I don't know how the regulations are up in Canada, but you should try to get a basic amateur ("ham") radio license. FRS radios operate on very low powered UHF signals, GMRS are higher powered UHF signals, while with amateur radio you'd be able to use many different frequency bands (UHF, VHF, etc.). In addition, there are lots of "hams" out there and they have quite a few repeaters set up (such as on mountaintops). Not sure how the terrain is in your area, but VHF signals will generally carry farther than UHF signals in the woods, hills, etc.

I found a web site for Radio Amateurs of Canada here: www.rac.ca

The U.S. equivalent is the ARRL: www.arrl.org