All About: Canada's Landscape and Culture
Get to know Canada's amazing regional variations, and some of the fun and games Canadians like to enjoy.
This article is part of our About Canada series. Check out the other articles in this series here.
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Canada is an enormous country — the world's second-largest, by land mass. From coast to coast to coast, Canada's home to incredible diversity in environments, attitudes, and activities. Still, over 80% of the Canadian population lives within 160km of the American border, meaning most of Canada is quite remote. Much of Canada experiences all four seasons, but their intensity and character can vary widely.
Provinces and territories across Canada
Canada's home to ten provinces and three territories, each of which with its own identity. Most parts of Canada use English as a first language, with the distinct exception of Quebec, which is French-dominant. Other areas, especially in the eastern Maritime provinces, may use French first as well.
Here are Canada's thirteen provinces and territories, with the highest population at the top:
- Ontario: 14.2 million people
- Quebec: 8.5 million people
- British Columbia: 5 million people
- Alberta: 4.2 million people
- Manitoba: 1.3 million people
- Saskatchewan: 1.1 million people
- Nova Scotia: 969,000 people
- New Brunswick: 775,000 people
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 510,000 people
- Prince Edward Island: 154,000 people
- Northwest Territories: 41,000 people
- Yukon: 40,000 people
- Nunavut: 36,000 people
As of 2021, Canada's total population is about 37 million. As you can see, most people live in a small handful of provinces!
Quebec has recently introduced legislation to protect and promote the French language within its borders: newcomers to the province will have a short time to learn the language, or they may have a difficult time accessing public services.
Ethnic enclaves in cities and towns may continue to use their home language in conjunction with French or English. In addition, many Indigenous communities use their own languages as well.
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Biomes across Canada
If you're considering Canada as your study abroad destination, think about where you might want to live! Here are a few highlights from across the country:
- Northern tundra: The far north has a well-earned reputation as a cold, snowy place. Some of the most remote communities can only be accessed by plane during certain times of the year. Many of Canada's native peoples live in the north.
- Northwest rainforest: One of the world's wonders, the North American rainforest makes up a significant portion of Canada's west coast. Lush flora and fauna cover the landscape, and locals enjoy lots of outdoor activities, like kayaking, hiking, and cycling.
- Plains and grassland: A good chunk of southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba is made up of plains: grassy stretches that roll on for hours without much variation. Lots of farming is done in the west, as well as much of Canada's domestic bitumen production.
- Rocky mountains: The Rockies are an incredible chain of mountains in British Columbia and Alberta, dividing the plains from the coastal rainforest. Coated in evergreen forest, the Rockies are an ideal place to explore, ski, and observe local wildlife.
- Boreal forest: Most of Canada is covered in Boreal forest, full of life adapted to colder temperatures. Boreal forests are great for camping, and many Canadian families own or rent cottages in the woods as an escape from city life.
- Coastal life: Out east, the Maritime provinces line the Atlantic coast. The tang of saltwater fills the air, locals eat freely of the sea, and life moves at a more casual pace.
- City life: Canada is highly urbanized. Much of the Canadian population lives in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Cities are often the best places to find music, art, and sports.
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Uniquely Canadian foods you have to try
If you'll be living in Canada, you have to try these delicious delicacies that Canada is best known for:
- Poutine: yummy fries topped with gravy and cheese curds.
- Butter tarts: a flaky pastry filled with butter, sugar, and egg.
- Lobster rolls (if in a coastal area): a warm bun is filled with lobster meat and spices.
- Montreal-style bagels: these bagels are traditionally smaller, thinner, have a wider hole, and are sweeter than New York-style bagels.
- Beavertails: a delicious, deep-fried dough covered in your choice of toppings like Nutella, peanut butter, cinnamon, and more.
- Maple taffy (aka tire d'érable): hot maple syrup is poured on top of snow and then rolled with a popsicle stick to create a soft, sticky maple candy.
- Ketchup chips: this flavour of chips is only found in Canada! Don't let the idea of the flavour gross you out, they are delicious!
- Nanaimo bars: this dessert, named after a city in BC, has the best of everything! A crumb base, custard, and chocolate!
- Caesar cocktail: the Caesar is Canada's national cocktail. You have to try it at least once! The drink contains vodka, clam juice, tomato juice, spices, Worcestershire sauce, and is topped with a stick of celery.
- Tourtière: This French-Canadian delicacy is essentially a meat pie. A flaky pastry is filled with meat, such as pork, veal, venison, beef, or more.
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Festivals across the country
Who doesn't love a good festival? Whether you enjoy music, art, comedy, nature, and more, there's always a festival to celebrate it. Some popular festivals in Canada include:
- Winterlude: located in Ottawa during the wintry February month, people get together to skate on the frozen Rideau Canal which becomes the world's largest skating rink, marvel at ice sculptures, and enjoy the snow
- Quebec Winter Carnival: winter is a long season, so why not make the best of it with pretty lights, canoe races across the frozen Saint Lawrence River, snow sculptures, and skating?
- Calgary Stampede: embrace your inner cowboy/cowgirl and check out this 10-day long event. Enjoy rodeos, country music, and party all night long
- Celebration of Light: Every summer, Vancouver hosts the largest fireworks competition in the world. Enjoy this pyrotechnic party!
- Just for Laughs Comedy Festival: Check out some of the world's best comedians at this festival! You'll be gasping for breath between every laugh
- Toronto International Film Festival: Watch some of the best films in Canada at the Toronto International Film Festival. This event is the kick-off to the awards season
- OSHEAGA: The OSHEAGA festival is a multi-day indie music festival with big-ticket headliners. Experience concert after concert with plenty of dancing!
These are just a few of the biggest festivals in Canada, but there's lots to discover! Towns and cities across the country host festivals of all kinds: you never know what you might encounter.
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Canada's favourite sports
Whether you want to join the fans and watch a sport or get involved and play yourself, Canada has plenty of sports to choose from!
Canada is especially well known for its national winter sport, ice hockey, with NHL teams across the country:
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Vancouver Canucks
- Winnipeg Jets
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
Go check out a professional game, or go to your local arena for some skating and pickup hockey.
The national summer sport in Canada is lacrosse, which is a fun activity to play with friends! The game was originally played by Indigenous peoples in Canada, and has been adopted as the official national sport.
You'll also find football to be popular, especially in university. (For those from abroad, we mean "American-style" football!) Homecoming typically revolves around a school's football game. Canada is also home to the Canadian Football League with plenty of teams to check out!
No matter what sport you want to play, chances are we've got it! Whether you like soccer (or 'football'!) swimming, archery, basketball, volleyball, golf, or even quidditch — you'll find it in Canada!
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Holidays in Canada
Holidays in Canada are great because most likely, you'll get the day off school to enjoy it! If you're working instead, you may get the day off, with pay, or you may be asked to work through the holiday. Holiday workers typically receive a premium wage, which can make holidays a great opportunity to earn some extra money.
Some popular holidays you may experience in Canada include:
- New Year's Day
- Good Friday
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
- Boxing Day
Most provinces and territories have their own unique holidays, too! (You may or may not get the day off for these, though.) Check out the whole list of holidays in Canada to learn more.
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