Visiting Canada-Metric Conversion Tables

Canada changed from Imperial measurement to the metric system in the 1980’s.For many of us this became quite confusing as we had to learn a new way to calculate such things as how fast we are supposed to be driving, how many liters will it take to fill the tank with gas, how much does that chicken actually weigh and how cold or hot is it outside. If you have never been to Canada and are planning a trip, below are some tips that I hope you will find helpful.

• When driving from the U.S.A. into Canada or vise versa speed limits can be a challenge even though most cars now have a speedometer with mph and km/h marked right on them.
• I know myself that when I drive into the states I have to keep checking to make sure that I am driving at the correct speed limit. You get used to driving at mph or km per hour and having to stare down at the gauge can sometimes be distracting especially when you are on a busy freeway or highway.
• If you have a GPS or a vehicle with a digital readout that displays your speed per hour that can be changed between mph and km/h this will be a great help to you, but if you don’t I have made up a chart below that you can copy, print and take along on your next trip.

When you see the price at the gas stations in Canada you may say, "Wow gas is cheap up here."

Sorry to disappoint you but gas in Canada is measured in liters, not gallons. In one U.S. gallon, there are 3.785 liters.

When listening to a radio announcer or television weatherman he will be announcing the temperature outside in Celsius rather than in Fahrenheit.To figure out what the temperature is in Fahrenheit double the temperature, subtract one-tenth and add 32.

When you are accustomed to using the Imperial system for most of your life this can be quite a challenge. I still think in pounds rather than kilograms and am constantly trying to figure out at the grocery stores how many pounds a roast weighs when it says 2.4 kilograms. What I do is “guestimate” (guess) or multiply the kilograms by 2.2.

The pork chops to the right weigh 1.658 kg or 3.65 pounds.

For anyone coming to Canada, you must have a valid passport, passport card or NEXUS card. Children under the age of 18 must show proof of identity and citizenship. If the child is traveling with anyone other than his or her parent a notarized affidavit of consent from the parent of the child may be asked for when border crossing. For more information please go to Canada Border Service Agency.