Those expecting Canada to be a blander version of the USA should check their assumptions at the door. Canada's wild northern frontier, which has etched itself into the national psyche, and its distinct patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different from its brash neighbour.
It's the edginess between Canada's indigenous, French and British traditions that gives the nation its complex three-dimensional character. Add to this a constant infusion of US culture and a plethora of traditions brought by migrants, and you have a thriving multicultural society.

Events Overview
The Québec City Winter Carnival, which takes place during the first two weeks of February, features parades, ice sculptures, a snow slide, dances and music. Ottawa's three-week Winterlude fetes all things snowy and starts in early February. The Montréal Jazz Festival in late June or early July and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in late July both attract international and local players. Two major events in Toronto are Caribana, held in July, which is a Caribbean festival of music, dancing and wild costumes, and the Pride Week, whose events are held throughout the downtown area in late June, culminating in an outrageous Pride Parade. In September, there's the Toronto International Film Festival. Calgary hosts the popular Calgary Stampede in the second week of July; the highlights are the chuck wagon race and rodeo. In the west, Victoria celebrates the First Peoples' Festival in early August with traditional craftwork, dancing and war-canoe rides.
Some public holidays are only celebrated regionally. They are: 3rd Monday in February - Family Day (Alberta); Monday nearest March 17 - St Patrick's Day (Newfoundland); Monday nearest April 23 - St George's Day (Newfoundland); June 24 - National Day (or St-Jean-Baptiste Day, Québec); Monday nearest June 24 - Discovery Day (Newfoundland); Monday nearest July 12 - Orangemen's Day (Newfoundland), and 3rd Monday in August - Discovery Day (Yukon).

Weather Overview
Canada has four distinct seasons, although their arrival times vary across the country. The single most significant factor in climate is latitude. As a rule of thumb, it gets colder the further north you go, so it's no accident that the warmest areas in the south are also the most populated. The western and eastern coasts are both very wet, though much of the rain falls during winter. In Saskatchewan, Manitoba and eastern Alberta the prairies are fairly dry all year. Canadian winters are long and hard: in more than two-thirds of the country, the average January temperature is a shivering -18°C (-0.4°F). July and August are the warmest months, when temperatures in the south are usually in the upper 20°Cs (low 80°Fs).

Dangers & Annoyances
Canada is a relatively safe place to live and travel, with crime rates much lower than in the neighbouring US. Take the obvious, good-sense precautions to avoid being a victim of petty theft by keeping valuables concealed, both on your person and in your car, and avoiding walking alone through dubious areas.
However, in Canada you are more likely to get a bit of grief from Mother Nature, with blackflies and mosquitoes incessantly swarming you in the woods at certain times of the year. Blackflies are at their worst from late May through the end of June, while mosquitoes can be a bother from early spring until early fall. Ticks are also an an issue, especially from March to June.
Wild animals may be one of Canada's greatest assets, but they can also present a serious danger if you invade their turf. Do your research before you hit the camp grounds, as bear encounters are common. Mountain lions (also called 'cougars' or 'pumas') roam around British Colombia, but they are very solitary and rarely seen. Elk, deer and moose can present a problem when driving, especially at night in rural areas.During winter, when the wind-chill factor is especially high, you'll need to wrap up against frostbite.

Local Health Conditions

Giardiasis
A parasitic infection of the small intestine. Symptoms may include nausea, bloating, cramps and diarrhea. To protect yourself from Giardia, avoid drinking directly from lakes, ponds, streams and rivers, which may be contaminated by animal or human feces. The infection can also be transmitted from person to person if proper hand washing is not performed. Giardiasis is easily diagnosed by a stool test and readily treated with antibiotics.

rabies
A viral infection of the brain and spinal cord that is almost always fatal. The virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is typically transmitted through an animal bite, though contamination of any break in the skin with infected saliva may result in rabies. In Canada, most cases of human rabies are related to exposure to bats, but may also be contracted from raccoons, skunks, foxes and unvaccinated cats and dogs.
If there is any possibility, however small, that you have been exposed to rabies, you should seek preventative treatment. In particular, any contact with a bat should be discussed with health authorities, because bats have small teeth which may not leave obvious bite marks.

Lyme disease
Lyme Disease is a risk in wooded regions.
Lyme disease is transmitted by deer ticks, which are only 1-2 mm long. Most cases occur in the late spring and summer. The first symptom is usually an expanding red rash that is often pale in the centre, known as a bull's eye rash. However, in many cases, no rash is observed. Flu-like symptoms are common, including fever, headache, joint pains, body aches, and malaise. When the infection is treated promptly with an appropriate antibiotic, usually doxycycline or amoxicillin, the cure rate is high. Luckily, since the tick must be attached for 36 hours or more to transmit Lyme disease, most cases can be prevented by performing a thorough tick check after you've been outdoors.

West Nile virus
A virus transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which are active in late summer and early fall and generally bite after dusk. Most infections are mild or asymptomatic, but the virus may infect the central nervous system leading to fever, headache, confusion lethargy, coma and sometimes death. There is no treatment.