Whilst you do have to "land" you do NOT have to leave the country in order to do so (flagpole). Once you receive your passport back with your visa you phone the call centre and ask them for an appointment at your local office.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english//resources/manuals/bulletins/2008/ob076.asp
With the introduction of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), launched on September 17, 2008, amendments were made to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
to allow foreign nationals with valid temporary resident status in Canada to be granted permanent residence from within Canada. The changes make it easier for these temporary residents to acquire permanent residence since they no longer need to do so at a port of entry (POE). These regulatory changes apply to all foreign nationals in the Economic and Family classes who have valid temporary resident status in Canada (i.e., workers, students or visitors).
Foreign nationals who hold permanent resident visas in Canada continue to have the option of reporting to a POE in order to be granted permanent residence, if that is more convenient.
R71.1, has been created and states that:
A foreign national who is a member of a class referred to in paragraph 70(2)(a) or (b) and who is a temporary resident in Canada must, to become a permanent resident, present their permanent resident visa to an officer at a port of entry
or at an office of the Department in Canada.
The above regulatory changes mean that clients in Canada with valid temporary resident status may:
Contact the Call Centre to request an appointment at a local CIC office, with their family members, if applicable, to be granted permanent resident status at that location; or leave Canada and obtain permanent residence upon re-entry to Canada at a POE.
The letter that accompany visas will state:
Please note that if you are already in Canada and have valid temporary resident status, you now have the option of obtaining your permanent resident status in Canada as opposed to leaving Canada and re-entering at a port of entry. Please contact CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 as soon as possible to arrange an appointment with the nearest Citizenship and Immigration office to your place of residence. (You cannot call this number if you are outside Canada.)
