Shania Twain, The Tragically Hip, Neil Young to name a few.

Astronauts: Roberta Bondar, Marc Garneau, Chris Hadfield, Michael McKay, Steven MacLean, Julie Payette, among others.

Canadians in general are very welcoming of people from abroad. Many Canadians also hold the view that most immigrants or newcomers come from places with little or no infrastructure where opportunities to study and to build knowledge is limited at best, or non-existing, at worst. This perception can result in two connected responses: altruistic and paternalistic. The altruistic response can make people react in a very positive way. For instance, many Canadians often urge the federal government to lend more support to less developed countries through investments and other forms of assistance. On the personal level, many Canadians get actively involved in awareness raising on international issues and participate in volunteer programs. Many more devote their lives to bringing about social change through a lifetime commitment of work with various international development agencies and organizations.

The paternalistic response to the perceived lack of development of newcomers can lead people to view "others" as unable to contribute to Canada, its economy and future, and less deserving of the rights accorded to Canadians as birthright. There are some that view newcomers and immigrants as potential threats: "immigrants will take away OUR jobs".

Canada is one of the richest countries in the world, it is very developed (some parts of the country more than others) and it offers countless amenities and the opportunity to lead a peaceful existence, which are conducive to learning and intellectual growth. Side by side, homelessness and poverty are very present in this country. Discovering this part of Canada surprised me and gave me my first and most striking cultural shock when I first visited Toronto 13 summers ago.