The Canada Select Accommodations Rating Program helps travellers select accommodations that best suit their preferences. Accommodations are rated within six different categories: Hotel/Motel; Country Inns; Bed and Breakfast; Resort; Cottage; Hunting and Fishing. Issued ratings should be compared within the appropriate categories. Benchmarks outlining specific facilities and services within each category star rating may be found at www.canadaselect.com or by contacting your local Canada Select office.

The New Brunswick Approved designation is a voluntary industry approach aimed at providing the property owners/operators options for evaluating and profiling their product. The designation provides visitors to the province with a wide range of properties that meet or exceed minimum standards of amenities, cleanliness, repair and staff courtesy.

Nova Scotia’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport is the main gateway for air traffic into Atlantic Canada. In addition, international airports are located in Newfoundland at St. John’s and Gander. There are also airports located in all of the major centres in the Atlantic Provinces, including Saint John, Moncton, and Fredericton, NB as well as Charlottetown, PEI.

Area codes of each of the four provinces of Atlantic Canada are as follows:

New Brunswick (506)

Prince Edward Island (902)

Nova Scotia (902)

Newfoundland & Labrador (709)

Principal banks located in all four provinces include BMO, Scotiabank, National Bank of Canada, TD Canada Trust, RBC and CIBC. Banking hours vary, with most banks open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A few banks are open on Saturday. Banks are closed on federal pubic holidays. Automated banking machines and debit (Interac, Cirrus, Plus, etc.) services are widely available.

Passport and visa requirements for visiting Canada will vary according to your citizenship, residency and purpose for visiting Canada

For answers to all customs inquiries, please call the information line: 1-800-461-9999 in Canada or
204-983-3500 outside Canada.
Or visit the website at:
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

US Residents can visit: www.travelstate.gov for more information on travel documents.

Fredericton - New Brunswick
Charlottetown - Prince Edward Island
Halifax - Nova Scotia
St. John’s - Newfoundland & Labrador

A majority of stores, restaurants and accommodations throughout Atlantic Canada accept major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Debit (bank) cards can be used just as readily (Interac, Plus and Cirrus networks). Credit and debit charges will appear on the purchaser’s statement, converted to the home currency. Credit and debit cards may not be accepted in more remote areas of the region.

Although American currency is usually accepted throughout Atlantic Canada, visitors are advised to exchange their funds (or traveller’s cheques) for Canadian dollars, or make purchases with credit cards. Commercial establishments are encouraged to provide a fair rate of exchange to our foreign visitors. Best exchange rates on foreign currency can be obtained at major financial institutions throughout the region. Currency exchange rates are posted daily.

Canada uses the same electrical plug configuration and current as the United States: 110 to 115 volts, 60 cycles.

In the event of an emergency, dial 911 for immediate police, fire, and medical assistance. For other emergencies or in an area not served by 911, contact the operator by dialing zero (0).

New Year’s Day - January 1

Good Friday -  April 6

Easter Monday -  April 9

Victoria Day -  May 21

Canada Day -  July 1

Civic Holiday -  August 6

Labour Day -  September 3

Thanksgiving Day -  October 8

Remembrance Day -  November 11

Christmas -  December 25

Boxing Day -  December 26

Visitors to Canada are strongly urged to obtain health insurance before leaving their home country. Canadian hospital and medical services are excellent, but a hospital stay can be costly without adequate insurance coverage. Visitors taking prescribed medications are advised to take a copy of the prescription should it need to be renewed during the trip.

English and French are the official languages of Canada. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. Both English and French are heard throughout the province and many people are bilingual. English and French are also spoken in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Other languages, such as native Mi’kmaq, native Innu, Inuit, Danish, and even Scottish Gaelic, can also be heard.

The metric system is based on 10s.

• Celsius 100 degrees = 212 Fahrenheit
• Celsius 0 degrees = 32 Fahrenheit
• One kilometer (km) = 5/8 of a mile
• One kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds
• One meter = 39.37 inches
• Gasoline is sold in liters. One liter equals 0.264 US gallons and 0.219 imperial gallons.

The combined population of all four provinces in Atlantic Canada is approximately 2.4 million.

New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are on Atlantic Standard Time. For example, entering New Brunswick from Maine or Quebec, you should set your watch ahead one hour. The island of Newfoundland is located in its own unique time zone — half an hour earlier than Atlantic Time. The Labrador portion of the province operates on Atlantic Standard Time, except for the area on the coast from L’Anse au Clair to Cartwright, which operates on Newfoundland Standard Time.

Throughout Canada, speed limits are posted in kilometers (Km). In New Brunswick and Nova Scotia the maximum speed permitted on provincial highways is 110 kilometers (70 miles) per hour and 50 km (30 mph) in urban districts, unless otherwise indicated. In Prince Edward Island posted speed on highways is 80 km (50 mph), unless otherwise posted, to a maximum of 90 km (56 mph). The speed limit in residential areas is 50 km (30 mph) and 60 km (36 mph) in business districts. In Newfoundland maximum speed limits are 100 km (60 mph) on Route 1 (unless otherwise indicated); 80 km (50 mph) on other paved roads; and 60 km (36 mph) on gravel roads. Lower speed zones are posted.

The entry of vehicles and trailers into Canada for touring purposes, for periods up to 12 months, is generally a routine matter that does not require the payment of Customs’ assessment. Any necessary permits are issued at the port of entry.

The provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia enjoy four distinct seasons, with summer temperatures in the range of up to 30 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit). Many pleasant, cooler days are experienced in the spring and fall. The province of Newfoundland & Labrador has two distinct climates, with the island of Newfoundland enjoying a temperate marine climate with no extremes of temperature. Labrador’s climate is continental, and therefore colder and drier. January, February and March are considered winter months with snow present in all areas.

All four provinces in Atlantic Canada encourage winter travellers to come to this region and enjoy its many attractions during the winter months. Visitors are advised, however, that delays may be experienced due to seasonable weather conditions in winter, particularly in Newfoundland & Labrador.