People from almost 200 countries immigrate to Canada. Here you find different languages and different cultures mixed together. So how can all these different people live and work with each other? The answer is simple: WE SHARE. We share two things: language and culture.

WE SHARE ENGLISH and FRENCH languages so that we all could understand each other and communicate in the community and at work.  We show respect for people by speaking English at work and at school because that means we are open and honest with everyone around.

WE SHARE CANADIAN CULTURE – at work and in public places. In our homes, we can choose whichever culture we prefer. But when we go to a shared (public) place, we share the Canadian culture rules, written and unwritten. This way we can all live in harmony and peace with each other.

Preparing for your Citizenship Test

To pass the test, you have to study the book “Discover Canada”. The book is not written in an easy way but if you take your time studying and thinking about what you’ve read, you will be able to understand the information. Your goal should not be to memorize the book but to understand it logically. The information on our pages is the same as in the book. However, it is explained logically, in a step by step way that is easy to understand.

For the few things that need to be memorized, we have created a page with the information on “Memory Tricks and Techniques” that should help you prepare faster and more effectively.

Learning about Life in Canada

The more you learn about life in Canada, the more comfortable you’re going to feel in your new country. Understanding the rules and the systems of this society will allow you to navigate them with more confidence.

Most immigrants are aware of the fact that laws of one country differ from the laws of another country. Laws are written rules. However, there are also many ‘unwritten’ rules each society lives by. We call those unwritten rules ‘culture’. To learn about some aspects of Canadian culture, click here.

The systems – government, healthcare, justice, education, banking – also differ from country to country. For example, while in many countries colleges and universities are government organizations, in Canada these are private businesses that compete for best students. One mistake that many new immigrants make is thinking that their country’s systems and Canadian systems are the same. Another mistake is making the assumption that Canadian systems are ‘better’. Canadian systems are not perfect and they have multiple drawbacks that need improvement.

It is important for an immigrant to understand that there is no ‘better’ culture or ‘worse’ culture – cultures are simply different. The same often applies to systems. Even though we can sometimes talk about a better system in Canada, it is more helpful for new immigrants to think in terms of ‘different systems’. This way you can learn and understand how things work in this country without getting upset, frustrated or disillusioned. Your focus should be on the best way to use a particular system.