PEOPLE

According to Statistics Canada (1996 census) at least 59 percent of Canadians have English as a mother tongue and more than 23 percent have French as a mother tongue. The rest claimed to have another mother tongue, or more than one first language. Almost 17 percent claim to have a knowledge of both official languages.

Most French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec, which has a vibrant culture. Check out the Quebec web site. Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba also have French-speaking populations.

Multiculturalism: One in six Canadians was born outside Canada. Immigrants come to Canada from more than 150 countries. Canada's multicultural policy recognizes racial and ethnic diversity, promotes understanding of different cultures and stresses equality.

Aboriginal Peoples : The Aboriginal peoples have lived in Canada for thousands of years. More than one million, they are divided into three major groups: the First Nations, the Inuit, who live in the North, and the Métis (descended from Aboriginal and European people). The first Europeans learned a great deal from the Aboriginal people -- how to survive in a harsh climate, foods and medicines found in the wild, how to travel by canoe.