Nothing fancy, just the ones you get at Target, Circuit City, etc.
Are they compatible for use in Canada?

Sure, we have a Motorola set we used in Boston, and have no probs using it in Canada. Didn't even think to ask the question!

I am sure if you bring a pair, they will work in Tibet, Peru and the Antarctica.

BTW, I see that Futureshop.ca (similar to Circuit City here) sells the same Motorola FRS two-way radios as we do here, and other brands too. So, it seems they are legal to use up there.

The only reason I ask is I know the ones bought in England do not work over in the USA as it interferes with our emergency service radios, and ours theirs. Didn't want to take up space in the luggage if it wasn't going to be functional.

You might check the us FCC web site to see if they have info on this. I know Mexico used to be pretty strict about not bringing in US band two-way radios. People tend to forget that radio frequency assignments are not uniform around the world.

In general, it is probably illegal for you to use GMRS radios in Canada (and there are actually restrictions about using certain channels near the border). For that matter, you are supposed to have a license to use them in the US. FRS is free-for-all in the US, not sure about Canada.

I'm sure people get away with using them all the time, but be prepared to have them confiscated if they actually come to the notice of authorities.

I'll follow up my own response. I poked around a bit and found that US and CA FRS radios are compatible and it appears that use is OK in Canada. These are the radios with up to 14 channels and .5W transmit.

If you have the FRS/GMRS ones (more than 14 channels), you should probably stick to using the lower channels.

The Motorola T5200 that I got in the US (free promo from Michelin) has three authorization numbers on them, behind the battery compartments:

A FCC code, a Canada code, and a ANATEL code (not idea which the last one is).