University of waterloo Association of Caribbean Students'
Caribbean Guide to UWaterloo
WELCOME
TO
CANADA
If you're an international student Canada is probably a terrifying and exciting new experience! So here are some useful things to know about living in Canada.
Canadian Weather
In Canada, it’s not just sunshine and rain all year-round. It starts to get cold around the end of September with the first snowfall happening anywhere between October and December! Here's some of what to expect during each season:
Fall / Autumn (September - November)
Average Temperature Range: 25 to 0 degrees C; getting progressively colder.
Things to have: A nice warm jacket / hoodie and a rain coat / umbrella.
What to expect: Around September the long days of summer begin to end and it starts to get a bit colder. The leaves of some trees start to change colour from green to reds browns & yellows and start falling off the branches. There may be some light, but chilly rains and you may also notice frost appearing outside after cold nights. The first snowfalls usually happen in November, but can be as early as October!
Winter (December - February)
Average Temperature Range: 10 to -25 degrees C; getting colder initially, then warmer near the end of February.
Things to have: Winter gear! That means a good winter jacket, a warm hat/head-cover, gloves/mittens, warm leggings & pants and boots.
What to expect: Winters can get pretty intense in Canada. There are usually a few snow storms in Waterloo each year. Winds can also make outside feel a lot colder than the actual temperature (this is known as wind-chill).
Some winter tips:
1) If you find your winter jacket isn't keeping you warm enough try wearing layers underneath. That is, try wearing several shirts and leggings under your pants. This helps insulate the your body and trap your body-heat!
2) If you're at a bus stop and you might be there a while keep an eye out for bus stop heaters that can be activated at the push of a button and make your wait much more pleasant. Note: These are usually found at bus stops outside of the city (e.g. at GO-Bus Terminals) rather than the GRT bus stops within Kitchener-Waterloo.
3) If you're on campus heading to your next class, chances are you don't even have to go outside!! For the most part UWaterloo is cleverly designed as a network of interconnected buildings. This makes its easy to get around without ever stepping outside!
Check out this YouTube video for a tour of the popular underground routes! Other connections between buildings are above ground on the upper floors of many buildings. You can use the WATisRain Android app to find routes through buildings to where you want to go with minimal exposure!
Spring (March - May)
Average Temperature Range: 20 to 0 degrees C; getting progressively warmer.
Things to have: Similar clothing to Fall is a good idea. A warm jacket / hoodie and rain coat / umbrella.
What to expect: During spring, things start to warm up again. The snow begins to melt and the days start to get longer. Plants begin to grow and flowers eventually bloom. This can be problematic if you are sensitive to pollen. If you are sensitive to pollen, facemasks are your friend (you can usually find them at pharmacies / drug stores)!
Summer (June - August)
Average Temperature Range: 35 to 20 degrees C; getting warmer initially, then colder again towards the beginning of September.
Things to have: Summer wear :D!
What to expect: Weather around this time is more what you may be used to if you're from a Caribbean country. It's much warmer and some days may be more humid than others and there are thunderstorms from time to time.
Daylight Savings
In North America at certain times of the year everyone sets their clocks forward by an hour, then later on in the year they are set back by an hour once again. Why does this happen? Check out this YouTube video below to find out its origins and some of its consequences.
In Canada time moves forward by in hour in mid-to-early March and turns back again in early November. Check out this neat website for the exact dates! If you have a smartphone, tablet or a well configured computer their times will probably change automatically so there is usually not much to worry about.
Canadian Laws
You may find the laws in Canada are a little different to what you are used to.
Alcoholic Beverages
Unlike most Caribbean countries, the drinking age in Canada is 19 years old! This means many clubs and events may have a 19+ age restriction. Sorry in advance to everyone under 19 looking to go clubbing!
In Ontario, alcohol distribution is heavily controlled. The LCBO, is the main distrubutor of alcoholic beverages in the province. If you want to buy alcohol, chances are you will end up here at some point. Other places to find alcoholic beverages are the Beer Store and licensed restaurants and bars.
Some other things to note is that in Canada it is illegal to:
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Have visible alcohol containers in public.
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Have visible alcohol containers in the front seat of your car.
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To buy alcoholic beverages for someone under 19 years of age.
Special Days and Holidays in Canada
Here are some holidays and important dates in Canada that you may know about:
Thanksgiving
The second Monday of October is a holiday in most of Canada to celebrate the harvest of the year. It's similar to the American Thanksgiving, however it is celebrated on a Monday, and is earlier in the year. It's a holiday so most businesses will be closed on the Monday. If you find yourself at a typical Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, some delicious dishes you're likely to come across are: turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie! It's said that this holiday is just as much about the food as it is about spending time with family ;). Thanksgiving is also considered the unofficial start of the autumn/fall season.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is on the 11th of November each year. This day is to pay respects to Canadian soldiers, and remember those whose lives were lost in time of conflict. There is a moment of silence at 11 AM to signify the end of World War I which was officially over on November 11th, 1918. There is a service at the Waterloo Cenotaph which is off of Regina Street in Uptown Waterloo. A cannon is fired at 11AM to signal the start of the moment of silence and another is fired at the end. Following the ceremony is a small parade featuring any soldiers from the region.