Canada Fast Facts

Canada is The World's 2nd Largest Country

Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world’s lakes combined, containing over 1/5th of the world’s fresh water, and has the longest international border in the world without military defense (with USA)

Total Population: 40.1 million 

Population % by Major Provinces:

  •     Ontario = 38% (Toronto, Ottawa)
  •     Quebec = 22% (Montreal, Laval, Quebec City)
  •     British Columbia = 13% (Vancouver)
  •     Alberta = 12% (Calgary, Edmonton)

Six time zones (4.5 hours)

Official Bilingualism

Canada adopted the Official Languages Act in 1969, in order to ensure fairer treatment of francophones across the country.  Today it is estimated that roughly 18% of the Canadian population consider themselves as bilingual.  The province of Quebec is the hub of French speaking Canadians, with francophones comprising about 85% of the population.  Quebec’s next door neighbor – the Province of New Brunswick, has 32% of it’s population that indicate French as their mother-tongue.  In Canada overall, roughly a third of the people are able to carry on a conversation in French.

In order to sell consumer products in Canada, packaging needs to meet specific language requirements.  In summary:

a)       Any text in English must also be in French

b)      The French text can be no less important than the English

Top Five Metropolitan Cities

  1. Toronto (Ontario) = 5.9 million people
  2. Montreal (Quebec) = 4.1 million 
  3. Vancouver (British Columbia) = 2.5 million
  4. Calgary (Alberta) = 1.4 million
  5. Ottawa-Gatineau (Que/On) = 1.3 million

Educated Consumers

  • Canada is the World’s Most Educated Country: over half its residents have college degrees 
  • There are 15.3 million households, with home ownership remaining steady at 66.5%
  • Canada’s GDP is $2.117 trillion USD – the 10th largest economy in the world
  • The jobless rate roughly 5.5%
  • Inflation rate at roughly 3-4%

Top 5 Canadian Industries

AGRICULTURE
Canada is one of the largest suppliers of agricultural products in the world. Due to its strategic location Canada exports most of its crops to its big brother of the south, United States. Canada’s agricultural sector is steadily growing every year and accounts for 8% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
ENERGY
Canada has the third largest oil reserve in the world, and is also a world leader in hydroelectric power. Canada’s oil exporting and other energy related products make up for 2.9% of the country’s GDP. Additionally, Canada has adopted solar and wind energy production as the next major industry in the energy sector ensuring continued prosperity.
TECHNOLOGY
Canada’s technology industry is one of the strongest in the world. And, thanks to the Canadian Startup Visa, which is a government Visa aimed at bringing in new tech companies from all over the world, Canada will continue to change the world’s technology landscape.
SERVICES
Accounting for a whopping 80% of Canada’s GDP and employing almost three quarters of the entire country is Canada’s service sector. And, within the sector itself, industries like retail, business, education, and health make up the largest portions.
MANUFACTURING
Although the global financial crisis took its toll on Canada from 2008 to 2010, the country’s manufacturing industries are on the rebound and make up for 14% of Canada’s GDP. And, like never before, Canada’s automotive branch plants are back in full swing.

Canada and The Top Three Metropolitan Cities

Famous Canadians

Hollywood North

Canada is often referred to as Hollywood North as a result of the strong film industry and amazing talent.

Canadian Movie & Television Stars

Dan Akroyd    Pamela Anderson    James Cameron    Jim Carey    Kim Cattral    Elisha Cuthebert     Michael J Fox    Ryan Gosling    Tom Green    Dwayne Johnson      Rachel McAdams    Mike Myers    Sandra Oh    Ellen Page    Matthew Perry    Jason Priestly    Keanu Reeves    Ryan Reynolds    Seth Rogan    William Shatner           Donald Sutherand    Keifer Sutherland    Alex Trebek  

Canadian Musicians

Bryan Adams    Paul Anka    Jan Arden    Justin Bieber    Michael  Bublé    Leonard  Cohen    Celine Dion     Drake    David Foster    Diana Krall    Avril Lavinge                Sarah McLachlan    Joni Mitchell    Alanis Morrisette     Rush     The Guess Who    Shania Twain    Neil Young    

Canadian Inventions

Alkaline Battery    Archie – first internet search engine    Basketball    Electron Microscope    Imax Java – Programming Language     Peanut Butter    Plexiglass            Road Lines    Sonar    The Electric Wheelchair    The Fiberglass Goalie Mask – Hockey    The Garbage Bag    The Pacemaker    The Pager    The Paint Roller                       The Snow Blower    Wireless Radio Transmission    Wonderbra    

Canadian Nobel Prizes

1923 Medicine     1949 Chemistry    1957 Peace    1966 Medicine    1971 Chemistry    1976 Literature    1981 Medicine    1983 Chemistry    1986 Chemistry                  1989 Chemistry    1990 Physics    1992 Chemistry    1993 Chemistry    1994 Physics    1996 Economics    1997 Economics    1999 Economics     2009 Physics                 2011 Medicine    2013 Literature    2015 Physics    2018 Physics    2019 Physic    2020 Medicine

Canadian Medical Breakthroughs

Child-Resistant Medical Containers    Cystic Fibrosis Discovery    Discovering T-cell Receptors in Cancer Research    HAART Therapy Treatment as HIV Prevention   Insulin   Open Heart Surgery    Pablum-Baby Formula    Transplantable Stem Cells     

Fun Facts

Be Bear Safe

Residents of Churchill, Manitoba leave their cars unlocked to offer an escape for pedestrians who might encounter Polar Bears. 

Ocean Hockey

In Newfoundland, the Atlantic Ocean sometimes freezes so people play hockey on it. 

A Country of Peace

Canada has no weapons of mass destruction since 1984 and has signed treaties repudiating their possession.

Black Gold

Canada has the third largest oil reserves of any country in the world after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. 

Cool Cash

In Canada, Mexico, India, Russia and Israel, bank notes have Braille-like markings on them for the blind. 

Helping Hands

When flights got diverted or grounded during 9/11, Canada housed, fed, and sheltered over 33,000 passengers. 

Taste Buds

The Hawaiian Pizza was invented in Canada and is the most popular pizza in Australia.

Unique PM

Before he was the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau worked as a nightclub bouncer and a snowboarding instructor. 

Maple Everything

Canada has a strategic maple syrup reserve to ensure global supply in case of emergency. 

Queen Elizabeth II

People from Canada can order a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and have it shipped to them for free. 

Pesky Rats

The Canadian Province of Alberta has been rat-free for over 50 years. 

Beloved Beaver

The North American Beaver is the national animal of Canada.