155+ Fun Facts About Canada That You May Not Have Known
Fun Facts About Canada
If you are looking for some fun facts about Canada, then you have definitely come to the right place!
Having lived in Canada my entire life, I can tell you that it is an incredible place to visit or call home. Canada has an abundance of gorgeous lakes, varied landscapes, and vibrant cities.
That said, I still learned a lot about my country while writing this post! While I knew that Canada was the polar bear capital of the world, I had no idea that there is an obscure law in BC making it illegal to kill a Sasquatch! 😵
So, if you are looking to visit, or just want to learn more about this amazing country, we have put together a list of 155 interesting and fun facts about Canada that I know you will love.
155 Fun Facts About Canada That You May Not Have Known
I thought that creating this post would be a great way to celebrate Canada’s birthday (July 1st). Not to mention, all these interesting, and often weird facts, are just a really awesome read for anyone wanting to know more about Canada, whether you’re a local or not.
So in the process of researching this post, I got to geek out and load my brain with new and wonderful information about my home country. And let me tell you, I ended up learning quite a bit!
But just to make it more manageable, we decided to break down the post into categories. On that note, hope you enjoy the post and…
Happy Canada Day!!
Fun Facts About Canada – History
Canada may not be as old as some nations, but we still have quite an interesting history.
1. Canada became a country on July 1, 1867.
This is when the British Parliament passed the British North America Act.
2. Canada did not get its own flag until February 15, 1965.
This is almost a hundred years after becoming a country!
3. The maple leaf has been a symbol of Canada since the 1800s.
Originally used as a symbol by French Canadians, different coloured leaves represented different parts of Canada: Ontario = gold; Quebec = green.
4. There are two official languages in Canada
English and French.
5. The name Canada is derived from the indigenous word Kanata.
Kanata means “settlement” or “village” in the language of the St. Lawrence Iroquoians.
6. Canada is a Monarchy.
As a member of the British Commonwealth, we share a king with the UK.
7. Canada only officially became independent from Britain in 1982.
Canada was actually still legally dependent on the UK until 1982. So in effect, the British Parliament could actually vote to amend Canada’s constitution!
8. John Cabot was the first explorer to reach Canada in 1497.
He claimed it for England.
9. Canada’s east coast was first settled by Vikings in approximately 1000 AD.
Today, you can still visit L’Anse aux Meadows, which is part of Newfoundland’s Viking Trail.
10. Canada has actually been invaded twice by Americans.
The first time was in 1775 when Montreal was occupied, and the second time was during the War of 1812 which mostly took place in the Niagara Region. Of course, Canada also burned down the White House in 1812!
Fun Facts About Canada – Geography
Canada is a huge country with incredible vistas and a varied landscape. Some of these facts about Canada and its geography may come as a surprise to you!
11. Canada is the second-largest country in the world.
At 9.98 million square miles, Canada is second only to Russia in terms of landmass.
12. Canada is so big that it occupies six time zones.
From west to east, the main time zones are Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern and Atlantic, and Newfoundland.
13. Canada is bigger than the entire European Union.
It is also more than 30 percent larger than Australia!
14. Canada shares the largest demilitarized border in the world with the United States.
Known as the International Boundary, the border between Canada and the United States is 5,525 miles long. This includes the 1,538 miles between Canada and Alaska.
15. The longest highway in the world is the Trans-Canada Highway.
This incredible highway goes from coast to coast, spanning over 7,604 kilometres (4,725 miles).
16. The oldest rocks on earth can be found in The Canadian Shield.
The 4.28 billion-year-old rock was discovered by geologists in 2001.
17. Canada is the third-largest oil reserve holder in the world.
Although Saudi Arabia and Venezuela hold the top spots, we still have an estimated 176.8 billion recoverable barrels of oil.
18. The world’s most northerly sand dunes are in Athabasca Provincial Park in northwest Saskatchewan.
The 8,000-year-old sand dunes are 30 metres high, quite impressive, but next to impossible to visit. Instead, visit the equally impressive Sand Hills of Saskatchewan which are much easier to get to.
19. The US buys more oil from Canada than any other country.
On average, they import 3.8 million barrels per day!
20. Canada is the world’s largest source of the rare element Cesium.
Cesium is found at Bernic Lake, Manitoba. Cesium is used to help drill oil, make vacuum tubes, is needed to make the GPS on your cell phone work, and helps to make atomic clocks work.
Fun Facts About Canada – Provinces and Territories
Each of our provinces and territories is unique in many ways. From landscape to temperature to culture, our diversity shines through as you make your way across Canada.
21. Canada has ten provinces and three territories.
Some of us still have a hard time remembering this fact, as the map of Canada looked a little different not too long ago!
22. Canada’s newest territory is Nunavut.
Nunavut only separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999. The capital city of Nunavut is Iqaluit.
23. Nunavut is Canada’s largest area by landmass.
Nunavut actually takes up one-fifth of Canada’s total land area. Mind-blowing!
24. In comparison, Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province.
PEI is only 225 kilometres long and 56 kilometres wide. In fact, it would only take you 3 hours to drive across PEI, non-stop, from tip to tip.
25. Ontario is the most populous province in the country.
I was pretty surprised to learn that 40% of Canada’s population resides in Ontario! With approximately 15 million people calling Ontario home, this number is significantly higher than any other province.
Just for reference, Quebec is in second with about 8.6 million people in 2021.
It makes sense when you consider that Ontario has five cities in the top ten largest in the country in 2021/2022. In case you are curious, those cities are Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, and Hamilton.
26. Some of the world’s largest wheat fields are found in Saskatchewan.
Known as the “land of the living skies,” Saskatchewan is one of Canada’s prairie provinces. Saskatchewan is home to over 34,000 farms, 47% of which are wheat!
27. Two-thirds of British Columbia’s land base is forested.
To put this in perspective, we are talking about an area larger than France! What makes this stat particularly interesting, is that more than half of that area has had little or no human contact!
28. Newfoundland was the last province to join the confederation.
The province became an official part of Canada back in 1949.
29. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province.
Many people mistakenly believe that Quebec has this distinction, but this is not the case. As of April 18, 1969, New Brunswick officially recognized both English and French as its official languages. As both languages are used equally, you do not actually have to be bilingual to live there.
30. Quebec is the only officially French-speaking province.
In 1977, French became Quebec’s “official language.” This means that kids will learn French first in school, and businesses will be required to use French on their storefronts.
Water-Related Fun Facts About Canada
Canadians are blessed with an abundance of gorgeous lakes and rivers. Not only do we have fresh, reliable drinking water, but also have the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of water-related pastimes. We found some of these fun facts about Ontario lakes to be quite astounding!
31. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 243,977 kilometres (151,600 miles).
What this in fact means, is that Canada is home to 202,080 of the world’s total 356,000 kilometres of oceanfront property!
32. Canada is home to the largest freshwater island in the world
Located on Lake Huron, Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world at about 2,800 square kilometres.
And to take this a step further, Manitoulin Island is also home to the largest lake within an island within a lake in the world. AND the largest island within a lake, within an island within a lake in the world!
33. And speaking of islands, three of the largest islands in the world are located within Canada.
Baffin Island, Victoria Island, and Ellesmere Island are all located in northern Canada.
34. Canada is also home to 20% of the world’s freshwater.
This is because Canada has more lakes than any other country on Earth. In fact, more than half of all the freshwater lakes in the world are located in Canada!
35. Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world.
Located in Ontario, this popular beach stretches out for an incredible 14 kilometres (8.7 mi).
36. A significant portion of Canadians live within Lake Ontario’s watershed
In fact, more than 25% of Canada’s population lives within Lake Ontario’s watersheds.
37. Canada is home to two of the top 10 largest lakes in the world.
Both Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake are located in the Northwest Territories.
38. Scientists recently found 1.5-billion-year-old water in Canada
Sherwood Lollar, a geochemist from the University of Toronto, recently found and extracted a water sample that is 1.5 billion years old from a mine in Ontario. Mind blown!
39. Home to one of the largest waterfalls in the world
Niagara Falls is in the top 5 largest waterfalls in the world, with Victoria Falls in Africa occupying the top spot. Angel Falls in Venezuela is considered the tallest.
40. The highest tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy.
Located on Canada’s east coast between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy moves 100 billion tons of water through its tides twice daily. This incredible phenomenon means that you can walk on the sea floor during low tide, and a few hours later, you can kayak in the same place!
41. Ontario is home to some of the world’s most dangerous rapids
If you have ever visited Niagara Falls, this should really not come as a surprise. The water between The Horseshoe Falls and the Niagara Falls Whirlpool is home to Class VI Rapids. This is the highest class of white water rapids on Earth.
Niagara offers many attractions, including the White Water Walk, which allows you to see these phenomenal rapids from a safer point of view.
42. Reversing Falls, Saint John, New Brunswick
During high tide, the tides that originate in the Southern Indian Ocean and travel around the southern tip of Africa all the way to the Bay of Fundy, push the water of the St. John River back inland. This causes a series of rapids to visibly flow backwards.
43. Ontario is home to the “Waterfall Capital of the World”
The city of Hamilton is home to over 100 waterfalls. As a result, it has become known as the “Waterfall Capital of the World.”
44. Nakwakto Rapids boasts the strongest current in the world.
With speeds of up to 18.4 miles per hour, Port Hardy’s legendary dive destination has some pretty quick-flowing water!
45. Canada’s longest river is the McKenzie River.
Located in North-Western Canada, the river is 4,241 km/ 2,635 miles long.
Fun Facts About Canada – Cities
Canada is filled with incredible cities that are picturesque and fun to explore. But some of them really stand out for their unique reputations! While some places have fun attributes, others are just plain weird to think about!
46. Ottawa is one of the coldest capitals in the world
Ottawa is the seventh coldest capital in the world, only behind places like Ulaan-Baatar Moscow, Helsinki, Reykjavik, and Tallinn.
47. Toronto is Canada’s largest city.
With a current population of about 6,313,000 people, the city is growing every year. Toronto is also known as the most multicultural city on Earth. And interestingly enough, almost 25% of Canada’s population lives within a 160 km radius of Toronto (myself included!).
48. Markham has the highest visible minority population
Toronto may be multicultural, but Markham has the highest visible minority population of any major Canadian city. At 72.3%, it is actually one of only eight major cities with no majority racial group.
49. Yonge Street in Toronto is the longest street in the world
Yonge Street, which is located in Toronto, holds the record for being the longest street in the world. It is about 1896 km or 1,178 miles long. The road starts at Lake Shore and extends to Rainy River at the Ontario/Minnesota border.
50. Old Québec is the only walled city north of Mexico.
Built in the 17th and 19th centuries, Quebec City was also the first city in North America to be placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.
51. Montreal is the world’s second-largest French-speaking city after Paris.
In 2022, the population of Montreal is estimated to be 1.86 million. In comparison, the approximate population of Paris in 2022 is 2.14 million.
52. Calgary is famous for the Calgary Stampede.
Known as the greatest outdoor show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede features one of the world’s largest rodeos as well as a mid-way, concerts, food trucks, and incredible family-friendly entertainment.
53. Six cities in Canada have a population of over 1 million.
These cities include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.
54. West Edmonton Mall is the largest mall in North America.
This incredible mall also holds the title of being North America’s largest indoor amusement park, North America’s largest indoor waterpark and Canada’s largest parking lot.
55. The CN Tower used to be the tallest freestanding structure in the world
At 553.33 metres high (1,815 ft 5 in), the CN Tower used to be the tallest freestanding structure in the world. It was surpassed by Burj Khalifa, another skyscraper located in Dubai, in 2007.
Interestingly enough, today the CN Tower still holds on to a couple of claims to fame. For instance, it holds the world’s record for the highest wine cellar, as well as the record for the world’s highest external walk on a building for the EdgeWalk.
Fun Facts About Canada – Weather
Yes, our winters are cold. But there is more to Canada’s weather than just chilly temperatures.
56. Ocean Falls, British Columbia has an average of 330 days of rain per year.
That’s a LOT of rain! Guess you would need a good pair of rain boots a decent umbrella if you are living there!
57. Windsor has the highest lightning strike rate.
Located in Southern Ontario, the city of Windsor has the most lightning strikes per year in Canada. The city averages approximately 33 days of thunderstorms a year.
58. Estevan, Saskatchewan is said to be the sunniest place in Canada.
With an average of 2,537 hours of sunshine per year, I would be on board with that!
59. Winnipeg is also the coldest city in Canada.
On the coldest days of the year, the temperature can drop to -35 °C (-31 °F), and sometimes even lower! In February 1996, it actually dropped to a record-breaking -41.8 °C (-43 °F). The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -15.4 °C (4.3 °F).
60. Tahtsa, British Columbia holds the record for the largest single-day snowfall recorded in Canada.
On February 11, 1999, Tahtsa was blanketed with nearly a metre and a half of snow (145 cm, to be exact).
61. Newfoundland recorded the largest wave height in Canada.
On September 11, 1995, the QE2 ocean liner was caught in Hurricane Luis off the coast of Newfoundland and was hit by a 30 m wave.
62. Alberta is home to more natural disasters than any other province in Canada.
From Calgary’s terrible hailstorm in 1991 to the massive Southern Alberta floods in 2013, and even the unbelievable fires in Fort McMurray in 2016, Alberta has seen some pretty drastic natural disasters.
63. The Grand Banks off Newfoundland is considered the foggiest place in the world.
This area off Canada’s east coast experiences on average, 40 percent fog cover in the winter and up to 84 percent fog cover in the summer.
64. Winnipeg is home to the windiest place in Canada.
The intersection of Portage and Main Street in Winnipeg has been called the windiest place in Canada.
65. Calgary is famous for its Chinooks.
This incredible weather phenomenon can actually raise the temperature by 10 degrees in a matter of minutes.
Nature-Related Fun Facts About Canada
Canada is a gorgeous country filled with a multitude of varied landscapes, vistas, and nature. So we would be remiss if we did not have a section of our fun facts about Canada dedicated to nature.
66. Wood Buffalo National Park is the second-largest national park on earth.
Located between Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Wood Buffalo National Park was established to allow the Wood Bison to roam freely.
67. Algonquin Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in Canada.
Algonquin Provincial Park is located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Ontario. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada, and definitely one of the most popular in Ontario.
With its current size of about 7,653 square kilometres (2,955 sq mi), there is a lot of nature to explore here. From camping to water sports, hiking, and some of the best leaf-peeping in Autumn, you are sure to fall in love with this park!
And just to give you an idea of its immense size, Algonquin Park is about one and a half times the size of Prince Edward Island or about a quarter of the size of Belgium!
68. Half of the country is covered with forests.
This means that 10% of the world’s forests, or 396.9 million hectares, are Canadian. We also have 30% of the world’s boreal forest.
69. Most of Canada’s forest land is publicly owned.
This means that the land can be explored, hiked, and in some cases, camped on.
70. And speaking of having a lot of trees…
There are over 10 million trees in Toronto. The city may have the reputation of being a concrete jungle, but in reality, it couldn’t be further from the truth!
In fact, Toronto actually has over 25% forest coverage, with more than 18% of the city’s total area devoted to parks and green spaces. Not bad for one of the biggest cities in the country!
71. The highest waterfall in Canada is Della Falls.
Located in British Columbia, Delta Falls is an incredible 440 metres (1,444 feet) high.
72. Most of Canada’s national parks are extremely large.
In fact, almost 30 of our national parks are larger than most countries.
73. More than half of Canada’s best farmland is in Ontario
Most Ontarians over the age of 40 would be familiar with the jingle “Good things grow, in Ontario.” After all, with over 50,000 farms in our province, Ontario makes up almost one-quarter of all farm revenue in Canada.
A wide variety of fruits and vegetables, especially apples, potatoes, corn, and cash crops like soybeans and mixed grains make up the bulk of Ontario’s crops.
74. Largest freshwater dune system.
Prince Edward County is where you will find the largest freshwater dune system on Earth.
75. The first national park in Canada was Banff National Park.
Banff National Park was formed in 1885, just three years after the first National Park in the world was established in the United States (Yellowstone National Park).
Animal-Related Fun Facts About Canada
From beavers to polar bears and everything in between, Canada is home to a wide variety of animals. Some populations are even unique to certain parts of the country.
76. Canada’s beaver is the second-largest rodent in the world.
Canadian beavers can weigh up to 60 pounds. The capybara is the largest rodent and can be found in South America. It weighs in at an astounding 100 pounds.
77. Canada is home to 15 million cattle.
9 million of these cattle live on the Prairies.
78. Nunavut has 50% of the world’s polar bear population.
Northern Ontario and Churchill, Manitoba are other parts of the country where you will find these majestic bears.
79. Churchill, Manitoba sees one of the largest annual polar bear migrations in the world.
If you are visiting Churchill during the migration, you can expect to see polar bears wandering through the streets.
80. The world’s largest concentration of garter snakes can be found in Manitoba.
Spring is when the garter snake population explodes. You have been warned!
81. Ontario is home to about 230 species of animals and plants that are at risk.
Unfortunately, this is one of the unpleasant facts about Ontario that we unearthed. There are over 230 plant and animal species, including our once plentiful Lake Sturgeon, that are at risk of extinction in Ontario. And this number seems to be growing every year.
82. The largest documented lobster was caught in Nova Scotia.
A 9.3 kg lobster was caught in Nova Scotia in 1977.
83. The muskox has an inner fur layer that is finer than cashmere.
The inner fur, called Qiviut can be spun into wool that is actually much warmer than sheep’s wool. Qiviut is also pretty expensive.
84. Canada has 200 species of mammals.
We are lucky to have a diverse population of animals.
85. Churchill, Manitoba is also home to the largest Beluga whale migration in the world.
You can actually view them up close during the summer months. Both kayaking and whale-watching tours can be arranged in town.
Fun Facts About Canada Landmarks and Attractions
Canada is home to several notable landmarks and attractions. There are many fun facts about Canada tied to these sites, so we chose some of the best ones for this post.
86. Ontario is home to the busiest airport in Canada.
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga is the busiest airport in Canada. Every year, in excess of 40 million travellers pass through the airport.
87. Mount Royal Cross, Montreal, Quebec
Originally erected in 1643, and updated in 1924, the cross located at Mount Royal in Montreal is used to reflect a very important event. Whenever a Pope dies, the white lights on the cross are changed to purple. Interestingly, before computer-controlled LED lighting, workers had to climb up and change each bulb by hand.
88. The largest skating rink in the world is in Ontario
Every winter, Ottawa’s Rideau Canal officially becomes the world’s largest and second-longest skating rink. The cleared length is 7.8 kilometres (4.8 mi) and has the equivalent surface area of 90 Olympic ice hockey rinks. This incredible attraction draws in an average of 19,000 visitors PER DAY! And speaking from experience, if you visit Ottawa during the winter, you really should head down to the Rideau for some skating fun!
89. Canada is home to one of the largest museums in North America.
The Royal Ontario Museum is one of the largest museums in North America and the biggest in Canada. Attracting more than one million visitors every year, the ROM is also the most visited museum in Canada.
90. The Confederation Bridge in PEI is the longest bridge in the world to cross ice-covered water.
The Confederation Bridge that links New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island is 12.9 km in length. This two-lane bridge is the longest in the world to cross over ice-covered water. The Confederation Bridge also extends 40 m above the water.
91. The largest urban car-free community in North America.
The Toronto Islands are the largest car-free community in North America. They are home to around 650 inhabitants living in roughly 262 homes.
There are no cars, public transportation, or stores on the island. All inhabitants rely on ferries or water taxis to allow them to access the mainland and the necessities of life.
92. The largest Canadian zoo is in Ontario.
With over 16,000 species of animals, The Toronto Zoo is the largest zoo in Canada and the third-largest in the world. Established in 1888 with the donation of some deer, it was originally known as the Riverdale Zoo. Today, the Toronto Zoo now encompasses 287 hectares (710 acres).
93. Canada’s Wonderland is one of North America’s oldest amusement parks.
Bringing in over 3 million visitors per year, Canada’s Wonderland is the largest theme park in Canada. And although it has been surpassed in popularity by many others, it is still one of the oldest theme parks in North America.
94. Niagara Falls is one of North America’s most popular tourist attractions.
And speaking of waterfalls, you can’t get any more popular than Niagara. Aside from the main attraction of the Falls, Niagara is home to casinos, restaurants, shops, a midway, and a ton of kitschy attractions.
Once the “Honeymoon Capital of the World,” Niagara Falls still draws over 13 million visitors every year. Stay for a weekend or just visit for the day, you won’t have a problem filling up your itinerary.
95. Ontario is home to North America’s only castle.
Located in Toronto, Casa Loma is considered to be North America’s only authentic castle. This gorgeous Gothic Revival-style mansion was built in 1914 as a private residence.
Today, the castle is open to the public. Not only can you take a guided tour, but there are Escape Rooms located in the castle, an incredible restaurant, cooking classes, as well as seasonal festivities like the Holiday Light Show or the Legends of Horror during Halloween.
Fun Facts About Canada – Food
Who doesn’t love to sample new foods when travelling? From Beaver Tails to Poutine, there are some foods we are known for, while others, may be a bit surprising!
96. Canada doesn’t actually have much of a food identity.
Canada’s cultural diversity is reflected in that we have a very multicultural palette.
97. Canada produces 71 percent of the world’s maple syrup.
And of that amount, 91 percent comes from Quebec, with the remaining being produced in Ontario. Maple syrup production requires specific climate conditions that are most common in these two provinces.
98. Caramilk bars are only produced at Toronto’s Gladstone Chocolate Factory.
Many companies around the world have similar bars sold under different names, but Caramilk is exclusively Canadian.
99. When the Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich was first introduced 100 years ago, it only cost 5 cents!
Popular since 1908, the Montreal smoked meat sandwich features corned beef and pastrami, served on artisan or rye bread, and smothered in mustard. YUM!
100. Canadians purchase more ice cream in winter than in summer!
WHAT?? I realize that Canadians are built tough. After all, we have some of the coldest winters around. But this weird fun fact about Canada has me shaking my head!
101. The B-52 shot was invented at the Banff Springs Hotel.
This popular shot created in the Rocky Mountains is made up of Kahlúa, Baileys Irish Cream, and Grand Marnier. When the drink is made properly, the ingredients remain separated into three distinctly visible layers (due to their relative densities).
102. Canadians eat the most doughnuts in the world.
Not only do Canadians eat more than 1 billion doughnuts annually, but there are more doughnut shops in Canada per capita than in any other country in the world! D’oh!
103. And speaking of doughnuts…
Thunder Bay has its own regional pastry called the “Persian roll.” Tasting like a combination of a doughnut and a cinnamon bun, these delicious treats can only be found in Thunder Bay!
104. The Hawaiian Pizza was invented in Canada.
The Hawaiian Pizza actually comes from Chatham, Ontario, and dates back to 1962. But strangely enough, this pizza containing ham and the controversial pineapple is the most popular pizza in Australia.
105. Butter Tarts were created in Barrie, Ontario in 1900.
Today, many towns like Kawartha Lakes or Midland actually have annual festivals dedicated to this gooey treat.
106. The Nanaimo bar was invested in Nanaimo, BC.
This layered brownie dessert is very sweet and comes in a variety of flavours.
107. Canadians Put Milk in Bags.
75% of Canadians drink their milk out of a bag. Unlike our neighbours to the south, you won’t find jugs of milk in Canada.
108. Canada’s National Drink is the Ceasar.
A Ceasar is like a Bloody Mary. But instead of tomato juice, a Ceasar uses Clamato Juice, which is a mix of Clam Juice and Tomato Juice.
109. Poutine was created in Montreal back in the 1950s.
This famous Canadian dish consists of french fries and cheese curds melted in gravy. Nowadays, you can find a ton of varieties and addition to the basic recipe (like lobster or pulled pork).
110. Canada consumes more mac and cheese than any other nation in the world.
But Canadians refer to this cheesy pasta as “Kraft Dinner.”
111. And speaking of cheese…
On average Canadians consume 23.4 pounds of cheese per person annually. Cheddar is the most popular cheese in Canada.
112. The Calgary Stampede serves an enormous amount of pancakes.
Over 200,000 pancakes are served during the Calgary Stampede, every single year!
113. Beaver Tails are a popular Canadian treat.
Beaver Tails, a hugely popular fried dessert, were created in Ottawa back in 1978.
114. Canadians drink more fruit juice per capita than any other country.
Guess this is healthier than consuming the most soda in the world!
115. A Canadian eats an average of 190 eggs per year.
What are you waiting for… get crackin!
Fun Facts About Canada – Sports
As a country, Canadians love their sports. We have a couple of favourites, invented a few sports, and are home to some big-name sports legends.
116. Canada has two national sports.
Ice Hockey and Lacrosse. Most people know that Canadians LOVE their hockey. But not many people know about Lacrosse. Lacrosse is our country’s oldest sport and has its roots in the First Nations community.
117. Canada has hosted the Olympic Games three times.
The games were hosted in Montreal in 1976, Calgary in 1988, and Vancouver in 2010.
118. Basketball was invented by a Canadian.
Dr. James Naismith defined 13 rules of the game in 1891 while teaching at a local YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts.
119. Babe Ruth hit his first home run in Ontario.
The legendary Babe Ruth hit his first home run while playing for a minor league baseball team in Ontario in 1914. It occurred at Hanlan’s Point Stadium in Centre Island.
120. There are many Canadian sports icons.
Some famous sports figures include Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Sydney Crosby (hockey), Gordie Howe (hockey), Steve Nash (basketball), Mike Weir (golf) and Cassie Campbell (women’s hockey).
121. The Toronto Blue Jays baseball team was the fastest American League expansion team to win the World Series.
Not only did the Jays win in 1992, a mere 16 years after being founded, but they claimed a second win again in 1993.
122. The Queen’s Plate, held annually since 1860, is the oldest continuously run horse race in North America.
Today, the Queen’s Plate is run each July at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack. The race has actually been attended by reigning monarchs five times in its history.
123. Whistler, British Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the best places in North America for downhill skiing.
Lake Louise, Alberta is also quite popular for winter sports.
125. The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883.
Arthur Irwin was playing shortstop in 1883 when he broke two fingers during a game. Instead of bowing out of the game due to his injury, Irwin found a large leather glove and stretched the fingers with padding, thus, inventing the first baseball glove.
More Fun, Interesting or Just Plain Weird Facts About Canada
This is one of my favourite categories in our list of fun facts about Canada! It’s a mash-up of miscellaneous tidbits of interesting and sometimes just plain weird information we gathered while researching Canada.
126. The Northwest Territories is called The Land of the Midnight Sun.
This is due to the fact that the sun barely sets around the time of the summer solstice.
127. Daylight savings time does not occur in Saskatchewan.
It is the only province in Canada, thus far, that does not change its clocks during spring and fall.
128. Nanaimo, BC has a bit of an odd annual aquatic tradition.
A summer tradition in Nanaimo for more than half a century, competitors and visitors from around the world gather to race bathtubs in the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race.
Called “tubbers,” contestants race along the 58-kilometre ocean route in all types of watercraft.
129. There’s an area in the Hudson Bay region that has less gravity than the rest of the planet.
Not even sure what to say about this weird phenomenon!
130. Nunavut has the best license plates!
The license plates for cars, motorbikes and snowmobiles in Nunavut are in the shape of a polar bear.
131. And speaking of polar bears…
Churchill, Manitoba is the Polar Bear Capital of the world!
132. One more polar bear fact about Canada…
In Churchill Manitoba, nobody locks the doors to their house or vehicles in case of a polar bear attack.
133. Canada has the world’s smallest jail.
Located in Rodney, Ontario, the jail is only 24.3 square metres (270 square feet) in size.
134. The largest nuclear power plant in the world can be found in Ontario
Not only is Ontario home to the largest nuclear power plant in the world, but its security force is also worth noting. This impressive security team has won the US National SWAT Championship four times! I’m guessing the plant is in good hands!
135. The most common last name in Canada is “Li”.
Strangely random, but there it is.
136. Canada actually has an official phone number!
Not sure who would answer the call, but the official phone number for Canada is 1-800-O-Canada.
137. Ontario is home to the second-largest crater on Earth.
And speaking of Sudbury, it is also home to the second-largest known crater on Earth. The crater was actually formed by an impact larger than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.
138. In Canada, you can receive a letter from Santa.
You can write a letter, in any language, and send it addressed to the North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada. You will then receive a letter back from Santa.
139. There was actually a Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist in 2012.
This travesty made national news when someone stole 3000 tons of maple syrup in Quebec. The total value of the heist was $18 million dollars!
140. Get Skreeched In Newfoundland.
Getting Skreeched in is the strange tradition of kissing a fish in In Newfoundland. This involves kissing a dead cod followed by a shot of rum known as Skreech.
141. Many people believe that Canada owns the North Pole.
We don’t. And we don’t all live in igloos either!
142. The Canadian average life expectancy is 81 years old.
That’s a pretty decent number!
143. Canada’s Money is Vision Impaired Friendly.
Known as Monopoly Money by Americans, Canadian Bank Notes are actually quite special. Our currency is one of few in the world that has brail on the bills for the blind.
144. There are more airports in the country with unpaved runways than paved runways.
Not really surprising when you think about how remote many places in Canada really are.
145. The first UFO landing pad ever installed was built in St. Paul, Alberta.
Just why?
146. Hudson Bay has less gravity compared to the rest of the world.
This phenomenon was first identified by scientists in the 1960s. It is caused by a deformity in the Earth in the Hudson Bay region.
Because the rock mass has been pushed outward by all the ice in this region, the gravitational pull has been affected. In other words, you will always weigh less in this area of Canada!
Fun Facts About Canada – Obscure Laws
Some of these facts about Canada were just so darn funny… and weird… we just had to include them!
147. In Sudbury, Ontario you can be fined up to $5,000 for attaching a siren to your bicycle.
Well, that’s taking all the fun out of riding a bicycle!
148. It is illegal to kill a Sasquatch in British Columbia.
Yes, Bigfoot is legally protected in Canada. Originating in the 1800s, this is one of the fun facts about Canada that just makes me shake my head!
149. In one part of Canada, it is illegal to build a snowman taller than 30 inches.
If you live on a corner lot in Souris, Prince Edward Island, then you cannot build a snowman taller than 30 inches.
150. A law created in 1985 limits the number of coins you can use in a single transaction at Canadian retailers.
Leave that piggy bank at home, retailers don’t want your life savings in change!
151. It is illegal to operate a horse-drawn sleigh on public roads with fewer than two sleigh bells attached to it.
The penalty, which is just as funny as the law itself, states that upon conviction, you may receive a fine not exceeding $5.
Miscellaneous Fun Facts About Canada
Finally, a round-up of fun facts about Canada that we just had to include!
152. Ontario has a movie industry and a lot of Hollywood movies are shot here
Often referred to as “Hollywood North,” Toronto has a pretty incredible film industry. Only one of 4 major locations in the country, about 25% of Hollywood movies are shot in Toronto.
153. Ontario has the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany
Despite having a population of just 200,000 people, Kitchener, Ontario is home to the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Germany.
154. Canada is the birthplace of many stars and celebrities.
The list of famous actors and musicians that were born in Canada is quite lengthy and impressive. These names include (but are not limited to) The Property Brothers, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Jim Carrey, Rachel McAdams, Neve Campbell, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Alanis Morissette, Shania Twain, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Drake, Margaret Atwood, Rick Moranis, Kiefer Sutherland, Keanu Reeves, Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes.
155. Canadians really do Apologize a lot.
We really do say “I’m sorry” or “sorry” quite often. If you visit Canada for an extended period of time, chances are you’ll pick up the habit as well! Sorry!
156. And while we are on the subject of apologies…
In Canada, there is actually a law stating that saying “I’m sorry” is not an admission of guilt. As a Canadian, I can definitely say this makes me feel pretty relieved!
Final Thoughts on Our List of Fun Facts About Canada
We learned so much from researching this list of fun facts about Canada. Not only was it a fun way to celebrate this wonderful country we call home, but it was also a great way to geek out on random trivia! Hopefully, you have also learned some new things and that maybe Canada has made it on your bucket list of places you would love to visit!
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