Helpful Tips & Travel Advice
Travel Tips
- Banking/Credit Cards
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Banks in Canada are usually open between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Mondays through Fridays. Some branches may be open during the weekend - but this should be confirmed with the individual branch.
Many debit cards from outside of Canada will work at a local ATM, however it is best to check with your individual bank regarding charges and commissions.
Banks in Canada are usually open between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Mondays through Fridays. Some branches may be open during the weekend - but this should be confirmed with the individual branch.
- Burnaby Visitors Guide
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Download Brochure PDF
Need to code in link to PDF.
- Climate
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Burnaby has a mild climate, much like the rest of British Columbia. Winters are wet rather than snowy, and summers are warm and breezy rather than humid.
Monthly Average Highs in ºC (ºF)
January 4.4 ºC (40 ºF)
February 6.4ºC (43.5 ºF)
March 8.4ºC (47 ºF)
April 11.4ºC (52.5 ºF)
May 15ºC (59 ºF)
June 17.8ºC (64 ºF)
July 20.7ºC (70 ºF)
August 20.7ºC (70 ºF)
September 17.5ºC (63.5 ºF)
October 12.2ºC (54 ºF)
November 7.4ºC (45 ºF)
December 4.6ºC (40.5 ºF)
For additional information on current and forecasted weather conditions, visit http://www.theweathernetwork.com/
- Currency
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Canada uses the Canadian Dollar (CDN); and it is rare for any establishment in Burnaby to accept other currency (occasionally restaurants or merchants will accept US Dollars). While it’s possible to use credit cards at most institutions, we recommend that visitors travel with at least some Canadian money.
Canadian currency is available in:
Bills/notes in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1000 (although many smaller stores cannot accept bills higher than $50)
Coins in denominations of $0.01, $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, $1 (“loonie”) and $2 (“toonie”)
Visit http://www.xe.com/ucc/ for currency exchange information
- Driving in Canada
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British Columbia has an excellent highway system, with distances and speed limits clearly posted on highway signs in metric (kms/hour). When driving in Canada, it’s important to take notice of several rules:
Canadians drive on the right side of the road.
It is allowable and legal to make a right turn on a red light at an intersection, as long as the car is first brought to a complete stop and there are no signs forbidding a right turn. (This is the same everywhere in Canada, except the province of Quebec.)
Canada honours all valid foreign driving licenses, which means an International Drivers’ Permit is not necessary. However, the purchase of liability insurance is suggested.
The use of seat belts is mandatory for drivers and passengers in British Columbia.
Motorcycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia, and must be worn by all riders.
An infant car seat is required for children weighing up to 9 kg (20 pounds).
- Electricity Voltage
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The electric voltage in Canada is similar to that of the United States: 120 V and 60 Hz.
Electric outlets in Canada accept two types of plugs: a flat blade attachment plug (two flat blades) or a plug with two flat blades and a round grounding pin. For descriptions and pictures of these two plug types, visit http://kropla.com/electric2.htm.
- Emergency Services
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The emergency services telephone number is 911 across Canada and the United States, and is free from any phone.
Free healthcare is not provided for non-Canadian visitors and can be costly, so be sure to obtain adequate health and travel insurance for your intended activities before you leave.Ambulance rides are also not free. There is a charge of approximately $54 per ride, plus 50 cents per kilometre.
Some helpful emergency contacts are:
Burnaby Hospital
3935 Kincaid Street
Emergency: 604-431-4789
General Information: 604-434-4211Fire Department
St. John Ambulance
Non-Emergency: 604-294-7190
6111 Cambie Street (Vancouver)
604-321-2651
- Languages
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Canada is officially a bilingual country, with English and French being the two official languages. However, there are many other languages spoken in Canada – some more predominant in certain areas.
While English is the language most commonly spoken in British Columbia, many other languages are spoken (and sometimes written) because of the area’s cultural diversity. Some examples of commonly spoken languages in Burnaby include: Cantonese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Hindi and Spanish.
- Metric Conversions
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The metric system, also known as the System International, is the standard measuring used in Canada. One of the main advantages of the metric system is a decimalised system of measurement based on the meter and the gram. Some common conversions are:
METRIC US/Imperial US/Imperial METRIC
Centimeter 0.39 inches Inch 2.54 cm
Meter 3.28 feet Foot 30.48 cm
1.09 yards Yard 0.91 m
Kilometer 0.62 miles Mile 1.61 km
Weight
Gram 0.035 ounces Ounce 28.35 g
Kilogram 2.21 pounds Pound 0.45 kg
Metric ton (1000 kg) 1.1 US tons or 0.98 UK tons Ton 0.91 metric tons
Temperature °C (°F - 32) ÷ 1.8 °F (°C x 1.8) + 32
Some common temperature conversions are:
Freezing = 0 °C or 32°F
Room temperature = 20 °C or 68°F
Normal body temperature = 37 °C or 98.6°F
A very hot day = 40 °C or 104°F
Boiling point of water = 100 °C or 212°F
- Passports & Visas
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US citizens do not require a visa or a passport to enter Canada, but do require a birth certificate, a resident alien card or a green card together with photo identification. Note that a driver's license is NOT accepted as proof of citizenship. Visitors from the following countries do not require a visa, but will require a passport for entry into Canada: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Republic of Korea, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States and Western Samoa.
Citizens of other countries should check the following website for exact entry details as they may need a temporary visa for Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada - Visas
Attention Citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda:
On November 22, 2006 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of State announced that passports will be necessary for anyone entering the US (including returning US citizens, beginning January 23, 2007.
The travel document requirements make up the Departments of State and Homeland Security’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. WHTI requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere.
Those wishing to view the Final Rule may visit www.dhs.gov or www.travel.state.gov
- Smoking
- Approximately 15% of residents in British Columbia smoke, and many cities and municipalities in British Columbia have passed smoking by-laws that prohibit smoking in restaurants and reduce the smoking areas allowed in pubs and bars. Some locations may allow smoking if a separately structured and ventilated designated smoking area is provided.
- Statutory Holidays
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There are currently nine statutory holidays in British Columbia:
New Years Day (January 1st)
Good Friday (Friday prior to Easter Sunday)
Victoria Day (Monday prior to May 25th)
Canada Day (July 1st)
BC Day (first Monday in August)
Labour Day (first Monday of September)
Thanksgiving Day (second Monday in October)
Remembrance Day (November 11th)
Christmas Day (December 25th)
- Taxes
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In Canada, tax is not included in the purchase price.
The Canadian Goods and Services tax (GST) is charged at 6%, and is applicable to most goods and services provided in the country. However, Provincial Sales Tax (PST) differs from province to province. In BC, the PST is 7%, and is charged on most retail purchases – with the exception of items such as books, newspapers, magazines and restaurant meals.
Visitors can obtain GST refunds under certain conditions. For more information, contact Revenue Canada Customs and Excise (from anywhere in Canada) at 1-800-668-4748 or visit Revenue Canada
- Telephone Codes
- In Greater Vancouver, all landline phone numbers begin with either 604 or 778, followed by another seven digits. Vancouver Island has a separate dialing code of 250. Local calls are free from a private telephone, but charges apply when calling long distance. If long distance charges apply, a recorded voice will inform you after dialing and direct you to redial with a number 1 in front of the area code.
- Time Zones
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Canada encompasses six of the world’s 24 time zones, with 4.5 hours difference between Newfoundland and British Columbia. The time zones are:
Pacific Time Zone (British Columbia & Yukon)
Mountain Time Zone (Alberta & North West Territories)
Central Time Zone (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut & parts of Western Ontario)
Eastern Time Zone (Quebec & most of Ontario)
Atlantic Time Zone (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island)
Newfoundland Time Zone (Newfoundland & Labrador)
For more information, visit www.timetemperature.com/tzca/canada_time_zone.shtml
- Tipping
- Tipping is part of the culture in Canada. As a general rule, waiters and waitresses, taxi drivers, hairdressers and bartenders receive a tip of about 15%-20% of the total bill, depending on the level of service received.
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