62 Fun Facts About Canada

Oh, Canada! The land of maple syrup, moose, and saying “sorry” even when we’re not at fault. As a born and raised Canadian, I thought it would be fun to share a bunch of quirky, cool, and downright surprising facts about this vast and beautiful country. Whether you’re a fellow Canuck or just curious about what makes Canada tick, here are 62 fun facts that might make you smile, scratch your head, or say, “I had no idea!”

Geography

1.    Canada is the second-largest country in the world by total area, after Russia. 

2.    It has the longest coastline of any country, stretching over 202,080 kilometers. 

3.    Canada is home to more than 62% of the world's lakes, including over 2 million freshwater lakes. That's more lakes than the rest of the world combined.

4.    The country contains 9% of the world’s renewable freshwater supply. 

5.    The Bay of Fundy between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia has the highest tides in the world.

6.    Canada is bordered by three oceans - Atlantic to the East, Pacific to the West, and Arctic to the North

7.    Canada is home to the world's largest island-in-a-lake-on-an-island-in-a-lake-on-an-island. 

8.    Ontario’s Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world. It stretches 14 km along the shore of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay.

9.    Canada has more islands than any other country, with an estimated 52,000 named islands and countless smaller, unnamed ones.

10.  Despite its size, about 75% of Canada’s population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

11.  Canada stretches across six major time zones, starting with Pacific Time (UTC-8) in British Columbia and ending with Newfoundland Time (UTC-3:30). Newfoundland’s unusual half-hour time zone sets it apart—very few regions around the world share this kind of time difference.

12.  Canada has the world’s most northern settlement: Alert, Nunavut, just shy of the North Pole. That’s why Santa has his own Canada Post postal code here, (H0H 0H0), where kids can send him letters at Christmas (he responds).

13.  Canada has the longest highway in the world – Trans Canada Highway which is nearly 7,604 km.

14.  The oldest rocks are found in The Canadian Shield. 

15.  Alberta’s oil sands have the third-largest oil reserves in the world. 

Nature

16.   Canada's national bird is the common loon, featured on the one-dollar coin, known as the "loonie."

17.  In the province of Newfoundland, there are more moose than there are people.

18.  Arctic Terns have the longest migration of any animal. Every year, they fly from Canada’s Arctic region to Antarctica and back. 

19.  Endangered animals in Canada include badgers, cougars, gray foxes, whooping cranes, Peary caribou, great blue herons, narwhals, and orcas. 

20.  There are an estimated 380,000 black bears, 26,000 grizzly bears, and 16,000 polar bears in Canada.

21.  Churchill, Manitoba is called the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.”

22.  Canada’s national animal is the beaver.

23.  Canada is home to the world’s largest beaver dam, located in Wood Buffalo National Park.

24.  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. It’s called qiviut and it’s very expensive.

25.  Canada is home to the famous Niagara Falls, a massive set of three waterfalls, which are a major tourist attraction and a source of hydroelectric power.

26.  400-800 icebergs float as far south as St. Johns, capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, every year. Most of them come from glaciers in Greenland, and their ice is as old as 10,000 years.  

27.  The world’s oldest pool of water is located in a Canadian mine; scientists discovered it dates back 2 billion years ago.

28.  Canada is the 5th largest diamond producer in the world by volume and the 3rd largest in terms of value.

29.  Calgary in Canada is well known for its Chinooks. Chinooks is a weather phenomenon that can raise the temperature by 10 degrees in a few minutes. 

History and Culture

30.  The country has two official languages: English and French.

31.  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (AKA The Mounties) were established in 1873 to maintain law and order in the western territories.

32.  Canada's national anthem, "O Canada," was officially adopted in 1980.

33.  Canada’s national holiday, Thanksgiving, is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The first-ever Canadian Thanksgiving happened in 1578,  43 years before the first American Thanksgiving was held.

34.  Alexander Graham Bell, a Canadian, invented the telephone in 1876.

35.  Canada is home to North America’s only remaining walled city—the historic neighbourhood of Old Quebec City, also the first city in North America to be placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.

36.  Canada was invaded twice by Americans in 1775 and 1812. Both times America lost.

37.  The­ UK monarchy also serves as the­ monarch of Canada, in a primarily symbolic role.

38.  The deadliest human-caused disaster in Canadian history was the explosion of the SS Mont-Blanc ship off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1917, causing over 2000 deaths in adjacent Halifax. It was the largest human-made explosion in the world prior to nuclear bombs.  

39.  Leif Erikson, a Norse­ explorer hailing from Iceland, se­t foot on Canadian soil around 1,000 years ago, specifically in Newfoundland. This historic eve­nt marked what is considered to be the first time a Europe­an reached North American shore­s.

40.  The oldest European settlement in the Americas is at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. Vikings built a village there around 1000 years ago, 500 years prior to Columbus’ “discovery” of the Americas. 

41.  Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a bear from Winnipeg Zoo in Canada.

42.  Canada is home to many famous celebrities including: Justin Bieber, Drake, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Mendes, Avril Lavigne, Ryan Gosling, The Weeknd and Michael Bublé.

43.  Toronto, Canada’s largest city is known as the most multicultural city on Earth.

44.  The maple leaf is a symbol of Canada. Its symbolism traces back to Indigenous peoples who revered the maple tree for its nourishing sap and vibrant foliage. Today, the maple leaf adorns Canada's flag, currency, and countless cultural artifacts.

Education

45.  More than half of Canadians have earned college degrees, making it the world’s most educated nation.

46.  The literacy rate in Canada is 99%.

47.  Canada consistently ranks among the top countries in the world for education
Canadian students score high in reading, math, and science in global assessments like PISA.

48.  Education is a provincial responsibility
There's no national education department—each province and territory controls its own curriculum and policies.

49.  Post-secondary education is not free—but it's subsidized
Tuition costs vary by province, but the government heavily subsidizes colleges and universities.

50.  Teachers are highly educated and unionized
Teachers generally need a university degree and a teaching certificate; most are part of strong unions.

51.  Snow days are real!
In winter, school is sometimes cancelled due to heavy snowfall or icy conditions.

Agriculture and Food

52.  Canada produces 70% of the world’s maple syrup — and nearly all of it comes from Quebec maples.

53.  Poutine, a popular dish, originate­d in Quebec. It is made with Fre­nch fries that are topped with che­ese curds and covere­d in gravy. This combination of flavours has made poutine a comfort food favourite among Canadians.

54.  Yes, it’s true – you can buy milk in a bag in Canada.

Sports and Leisure

55.  Basketball, now a globally cherished sport, was created by Jame­s Naismith, a Canadian, in 1891. The first game of basketball use­d a soccer ball and two peach baskets as e­quipment, unlike the mode­rn gear used today.

56.  Lacrosse has a rich history in Canada and was originally develope­d by indigenous nations in North America be­fore Europeans arrived.

57.  Canada has two national sports – Hockey and Lacrosse

58.  Hockey Night in Canada is the longest running sports program in the world. It has been airing since 1952.  

Miscellaneous

59.  Canadian bank notes have braille on them for the blind.

60.  Toronto has the world’s biggest underground shopping complex. It’s called the PATH and comprises 4 million square feet of retail space; forget cardio, just shop at the PATH!

61.  Canada was the second country in the world (2018) to legalize weed, after Uruguay. 8% of Canadians use it daily.  

62.  In 2004, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

Canada is a country full of surprises - some quirky, some impressive, and many that even Canadians don’t always know. On top of this list, there is so much more. So, what caught you off guard? Let me know in the comments - I’d love to hear which Canadian fact surprised you the most!