Canada

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Canada

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around Canada.

Canada
Canadamap.gif
Canada (Click for larger, clearer view)
Canadaflag.png
Flag
Capital: Ottawa
World icon.png 45°24′N, 75°40′E
Language: English, French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Timezone: UTC-3.5 to UTC-8 (DST observed)
More notes about the country
Small info.png Latest News
Content - news items, etc.

An overview of sailing and cruising on Canada's coasts and waterways is of course a daunting task. After all, Canada is the second largest country on earth with extensive coastlines on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, all but one (Michigan) of the Great Lakes and innumerable smaller lakes and waterways. No single description of cruising conditions, weather patterns, or other classifications can be applied except perhaps for one: no tropical climate here (even so, the weather on the Great Lakes is generally warm and humid during the summer months...) Coastal navigation on all coasts can be challenging because of topography which often contributes to strong tidal currents. Careful planning and navigation are required. The Great Lakes, of course, are huge fresh water reservoirs and are not subject to tidal influences.

Atlantic Region

(The coasts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, including the Bay of Fundy), Newfoundland and Labrador, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Laurence River to and beyond Montreal)

Pacific Region

(The coast of British Columbia including the Inside Passage to Alaska)

Great Lakes

(St. Lawrence River west of Montreal's locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway),Lake Ontario, the Welland Canal that by-passes Niagara Falls, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay (including the North Channel), Lake Superior)

Northwest Passage and Hudson Bay

(For the truly intrepid...)

Climate and Weather

Submit the climate and general weather details

  • Environment Canada issues official marine forecasts several times a day for most major settlements and waterways on the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific coasts and the major inland lakes. Marine forecasts are also broadcast continuously, in English and French, on the VHF WX channels near major waterways and shipping routes.

Charts

Special Navigation Notes

Any navigation notes here.

Local Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Submit details of Cruiser's Nets and VHF operating/calling channels here.

  • Visitors to Canada should note that marinas typically monitor and respond to calls on channel 68. When contacting a marina do not hail them on channel 16*

Arrival/Departure procedures

Arrival
First arrival MUST be made at a port of entry. Contact Customs on 1-888-CANPASS. CANPASS is a program to streamline customs and immigration clearance. Customs will require:

  • Vessel's name
  • Registration number
  • Last port of call
  • List of ports intending to visit
  • Each crewmembers' full name, date of birth, nationality, purpose of visit and length of stay in Canada or, in the case of returning residents, length of absence.
  • All personal goods being imported, including firearms and ammunition as well as alcohol and tobacco products, must be declared.

You will then either be cleared to leave the area and enter Canada, or notified to wait for a customs or immigration officer to complete documents or conduct an examination. At the conclusion of the customs process, you will receive a "report number". This number should be displayed in a suitable place where it is visable to inspectors.

Departure
Details?

Immigration, Visas & Customs

Immigration

Visas: Full current information on the Official Webpage. A six month stay is normally granted.

NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States (Canadian and American crews). Full current details on the Official NEXUS Webpage

Customs

  • Firearms and ammunition MUST be declared on arrival.
  • PETS:- Dogs and cats require a rabies vaccination certificate or certificate stating rabies-free status. Those from the United States require the certificate to be signed and dated by a veterinarian indicating that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies within the last three years. This certificate must provide sufficient description and detail to enable adequate identification. The Rabies Certificate must be valid for 12 months and dated at least 30 days prior to entry into Canada.

Health and Security

Submit any health warnings/information and any security details here.

Ports and Popular Stops

This Wiki will attempt to cover only those ports that would be of particular interest to cruising yachts.

Also see Great Lakes.

Nova Scotia New Brunswick Prince Edward
Island
Newfoundland
Halifax (Port of entry)
Chester
LaHave (Port of entry)
Lunenburg (Port of entry)
Parrsboro (Port of entry)
Pictou (Port of entry)
Port Medway (Port of entry)
Pugwash (Port of entry)
Sheet Harbour (Port of entry)
Sherburne (Port of entry)
Yarmouth (Port of entry)
Caraquet (Port of entry)
Chatham (Port of entry)
Dalhousie (Port of entry)
Newcastle (Port of entry)
Saint John (Port of entry)
St Andrews (Port of entry)
Charlottetown (Port of entry)
Summerside (Port of entry)
Argentia (Port of entry)
Corner Brook (Port of entry)
Fortune (Port of entry)
Harbour Grace (Port of entry)
Lewisporte
St John's (Port of entry)

Also see:
Saint Pierre and Miquelon islands (France)
Quebec Ontario Gulf Islands North West
Territories
Gaspe (Port of entry)
Port Alfred (Port of entry)
Rimouski (Port of entry)
Riviere du Loup (Port of entry)
Brockville (Port of entry)
Cornwall (Port of entry)
Goderich (Port of entry)
Kingston (Port of entry)
Toronto (Port of entry)
Welland (Port of entry)
Sarnia (Port of Entry
Lake Huron)
Gabriola Island
Galiano Island
Pender Island (Port of entry)
Saltspring Island
Thetis Island
Frobisher (Port of entry)
Grand Manan British Columbia Vancouver Island
(B.C)
 
North Head Harbour (Port of entry)
Kitimat (Port of entry)
Prince Rupert Harbour (Port of entry)
Vancouver (Port of entry)
Campbell River
Comox (Port of entry)
Duncan
Nanaimo (Port of entry)
Port Alberni (Port of entry)
Port Hardy (Port of entry)
Sidney (Port of entry)
Victoria (Port of entry)

Passages To/From Canada

Canada Gulf Islands map.png

The Dreamspeaker Guides by Anne and Laurence Yeadon-Jones cover the area around Vancouver Island in great depth in six volumes. Their focus is on lovely anchorages as much as on Marinas and services. The individual volumes are: - Volume 1 Gulf islands & Vancouver Island - Volume 2 Desolation Sound & Discovery Islands - Volume 3 Vancouver, Howe Sound & the Sunshine Coast - Volume 4 The San Juan Islands - Volume 5 The Broughtons - Volume 6 The West Coast of Vancouver Island More information can be found at[ http://www.dreamspeakerguides.com/]

Links to Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

Submit useful website links for the region

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?


Template:Guide2



SailorSmiley.gifContributors to this page

Names: Lighthouse, Mousle1, Rolf Oetter, Flandria


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