Whatever Wednesday: Oh, Canada!

Good morning friends! Today we get to take a few moments and discuss one of my favorite places in the world. With all of this talk about travel and adventure, I thought it was only appropriate to take a look at the place that we call home: Canada! So, just for kicks and giggles, here are fifteen fun facts about The Great White North:

1. Canada is the first country to build a UFO landing pad. It is located in St. Paul, Alberta.
2. Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October, rather than in November, like our American neighbors.
3. 30% of Canada’s total landscape is forest, making it an entirely photogenic country.
4. It is socially unacceptable to misuse the common expression “eh.” It is placed at the END of sentences only and used as a confirmation, agreement, or question.
5. The Canada/USA border is the longest international border in the world and it is undefended by military.
6. The Canadian $1 bill was replaced by a coin with the face of a loon (the bird) on one side and the face of Queen Elizabeth on the other. For this reason, Canadians call one dollar a “loonie.” When the $2 coin was introduced, it became known as a “toonie” (not named after any animal).
7. After Paris, Montreal is the largest French-speaking city in the world.
8. Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891.
9. Got water? Canada has more lakes than any other country.
10. A.A. Milne based the beloved character of Winnie the Pooh on a real bear in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
11. Canada produces 77% of the world’s supply of maple syrup.
12. Both English and French are the official languages of Canada.
13. 60% of the world’s polar bear population live in Canada. (There are approximately 25,000 polar bears in our world today)
14. In the Spring, icebergs from Greenland float along Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastline and are harvested to make wine, beer, vodka, and skin care products.
15. The word “Canada” comes from the word “Kanata” in the Iroquoian language, meaning “village.” When the French explorer Jacques Cartier was invited by the Iroquois to their “kanata,” he thought that was the name of the country.

I hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Canada. If you would like more fun facts about the Great White North, check out this link here.

All in all, Canada is a beautiful country that I have come to greatly love and call my home over the last two years. That being said, come visit and discover for yourself what makes this country so near and dear to Canadians’ hearts. And yes, you will probably be saying “eh” in no time (it is contagious)!

What is your favorite thing about Canada? Feel free to comment below! 🙂