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CanadaBanffFestivalEducationCanada:sleepingwithanelephantWITH6,641squarekilometersofvalleys,mountains,forestsandrivers,BanffNationalParkinCanadaisoneoftheworld'stopchoicesforavisit.ItisCanada'sfirstnationalparkandtheworld'sthird.BanffhasarichhistorygoingbacktothecreationofCanadaasanation.Today,about5millionpeoplevisitBanffeveryyear,withmostpeoplegoingduringJune,July,andAugust.In1885,Canadacompleteditsfirsttranscontinentalrailroad.TheCanadianPacificRailwaysoonrecognizedthetouristvalueoftheCanadianRockies.In1888,underthedirectionofWilliamCorneliusVanHorne,the250-roomBanffSpringsHotelwascompleted.RockyMountainsSprawledalongtheAlberta-BritishColumbiaborder,theRockiesarebarelycontainedwithintwogiganticnationalparks-BanfftotheSouthandJaspertothenorth.TheRockiesquicklybecamepopularwiththeVictorianrichpeople.Theycametoenjoythesceneryandthepleasantsprings.Soonvisitorswerenotjuststoppingover,theybegantostay.BanffwasCanada'sfirstofficialwildlifesanctuaryandthesedaysthetownthatlentitsnametotheparkisthenation'sNo1resortspotyearround.TheRockiesofferwildlifewalks,swimming,caving,camping,hiking,canoeing,hot-springsoaking,mountainclimbingandplentyofplacestostay.Educationhasbecomealife-longendeavor.Neverbeforehastheworldseensomanychangesineveryaspectoflife.Canadahasnonationalorfederaldepartmentofeducation.Althoughthereareagreatmanysimilaritiesinthe13educationsystemsacrossCanada,eachreflectsthediversityofitsownregionalhistory,culture,andgeography.PublicEducationKindergartentoGrade12educationispubliclyfundedandfreetoallCanadiancitizensandpermanentresidentsuntiltheendofsecondaryschool-normally,age18.Buttuitionischargedforuniversityeducation.Elementary/SecondaryEducationPreschoolprogramsorkindergartens,operatedbylocalschoolauthorities,providepre-elementaryeducationfor4-5year-olds.Followingelementaryormiddleschool,childrenproceedtosecondaryschoolwheretheycontinuetograde12.PostsecondaryEducationPostsecondaryeducationinCanada,bothuniversityandcollegelevers,isalsotheresponsibilityoftheprovincialandterritorialgovernments.Collegesoffervocationallyorientedprogramsofstudyleadingtocertificatesanddiplomas.PrivateSchool/CareerCollegeCanadahasalargenumberofprivateorindependentschool(someofwhicharereligiousinorientation)andprivatecareercolleges.Queen’sUniversityThisuniversitywasoneofthefirstdegree-grantinginstitutionsofhigherlearningincentralCanada.UniversityofTorontoItisthemostoutstandingcenterofundergraduateprofessionalandgraduateeducation.Festivals&EventsAudiencestaptheirfeet,roarwithlaughterandapplause.Communitiesgathertocelebratetheirheritage,participateintradition.ThebestinCanadianandinternationaltalentcometogethertoshareideasandexperiences.Festivalsandeventsbringallsortsofpeopletogetherforallsortsofreasons.Butthebasicreasonistohaveagoodtime.SocometoCanada,andjointhepartyFood&WineFestivalsRich,creamychocolatesmadelovinglybyhand.Seductivewineswithasmooth,lastingfinish.Fresh,juicylobstercaughtinthemorning,drizzledwithbutterbyearlyevening.ThesearebutafewofCanada'suniqueflavors–gastronomicdelightswellworthcelebrating.MapleleafFestivalThemapleleafwashistoricallyusedfromtheearlydaysofCanadatosymbolizethelandanditspeople.ItwasfirstproposedasanemblemofCanadain1834.ItwasalsousedinthedecorationsforthevisitofthePrinceofWalestoCanadain1860.ItappearsonthecoatsofarmsgrantedtoQuebecandOntarioin1868andasadistinctiveemblemontheroyalarmsofCanadaproclaimedin1921.ThemapleleafwasformanyyearsthesymboloftheCanadianArmedForcesandwasusedtoidentifyCanadiancontingentsinthetwoworldwars.Butitwasn'ttoreceiveofficialstatusuntiltheNationalFlagofCanadawasproclaimedbyHerMajestytheQueenin1965.ArtFestivalsStoriestoldwithpassionandwitentranceamixedaudience.Arrestingimagesofbeauty,courageandtriumphmakealastingimpression.Informaldiscussionsabouttheideaspresentedareasengagingastheworksthemselves.Canadacelebratestheworldofcreativitywithstimulatingfestivalsthatlightsparksofinspirationinallofus.HeritageFestivalsSwirlingcolorsandrhythmsofdistantlandsortimespast.Aromasandflavorsoftraditionalfoodspreparedtheold-fashionedway.Celebrationsthatgetheartspumpingandraisethespiritsofeveryonewithinearshot.Inacultureofmanycultures,thereisalottocelebrateandjustasmanywaystodoit.Canada'svibrantculturalfestivalshelpuspayhomagetothepeople,places,andrelationshipsthathaveshapedournation'shistory,personalityandfuture.ManycountrieshavehadthefearsincetheSecondWorldWarandthegrowthoftheAmericanEconomybutCanadafaceitevenwhentheUSwasrelativelysmallandpowerless.TheformerCanadianPrimeMinisterPierreTrudeauinhisfamousphrasecomparedCanada’ssituationtosomeone”sleepingwithanelephant”.AssooftenthecaseinCanadatheclimatehasultimatelyhadalottodowiththissituation.SincemostoftheCanadianpopulationlivesclosetotheUSbordertheyhavealwaysbeenabletoreceiveAmericanTVandradio.Inadditiontothis,AmericanbooksandmagazinesfillthebookshopsandAmericanmoviesthemovietheaters.Canadaalsosuffersfromadrainingofskillandtalentasit”goessouth”(astheCanadianssay)TheCanadiangovernmenthastriedtoputforwardpoliciestoatleastslowdownthecreepingAmeri