16 Things That Most Americans Don’t Know About Canada
Canada may be our neighbor to the North and a close ally, but how much can we say that we know about Canadian culture and the country?
Some things are common knowledge, like the amazing Cèline Dion being from Quebec and Toronto having sports teams like the Raptors, Blue Jays, and Maple Leafs.
Many other facts about Canada aren’t well-known. How much of this information about the country is new to you?
1. A Love for Doughnuts
America’s craving for doughnuts doesn’t even come close to the love Canada has for the sweet treat. Canadians eat more doughnuts per capita than anywhere in the world, including the U.S.
Unsurprisingly, the country that blessed us with Tim Hortons has such a strong affinity for doughnuts. What’s not to love about them?
2. No Pennies
Imagine if the U.S. decided to stop minting pennies because they were inconvenient to carry and store. In 2012, that’s exactly what happened in Canada. The country no longer uses a one-cent coin.
Since then, shoppers have had to round up or down their purchases to the nearest nickel. This may seem odd to those of us living in the United States, but it streamlines money transactions considerably.
3. Don’t Call It Mac and Cheese
What Americans call Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (the one in the blue box), Canadians call Kraft Dinner. Even though the food is manufactured in the U.S., Kraft Dinner is the highest-selling product in Canada.
Anyone who’s grown up eating Kraft macaroni and cheese understands why it’s such a beloved dish. It may not taste the same as homemade mac and cheese, but isn’t that the point?
4. Bagged Milk
Americans are accustomed to buying milk in cartons, plastic containers, and glass bottles. Canadians, however, have a different idea about how they package and sell milk.
In Canada, milk is sold in plastic bags that are opened and emptied into pitchers for serving. Their method produces less waste from the containers. I wonder how that would go over in the States?
5. Hormone-Free Milk
Besides Canada selling its milk in plastic bags instead of containers, there’s another difference between the U.S. and Canadian dairy industries. Canada doesn’t feed artificial hormones to cows.
Artificial hormones are given to cows to stimulate milk production. In Canada, milk producers rely on natural approaches to get their cows to create milk. This would appeal to Americans who prefer hormone-free dairy products.
6. Substantial Oil Reserves
When you hear about oil-producing countries in the news, it’s usually about Saudi Arabia or Venezuela. With approximately 168 billion barrels, Canada is third in the number of oil reserves in the world.
Canada is a major player in the oil and gas industries. As of 2022, it produced 5.5 million barrels of oil each day, and its usable oil reserves represent 10.3% of the world’s total.
7. The British Connection
Canada may have a prime minister who serves as the country’s leader, but the British monarch is the Head of State. This may sound confusing, but the monarch doesn’t rule the country.
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, so the reigning king or queen doesn’t have governing power. It’s the same in the United Kingdom. Monarchs are more of figureheads who are involved in politics.
8. Coastline for Miles
The Canadian coastline may not seem that long because it’s not in a straight line, but looks can be deceiving. In reality, Canada has the longest oceanfront land in the world and is bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans.
In the entire world, there are more than 221,200 miles of coastline, and Canada can claim 125,566 miles of it. Not all of this coastline is habitable for human use, but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular.
9. Santa Lives There
During Christmas, Santa Claus and his elves are hard at work on the North Pole. After he’s finished delivering toys, he and his trusted reindeer return to their official home in Canada.
Even if you’ve never imagined Santa as a Canadian resident, it’s true. Any letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole, using the postal code HOH OHO, will get a written response. He also answers letters in any language!
10. Apology Accepted?
Canada implemented an Apology Act into law in 2009, with important implications for people facing judicial court action. It’s an incredible piece of legislation establishing how an apology is viewed in the Canadian court system.
For many people, an apology is considered an admission of guilt. In Canada, an apology is viewed as only showing regret or empathy. An apology cannot be treated as someone admitting their guilt.
11. A Highly Educated Workforce
In the U.S. and many parts of the world, having an education beyond high school is a key to success and upward mobility. Canada has taken that to the next level with highly impressive results.
Canada is the only country in the world with more than 50% of the adult population having a college education. This stunning figure is attributed to a robust college environment, immigrants, and young people pursuing degrees.
12. Large National Parks
Canada’s national parks are a majestic sight to behold. They have a beauty that’s unlike anything around the world. Another thing that differentiates some of Canada’s national parks from others is their incredible size.
Quttinirpaaq National Park in Nunavut, is 14,585 square miles, more than 31 times the landmass of New York City. Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta and the Northwest Territories is 17,364 square miles, equivalent to nearly 37 times the size of Los Angeles.
13. Larger Than the European Union
If you look at Canada on a map, it’s easy to see that it’s a huge country that borders the U.S. It’s hard to fully appreciate how large it is until you compare it with other nations. The figures are sure to impress.
The ten provinces making up Canada are five times the size of Mexico, three times the size of India, and larger than all of the combined countries in the European Union. Canada is also slightly larger than the United States.
14. Lots of Lakeside Views
Canada already has abundant natural beauty, but If you particularly love lakeside views or being on a lake, you’ll want to add Canada to your list of sights to see. The country has the most lakes of any country in the world.
Experts have determined there are approximately 1.42 million lakes worldwide, and 62% of them are in Canada. Morethan a few of them may not be optimal for swimming, but I’m sure the fishing and ice fishing in some is phenomenal.
15. Cold As Mars
It’s no secret that Canadian winters are as cold as they come. Anyone who lives in the U.S. close to the Canadian border can attest to that. Bundling up in the country is more than just a suggestion; it’s a necessity.
As cold as the winters are today, they don’t compare to the temperature recorded on February 3, 1947, in the village of Snag, Yukon. That day, the lowest temperature was reported as minus 81.4 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s almost the same temperature recorded on the surface of Mars!
16. Walled Off
Walled cities sound like something from the medieval ages, but Quebec City still has walls surrounding the city that were built in the 1600s. It’s the only site in North America that can claim this distinction.
The French first erected the walls, and the English continued building them. The walls are fortified and have historically served as a way for the citizens of Quebec to hold off invaders, including the U.S. soldiers during the early part of the Revolutionary War.
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