Let’s backtrack a little; I am a French immigrant who has lived most of his adult life in Canada and who has only become Wayne Gretzky’s compatriot a few years ago. So please bear in mind this is my point of view and that it does not intend to portray itself as the one shared by every Canadian out there.
A Few Interesting Facts:
- Is the second largest country in the world, right after Russia.
- Is the World’s Most Educated Country: over half its residents have college degrees.
- Has more lakes than the rest of the world’s lakes combined.
- Has the largest coastline in the world.
- Has the longest street in the world: Yonge Street 1896 km (1173 mi).
- Consumes the most donuts and has the most donut shops per capita of any country in the world.
- Large parts of Canada have less gravity than the rest of Earth.
- Police Departments in Canada give out “positive tickets” when they see people doing something positive.
Here Are The Basics About Canada
These are the little things you’ll absolutely need to know to have a great Canadian experience.
The Loonie
This is one Canadian dollar but we affectionately call it a loonie.
Timbits
Timbits are delicious and the name rings much better than donut holes.
Ham Not Bacon
We can disagree about the name but we can all agree that it’s delicious.
A Toque
It gets really cold in the winter so you’re going to need one.
We’ve Got Yummy Desserts
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and when he has a sweet tooth like I do; through some delicious treats.
Maple Taffy
All you need is maple syrup and ice which Canada has plenty.
Nanaimo Bars
Coconut crumb-base, custard flavoured icing, and chocolate ganache… no baking required.
Beaver Tails
Don’t these look as delicious to you as they look to me?
We Have Some Of The Most Livable Cities In The World…
Living in Canada is amazing; what makes it so great is its cities which have all the advantages of modern megalopolis while keeping a human size.
Vancouver
The host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is also my home and it is one of the best places on Earth.
Montreal
How many cities in North America are Francophone and can proudly say it’s a UNESCO City of Design.
Toronto
Even Canada’s most American city is ranked really high when it comes to healthcare, job opportunities, and education.
….And Some Of The Most Beautiful Nature Out There
If Canadian cities are amazing to live in, what makes Canada one of the most stunning and spectacular country is his nature.
Crystal Blue Lakes
There are a massive number of lakes from small little ponds to sea-sized ones. Lake Louise in Alberta is a wonder.
Fireworks In The Sky
It’s not just the land and the seas, the Yukon and Northwest Territories’ sky is filled to aurora borealis.
Stunning Sights
From coast to coast like in Newfoundland and Labrador’s northern tip, you can find amazing rugged peaks like the Torngat Mountains.
Our Wildlife Is Pretty Hilarious
Some of the most interesting inhabitants of Canada are not of the human kind but they are very entertaining.
Crows Tempering With Evidence
Canuck, the mischievous crow, has stolen a knife from a crime scene and is a regular commuter on Vancouver’s Skytrain.
Bears Enjoying Their Dairy Queen
Who doesn’t like a good ice cream cone from DQ? In Alberta, bears are looking forward to get treats at the drive through.
At War With Raccoon Nation
These ingenious creatures know how to live in urban areas like Toronto and know how to score loot from trash cans.
We’ve Got Awesome Badasses
The people in Canada are pretty cool too…
Captain Kirk
William Shatner is a Canadian treasure.
Neo
Canuck Keanu Reeves knows kung fu… and John Wick too.
Deadpool
Vancouver’s own Ryan Reynolds is not just the Green Lantern.
Captain Canuck
He gained superhuman strength from contact with aliens.
We’re Very Different From Americans
Many of my international friends make the mistake of assuming we’re culturally identical to our southern neighbours but nothing could be further from this.
This Is A Canadian Riot
Even in the middle of chaos, Canadians can make something beautiful out of it.
This Is Tim Hortons Country
From baby moose to grown adult, Starbucks isn’t our cup of tea; we love our double double.
We Are Indeed Very Polite
I’m sorry but the stereotype is real; Canadians are indeed very polite.
Ici, On Parle Français… Mais Pas Seulement…
Si tous les documents officiels sont en Francais et en Anglais, we are more than a bilingual country; on est un pays multilingual.
Bilingualism
Every government office and sign is in French and in English; it can be overkill at times.
Bonino, Bonino, Bonino!
You haven’t experienced Hockey Night in Canada until you’ve heard Canada’s legendary Punjabi commentators scream “goal!”
Kanata Means The Village
It’s really not uncommon to see signs in first nations dialects and languages. Especially where there are strong historical centers.
Some Of Your Favourite Movies, Video Games, And Music Are #MadeInCanada
The relationship between Canada and the United States when it comes to Art is very similar to Italy and Greece’s. A lot of our productions feels and sound Americans but they always have that Canadian flair.
Hollywood North
The most American city on film or tv is none other than Vancouver, British Columbia.
Press Start To Play
Ubisoft, EA, Eidos, Square Enix, Rockstar; they all have prominent studios all across Canada.
Try Getting These Out Of Your Head
Canada is the birthplace of some of the best artists who make the catchiest music that repeats in your mind long after it stopped playing.
