http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/usbanking/checking.jsp
check that out. it's the equivalent of having an american bank account, without american citizenship.
you can write/cash american cheques without problem or delay.
you can easily accept american wires, even from sponsors who only wire to american accounts.
you get a visa check card which has the convienience of an interac card but the worldwide/online acceptability of a visa card.