Canada Facts for Kids

There is more to know about the world than what happens inside your own country's borders, and Canada facts for kids reveal a lot about America's northern neighbor. Share these fun facts about Canada for kids with your friends and family.

Canada Information for Kids

Canada's geological, geographical, economic, and social diversity makes it a fascinating country. Here are some Canada facts for kids you might not know. Since Canada uses the metric system for measurement, all measurements will be listed in metric.

Cool Things to Know About Canada

Here are some statistics about Canada:

• In terms of land mass, Canada is the second largest country in the world. It has 9,971,000 square kilometers.
• Canada is the fifth largest producer of energy in the world.
• In terms of population to land mass (population density), Canada has only three people per one square kilometer. That makes it the country with the fourth lowest population density worldwide.
• No country in the world has higher enrollment in college and university education than Canada.
• Canada is the ninth largest economy in the world.
• The town of New Quebec, Canada has the world's largest meteor crater.
• One tenth of the world's forests are in Canada.
• More than 32 million people live in Canada.
• About 6 million Canadians speak French.
• You can find the world's longest coastline in Canada.
• Canada doesn't have states. It has 10 provinces and three territories.
• Canada is so vast that its East Coast is geographically closer to London, England than to its own West Coast.
• Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada.
• Canada has the fifth largest island in the world - Baffin Island, which is larger than all but two American states.
• Canada means 'village' or 'settlement' in Iroquois.
• The United States-Canadian border is the world's longest shared border. It is also the world's longest unprotected border.
• Canada's largest city, Toronto, has about five million people.
• Almost half of Canada's population were born in other countries.
• Every year, Quebec City has a hotel made entirely of ice. The hotel melts in the summer, but is rebuilt every winter.
• Canada only has one desert.

Amazing Facts About Canada's Flag

The Canadian flag features a maple leaf and the colors red and white, but there's a lot more to it than that!

• It took about 70 years of ideas before Canada had a national flag.
• In 1925 and 1946 committees were formed to vote on designs, but they never did a final vote.
• In 1946, there were more than 2500 proposed flag designs.
• Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the sparse red and white maple leaf design as the National Flag of Canada in 1965.
• The single maple leaf design was first suggested in 1919 by Major General Sir Eugene Fiset.
• Canadian athletes began wearing the single maple leaf design in 1904.
• King George V declared red and white to be Canada's national colors in 1921.
• Dr. Günter Wyszecki picked out the exact shade of red to be used on the flag.
• George Bist is credited with choosing the precise dimensions of each colored section.
• The final maple leaf image was designed by Jacques St-Cyr.
• One of the three final proposed flag designs included the Union Jack in one corner and a fleur-de-lis design in the other corner.
• Another proposed design featured blue sections on either end of the flag with three connected maple leaves in the center.
• The only other official National Flag of Canada was the Royal Union Jack.
• The Red Ensign was unofficially used as Canada's National Flag from 1871 to 1965.
• The flag is twice as long as it is wide.
• The maple leaf has been a prominent Canadian symbol for more than 300 years.
• Red and white were the colors used by English and French crusaders.
• The red color on the flag is called "gules" and the white is "pale argent."

Cool Things That Come From Canada

Canada is home to lots of innovators. Here are some cool things invented in Canada:

• Baseball glove
• Basketball
• Electric range
• Electric light bulbs
• Zippers
• Electron microscope
• Plexiglass
• Antigravity suits
• Dental mirrors
• Goalie mask
• IMAX
• Pacemakers
• Paint rollers
• Pizza delivery
• Roller skates
• Snowmobiles
• Snow blowers
• Walkie talkies
• Yahtzee
• Washing machines

Interesting Canada Food Facts

Food statistics can help you understand the interesting culture of foods made in Canada and the fascinating drinks that accompany them.

• There are just under 200,000 farms in Canada.
• The average Canadian throws away about 170 kilograms of food every year.
• Potatoes and wheat are the most popular source of carbohydrates.
• Rice is more popular than corn.
• Canadians eat more chicken and turkey than beef.
• Bananas are the most plentiful fruit.
• Coffee is more abundant than beer.
• There are more litres of wine available per Canadian than orange juice.
• Poutine was invented in Quebec in the 1950s.
• More than 75 percent of the world's mustard supply comes from Canada
• Canadian bacon is actually called peameal bacon in Canada.
• Hawaiian pizza was invented in Ontario in the 1960s.
• Canadians eat more Kraft Dinner, or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, than any other country.
• Canada makes more than 75 percent of the world's maple syrup supply.
• The canola flower is Canada's most profitable crop.
• Some of the world's largest freshwater reserves are found in Canada.
• Ginger ale was invented by a Toronto pharmacist in 1919.

Cool People From Canada

Not only does Canada invent useful things, but a lot of really famous people have come from Canada. Here are just a few:

• Alessia Cara (singer)

  

• Shania Twain (singer)
• Justin Bieber (singer)
• Estella Warren (actress and model)
• Keanu Reeves (actor)
• Celine Dion (singer)
• Drake (rapper)
• Jim Carrey (actor and comedian)
• Jennifer Tilly (actress)
• Leonard Cohen (musician and composer)
• Finn Wolfhard (actor)
• Michael J. Fox (actor)
• Dan Aykroyd (actor and comedian)
• Brendan Fraser (actor)
• Seth Rogen (actor)
• Howie Mandel (comedian and game show host)
• Mike Myers (actor)
• Ryan Reynolds (actor)
• Wayne Gretzky (hockey player)
• Alex Trebek (game show host)

Embarrassing Facts About Canada

While most Canadians are proud of where they come from, these embarrassing facts might have them hiding their faces for a moment.

• Jacques Cartier misunderstood some Iroquois who used the word "Kanata" for a village and called the whole region Canada.
• Those who aren't ready to actually surf can now river surf in the Lower Kananaskis River.
• Bathtub Island is one of the hidden gem locations in Canada.
• Canadian Suresh Joachim set the world record in 2008 for longest non-stop Elvis impersonation.
• In 2010, the University of Alberta broke the world record for the largest dodgeball game.
• Over 200 combines were used at the same time in a Manitoba field in 2010 to set the world record for most combine harvesters working simultaneously on the same field.
• The world's largest parking lot is found at the West Edmonton Mall.
• The first UFO landing pad ever installed was built in St. Paul, Alberta.
• Justin Bieber's video for "Baby" is the most disliked video on YouTube.
• Canada holds more donut shops per capita than any other country.
• Head Smashed In-Bufalo-Jump is the name of a real Canadian heritage site.
• There are more airports in the country with unpaved runways than paved runways.
• Vancouver's namesake, Captain Vancouver, is said to have hated the place.
• In Dawson City, Yukon, you can join the Sour Toe Cocktail Club by downing a drink that contains an actual toe.
• Until 1995, it was not legal to sell butter-colored margarine in Ontario.

Funny Canada Facts

From weird traditions to wacky places to visit, you can find lots of funny tidbits about Canadian culture.

• Canada can claim the world's smallest jail, which is in Ontario. It is only 24.3 square meters.
• It is widely believed Santa Claus is from Canada.
• Many people believe that Canada owns the North Pole. It doesn't.
• Dog food is tax-deductible in Canada.
• You can find a 32-foot tin soldier in New Westminster, BC.
• In 1923 at the Calgary Stampede, the first chuck wagon race was held.
• License plates for vehicles in Nunavut are shaped like polar bears.
• The world's largest concentration of garter snakes can be found in spring in Manitoba.
• In Sudbury, Ontario you can be fined up to $5,000 for attaching a siren to your bicycle.
• An old law from 1985 limits the number of coins you can use in a single transaction at Canadian retailers.
• It's illegal to build a snowman taller than 30 inches if you live on a corner lot in Souris, Prince Edward Island.
• A law in Petrolia, Ontario says people are prohibited from yelling, singing, or whistling at all times.

• Quttinirpaaq National Park is so remote only 17 people visited it in 2016.

Get to Know Canada, Eh

Now you know a little more about Canada and all of the great things and people that come from this huge North American country. If you ever get the chance to visit, you'll enjoy it and learn even more about its history, culture, and residents.