Once again, Canada, the Great White North placed third out of 195 countries as one of the “Best Countries” in the world. Only Switzerland and Japan edged out Canada and we scored 9.7 out of 10!
Did you know that more than half of people around the world say they would abandon their homeland and move to Canada if they could?
Canada is Big, Beautiful, Breathtaking & (sometimes) Bashful!
Canada is the second largest country in the world. We take up about two-fifths of the North American continent and that makes us the largest country in the Western Hemisphere.
- Canada is BIG – 10 provinces and 3 territories that extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean
- Canada’s land mass covers 25,860,177 square-kilometers
- Canada’s coastline is 202,080-kilometers – longer than any other nation with access to three oceans
- The Great Lakes, often called our nation’s “fourth seacoast,” is located on our shared border with the U.S.
- Canada’s border with the United States is the world’s longest bi-national land border
- Canada’s population or 35+ million give us a population density of approximately 4 people per square kilometer
Canada is geographically huge. It is, however, important to note that because we are positioned between the Arctic and the United States. Canada’s massive frozen tundra extends into the Arctic Circle.
Thanks to our geographical diversity, Canada has fantastic wildlife and magnificent landscapes. Canada’s Rocky Mountains run north to south. Our prairies (between Ontario in the east and the Rocky Mountains in the west) are situated in the southern parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In the east of our country, Canada has The Appalachian Region, which includes southeastern Quebec and all of the Atlantic Provinces.
Canada’s Water Resources
In addition to the Great Lakes, Canada also has endless large bodies of water and rivers throughout the country and within the Canadian Shield.We also have four shared Great Lakes (and Lake St. Clair), we have other large lakes that include Winnipeg, Athabasca, Great Slave, and Great Bear. Only Lake Michigan is entirely in the U.S.
Canada has approximately 20% of the world’s total freshwater resources. Less than half of this water — about 7% of the global supply — is “renewable”. Most of Canada’s ‘water is fossil water retained in lakes, underground aquifers, and glaciers. Yes, our water is often solid giving Canada several world-renown Ski Resorts. In fact, it is in Canada that you can ski and surf in the same day while breathing fresh air under a vast sky.
Did you know?
- Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world — about 3 million.
- The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, has the world’s highest tide at 16.1 metres.
Land of Diversity
Eastern Canada is the traditional heart of our country with the nation’s capital in Ottawa, Ontario. Our two most populated eastern cities, Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec, also have unique characteristics all their own. And Canada’s third largest city, Vancouver, couldn’t be more different from the other two.
In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to enact an official policy of multiculturalism, showing how valued diversity is in Canada’s political and social landscape. The Canadian constitution, implemented by Prime Minister Trudeau in 1982 contained a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that protected multiculturalism. The Canadian Multiculturalism Act was introduced in 1988 and federal funds began to be distributed to ethnic groups to assist them in preserving their cultures. Many of the cultural community centres that exist today were established during this time as a result of this funding.
One third of Canada’s population lives in one of three large metropolitan areas (Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver).- An estimated 75% of Canadians live within 161 kilometers (100 miles) of the U.S. border.
- Montreal is the largest French-speaking city in the world (after Paris) with 49% of the population of Montreal speaking both English and French fluently.
- Diversity in Canada extends beyond race and ethnicity but spans language, gender, religious affiliations, sexual orientation, abilities, and economic status.
- Immigrants represent over 20 percent of the total Canadian population, the highest proportion among G8 countries.
Two years ago, for our 150 Birthday, Mike Myers spoke about our history. It’s a nice time to review. Our Journey to 150 | Narrated by Mike Myers
Canada proudly considers itself to be a mosaic of multi-culturalism.
What Makes Canada so Great?
Ask any Canadian what makes our country great and they will give you an endless list. Although we are a people who are humble in our love of the land, we are nonetheless very proud of our country. Canadians tend to display a quiet custom of patriotism. We do need to make more of an effort to be more vocal on our country’s birthday.
Just a few of the things that make up Proudly Canadian and thankful this Canada Day long weekend:
- Canadians fully experience all 4 seasons. That is why we have snowmobiles that transform for both land or water
- Canadian students rank higher than American students in Math, Science, English and Reading as well above the performance of students in 65 other countries
- 1/3 of Microsoft programmers come from the University of Waterloo, Ontario
- Students in Canadian schools performed better than students from any other English speaking country.
- Canada is a high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living.
- Canada is the U.S.’s single largest trading partner thanks to trade agreements made in the 1980s and 1990s – we hope that to continue.
- Canada has the second oldest federal democracy worldwide and is an important member of the G7 and G20 group.
- Canada’s health care is public (taxpayer) funded: payment is generally not required for medical treatment.
- In 1971 Canadians adopted a national policy of multiculturalism that celebrates our country’s diversity and encourages all citizens to honor their own cultures.
- Canada has Hate Speech and Freedom of Expression laws to avoid discrimination and abuse.
- In 2005 Canada legalized same-sex marriage.
- In 2016 Canada passed a right to die legislation, which means that anyone who has a terminal illness can ask a physician to assist them with suicide.
- In 2018 Canada passed The Cannabis Act law which legalized recreational cannabis use nationwide in Canada.
- We are a fiercely independent nation and even have a Queen!
13 Reasons It’s Great To Live in Canada
Just a Few Canadian Contributions to the World
- Canada was a full partner with 14,000 troops in the successful Allied landings in Normandy and celebrated the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France this year.
- Canada owns more than 2 million Canadian patents with several inventions that have contributed to progress around the world such as the telephone, cable television, am radio, 56K modem, MAX screens, walkie talkies, prosthetic hand, snowblower, fog horn, sonar, insulin, plexiglass, etc.
- Canada introduced five sports that are now played in many countries of the world – ice hockey, lacrosse, 5-pin bowling, basketball, and ultimate frisbee
- Canada gave birth to some of the most recognized, respected and talented actors such as Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Seth Rogan, Ellen Page, Taylor Kitsch, Carrie-Ann Moss, Keenu Reeves, Brendan Fraser, Eric McCormack, Neve Campbell, Michael Cera, Jason Priestley, Donald and Keifer Sutherland, Sandro Oh, William Shatner, Christopher Plummer, etc., etc.
Canadian comedians are on the world stage with the likes of Jim Carrey, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Will Arnett, Tommy Chong, Leslie Neilsen, Howie Mandell, etc., etc.- Canadian directors such as James Cameron, David Cronenberg, Ivan and Jason, Reitman, Paul Haggis, Denis Villeneuve, Jean-Marc Vallee, Denys Arcand, Atom Egoyan, Sarah Polley, Deepa Mehta, Mina Shum, Anne Wheeler, Arthur Hiller, Norman Jewison, etc., etc. have won awards for notable television and film
- Canadian writers of fiction, non-fiction and screenplays are endless. Just to mention a handful, think about Alice Munro, Michael Ondaatje, Yann Martel, Carol Shields, Lawrence Hill, Miriam Toews, Mordecai Richler, and, of course, Margaret Atwood, is a woman of most notoriety.
- AND, we have an abundance of extraordinary Canadian musicians (and bands) on the world stage – Alanis, Sarah, Avril, Drake, Nelly, Carley-Rae, Justin, Shania, K.D., Bryan, Neil, Robbie, Joni, Gordon, Michael, Leonard, Celine, Buffy, etc. Not to overlook many others who are our personal national treasures, including The Tragically Hip, Bare Naked Ladies, Chilliwack, Jann Arden, Bif Naked, Valdy, etc.
- Canadian sports hall of famers and legends too numerous to list could go on forever and ever…….. Don’t forget that Canadians Hockey Players are some of the best in the world and play on all American teams! (Canadian female hockey players happen to also be #1 In the world!) Anyone ever heard of the Raptors?
What is Said & Known about Canada?
Canada has a great, world-wide reputation with other countries. Our inter-ethnic relations in Canada are relaxed and tolerant, allowing ethnic or linguistic particularism to exist without question.
Canada’s reputation in some areas is even stronger than our Canadian vanity. Citizens of five countries, (South Africa, Australia, France, Indonesia and South Korea) are all more likely than Canadians to describe Canada as a country where rights and freedoms are respected.
Canada is instantly recognized around the world by its Red Maple Leaf. There is no national symbol as ubiquitous as ours. Generations of flag-bearing Canadian backpackers are famous for sewing maple leaf patches onto their bags just to make sure everyone’s clear at a glance who we are.
Canada has developed our own identity in the academic world. Hundreds of scholars and thousands of students study and research in our universities.
Did you know that many German universities use Canada as a model for a multi-faceted immigrant society with many different voices and multiple forms of cultural expression — including that of First Nations?
It has been said that Canada, as an immigration nation, “can make almost anyone feel welcome and also without making anyone feel like a complete outsider.” Many non-Canadians refer to Canada as “the European version of America.”
From clean drinking water and maple syrup to Santa Claus and Trick or Treat. Here are 20 Reasons Canada is too Cool!
13 Reasons It’s Great Living in Canada
On Monday, July 1st, toast our great country with your favorite Canadian beverage. Maybe it will be one of our award-winning wines, Canadian beers, a Canada Dry (soda)pop or our very own Bloody Ceasar!
Sure, some of our food might be a bit weird, but we have the BEST and most authentic ethnic food in the world! I highly recommend great Canadian originals like Butter Tarts & Nanaimo Bars!
HAPPY CANADA DAY !!!