Canada is one of the best countries in the world to learn in, and is very popular with international students. Its education, multiculturalism, and quality of life are unmatched! In fact, you can learn more about the benefits and choose from some of our world-leading institutions in Canada on ApplyBoard. However, there are also many fun facts about Canada that you may not know!
Now, we all know there are lots of well-known facts about Canada. But this time, we’re going above and beyond to find some really unique fun facts. So sit back, and get ready to find out some of our favourite lesser-known facts about one of the friendliest and most welcoming countries on the planet!
For more on Canada, check out our lists of the 5 Most Affordable Canadian Cities for Students and the 10 Best Scholarships in Canada for International Students.
Fun Fact #7: “Eh” is a real word!
Seventh on our list is one of our most popular Canada fun facts. This famous interjection is an actual word in the Oxford English Dictionary. The definition is “an exclamation used to represent a sound made in speech, especially one used to express enquiry, surprise, or to elicit agreement.” Pretty cool way to kick off our list of fun facts about Canada, eh?
Fun Fact #6: A Canadian co-created Superman
Superman may be known as a great American (super)hero, but his origin story comes in part from a Canadian. Canadian comic book artist Joe Shuster created the famous DC Comics character with writer Jerry Siegel in the 1930s while the pair were still in high school. They eventually sold their comic strip to Detective Comics Inc. (which later became DC Comics) for US$130. Superman made his comic book debut on April 18, 1938, in Action Comics #1, a series that is published to this day.
Fun Fact #5: Canada has less gravity than anywhere else in the world
Well, sort of. We’ll explain this one further, as it’s an integral part of our special Canada fun facts. In the Hudson Bay region, the average resident weighs a tenth of an ounce less than they would anywhere else. Why? Well, it all goes back to the last ice age, which ended over 11,000 years ago. During this period, much of Canada was covered by a giant glacier called the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Ice is really heavy, so when the ice began to melt about 21,000 years ago, the Earth underneath it began to slowly spring back. Even today, the Hudson Bay region is still deformed and has less mass than it should. Less mass means less gravity. That explains why you’ll weigh just a little bit less if you set foot in this part of Canada.
The Barnes Ice Cap, in the middle of Baffin Island in northern Canada, is all that’s left of this Ice Sheet. Unfortunately, due to global warming, it may not be around for much longer.
Fun Fact #4: Around 23% of Canada’s population is foreign-born
Fourth on our list of Canada fun facts are the country’s diverse population. Canada is known as a multicultural nation, and that’s not just due to good marketing. According to Statistics Canada, nearly 8.3 million Canadians were born in a different country. (For context, Canada’s population was 37.06 million as of 2018.) This makes Canada the most diverse country among the G8 nations! The majority of Canadian newcomers live in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta.
Fun Fact #3: Canada is the most educated country in the world
Canada is a country that recognizes the importance of quality education. In turn, its population reflects the country’s dedication to providing a good education. Over 56% of Canadian adults hold a college degree, the highest proportion among developed nations. The next most educated country in the world is Japan at just over 50%, followed by Israel at 49.9%.
Fun Fact #2: Santa Claus’s official address is in Canada
You don’t want to miss one of our favourite Canada fun facts! Known as Saint Nick, Santa Claus, or just Santa, this “jolly old man” who brings gifts to children at Christmastime is a popular folklore character in North American and European countries. Greek, British, and Dutch stories and cultures have all shaped the image of who Santa is today. However, Santa is also closely linked with Canada because its borders include the North Pole. Every Christmas, people send over 1 million letters to Santa Claus. In fact, you can write a letter in any language, mail it to the North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada, and Santa will send you a letter back!
Fun Fact #1: Canada produces most of the world’s maple syrup
Topping our list of fun facts about Canada is a familiar Canadian condiment. There’s a very good reason maple syrup has become a Canadian stereotype—we have so much of it! In fact, the Canadian province of Quebec produces 72 percent of the world’s maple syrup output. The United States is the next largest producer, while Japan and South Korea have small operations of their own. For more maple syrup-related content, we highly recommend you read all about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. No, we did not make that up – it’s a real thing!
We hope you enjoyed our list of Canada fun facts!
Interested in studying in Canada? Register for free with ApplyBoard and let us guide you through the application process.
