Getting around

It is useful to have a map of the area where you will be living. It will help you to get around and find the services you need. Most book stores, gas stations and convenience stores sell maps at a reasonable price. You may also be able to get a map of your community free through your local Chamber of Commerce or municipal office. You can also look at maps in the library, at no cost. However, you can't take maps out of the library.

 
Using the telephone

Canadians like to use the telephone for communicating. They talk on the telephone everywhere -- at home, in their cars, on the street, in telephone booths. You will find that telephone books are great sources of information. Most of the important telephone numbers you need can be found in alphabetical order in the telephone book. You will receive one from the company which installs a telephone in your home. You may also be able to pick one up from a phonecentre. Phonecentres are often located in large shopping malls. There are also telephone books at the library, and where you find pay phones.

 
 Emergency 911

If you fear for your safety, or the safety of someone in your family, you should call your local emergency number for help. In many Canadian cities this number is 911. This connects you immediately to ambulances, fire departments, the police, and other emergency services. In other communities not equipped with 911 services, dial 0 and ask the operator for help. Other medical emergency numbers are listed in the first few white pages of the telephone book. These may include a poison information number, a distress or sexual assault help line, and a number to call if you or someone in your family is being abused.

Pay telephones

You may want to use a public telephone when you are out, or before you get your telephone installed. There are many pay telephone booths set up on city streets, in shopping malls, in airports -- anywhere there are lots of people. You pay for these telephone calls as you use the telephone. For local calls, you put in 25 cents (this charge may vary in some provinces) and make your call. You should have the right number of coins to put in the slot. If the call is long distance, you will need to put in more money (coins) as you go along, and an operator, or the message across the screen on the pay telephone, will tell you how much. Make sure you have lots of coins with you! Eventually, you may want to get a calling card from a telephone company. This card allows you to dial in a special code and make calls on public phones without putting in any money. These calls are then billed on your regular telephone bill at home.

 
Directory assistance

If you need help finding a telephone number, you may call for assistance. Call 411 for local numbers, and 0 for overseas numbers. All telephone numbers have an area code, which refers to the location of the number. You can look up these codes in your local telephone book. If the call you wish to make is outside the local area code, it is probably going to be long distance. Call 1+AREA CODE+555-1212 if you need help to find the number. Remember, there is a charge for using this service.

 
Telephone services for people with special needs

Many telephone companies in Canada can provide special telephone equipment for people with a hearing, speech, visual or physical disability. Contact your local telephone company to get more information on these kinds of services and equipment. You can find the name of the telephone company in your area by looking at a telephone book in a pay telephone. The Customer Service number should be in the first few pages of the book. In areas served by Bell Canada, you can also visit a Bell Phonecentre. These are usually found in large shopping malls.

 
Using computers

A great deal of helpful information is now available through the Internet, a world-wide resource and information system. You don't need to own a computer or have Internet access at home to use it. You can often use the Internet (or "surf the web," as Canadians like to say), free of charge at your local public library (you must reserve a time slot), community centre, school, immigrant-serving organization or Human Resources Development Canada office. Useful information can be found on various "web sites," which are like codes or addresses on the Internet.

 
Public libraries

In most communities across Canada, there are public libraries which can be used free of charge. Libraries are a resource which many newcomers make use of to read the daily newspapers, use the internet and borrow books.