Capital: Ottawa
Area: 9,976,140 km²
Population: 33 million (July 2006)
Ethnic groups: British descent, French origin, Asian or Latin American descent, tribes of ancient natives
Official language(s): English and French
Religion(s): Roman Catholic, Protestant
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar = 100 cents
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
The work of SOS-Kinderdorf International in Canada started in 1969 with the founding of the "Friends of SOS Children's Villages Canada" by a group of distinguished volunteers, including the late Justice Emmett M. Hall, whose 1964 landmark report on health care in Canada set the groundwork for its national Medicare system, and Mr. R. Gordon Fairweather, O.C., Member of Parliament and, later, first chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
SOS Children's Villages Canada grew and evolved into a national office responsible for raising funds to support the work of SOS Children's Villages worldwide and overseeing SOS Children's Villages’ programmes within Canada.
The first SOS Children's Village in Canada was established in Nova Scotia in the early 1980's and a second Village in British Columbia in the late 1990's. While the Nova Scotia Village has since ceased operations, the B.C. Village continues to expand as funds are raised for construction of additional homes there.
At the moment there is one SOS Children's Village and one SOS Social Centre in Canada.
Website of SOS Children's Villages Canada
(available in English and in French)
Website of SOS British Columbia