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In Canada, people pay with the Canadian dollar, also called CAD for short. It exists in 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 paper bank notes. The Canadian coins exist in 5 cents (nickels), 10 cents (dimes), 25 cents (quarters), 1 CAD ( also called a loonie) and 2 CAD (also called a toonie).

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Lacrosse is often referred to as the national summer sport of Canada. The sport has indigenous origins and a rich history. The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is the national competition with teams both in Canada and in the United States, and there are two different environments to play the sport: box and field. Box lacrosse is played indoors in arenas, particularly in the summer months. Universities and colleges often have field lacrosse teams as an addition to their student activities.

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Baseball is a very popular sport in Canada. The Toronto Blue Jays represent the Canada in the Major League Baseball (MLB). It is played at multiple levels, not only on professional level. The sport is highly popular for the youth as well, and it is played in schools and local communities.

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Ice hockey is Canada's most popular and iconic sport, and it is considered Canada's national winter sport. The National Hockey League (NHL) features several Canadian teams, and the sport is played at various levels across the country.

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Canadian football is a form of American football.
The Canadian Football League (CFL) is the first professional league for Canadian football in Canada, with the Grey Cup as its championship game. The Grey Cup is one of Canada's most significant events of the year, and it is also referred to as the Canadian Super Bowl, referring to the annual American Football League championship.

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Just like Catholicism, Protestantism was brought to Canada by European settlers in the 16th century. British and Dutch colonists, in particular, brought multiple Protestant movements to Canada.
In Canada, a diverse range of Protestant movements exist. Some examples are Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and many others. Each denomination (movement) has its own particular practices and characterizations.

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Catholicism was brought to Canada with the European settlers in the 16th century. In 1534, The French explorer Jacques Cartier planted a cross in what is now known as Gaspé in Quebec, making this one of the earliest known Catholic ceremonies in Canada.

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European settlement in Canada began with the arrival of explorers and European colonists in the 15th century. The European exploration took a significant step forward in 1497 when John Cabot led an expedition. He became the first person to chart the East Coast of Canada and create a map of the region.

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The English Canadian people are descendants of British settlers. These people have been inhabiting in the more central regions such as Ontario, and the Atlantic provinces as well.

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Canada is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the country has a monarch as its head of state.
The monarch's role is for the largest part symbolic and ceremonial. King Charles III acclaimed the role of King of Canada and became the Head of State on September 8th, 2022, following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth (picture).

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While Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area, its population density is relatively low compared to many other countries. Much of Canada's land remains sparsely populated, with vast wilderness areas.

Canada has about 38,844,393 habitants, as of September 2023.

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Immigration has played a crucial role in shaping Canada's population. The country has a well-established immigration system that welcomes people from around the world, contributing to its population growth and cultural diversity.

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The majority of Canadians live in urban areas, with the largest cities being Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. These urban centers are hubs for economic activity, culture, and education.

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Population growth
Canada has experienced steady population growth over the years, primarily due to immigration. Immigration plays a crucial role in maintaining the country's population and contributing to its cultural diversity.

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English and French are the official languages of Canada, reflecting its colonial history. The country is officially bilingual at the federal level, and many provinces and territories have their language policies.

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One dark chapter in Canadian history focuses on the residential school system, where Indigenous children were  taken away from their families and communities to attend government-sponsored, church-run schools. This system, which existed for over a century, caused cultural suppression, abuse, and trauma for many Indigenous people.

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More than 50 distinct Indigenous languages exist in Canada, of which many are endangered. Due to this, multiple organizations have been working on preservation of these languages.

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The most familiar Canadian symbol is the maple leaf which is also visible in the national flag. It shows an eleven pointed maple leaf and has been the national flag since 1965. The flag stands for peace, hope, strength, national pride and tranquility.

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"Mounties" is a nickname for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), one of Canada's most iconic law enforcement institutions.

The RCMP is Canada's federal and national police institution. It is responsible for enforcing federal laws and serving as the provincial police in certain areas where there is no provincial police force.

Mounties have become a symbol of Canadian identity and culture and are easily to distinct because of the large beige hat and bright red and deep blue uniform.

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Moose are one of the largest and most iconic mammals in North America.

Adult moose can reach heights of up to 7 feet (2.1 meters) at the shoulder and weigh between 800 to 1,600 pounds (360 to 725 kilograms), with males (bulls) typically larger than females (cows).

Moose are culturally important for many Indigenous peoples in North America, where they are often seen as symbols of strength and resilience.

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Maple syrup is produced by tapping sugar maple trees. The sap is collected from the trees and boiled down to evaporate the water content, leaving the concentrated maple syrup behind. It is a sweet syrup, often used with dishes as pancakes, waffles, and desserts or even salty snacks like bacon.

The production of maple syrup is connected to the changing of the seasons. The production takes place during late winter and early spring, when the temperatures in Canada shift from below freezing at night to above freezing during the day. The shifting temperatures cause the sap to flow in the maple trees.

To tap a sugar maple tree, a small hole is made into the trunk, and a tap is inserted. The sap flows out of the tap into collection containers like buckets or cans.

Maple syrup has a particular cultural significance for many Indigenous people. These people have been tapping maple trees for over centuries. It is also a symbol of Canadian identity, because of the association with Canada's national flag.

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Canada operates as a parliamentary democracy. The government is elected by the people and is accountable to the elected representatives in Parliament. The Prime Minister is the head of government and is typically the leader of the political party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons. Justin Trudeau is a member from the Liberal Party and has been the Prime Minister of Canada since November 4, 2015.

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The French Canadians are descendants of French settlers who first settled in the province Quebec. These people are often referred to as the Québécois and they have a unique cultural and linguistic identity. French is their first language, as English comes second.

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First Nations are Indigenous peoples in Canada who are not Inuit or Métis. They have diverse ancestral backgrounds, languages, and cultures. First Nations communities are spread across Canada.

First Nations communities can be found throughout Canada, with a significant presence in all provinces and territories. They live in various environments, including coastal regions, forests, plains, and the Arctic.

There are numerous distinct First Nations languages spoken across Canada, such as Ojibwe, Cree, Haida, and many others. Some First Nations individuals are also fluent in English or French.

First Nations cultures vary widely, but they often include traditional practices like powwows, drumming, storytelling, and the passing down of oral traditions.

First Nations have diverse historical experiences, including the impact of colonialism, treaties, and land disputes. Each First Nation may have unique treaty relationships with the Canadian government.

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The Inuit people are Indigenous people of the Arctic regions of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and parts of Siberia.
Inuit communities mainly live in the Arctic regions of Canada, such as the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern Quebec, and Labrador.
The Inuit people have their own languages which are called Inuktitut and Inupiaq. In more southern regions, they also speak French and English.

The culture is adapted to the Arctic environment.
What many people don't know, is that Eskimos are actually Inuit people, though referred to more respectfully.
The Inuit provide themselves with food through hunting, fishing, and gathering. Examples of traditional practices are dog sledding and igloo construction.
The Inuit culture is marked by their adaptation to the Arctic environment.

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The Métis are descendants of Indigenous peoples and mostly French and Scottish settlers who cross-married. The Métis identity is a result of this blending.

We can find Métis communities in central Canada, such as regions like Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

The Métis people often speak Michif, a blended language with Cree and French elements. Many Métis people are also fluent in English and/or French.