PALLISER INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Southern Alberta is rich in Western Canadian Culture.  Our land and people are warm and inviting.  It is said that Canadians are some of the most polite people on the planet, and for good reason.  It is common practice to observe courtesies such as saying please and thank you, holding the door for others, allowing others to go ahead of you in line, stopping to see if others need help, and apologizing when you accidentally bump into to someone on the street.  Our communities are strong and close knit, and we truly believe it takes a community to raise a child.  Students should be prepared to observe these courtesies, and also expect to be welcomed into the local community with open arms.

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Neighbors help neighbors here, and we look out for one another.  Families are very connected and spend a lot of time together.  Canadians are a very excepting peoples, with many different ethnic backgrounds and beliefs, so future students feel a strong sense of belonging.

 

Another interesting fact about Canadians is that we drive, a lot.  Our country is vast and as such, many of our activities require lengthy travel times.  This can be noticeably different for people coming from smaller countries.

 

Observed holidays are a very important part of the Canadian families seasonal plans. It is very likely that students will get to experience at least one long weekend while staying in Canada.  These 3 to 4 day weekends are a great opportunity to get out and experience traditional Canadian holidays and activities.

These holidays and activities vary season to season.  For a full list of Canadian Holidays, click here.  For a full list of potential activities, click here.

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Tourism

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Southern Alberta boasts an extensive list of tourist attractions and has a history that began before the birth of Canada itself.  As home to two of the first Northern Outposts for trade, and the most North Western location of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,  Southern Alberta has a very deep and interesting history.

Learn more Here (For more information on Southern Alberta Tourism click here)

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Geography

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Southern Alberta is in the northern Great Plains region.  The Western part of the region is lined by the Rocky Mountains and the Foothills.  The rest of region is dominated by the prairies of the Palliser's Triangle.  Farms, ranches and small communities cover a vast majority of the region, with Lethbridge and Medicine Hat being the largest city centres in the South.  Rivers in this area include the Oldman River, Bow River, Red Deer River, South Saskatchewan River, and Milk River (The Milk River is the only river in Canada that eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico.)

The natural habitat is protected in certain areas across Southern Alberta, such as Waterton Lakes National Park, Cypress Hills Interprovincial, Park and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.  Other unique area's include Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Dinosaur Provincial Park, which were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Cypress Hills, located in the east, at the border with Saskatchewan, is the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador in Eastern Canada.

 

(For more information on Geography click here)