Canada has two official languages—English and French. All federal government services offer clients the choice of either language, as do airlines and VIA Rail. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) provides radio and television services throughout the country in both languages. The Government of Canada encourages bilingualism, and more and more Canadians are proficient in both official languages. The only provincial government to be officially bilingual is New Brunswick, although other provinces try and accommodate everybody.

English is widely spoken throughout Canada, except in rural Québec. French is the predominant language in Québec and parts of New Brunswick. There are also communities of French speakers in many other provinces including Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchwan and Alberta, typically in the larger towns and cities.

Canadians always appreciate your efforts to speak their language, so no matter how basic your skills try speaking to them in their native tongue. In the unlikely event of an emergency the authorities will ensure that someone who speaks your language is made available.

As a nation of immigration, many other languages are also spoken in Canada. Chances are good that one can find someone who speaks the same mother tongue.