1. Canada is the largest country in the Western hemisphere and the second largest country in the world after Russia and borders only one country, the United States of America.
2. Canada has the longest coastline in the world with 202,080 km/ 125,567 miles.
3. Three Canadian islands are among the top ten biggest islands in the world. They are: Baffin Islands (more than double the size of Great Britain), Victoria Island and Ellesmere Island (both are roughly the size of England).
4. More than half of all the lakes in the world are located in Canada! The country counts more than 3 million lakes and 31,700 big lakes with an area over 300 hectares. Canada also includes two of the biggest lakes in the world: Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
5. Toronto is Canada's largest metropole with over 6 million people. Montreal, Canada's second largest city with over 4 million inhabitants, is also the second largest city in the world that has a French-speaking population - after Paris in France.
Montreal, the second most populated city in Canada
Did you know that Canada is taking part in NASA's Lunar Gateway project? Read more about Canada's role in the Moon exploration here.
Weird, Fun and Interesting Facts About Canada
For fellow Canadians and those even mildly interested in Canada I thought I’d put a blog together and give you 145 weird, fun and interesting facts about Canada. Canada came into being as a country on July 1, 1867, when the British Parliament passed the British North America Act.
Walking towards the Parliament Buildings in OttawaFamous CanadiansFamous Canadian celebrities include Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, James Cameron, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Mike Myers, Ryan Reynolds and William Shatner.
Famous Canadian rock and rollers include Bryan Adams, Paul Anka, the Guess Who, Rush, Steppenwolf, The Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Neil Young and Avril Lavigne.
Other famous and well known musicians and songwriters include Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado, Diana Krall, Chantal Kreviazuk, K.D.Lang, Maureen Forrester, Leonard Cohen, Raffi Cavoukian, Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, David Foster, Robert Goulet, Shania Twain, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Joni Mitchell.
Famous Canadian authors include Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Alice Munro (Lives of Girls and Women), Mavis Gallant, Stephen Leacock, Pierre Berton, Robertson Davies, Douglas Copeland, Alistair MacLeod, Farley Mowat and Michael Ondaantje.
Famous Canadian artists include the Group of Seven made up of Lauren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, J.E.H.MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston and Franklin Carmichael. Tom Thomson and Emily Carr, two artists associated with the group are also very well know.
Inspirational Canadians include Terry Fox who attempted a one-legged cross country run for cancer research, Rick Hansen, a paraplegic athlete who completed an around the world marathon for spinal cord injury research and Donovan Bailey, the world’s fastest man.
Famous Canadian dancers include Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant and Lynn Seymour.
Superman was co-created by a Canadian Joe Shuster and American Jerry Siegal. The character was created while Shuster was visiting Siegal in Cleveland in 1934.
Famous Canadian journalists, TV or radio personalities include Peter Jennings, Alex Trebek, Lloyd Robertson, Peter Gzowski, Robert MacNeil, Morley Safer and John Roberts.
Banff National Park near the Plain of the Six Glaciers TeahouseFun Geography Facts about CanadaCanada is the second largest country in the world.
The highest tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick. You can kayak at Hopewell Rocks but start on the mud in your kayak and just wait for the water to lift you off.
The capital of Canada is Ottawa, the second coldest capital in the world after Moscow.
Read: 5 Things You Must do on a Visit to Ottawa
The first view of the Grand Hall at the Canadian Museum of HistoryCanada has ten provinces and three territories.
Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 243,977 kilometers – 151,600 miles.
Montreal is the world’s second largest French speaking city after Paris.
Six cities in Canada have a population of over 1 million: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.
Read: Everything You Need to Know to Visit Canada
Inside the Calgary Library that opened in 2018Canada is lucky to have 9% of the world’s renewable water supply!
The largest non-polar ice field in the world can be found in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory. It covers an area of 40,570 square kilometers of which 16,900 square kilometers are located in Canada, the remainder being in Alaska.
Canada has six time zones.
The longest highway in the world is the Trans-Canada Highway which is over 7,604 kilometers (4,725 miles) in length.
The world’s most northerly sand dunes are in Athabasca Provincial Park in northwest Saskatchewan. They are 30 meters high. The Sand Hills of Saskatchewan near Moose Jaw are also a sight to see.
You feel small in a landscape of sand and skyHalf of the country is covered with forests, which should come as no surprise considering one-tenth of the world’s forests are here.
Walking through temperate rainforest on the Juan de Fuca Trail on Vancouver Island
The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan, Yukon Territory, 5959 meters (19,551 feet).
Wasaga beach is the longest fresh water beach in the world.
Despite being a huge country, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world, with only three people living per square kilometer! Almost half of the population in Canada were born in other countries.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada was -63°C (-81.4°F) on February 3, 1957, in Snag, Yukon.
Want to show the world you’re a Canadian? Why not pick up a beanie with a Canadian flag or throw on the cozy hooded sweatshirts – also sporting a Canadian flag.
Flying over mountains in the vicinity of Mt Logan in the YukonAlert, in Nunavut Territory, is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world.
The highest waterfall in Canada is Della Falls, British Columbia, 440 meters high (1,444 feet).
The border between Canada and the United States is officially known as the International Boundary. It is 5,525 miles long, including the 1,538 miles between Canada and Alaska. It’s the world’s longest unprotected border.
Ocean Falls, British Columbia has on average 330 days of rain per year. Yuck!
Estevan, Saskatchewan is reportedly the sunniest place in Canada with 2,537 hours of sunshine per year.
Nakwakto Rapids, Port Hardy’s legendary dive destination, boasts the strongest current in the world – with speeds of up to 18.4 miles per hour.
Three of Canada’s Islands make the top ten for size in the world – Baffin, Ellesmere and Vancouver.
Nunavut takes up one-fifth of Canada’s total land area.
Mt Thor – the world’s tallest cliff
Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world.
Two of the largest lakes in the world are found in the Northwest Territories - Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
Calgary is famous for its Chinooks – a weather phenomenon that can raise the temperature by 10 degrees in a matter of minutes.
A view of Calgary from the Calgary Tower
Cool facts about Canadian People
The population in Canada in 2018 was approximately 37.06 million.
81 percent of the total population resides in cities.
Canadians can deduct a number of things from their tax software, but I bet you didn’t know that dog food is tax-deductible in Canada.
About 90% of Canada’s population is concentrated within 160 kilometers (100 miles) of the Canada/US border.
15.9% of the population is 65 or older; 68.5% are between the ages of 15 and 64.
The median age is 41 years.
The average life expectancy at birth is 81.16 years – the sixth highest in the world.
Canadians like to finish a sentence with the word eh.
If you want to make an American smile, ask a Canadian to say out and about. It works every time.
280,681 new permanent residents were welcomed to Canada in 2010. That number does not include temporary workers or foreign students.
Canadians enjoying the Cariboos in BC
Canadians call the one dollar coin the loonie. When in full production, 15 million loonies can be produced per day.
17% of Canadians are daily smokers.
The average Canadian watches 21 hours of television per week. 128,000 Canadian households have TV’s in the bathroom.
The age at first marriage for men is 29 years, 27.4 years for women.
The average household size in Canada is 2.6 people.
There have been 10 Nobel Prize laureates in Canada.
Canadians generate 640 kilograms per person per year of waste.
Recycling in AlbertaSports in CanadaHockey and lacrosse are Canada’s national sports.
The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883.
Canada has hosted the Olympic Games three times; 1976 in Montreal, 1988 in Calgary and 2010 in Vancouver.
Canadian sports icons include Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Steve Nash (basketball), Mike Weir (golf) and Cassie Campbell (women’s hockey).
Whistler, British Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the best places in North America for downhill skiing.
Gorgeous skiing at Whistler – Blackcomb on a bluebird day
The Royal Montreal Golf Club, founded in 1873, is the oldest golf club in North America.
The first indoor ice hockey game took place on March 3, 1875, at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal.
Ice hockey, football and baseball are Canadians favorite spectator sports.
A beautiful day of skiing at Whistler – Blackcomb
Culture in Canada
The world’s largest totem pole was raised in Victoria in 1994 and stands 54.94 meters tall (180.2 feet).
The most widely attended festivals in Canada include:
The chuckwagon races at the Calgary StampedeIn Flander’s Fields is a poem written by World War I Col. John McCraea, a Canadian veteran of the Second World War. He was struck with admiration at the courage of the dead when he saw red poppies swaying among the markers of his fallen comrades.
Canada’s first million-selling author was Marshall Saunders, with her novel Beautiful Joe (1894).
French and English are the two official languages in Canada.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Canadian Head of State.
A massive tree in Haida Gwaii
Canada’s literacy rate is over 99%.
The Canadian motto is A Mari Usque ad Mare. It means from sea to sea.
The English version of Canada’s National Anthem – O Canada – was written by Robert Stanley Weir for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927.
The National Flag of Canada came into being in 1965 to replace the Union Jack. It is an 11 pointed red maple leaf on a white square.
Paul Brandt is a well known country singer in CanadaInventions/Medical AdvancementsCanadian inventions include the game Trivial Pursuit (Scott Abbot and Chris Haney), the telephone (Alexander Graham Bell), basketball (James Naismeth) and the snowmobile (Joseph-Armand Bombardier).
Thomas Ahearn invented the electric cooking range in 1882.
Graeme Ferguson co-invented IMAX. There are over 500 IMAX theaters in 45 countries.
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas was first isolated at the University of Toronto in 1921-22 by Dr. Frederick Banting and Charles Best.
James Till and Ernest McCulloch are credited with the discovery of the stem cell.
Elizabeth Catherine Bagshaw was one of Canada’s first female doctors and the medical director of the first birth control clinic in Canada. She has been recognized as providing outstanding contributions to the quality of life of women in Canada.
History of Canada
John Cabot was the first explorer to reach Canada in 1497.
The east coast of Canada was settled by Vikings in approximately 1000 AD. It’s definitely worth a visit to L’Anse aux Meadows.
Newfoundland didn’t become a province until 1949.
Beautiful scenery along the East Coast Trail in NewfoundlandTools that date back 20,000 years are the first evidence of history in Canada. They were found in caves on the Bluefish River in northern Yukon.
It wasn’t until 1610 that Henry Hudson sailed through Hudson Strait into Hudson Bay.
In 1576 Martin Frobisher discovered the strait that bears his name.
Navigation of the north-west passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific was first achieved by the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen in 1906.
In 1792-94 Captain George Vancouver painstakingly surveyed the west coast of Canada.
Food and Drink in Canada
Poutine – the calorie laden food choice of many – fries, gravy & cheese curds
The Moosehead Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick turns out 1,642 bottles of beer per minute.
The beer named after Canada is called Molson Canadian. Founded in Montreal in 1786, Molson Coors Canada is the oldest brewery in North America and continues to produce beer on the site of the original brewery
Over 200,000 pancakes are served during the Calgary Stampede.
Foods we think of as being Canadian include peameal back bacon, poutine, maple syrup and Timbits (small donuts from Tim Hortons).
Eat a Beaver Tail when you visit Ottawa – an addictive pastry
Canada is famous for its ice wine – made from pressed frozen grapes. It’s usually served as a dessert wine.
Wine is produced in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Spectacular vineyard views from Summerhill Pyramid Winery near Kelowna
Cheddar is the most popular cheese in Canada. On average Canadians consume 23.4 pounds per person annually.
The Maritimes are famous for their desserts. Try Blueberry Grunt and Raspberry Buckle.
There are more doughnut shops in Canada per capita than any other country.
Each Canadian eats an average of 190 eggs per year.
Canadians drink more fruit juice per capita than any other country.
National Parks and UNESCO WORLD Heritage SitesCanada is home to 48 national parks and national park reserves, 167 national historic sites and four marine conservation areas.
View from a tent in Auyuittuq National Park, Nunavut
The only walled city north of Mexico is Québec. It was also the first city in North America to be placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.
The Rideau Canal in Ottawa, A UNESCO world heritage site, has the world’s longest skating rink in the winter.
Rounding the final bend towards downtown OttawaThere are 15 world heritage sites in Canada. The one with the most interesting name is Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
Beautiful scenery around head Smashed In Buffalo Jump
Nature facts about Canadian animalsA 9.3 kg lobster is the largest documented lobster caught. It was caught in Nova Scotia in 1977.
The muskox has an inner fur layer that is finer than cashmere and can be spun into wool that is very much warmer than sheep’s wool. If you knew that then you probably knew it was called qiviut.
Fifty percent of the world’s polar bears live in Nunavut.
A bald eagle can see 4-7 times better than humans (though not just in Canada) and they have been recorded doing 100 mph dives.
There are about 200 species of mammals in Canada.
A grizzly near Great Bear Lodge in BC
You’ll find about 630 bird species in Canada.
Canada’s beaver is the second largest rodent in the world, weighing up to 60 pounds. (The largest rodent is the capybara, found in South America and weighing up to 100 pounds.)
There are eleven sub-species of Canada geese. The four smallest species are called the cackling geese.
You can swim with beluga whales in Churchill, Manitoba.
There are nearly 2.5 million caribou in Canada.
Churchill, Manitoba sees one of the largest annual polar bear migrations.
Canada geese are cute when they’re littleFinancial facts relating to CanadaThe Bank of Canada opened its doors in 1935 and issued its first bank notes.
The Bank of Canada began as a privately owned institution, with shares sold to the public at a par value of $50. In 1938, all shares were purchased by the Government of Canada and the Bank became a Crown corporation.
During World War II, the Bank of Canada’s nine victory Bond campaigns raised almost $12 billion for the war effort. After the war, the program was continued with Canada Savings Bonds.
Starting in December 2000, the Bank began making interest rate announcements on eight pre-specified dates per year.
The Canadian dollar is sometimes described as a petrocurrency.
The S&P/TSX is the fourth largest exchange by market cap in the developed world.
On April 23, 1997, the TSX’s trading floor closed, making it the second-largest stock exchange in North America to choose a floor-less, electronic (or virtual trading) environment.
At its peak in 2000, Nortel represented more than 36 percent of the Toronto TSE 300 index when their equipment carried 75% of internet traffic.
The Hudson’s Bay Company or “The Bay” is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. The company was incorporated by English royal charter in 1670.
You can’t miss the Canadian flag on the barn on a drive up to the Peace RiverJust plain weird, unusual or interesting facts about CanadaCanada has the world’s smallest jail – in Rodney, Ontario; it’s only 24.3 square meters (270 square feet).
Canada has 198 jails.
Daylight savings time does not occur in Saskatchewan.
The heaviest rainfall ever recorded was in Buffalo Gap, Saskatchewan. On May 30, 1961, 25 centimeters fell in less than an hour. That’s ten inches!
The Regina Tornado of June 30, 1912, rated as F4 (winds of 330 to 416 kilometers per hour) was the most severe tornado so far known in Canada. It killed 28 people, injured hundreds and demolished much of the downtown area.
At the time it happened, the most expensive natural catastrophe in terms of property damage was a horrific hailstorm that struck Calgary on September 7, 1991. Insurance companies paid about $400 million to repair over 65,000 cars, 60,000 homes and businesses, and a number of aircraft.
There are 522 airports with paved runways, 931 airports with unpaved runways.
You have to do a fly-by to see if there is driftwood on the runway on Herschel Island Read: Herschel Island: A Must Do Day Trip from Inuvik
The West Edmonton Mall, once the largest in the world is now the fifth largest indoor shopping mall. It still claims the title as having the largest indoor amusement park.
The CN Tower in Toronto was the world’s tallest free standing structure until 2007.
View of the CN Tower from Toronto Island
The license plate for cars, motorbikes and snowmobiles in Nunavut is in the shape of a polar bear.
Canada is the largest producer of uranium in the world.
The intersection of Portage and Main Street in Winnipeg has been called the windiest place in Canada.
Newfoundland is nicknamed “The Rock.”
Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province is only 225 kilometers long and 56 kilometers wide. It’s a great island to bike.
The Northwest Territories is called The Land of the Midnight Sun because the sun barely sets around the summer solstice.
There are diamond mines in the Northwest Territories.
Some of the world’s largest wheat fields are found in Saskatchewan.
The US, the UK and Mexico are the top countries visited by Canadians.
Canada is the world’s largest source of the rare element Cesium. It is found at Bernic Lake, Manitoba.
Canada is home to 15 million cattle, 9 million of which live on the Prairies.
Its cattle country just outside of Calgary
The US buys more oil from Canada than any other country.
There are 459 cars for every 1000 people.
Thirty-two percent of Canadians are very happy, 55% are quite happy.
This is just a smattering of facts about Canada. If there are any you’d like to add please be sure to leave a comment. Further reading on interesting facts in Canada
Bugaboo is a first-class mountaineering region, situated in the rugged Purcell Mountains in the BC Rockies region of British Columbia.
This 13,646-hectare park encompasses extensive ice fields, the largest glaciers in the Purcells, and spectacular granite spires, some of which exceed 3,000 metres in elevation. Its challenging peaks in the northern extremity of the Purcell Mountain Range have attracted climbers from around the world since the late 1880s.
Particularly popular are the North Howser Tower and the South Ridge of Bugaboo Spire, which are considered to be very difficult. The landscape is certainly breathtaking, but you shouldn’t attempt to hike or climb this region unless you are experienced, well-equipped and in good physical condition.
The Purcells, bounded by the Rocky Mountain Trench in the east, are actually ancient compared to the much younger Rocky Mountains, dating back 1,500 million years when the only form of life on the planet was algae. It was not until the dinosaurs era that the Rocky Mountains were born, some 70 million years ago. Heavy snowfall of the ‘Columbia Wet Belt’ continues to support large remnants of the vast alpine glaciers that shaped the rugged Purcell Mountains.
This rugged landscape was first explored between 1857 to 1860, when the Palliser Expedition conquered and named the mountains after Goodwin Purcell, the expedition sponsor. Since that time, the mountains have attracted miners, loggers and some of North America’s top mountaineers. Harmon, Longstaff, A. O. Wheeler and the renowned guide Conrad Kain visited the Bugaboo area in 1910. Kain returned with the MacCarthys in 1916 and climbed the North Howser ‘Tower’ and the South Ridge of Bugaboo Spire, which he considered his most difficult Canadian ascent. Thorington mapped the area and climbed with Kain in 1933 on Crescent Spire. In 1938 and 1939 Northpost, Eastpost and Brenta Spires were conquered. Snowpatch, beyond the techniques used in Kain’s time, was finally conquered by Arnold and Bedayn in 1940.
Climbers including Fred Beckey, Ed Cooper and Layton Kor in the late 1950s blazed the first face routes on Snowpatch, Bugaboo and Pidgeon Spires. Chouinard traversed the Howsers in 1965 and Chris Jones pioneered the 600-metre West Face in 1970. Free climbing techniques enable faster ascents, with reduced exposure to the frequent lightning storms. It also continually opens up new lines in areas where the elements of glaciers, major routes on firm rock, significant altitude and violent weather combine to create world-class challenges.
Bugaboo Provincial Park is, by its very nature, extremely isolated. People contemplating a visit here must realize that it is pure wilderness without supplies or equipment of any kind. Visitors must be prepared for true outdoor living. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. Only experienced climbers trained in crevasse rescue and properly roped, should venture onto the snowfields and glaciers. Ice axes, sunglasses, prusiks or ascenders with foot slings are essential. Climbers should check with park rangers before departure. A registry is kept in the Conrad Kain Hut for this purpose – and visitors convenience. The rangers will be pleased to offer assistance or any other information required.
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. Camping in Bugaboo Park in the Crescent Glacier area is restricted to tent pads situated below the Conrad Kain Hut, at Boulder Camp, and on Mount Applebee. The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 35 persons. Reservations can be made through the Alpine Club of Canada. Propane stoves and eating utensils are provided. Visitors must bring all other necessary equipment. A nightly, per-person fee is levied during the period June 1 to September 30. Hut accommodation is not available in winter due to avalanche dangers. The Malloy Igloo is a hut that can accommodate a maximum of six persons. No facilities are provided. Climbers are responsible for their own safety, as rescue services are not readily available.
Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park is in a class of its own. Although much of the attraction of the Bugaboos is for hard-core climbers, there are a few hiking trails that cover a variety of distances and terrains, and don’t demand technical mountaineering skills. The Conrad Kain Hut Trailbegins in the parking lot and follows the northern lateral moraine of Bugaboo Glacier. The trail is very steep and strenuous. Cobalt Lake Trail leads up a steep grade to an open ridge and views of Cobalt Lake. A marked route then descends to the lake itself. Malloy Igloo Trail begins at the Conrad Kain Hut and terminates at the Malloy Igloo. Only roped parties should attempt this hike because several glaciers have to be crossed. Alternatively, access to the Malloy Igloo via Malloy Creek is also possible.
Bugaboo Provincial Park is located 28 miles (45 km) west of Highway 95 at Brisco, between Golden and Radium Hot Springs. There’s good gravel road access to the park, but the roads are used by logging trucks, so check with BC Parks regarding road use and condition before embarking on the trip.
2. Canada has the longest coastline in the world with 202,080 km/ 125,567 miles.
3. Three Canadian islands are among the top ten biggest islands in the world. They are: Baffin Islands (more than double the size of Great Britain), Victoria Island and Ellesmere Island (both are roughly the size of England).
4. More than half of all the lakes in the world are located in Canada! The country counts more than 3 million lakes and 31,700 big lakes with an area over 300 hectares. Canada also includes two of the biggest lakes in the world: Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
5. Toronto is Canada's largest metropole with over 6 million people. Montreal, Canada's second largest city with over 4 million inhabitants, is also the second largest city in the world that has a French-speaking population - after Paris in France.
Montreal, the second most populated city in Canada
- Nine out of ten Canadians live in the US - Canada border region which includes the area up to 160 km/ 99 miles from the US - Canada border.
- The Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada has the highest tides in the world. The waves there are more than 13 m/ 42 ft high.
- Jasper National Park in the Rocky Mountains spans over several vegetation zones.
- Canada's biggest bay is Hudson Bay which was discovered in 1610 by English explorer Henry Hudson. Hudson Bay is located in Eastern Canada and is frozen from about mid December and mid June every year.
- Nunavut territory in Northern Canada was only created in 1999 and is home to the Inuit population. Did you know that the number plate for cars, motorbikes and snowmobiles in the Northern State of Nunavut is the shape of a polar bear?
- Canada's longest river is McKenzie River in the North West. The river is 4,241 km/ 2,635 miles long.
- The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan with 5,959 m/ 19,551 ft. Mount Logan is located in the Yukon Territory at the border with Alaska/USA.
- About 38 million people live in Canada. Almost 82% of all Canadian live in urban areas. Life expectancy at birth is about 83 years. There are 26 doctors per 10,000 people in Canada.
- The Literacy Rate is 99%, so almost all Canadians can read and write.
- About 1.4 Million Canadians refer to themselves as belonging to the indigenous or Aboriginal people, among them First Nation people, Metis and Inuits. Did you know, that 21 June is celebrated as 'National Aboriginal Day' in Canada? This is a day of celebration for Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
- The national holiday is called Canada Day and is celebrated on 1 July.
- Canada is a popular country for immigration. The country is said to have the largest population growth of the industrialized countries (G-7).
- The most travelers arriving in Canada come from the USA, the United Kingdom and France.
- The most popular countries for travel for Canadians are the USA, Mexico and Cuba.
- There are more than 2,800 hockey rinks in Canada. However, almost twice as many kids under 14 years play soccer than hockey. Ice-Hockey is still the second most practiced sport in Canada for all over 15 years of age. Ice hockey comes after golf, but before soccer!
- Canada is the world leader in uranium mining. Uranium is used in nuclear power plants for producing electricity. The largest uranium mine of the world is located at Cigar Lake in northern Saskatchewan/Canada. Canada is also the largest supplier of energy, also including oil and gas, to the USA!
- Canada is also the third largest oil reserve holder in the world after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. The North American country is also the seventh largest producer of oil.
- Canada is fourth biggest producer of hydro electric power - after China, Brazil and the USA.
- The Trans-Canada highway is said to be the longest national highway in the world.
- About half of Canada's landmass is covered by forest. There are about 180 tree species in Canada. Timber is among the main exports of the country. Canada is the third most forested country in the world.
Did you know that Canada is taking part in NASA's Lunar Gateway project? Read more about Canada's role in the Moon exploration here.
Weird, Fun and Interesting Facts About Canada
For fellow Canadians and those even mildly interested in Canada I thought I’d put a blog together and give you 145 weird, fun and interesting facts about Canada. Canada came into being as a country on July 1, 1867, when the British Parliament passed the British North America Act.
Walking towards the Parliament Buildings in OttawaFamous CanadiansFamous Canadian celebrities include Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, James Cameron, Jim Carrey, Celine Dion, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Mike Myers, Ryan Reynolds and William Shatner.
Famous Canadian rock and rollers include Bryan Adams, Paul Anka, the Guess Who, Rush, Steppenwolf, The Barenaked Ladies, Alanis Morissette, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Neil Young and Avril Lavigne.
Other famous and well known musicians and songwriters include Sarah McLachlan, Nelly Furtado, Diana Krall, Chantal Kreviazuk, K.D.Lang, Maureen Forrester, Leonard Cohen, Raffi Cavoukian, Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, David Foster, Robert Goulet, Shania Twain, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Joni Mitchell.
Famous Canadian authors include Lucy Maud Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Alice Munro (Lives of Girls and Women), Mavis Gallant, Stephen Leacock, Pierre Berton, Robertson Davies, Douglas Copeland, Alistair MacLeod, Farley Mowat and Michael Ondaantje.
Famous Canadian artists include the Group of Seven made up of Lauren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, J.E.H.MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston and Franklin Carmichael. Tom Thomson and Emily Carr, two artists associated with the group are also very well know.
Inspirational Canadians include Terry Fox who attempted a one-legged cross country run for cancer research, Rick Hansen, a paraplegic athlete who completed an around the world marathon for spinal cord injury research and Donovan Bailey, the world’s fastest man.
Famous Canadian dancers include Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant and Lynn Seymour.
Superman was co-created by a Canadian Joe Shuster and American Jerry Siegal. The character was created while Shuster was visiting Siegal in Cleveland in 1934.
Famous Canadian journalists, TV or radio personalities include Peter Jennings, Alex Trebek, Lloyd Robertson, Peter Gzowski, Robert MacNeil, Morley Safer and John Roberts.
Banff National Park near the Plain of the Six Glaciers TeahouseFun Geography Facts about CanadaCanada is the second largest country in the world.
The highest tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick. You can kayak at Hopewell Rocks but start on the mud in your kayak and just wait for the water to lift you off.
The capital of Canada is Ottawa, the second coldest capital in the world after Moscow.
Read: 5 Things You Must do on a Visit to Ottawa
The first view of the Grand Hall at the Canadian Museum of HistoryCanada has ten provinces and three territories.
Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 243,977 kilometers – 151,600 miles.
Montreal is the world’s second largest French speaking city after Paris.
Six cities in Canada have a population of over 1 million: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa.
Read: Everything You Need to Know to Visit Canada
Inside the Calgary Library that opened in 2018Canada is lucky to have 9% of the world’s renewable water supply!
The largest non-polar ice field in the world can be found in the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory. It covers an area of 40,570 square kilometers of which 16,900 square kilometers are located in Canada, the remainder being in Alaska.
Canada has six time zones.
The longest highway in the world is the Trans-Canada Highway which is over 7,604 kilometers (4,725 miles) in length.
The world’s most northerly sand dunes are in Athabasca Provincial Park in northwest Saskatchewan. They are 30 meters high. The Sand Hills of Saskatchewan near Moose Jaw are also a sight to see.
You feel small in a landscape of sand and skyHalf of the country is covered with forests, which should come as no surprise considering one-tenth of the world’s forests are here.
Walking through temperate rainforest on the Juan de Fuca Trail on Vancouver Island
The highest mountain in Canada is Mount Logan, Yukon Territory, 5959 meters (19,551 feet).
Wasaga beach is the longest fresh water beach in the world.
Despite being a huge country, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world, with only three people living per square kilometer! Almost half of the population in Canada were born in other countries.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada was -63°C (-81.4°F) on February 3, 1957, in Snag, Yukon.
Want to show the world you’re a Canadian? Why not pick up a beanie with a Canadian flag or throw on the cozy hooded sweatshirts – also sporting a Canadian flag.
Flying over mountains in the vicinity of Mt Logan in the YukonAlert, in Nunavut Territory, is the northernmost permanent settlement in the world.
The highest waterfall in Canada is Della Falls, British Columbia, 440 meters high (1,444 feet).
The border between Canada and the United States is officially known as the International Boundary. It is 5,525 miles long, including the 1,538 miles between Canada and Alaska. It’s the world’s longest unprotected border.
Ocean Falls, British Columbia has on average 330 days of rain per year. Yuck!
Estevan, Saskatchewan is reportedly the sunniest place in Canada with 2,537 hours of sunshine per year.
Nakwakto Rapids, Port Hardy’s legendary dive destination, boasts the strongest current in the world – with speeds of up to 18.4 miles per hour.
Three of Canada’s Islands make the top ten for size in the world – Baffin, Ellesmere and Vancouver.
Nunavut takes up one-fifth of Canada’s total land area.
Mt Thor – the world’s tallest cliff
Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island in the world.
Two of the largest lakes in the world are found in the Northwest Territories - Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake.
Calgary is famous for its Chinooks – a weather phenomenon that can raise the temperature by 10 degrees in a matter of minutes.
A view of Calgary from the Calgary Tower
Cool facts about Canadian People
The population in Canada in 2018 was approximately 37.06 million.
81 percent of the total population resides in cities.
Canadians can deduct a number of things from their tax software, but I bet you didn’t know that dog food is tax-deductible in Canada.
About 90% of Canada’s population is concentrated within 160 kilometers (100 miles) of the Canada/US border.
15.9% of the population is 65 or older; 68.5% are between the ages of 15 and 64.
The median age is 41 years.
The average life expectancy at birth is 81.16 years – the sixth highest in the world.
Canadians like to finish a sentence with the word eh.
If you want to make an American smile, ask a Canadian to say out and about. It works every time.
280,681 new permanent residents were welcomed to Canada in 2010. That number does not include temporary workers or foreign students.
Canadians enjoying the Cariboos in BC
Canadians call the one dollar coin the loonie. When in full production, 15 million loonies can be produced per day.
17% of Canadians are daily smokers.
The average Canadian watches 21 hours of television per week. 128,000 Canadian households have TV’s in the bathroom.
The age at first marriage for men is 29 years, 27.4 years for women.
The average household size in Canada is 2.6 people.
There have been 10 Nobel Prize laureates in Canada.
Canadians generate 640 kilograms per person per year of waste.
Recycling in AlbertaSports in CanadaHockey and lacrosse are Canada’s national sports.
The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883.
Canada has hosted the Olympic Games three times; 1976 in Montreal, 1988 in Calgary and 2010 in Vancouver.
Canadian sports icons include Wayne Gretzky (hockey), Steve Nash (basketball), Mike Weir (golf) and Cassie Campbell (women’s hockey).
Whistler, British Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the best places in North America for downhill skiing.
Gorgeous skiing at Whistler – Blackcomb on a bluebird day
The Royal Montreal Golf Club, founded in 1873, is the oldest golf club in North America.
The first indoor ice hockey game took place on March 3, 1875, at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal.
Ice hockey, football and baseball are Canadians favorite spectator sports.
A beautiful day of skiing at Whistler – Blackcomb
Culture in Canada
The world’s largest totem pole was raised in Victoria in 1994 and stands 54.94 meters tall (180.2 feet).
The most widely attended festivals in Canada include:
- Celebration of Light (Vancouver) 1.6 million
- Winterlude (Ottawa-Gatineau) 1.6 million
- Just For Laughs (Montreal) 1.5 million
- Canadian National Exhibition (Toronto) 1.3 million
- Calgary Stampede 1.2 million
- Pride Toronto 1.3 million
- Toronto International Film Festival 0.5 million
- Quebec Winter Carnival 0.5 million
The chuckwagon races at the Calgary StampedeIn Flander’s Fields is a poem written by World War I Col. John McCraea, a Canadian veteran of the Second World War. He was struck with admiration at the courage of the dead when he saw red poppies swaying among the markers of his fallen comrades.
Canada’s first million-selling author was Marshall Saunders, with her novel Beautiful Joe (1894).
French and English are the two official languages in Canada.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Canadian Head of State.
A massive tree in Haida Gwaii
Canada’s literacy rate is over 99%.
The Canadian motto is A Mari Usque ad Mare. It means from sea to sea.
The English version of Canada’s National Anthem – O Canada – was written by Robert Stanley Weir for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927.
The National Flag of Canada came into being in 1965 to replace the Union Jack. It is an 11 pointed red maple leaf on a white square.
Paul Brandt is a well known country singer in CanadaInventions/Medical AdvancementsCanadian inventions include the game Trivial Pursuit (Scott Abbot and Chris Haney), the telephone (Alexander Graham Bell), basketball (James Naismeth) and the snowmobile (Joseph-Armand Bombardier).
Thomas Ahearn invented the electric cooking range in 1882.
Graeme Ferguson co-invented IMAX. There are over 500 IMAX theaters in 45 countries.
Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas was first isolated at the University of Toronto in 1921-22 by Dr. Frederick Banting and Charles Best.
James Till and Ernest McCulloch are credited with the discovery of the stem cell.
Elizabeth Catherine Bagshaw was one of Canada’s first female doctors and the medical director of the first birth control clinic in Canada. She has been recognized as providing outstanding contributions to the quality of life of women in Canada.
History of Canada
John Cabot was the first explorer to reach Canada in 1497.
The east coast of Canada was settled by Vikings in approximately 1000 AD. It’s definitely worth a visit to L’Anse aux Meadows.
Newfoundland didn’t become a province until 1949.
Beautiful scenery along the East Coast Trail in NewfoundlandTools that date back 20,000 years are the first evidence of history in Canada. They were found in caves on the Bluefish River in northern Yukon.
It wasn’t until 1610 that Henry Hudson sailed through Hudson Strait into Hudson Bay.
In 1576 Martin Frobisher discovered the strait that bears his name.
Navigation of the north-west passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific was first achieved by the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen in 1906.
In 1792-94 Captain George Vancouver painstakingly surveyed the west coast of Canada.
Food and Drink in Canada
Poutine – the calorie laden food choice of many – fries, gravy & cheese curds
The Moosehead Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick turns out 1,642 bottles of beer per minute.
The beer named after Canada is called Molson Canadian. Founded in Montreal in 1786, Molson Coors Canada is the oldest brewery in North America and continues to produce beer on the site of the original brewery
Over 200,000 pancakes are served during the Calgary Stampede.
Foods we think of as being Canadian include peameal back bacon, poutine, maple syrup and Timbits (small donuts from Tim Hortons).
Eat a Beaver Tail when you visit Ottawa – an addictive pastry
Canada is famous for its ice wine – made from pressed frozen grapes. It’s usually served as a dessert wine.
Wine is produced in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Spectacular vineyard views from Summerhill Pyramid Winery near Kelowna
Cheddar is the most popular cheese in Canada. On average Canadians consume 23.4 pounds per person annually.
The Maritimes are famous for their desserts. Try Blueberry Grunt and Raspberry Buckle.
There are more doughnut shops in Canada per capita than any other country.
Each Canadian eats an average of 190 eggs per year.
Canadians drink more fruit juice per capita than any other country.
National Parks and UNESCO WORLD Heritage SitesCanada is home to 48 national parks and national park reserves, 167 national historic sites and four marine conservation areas.
View from a tent in Auyuittuq National Park, Nunavut
The only walled city north of Mexico is Québec. It was also the first city in North America to be placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.
The Rideau Canal in Ottawa, A UNESCO world heritage site, has the world’s longest skating rink in the winter.
Rounding the final bend towards downtown OttawaThere are 15 world heritage sites in Canada. The one with the most interesting name is Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
Beautiful scenery around head Smashed In Buffalo Jump
Nature facts about Canadian animalsA 9.3 kg lobster is the largest documented lobster caught. It was caught in Nova Scotia in 1977.
The muskox has an inner fur layer that is finer than cashmere and can be spun into wool that is very much warmer than sheep’s wool. If you knew that then you probably knew it was called qiviut.
Fifty percent of the world’s polar bears live in Nunavut.
A bald eagle can see 4-7 times better than humans (though not just in Canada) and they have been recorded doing 100 mph dives.
There are about 200 species of mammals in Canada.
A grizzly near Great Bear Lodge in BC
You’ll find about 630 bird species in Canada.
Canada’s beaver is the second largest rodent in the world, weighing up to 60 pounds. (The largest rodent is the capybara, found in South America and weighing up to 100 pounds.)
There are eleven sub-species of Canada geese. The four smallest species are called the cackling geese.
You can swim with beluga whales in Churchill, Manitoba.
There are nearly 2.5 million caribou in Canada.
Churchill, Manitoba sees one of the largest annual polar bear migrations.
Canada geese are cute when they’re littleFinancial facts relating to CanadaThe Bank of Canada opened its doors in 1935 and issued its first bank notes.
The Bank of Canada began as a privately owned institution, with shares sold to the public at a par value of $50. In 1938, all shares were purchased by the Government of Canada and the Bank became a Crown corporation.
During World War II, the Bank of Canada’s nine victory Bond campaigns raised almost $12 billion for the war effort. After the war, the program was continued with Canada Savings Bonds.
Starting in December 2000, the Bank began making interest rate announcements on eight pre-specified dates per year.
The Canadian dollar is sometimes described as a petrocurrency.
The S&P/TSX is the fourth largest exchange by market cap in the developed world.
On April 23, 1997, the TSX’s trading floor closed, making it the second-largest stock exchange in North America to choose a floor-less, electronic (or virtual trading) environment.
At its peak in 2000, Nortel represented more than 36 percent of the Toronto TSE 300 index when their equipment carried 75% of internet traffic.
The Hudson’s Bay Company or “The Bay” is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. The company was incorporated by English royal charter in 1670.
You can’t miss the Canadian flag on the barn on a drive up to the Peace RiverJust plain weird, unusual or interesting facts about CanadaCanada has the world’s smallest jail – in Rodney, Ontario; it’s only 24.3 square meters (270 square feet).
Canada has 198 jails.
Daylight savings time does not occur in Saskatchewan.
The heaviest rainfall ever recorded was in Buffalo Gap, Saskatchewan. On May 30, 1961, 25 centimeters fell in less than an hour. That’s ten inches!
The Regina Tornado of June 30, 1912, rated as F4 (winds of 330 to 416 kilometers per hour) was the most severe tornado so far known in Canada. It killed 28 people, injured hundreds and demolished much of the downtown area.
At the time it happened, the most expensive natural catastrophe in terms of property damage was a horrific hailstorm that struck Calgary on September 7, 1991. Insurance companies paid about $400 million to repair over 65,000 cars, 60,000 homes and businesses, and a number of aircraft.
There are 522 airports with paved runways, 931 airports with unpaved runways.
You have to do a fly-by to see if there is driftwood on the runway on Herschel Island Read: Herschel Island: A Must Do Day Trip from Inuvik
The West Edmonton Mall, once the largest in the world is now the fifth largest indoor shopping mall. It still claims the title as having the largest indoor amusement park.
The CN Tower in Toronto was the world’s tallest free standing structure until 2007.
View of the CN Tower from Toronto Island
The license plate for cars, motorbikes and snowmobiles in Nunavut is in the shape of a polar bear.
Canada is the largest producer of uranium in the world.
The intersection of Portage and Main Street in Winnipeg has been called the windiest place in Canada.
Newfoundland is nicknamed “The Rock.”
Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province is only 225 kilometers long and 56 kilometers wide. It’s a great island to bike.
The Northwest Territories is called The Land of the Midnight Sun because the sun barely sets around the summer solstice.
There are diamond mines in the Northwest Territories.
Some of the world’s largest wheat fields are found in Saskatchewan.
The US, the UK and Mexico are the top countries visited by Canadians.
Canada is the world’s largest source of the rare element Cesium. It is found at Bernic Lake, Manitoba.
Canada is home to 15 million cattle, 9 million of which live on the Prairies.
Its cattle country just outside of Calgary
The US buys more oil from Canada than any other country.
There are 459 cars for every 1000 people.
Thirty-two percent of Canadians are very happy, 55% are quite happy.
This is just a smattering of facts about Canada. If there are any you’d like to add please be sure to leave a comment. Further reading on interesting facts in Canada
Bugaboo is a first-class mountaineering region, situated in the rugged Purcell Mountains in the BC Rockies region of British Columbia.
This 13,646-hectare park encompasses extensive ice fields, the largest glaciers in the Purcells, and spectacular granite spires, some of which exceed 3,000 metres in elevation. Its challenging peaks in the northern extremity of the Purcell Mountain Range have attracted climbers from around the world since the late 1880s.
Particularly popular are the North Howser Tower and the South Ridge of Bugaboo Spire, which are considered to be very difficult. The landscape is certainly breathtaking, but you shouldn’t attempt to hike or climb this region unless you are experienced, well-equipped and in good physical condition.
The Purcells, bounded by the Rocky Mountain Trench in the east, are actually ancient compared to the much younger Rocky Mountains, dating back 1,500 million years when the only form of life on the planet was algae. It was not until the dinosaurs era that the Rocky Mountains were born, some 70 million years ago. Heavy snowfall of the ‘Columbia Wet Belt’ continues to support large remnants of the vast alpine glaciers that shaped the rugged Purcell Mountains.
This rugged landscape was first explored between 1857 to 1860, when the Palliser Expedition conquered and named the mountains after Goodwin Purcell, the expedition sponsor. Since that time, the mountains have attracted miners, loggers and some of North America’s top mountaineers. Harmon, Longstaff, A. O. Wheeler and the renowned guide Conrad Kain visited the Bugaboo area in 1910. Kain returned with the MacCarthys in 1916 and climbed the North Howser ‘Tower’ and the South Ridge of Bugaboo Spire, which he considered his most difficult Canadian ascent. Thorington mapped the area and climbed with Kain in 1933 on Crescent Spire. In 1938 and 1939 Northpost, Eastpost and Brenta Spires were conquered. Snowpatch, beyond the techniques used in Kain’s time, was finally conquered by Arnold and Bedayn in 1940.
Climbers including Fred Beckey, Ed Cooper and Layton Kor in the late 1950s blazed the first face routes on Snowpatch, Bugaboo and Pidgeon Spires. Chouinard traversed the Howsers in 1965 and Chris Jones pioneered the 600-metre West Face in 1970. Free climbing techniques enable faster ascents, with reduced exposure to the frequent lightning storms. It also continually opens up new lines in areas where the elements of glaciers, major routes on firm rock, significant altitude and violent weather combine to create world-class challenges.
Bugaboo Provincial Park is, by its very nature, extremely isolated. People contemplating a visit here must realize that it is pure wilderness without supplies or equipment of any kind. Visitors must be prepared for true outdoor living. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. Only experienced climbers trained in crevasse rescue and properly roped, should venture onto the snowfields and glaciers. Ice axes, sunglasses, prusiks or ascenders with foot slings are essential. Climbers should check with park rangers before departure. A registry is kept in the Conrad Kain Hut for this purpose – and visitors convenience. The rangers will be pleased to offer assistance or any other information required.
Wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping is allowed, but no facilities are provided. Camping in Bugaboo Park in the Crescent Glacier area is restricted to tent pads situated below the Conrad Kain Hut, at Boulder Camp, and on Mount Applebee. The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 35 persons. Reservations can be made through the Alpine Club of Canada. Propane stoves and eating utensils are provided. Visitors must bring all other necessary equipment. A nightly, per-person fee is levied during the period June 1 to September 30. Hut accommodation is not available in winter due to avalanche dangers. The Malloy Igloo is a hut that can accommodate a maximum of six persons. No facilities are provided. Climbers are responsible for their own safety, as rescue services are not readily available.
Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park is in a class of its own. Although much of the attraction of the Bugaboos is for hard-core climbers, there are a few hiking trails that cover a variety of distances and terrains, and don’t demand technical mountaineering skills. The Conrad Kain Hut Trailbegins in the parking lot and follows the northern lateral moraine of Bugaboo Glacier. The trail is very steep and strenuous. Cobalt Lake Trail leads up a steep grade to an open ridge and views of Cobalt Lake. A marked route then descends to the lake itself. Malloy Igloo Trail begins at the Conrad Kain Hut and terminates at the Malloy Igloo. Only roped parties should attempt this hike because several glaciers have to be crossed. Alternatively, access to the Malloy Igloo via Malloy Creek is also possible.
Bugaboo Provincial Park is located 28 miles (45 km) west of Highway 95 at Brisco, between Golden and Radium Hot Springs. There’s good gravel road access to the park, but the roads are used by logging trucks, so check with BC Parks regarding road use and condition before embarking on the trip.