Canada Fun Facts for Kids

The land that is now Canada was first home to indigenous peoples who lived off of the land. The first Europeans to discover Canada were the Vikings when in 1001 Leif Ericksson landed and named the area Vinland. The Vikings had to later leave their established colony because of conflicts with the natives. In 1497, King Henry VII sent Italian explorer John Cabot on an expedition across the Atlantic. Cabot reached the east coast of Canada, discovering rich fishing waters. In 1534, Frenchman Jacques Cartier explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence and claimed the land for France. Quebec later became a crown colony of France in 1663. Britain and France continued to gain possession over different territories, leading to great conflict and dispute. This led to the Seven Years War (1755-1763) when both countries fought over the new colonies. The Treaty of Paris ended the war, giving Britain control of the North American colonies besides St. Pierre and Miquelon, which were still controlled by France. Canada officially became a country on July 1, 1867. The three original provinces were Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The province of Canada was later split into two–Ontario and Quebec. Over time, the Country expanded to the 10 provinces it has today.

The Canadian flag consists of a red field with a white square at its centre. The middle of the flag features a red maple leaf. This flag was made official by a proclamation from Queen Elizabeth II on January 28, 1965.

The physical geography of Canada is both vast and widely varied. The country stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It shares borders with the contiguous United States to the south and the US state of Alaska to the northwest. The land of Canada includes forests, lakes, mountains, and glaciers.

World Land Mass Ranking: 2nd.

Highest Mountain: Mount Logan, 5,250 m (17,220 ft)

Longest River: Yukon River, 3,190 km. (1,982 mi.)

English & French

Canada Population: 37.6 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Ottawa
Capital City Population: 1.4 million (as of 2020)

The climate of Canada is widely varied from region to region. The northern part of Canada is extremely cold and mostly covered by ice and permafrost. Southern Canada, where much of the population is located, has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons.

• Celine Dion
• Justin Bieber
• Wayne Gretzky
• Frederick Banting

• The cuisine of Canada is very diverse and has heavy influences from British, French, and Scottish cuisines. The traditional indigenous cuisine of Canada was mainly a mixture of wild game and foraged foods. Maple syrup was first collected and used by the aboriginal people of Eastern Canada. Today, Canada is the world’s largest producer of Maple Syrup. The national dish of Canada is Poutine, which is made up of crispy fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy.

  The picture is a picture of Poutine, the national dish of Canada.

• Canada is home to a wide variety of sports and games. With cold and snowy winters, sports such as ice hockey, curling, snowboarding, and skiing are very popular. Having received 22 medals, including 13 gold, Canada is the most successful country in Olympic ice hockey. Wayne Gretzky is the most famous Canadian ice hockey player. Non-winter sports, such as lacrosse, football, and basketball, are also popular in Canada.

  The picture is a picture of a lacrosse game between Canada and the United States.

• The culture of Canada is largely influenced by British, French, and American cultures. Canadians value individuality, but also find strong communities important. Music, visual arts, and literature are all an important part of Canadian culture. Humour is an integral part of Canadian culture, and there are festivals and TV shows dedicated to Canadian comedy. Religion in Canada is varied and encompasses a wide range of beliefs.

  The picture is a picture of of the Ottawa Jazz Festival.

  Canada is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

  Download questions about Canada here: Canada (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Canada. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

  For further reading and more info on the Canada visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Canada

1. Canada has 20% of the world’s freshwater.

2. Canada has the longest coastline in the world.

3. Half of Canada is covered in forests.

4. The national animal of Canada is the beaver.

5. Canada is the world leader in uranium mining.

6. Canada has the longest highway in the world.

7. The national holiday, Canada Day, is on July 1st.

8. Canada has six time zones.

9. The literacy rate in Canada is 99%.

10. There have been 10 Nobel Prize laureates in Canada.

1. What is the capital city of Canada? +

2. When did Canada become a country? +

3. Name a sport that is popular in Canada? +

4. What are the two main languages spoken in Canada? +

5. What is Canada’s World Land Mass Ranking? +

6. What is the highest mountain in Canada? +

7. What two countries fought in the Seven Years War? +

8. Name a key/famous Canadian? +

9. What is the national dish of Canada? +

10. What is the longest river in Canada? +