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From the Atlantic to the Pacific the great country of Canada covers an enormous stretch of land. If you've ever done a road trip across Canada you really feel it!

So when planning your epic Canadian adventure you'll want to put a few of these on the itinerary. The truth is that there are important Canadian landmarks in every corner of the country.

To give you some ideas for cool places to visit this list has 15 of the most famous Canada landmarks. Here, you'll find natural wonders like Niagara Falls, historical sites including Signal Hill, and super cool things to do like admiring the view from outside atop the CN Tower.

Let's get into and discover the awesome landmarks in Canada.

I have visited each of these fifteen famous landmarks in Canada - finally made it to Newfoundland in 2022! It took me years to visit all these sites and I have fond memories of each one but I'd love to revisit all of them again!

Moraine Lake - Alberta

Starting out the list of most famous Canada landmarks is one of the most beautiful glacial lakes in Canada - Moraine Lake.

Seeing the stunning blue water and the surrounding white-capped mountains is a view to remember.

There is no substitute.

It's become so popular that Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles all year now. So it's best to take a shuttle bus to Moraine Lake or book one of the tours from Lake Louise or Banff.

If you're really into cycling you can bicycle there too!

Lake Louise - Alberta

Located in the ever popular Banff National Park, Lake Louise is such a special place, it's no wonder it's one of the famous landmarks in Canada.

The beautiful, turquoise, glacier waters that fill the lake are unlike anything you've ever experienced.

With the sun shining, the waters reflect the image of the surrounding mountains and the iconic Victoria Glacier in the distance.

A great destination any time of year, in winter you can go ice skating on Lake Louise during the day or nighttime under the stars.

Any season is great for hiking around Lake Louise and in summer and fall enjoy a bite to eat after hiking up to Lake Agnes Tea House from Lake Louise.

Peggy's Cove - Nova Scotia

Located to the southwest of Halifax in St. Margaret's Bay, Peggy's Cove is a top destination in Nova Scotia.

You'll love the iconic lighthouse and the giant boulders left smooth by the powerful sea.

This popular maritime landmark is one of the most photographed places in Canada and especially stunning at sunset.

Niagara Falls - Ontario

Niagara Falls is one of the most iconic wonders of the world. And clearly, it's one of the most famous Canada Landmarks.

Yes, watching the water pour over the edge of the falls from an observation deck is powerful in itself, but it's a whole different experience to see it up close.

Consider taking the Journey Behind the Falls or feel its power at the base of the falls on a boat tour.

Bay of Fundy - Nova Scotia

The Bay of Fundy is a unique body of water located between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

This is the location for the highest tides in the world, at over 50 ft (16 m) the difference between low tide and high tide is stunning to see firsthand.

One of the best places to experience the Bay of Fundy is Burntcoat Head Park where the record high tides were recorded.

Here you can walk on the ocean floor at low tide and look at sea creatures in the tide pools, walk around the flowerpots, and check out the view from the lighthouse. When you return for high tide it's wild to see the same space flooded with water!

Check it out and see for yourself why Bay of Fundy is one of the most famous landmarks in Canada.

CN Tower - Toronto

Hands down the absolute best view of Toronto is from the CN Tower, one of the coolest man-made landmarks in Canada.

From the top of the tower you can see up to 100 miles (160 km) on a clear day.

From the height of 1,000+ feet you'll have the incredible bird's eye view of it all.

To really get your heart pumping, stand over the glass floor or do the thrilling handsfree EdgeWalk outside the tower! You go ahead and do that, I'm too chicken! The super fast elevator ride up and the view was enough for me!

Signal Hill - Newfoundland

The view from Signal Hill at St. John's Newfoundland and the outstretching water is breathtaking, but it's more than just an awesome peak.

Instead, its location is a whole lot more involved and one of the most famous Canada landmarks.

A strategic point, the hill was held by both the French and British as a lookout for defense and communication of arriving ships.

It is also where the first transatlantic wireless communication was received by inventor Guillermo Marconi.
READ MORE: 15 Best Things to Do in Newfoundland
Confederation Bridge - Prince Edward Island

The Confederation Bridge makes the list of famous Canada landmarks as it's the longest bridge in the world over ice-covered water.

That's right the 8 mile (12.9 km) roadway covers the waters between Prince Edward Island and the mainland at New Brunswick.

Completed in 1997 the Confederation Bridge makes it easy to road trip to/from Canada's smallest province and enjoy the beauty of the Maritimes.

Château Frontenac - Quebec City

Towering above Old Quebec City is the grand Château Frontenac.

Built in the late 1800s as a luxury chateau to entice visitors to the city it makes for an impressive sight.

Today, you can stay at this castle-like hotel to enjoy its lavish rooms, spa, restaurant, and indoor pool.

Spring through fall is a great time to visit but Christmas is especially beautiful in Old Town Quebec too.

If staying the night isn't in your plans, you are still welcome to explore the Château Frontenac and take in the beautiful view of the St. Lawrence River below.

Rideau Canal - Ontario

Not only is it a famous Canada landmark, but Rideau Canal has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site too.

What makes it so important? Built in the early 19th century, the canal with its series of locks is a great engineering accomplishment.

In downtown Ottawa you can watch boats and kayaks as they make their way through eight of the locks, which are still hand operated.

The entire Rideau Canal is 125 miles (202 km) and connects the Ottawa River to the St Lawrence River.

Fun Fact: In the winter the Rideau Canal in Ottawa turns into the longest ice skating rink in the world!

Hopewell Rocks - New Brunswick

One of the best naturally occurring famous landmarks in Canada are Hopewell Rocks.

These incredible flowerpot rock formations rise from the waters of the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick.

Created by years of tidal erosion, they are a sight to see.

During low tide (which happens twice a day) you'll be able to walk down to them to get an up-close look.

Meanwhile, high tide offers a completely different perspective.

You can head out on the water in a kayak to experience these awesome formations.

Parliament Hill - Ottawa

No list of famous Canada landmarks is complete without Parliament Hill.

Its Gothic-style building is not just impressive visually, its function is also immensely important as home of the Parliament of Canada.

Today you can tour Parliament and the grounds with a guide or on your own.

One of the best times to visit Parliament Hill is during summertime to view the Changing of the Guard each morning from 9:45 to 10:30. Get there early to get a great view of this amazing event.
READ MORE: Solo Trip to Ottawa (Best Things to Do)
Hoodoos Drumheller - Alberta

On the road to Drumheller in Alberta, you will come across incredible Hoodoos.

These rock formations are uniquely formed by eroding sandstone to create tall columns that are a wondrous sight.

To get the best view take a hike on the Hoodoo Trail.

This 4 mile path will lead you through the hoodoos. Although you can get up close and personal, please remember how vulnerable these spires are. So, look but don't touch!

Capilano Suspension Bridge - Vancouver

One of the coolest (and nerve-rattling) things to do is walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver.

Spanning 450 feet (137 m) across the forest, you'll be 230 feet (70 m) above the Capilano River.

To give you a sense of size, it generally takes 5-15 minutes to walk across the bridge. Imagine, being that high up for that long. It's really one of the famous landmarks in Canada that'll get your heart pumping!

Notre-Dame Basilica - Montreal

It may be a bit younger than the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, but Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica holds its own.

Built in 1824 and 1829 in the Gothic Revival style, the church is one of the most famous landmarks in Canada.

The stunning exterior is matched by the glorious interior.

Anyone visiting Montreal should head to Old Montreal to experience this architectural masterpiece first-hand.

Final Thoughts on Famous Canadian Landmarks

There you have it. This list has 15 famous landmarks that you can add to your must-see list for Canada. Checking off these special places on the list you'll see everything from natural phenomena to historical sites, and even get your blood pumping with adrenaline. I hope you enjoyed reading about these amazing Canada landmarks. Which ones have you visited?
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15 Famous Canada Landmarks: Niagara Falls, Peggy's Cove, CN Tower, Parliament Hill, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Hoodoos Drumheller...

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SURFACE AREA
- Total: 10,000,000 km2
- Water (%): 8.62%
- Rank: 2nd largest

General information

Capital: Ottawa (Ontario)

Official languages: English and French

Currency: Canadian dollar ($)

Head of government: Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister)

Political institutions: Parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy (Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth). Federal state, made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The Sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor General of Canada. Executive powers are exercised by the Prime Minister.

Ethnicity: 28% English descent, 23% French descent, 3% German descent, 2% First Nations, as well as significant communities of Italian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Greek, Polish and Chinese origin.

Principal activities: Agriculture, mining, metalworking, natural gas, petrol, hydroelectricity, forestry and automotive industry

Main economic partners: USA, European Union (UK and Germany) and Asia (Japan and South Korea)

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Who knew this many of your faves call themselves proud Canucks?

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In the same way that the United States is made up of smaller sub-nations called states, the nation of Canada is made up of ten different provinces and three territories. Whether a given sub-nation is a province or a territory depends upon how its power and authority are derived. Provinces were given their power by the Constitution Act of 1867 and are considered sovereign. If the division of power between the provinces and the federal government of Canada needs to change, a constitutional amendment is required. By comparison, the three territories of Canada are not sovereign and possess only the powers granted to them by the Parliament of Canada.

Canadian provinces have significant control over government programs such as education, health care, and transportation. However, the federal government still shares many governmental responsibilities (again, based on the Constitution Act) and controls much of the funding, which enables it to influence the provincial governments to a notable degree. Each province is represented by both a lieutenant governor, a ceremonial position symbolic of the British crown (Canada is one of many former British Colonies that retain at least symbolic ties to the crown) but that wields no actual political power, as well as a premier who functions as the province's true head of state.

Only three of Canada's ten provinces have populations of fewer than 1 million people. Ontario is the largest, boasting a population of more than 15 million people as of late 2022. The largest city in Ontario is Toronto, which reported a population of 2,794,356 in Canada's 2021 census. Toronto is also the capital of the province.

Quebec is Canada's second-most-populated province, home to just over 8.6 million residents as of late 2022. Major cities located in Quebec include Montreal (the second largest city in the nation) and Quebec City, the capital of Quebec. The province of British Columbia has the third-largest population at more than 5.2 million people. The cities of Vancouver and Victoria (the capital of British Columbia) contribute greatly to this total.

At the other end of the spectrum, Prince Edward Island has the smallest population of any province in Canada-167,680 as of Q3 2022-despite the fact that the island is also the province with the highest population density. Prince Edward Island is also the smallest province by land area, followed by Nova Scotia. Although Prince Edward Island has fewer people than any other province, its population is more than triple that of all three of Canada's vast, yet sparsely populated territories (Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territory) combined.

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In the same way that the United States is made up of smaller sub-nations called states, the nation of Canada is made up of ten different provinces and three territories. Whether a given sub-nation is a province or a territory depends upon how its power and authority are derived.

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Nature is a key part of Canadians' national identity - our lands and seas are renowned for their natural abundance and distinct wildlife. At WWF-Canada, we've made it our mission to find solutions to protect our incredible biodiversity. Canada is home to about 80,000 plant and animal species. Here are some of the most iconic.
This holiday season you can help support our work and conserve Canada's natural heritage by symbolically adopting a species or our entire collection of Canadian wildlife as a gift!
The beaver is not only one of Canada's most magnificent species, it's also the largest rodent in North America. Beavers have a distinctive flat tail, powerful jaws and chisel-sharp incisor teeth ideal for biting through tree trunks and branches. Known for their productivity - we say busy as a beaver for a reason - and the vital role they play in maintaining the health of freshwater ecosystems, beavers have earned the moniker "nature's engineer."

Moose are the largest member of the deer family, standing up to 1.8 metres tall from shoulder to hoof and weighing an impressive 360 to 725 kilograms. Males (called bulls) are typically larger than females and immediately recognizable by their huge antlers, which can span 1.5 metres. Moose are extremely powerful and can travel over almost any terrain, making them a widespread species throughout Canada's boreal forests and wetlands. Moose are also strong swimmers, sometimes diving several metres to feed on plants at the bottom of lakes.

At least two-thirds of the world's polar bears live on Canadian territory, giving us a special relationship with - and responsibility for - these bears. Their scientific name, Ursus maritimus, means "sea bear," an apt description for this majestic species which spends much of its life in, around or on the ocean, using sea ice as a hunting platform. As our planet warms and that sea ice melts, polar bear populations are increasingly at risk. It also forces them to spend more time on land, bringing them into greater conflict with people in the Arctic.

Symbols of strength, determination and our prairie past, bison are Ice Age survivors. Clearing away snow and brush with their massive heads, they weigh up to 900 kilograms and can run up to 65 kilometres per hour. Once numbering 30 to 60 million in North America, their numbers were decimated to fewer than 1,000 in just a few decades throughout the late 1800s due to settler colonialism. No other species on Earth has disappeared so quickly.

Found in B.C.'s Salish Sea, the awe-inspiring southern resident killer whale, or orca, is one of Canada's most iconic marine mammals and culturally significant to many First Nations communities. Listed as endangered in Canada and the U.S., their survival is uncertain as this population faces imminent threats from food shortages and marine traffic disturbances like underwater noise. Today, only 72 of these endangered animals remain.

The Atlantic walrus is known for its commanding presence, impressive whiskers and long ivory tusks, which are used to break sea ice and climb out of the water. Tusks are found on both males and females and can grow up to three feet long. In Canada, you can find small populations of Atlantic walrus distributed in the High Arctic and Central-Low Arctic. They are sensitive to climate change-related shifts in their sea-ice habitat, causing some to haul out on land in large numbers.

The caribou is one of Canada's most recognizable species, inhabiting the Arctic, boreal and mountain regions. The at-risk woodland caribou that live in Canada's southern boreal forests are depicted on our 25-cent coin, while the smaller, scrappier barren-ground caribou that roam the Arctic are also experiencing dramatic declines. Barren-ground caribou have critically provided food, clothing and cultural identity to Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years. Today, their numbers have dropped by more than 90 per cent for many herds.

The Atlantic puffin is the provincial bird of Newfoundland and only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean. In the spring and summer, they gather in huge colonies on the coasts and islands to breed. Puffins are excellent swimmers and spend much of their lives at sea. Like humpback and fin whales and Atlantic cod, they depend on small forage fish for food and will dive as deep as 60 metres underwater to catch them.

With paws likened to snowshoes, the Canada lynx expertly hunts in the snow and feeds on hares, ducks and young deer. This quiet hunter is also known to climb trees and can swim to swiftly catch fish. The Canada lynx ranges in size from about the same as a domestic cat to six times larger. It is one of three lynx species in the world - Lynx canadensis (Canadian lynx), Lynx lynx (Eurasian lynx) and Lynx pardinus (Iberian lynx) - all of which have small heads, tufted ears, heavy bodies, long legs and short tails.

With their "smiling" upturned mouths and pearly white skin, belugas are one of Canada's most recognizable whales. Belugas live primarily in the Arctic, with about two-thirds of the world's population summering in Canadian waters. A few small populations are found farther south, relics from the last Ice Age, including the St. Lawrence Estuary belugas. These extremely social mammals are known as the "canary of the sea" for the chirps, clicks, whistles and squeals they use to navigate waters and communicate with other belugas.
You can help protect the homes of some of Canada's most iconic wildlife this holiday season by symbolically adopting one as a gift. All of these iconic animals are also available as part of our Canadian collection of adoptable wildlife.

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Canada's 10 most iconic animals - WWF.CA

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Nature is a key part of Canadians' national identity - our lands and seas are renowned for their natural abundance and distinct wildlife. At WWF-Canada, we've made it our mission to find solutions to protect our incredible biodiversity. Canada is home to about 80,000 plant and animal species.

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Awe-inspiring scenery, vibrant cities and a welcoming atmosphere all make Canada a popular tourist destination. As the largest country in North America, Canada is a vast land encompassing majestic mountains, spectacular coastlines, virgin forests, spacious prairies and Arctic tundra. While much of the nation is of British and French descent, Canada is home to a mosaic of multicultural communities. An overview of the best places to visit in Canada:

The largest city in Alberta, Calgary is situated between the Canadian Prairies and the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. After oil was discovered nearby in the early 1900s, Calgary boomed into what is now one of Canada's largest metropolitan areas, attracting thousands every year to its world-famous rodeo event, the Calgary Stampede. This Old West celebration is held over ten days in July with rodeos, chuckwagon races, parades, competitions, crafts and food.

Located at the confluence of the Ottawa, Gatineau and Rideau rivers in southeastern Ontario, Ottawa is the capital of Canada. As the nation's capital, Ottawa is home to many financial, commercial and federal establishments including Parliament Hill, the government seat where the ceremonial Changing of the Guard takes place daily during the summer. Running right through the heart of the city, the Rideau Canal is Ottawa's star attraction. In winter the canal becomes the world's largest ice skating ring.

Thanks to a couple of spectacular mountains called Whistler and Blackcomb, the Whistler resort is the largest and most famous alpine ski destination in North America. Located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Whistler is a two-hour trip from Vancouver along Canada's most scenic drive, the Sea-to-Sky Highway. At the base of the two mountains are three quaint villages, Whistler Village, Creekside and Upper Village. The Peak 2 Peak gondola transports visitors from the villages to the mountains.

Vancouver Island, named after the British explorer George Vancouver, is the largest island off the West Coast of the North American continent. Located across from Washington State, it is accessible by ferry through the San Juan Islands from Anacortes, from Port Angeles on the state's Olympic Peninsula, or from Vancouver on mainland British Columbia. Vancouver Island is famous for the quaint city of Victoria, the gorgeous Butchart Gardens, the surf town of Tofino and the wilderness in the north, where one can catch a ferry to Prince Rupert, and another to Alaska from there.

Quebec City may be the capital of the Quebec province in eastern Canada, but its French heritage, architecture and language make it appear more like a charming European village. Perched on a hill overlooking the St. Lawrence River is Vieux Quebec, the city's historic district. A walk along the cobblestone streets of the Old City offers encounters with attractions like the Citadel and the Place-Royale, the area where explorer, Samuel de Camplain, established the first North American-French settlement. The city's icon, the stunning Chateau Frontenac, is regarded as the most photographed hotel in North America and offers tours even without an overnight stay.

The capital of Ontario, Toronto is the most populated city in Canada as well as one of the largest cities in North America. With a large number of ethnic districts like Chinatown, Little India and Little Italy, Toronto is also one of the world's most culturally diverse cities. The city's main tourist draws range from impressive landmarks such as the iconic CN Tower and the fairy tale castle of Casa Loma. Additionally, the Toronto Islands are a popular destination with beaches and outdoor activities.

See: Top Tourist Attractions in Toronto

The second largest city in Canada after Toronto, Montreal is the cultural and financial capital of the Quebec province. Boasting the largest French-speaking community outside of Paris, France, Montreal is a bustling metropolis comprised of a downtown district, a historic quarter, entertainment district and several distinctive neighborhoods. Montreal's main sights include downtown skyscrapers like the Olympic Tower, the historic buildings of Old Montreal and several family attractions like theme and water parks.

Niagara Falls is a series of three awe-inspiring waterfalls situated on the border of Canada's Ontario and the United States' New York. The Ontario side of the Falls is called Horseshoe Falls and offers the best views and most attractions. The immediate area surrounding the Falls is a premier tourist spot teeming in observation towers, restaurants, souvenir shops, casinos and high-rise hotels. One of the best places to view the Niagara Falls on the Ontario side is from Queen Victoria Park where the Falls are illuminated and fireworks are displayed nightly during the summer.

Located in the province of Alberta, the Banff National Park is not only Canada's first national park, but also one of the nation's largest and most visited national parks. The park's breathtaking scenery and wildlife draw many tourists every year along the Trans-Canada Highway, which passes through the park. Banff National Parks large concentration of wildlife includes mammals like black bears, grizzly bears, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, wolves and bald eagles.

See: Things to See in Banff

Situated between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Vancouver is favored for its majestic landscapes that present a natural playground where tourists can swim in the ocean, rollerblade through scenic parks and snow ski in the mountains all in one day. The third largest metropolitan area in the country, Vancouver is one of the most poplar places to visit in Canada. Vancouver's star attraction is Stanley Park which covers a huge area of woodlands, gardens and green spaces. Some of the city's other top sites include Granville Island's remarkable food market and Chinatown's vibrant array of shops.

See: Top Tourist Attractions in Vancouver

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Awe-inspiring scenery, vibrant cities and a welcoming atmosphere all make Canada a popular tourist destination. As the largest country in North America, Canada is a vast land encompassing majestic mountains, spectacular coastlines, virgin forests, spacious prairies and Arctic tundra. While much of the nation is of British and French descent, Canada is home to a mosaic of multicultural communities.

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Whether they're in it for the competition, teamwork, or fitness, sports have long been a favourite pastime of Canadians - whether watching or playing. Though hockey and football remain the country's most clichéd and famous, virtually every major organized sport has its share of Canadian fans, and the nation is home to a vast array of professional teams, leagues and players just waiting to be cheered or booed.
Hockey in Canada

Stereotypical though it may be, there's no escaping the fact that Canadians really love their hockey. Forged in the early 19th century but popularized and structured as a professional sport in the 1910s, hockey has held an outsized role in Canadian culture ever since. To many, particularly those in the eastern part of the country, hockey has a heavily romanticized image as a rough-and-tumble game Canadians have played for generations on frozen lakes in the long winter months, and a sport whose ancient rules, loyalties and traditions can be passed down to teach important lessons about community, sportsmanship, teamwork and athleticism.

Playing organized hockey as a young kid is a rite of passage in many Canadian communities, though rising costs of equipment, travel and league fees - not to mention time investment for early morning training sessions and back-and-forth rink commutes - have increasingly made it a mostly upper-middle class pursuit. Far more Canadians interact with the game solely at a professional level, as fans and attendees of games organized by the National Hockey League ( NHL).

Despite its name, the NHL consists of 31 teams in both Canada and the United States, though Canadian-born players have remain the league's largest demographic. Since 1893, the NHL's most coveted prize has been the Stanley Cup, a once-a-year trophy awarded after a lengthy league-wide tournament, and named after the Lord Stanley (1841-1908), a former Canadian governor general.

The Seven Canadian NHL Teams

Canadian Football

Next to hockey, football reigns supreme in the Canadian sports world. Similarly competitive, fast-paced and aggressive - and with playoff seasons that often dovetail conveniently - the two sports have considerable overlap in terms of appeal. It should be noted that when Canadians speak of "football," they are referring to the rugby-inspired game sometimes known as " American Football" and not the kicking-based game North Americans call soccer, discussed below.

Though Canadian football fans actively follow the National Football League (NFL) and its teams' quest for the league's ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, there are no Canadian teams in the NFL, making it the only major professional sport in which Canada and the United States are not integrated into a single league. This is due to the fact that the rules of so-called Canadian Football are slightly different than its American counterpart, including the size of the field (Canada's is larger) and the amount of downs, or plays (America has more), though there are various other subtle differences as well. In practical terms, however, the differences aren't that extreme nor particularly difficult for the casual football fan on either side of the border to grasp.

The Canadian Football League ( CFL), which is the professional Canadian-rules football league, is relatively small, with teams in just eight cities or provinces: the B.C. Lions, the Edmonton Eskimos, the Calgary Stampeders, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Hamilton Ti-Cats, the Toronto Argonauts, the Ottawa Redblacks, and the Montreal Alouettes. Once a year, two teams will duke it out for Canadian Football's highest prize, the Grey Cup, a gift of former governor-general Earl Grey (1851-1917) which has been awarded annually since 1909. Every year, the Grey Cup and Super Bowl finals are usually the single-most watched events on Canadian television.

Lacrosse

Originally an aboriginal game used to keep Indian warriors in fighting shape, the uniquely North American sport of lacrosse was appropriated by pious French settlers in the mid-1800s, who named it " La Crosse " in recognition of its vaguely crucifix-shaped playing sticks. Broadly similar to hockey or soccer, the sport is played by two teams of 10 who try to score on each other's net by pitching a small rubber ball across an indoor or outdoor field using scoop-like netted sticks. Like football or rugby, it's also a fairly rough-and-tumble game associated with body-checking and broken bones.

The first professional lacrosse association was founded in 1867, and its legacy continues today in the form of the National Lacrosse League ( NLL), which features nine pro teams, four of which are Canadian. In eastern Canada, the sport is also quite popular at the university level, and most of the region's biggest universities battle it out in their own league, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association ( CUFLA). A similar, less violent version of the game known as intercross is popular with kids.

While undoubtedly rich in history, lacrosse has long struggled to achieve the sort of mainstream fame and fortune of other professional sports in Canada. Its fans are probably best described as a proud but small subculture, and NLL playoffs rarely capture the public's (or media's) attention the way NHL, CFL or NFL games do.

Baseball in Canada

The great American pastime has achieved only limited success in Canada, and baseball's popularity is mostly concentrated in Ontario, where the country's only Major League Baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays play. From 1969 to 2004 there was a second Canadian MLB team as well, the Montreal Expos, but in 2004 they were sold to Washington, D.C., where they now play as the Nationals.

In 1992 and again in 1993, Toronto became the first (and to date, only) Canadian team to ever win the MLB's World Series tournament, but fortunes declined shortly after due to a combination of trades, injuries and strikes, as well as perennial financial and management problems.

Outside of the professional league, however, baseball remains a popular amateur sport in many parts of Canada, particularly among young Canadians who often learn it in school. Softball, which is similar but not identical to baseball, enjoys comparable popularity among adults, and its common for many large companies to have an amateur softball team to foster team-building and camaraderie among employees.

Curling

Another sport of ancient tradition but only minor popularity, curling was first brought to Canada by Scottish immigrants in the late 18th century, and today thrives mostly on the Canadian prairies. Played indoors on a long, frozen rink, the game is a shuffleboard-esque exercise in which competing teams try to slide large, heavy rocks (known as stones) into the centre of a painted target, or house, using special ice-polishing brooms.

Professional curling has been around since the founding of various gentlemen's curling clubs in the late Victorian era, with nationwide curling tournaments now organized through Curling Canada (previously known as the Canadian Curling Association). Teams battle each other in a multitude of different provincial and national tournaments, with the highest being either the Tim Hortons® Brier for men or the Scotties® Tournament of Hearts for women. (Curling is fond of corporate sponsorships.) International contests are relatively limited, as the sport is quite obscure in most countries, and curling has only been a medal sport at the Winter Olympics since 1998.

The comparatively slow pace and strategic emphasis of curling has made it a popular sport with Canadians of all ages, and many amateur curling leagues continue to feature players into their 50s, 60s, or beyond. It's also one of the few Canadian sports in which men and women routinely play together in mixed teams. For these same reasons, however, curling has never exactly been a smash hit on television, and Canada's most passionate curling fans are generally curlers themselves.

Soccer in Canada

Soccer has never caught on in North America the way it has almost everywhere else in the world, and no one seems to know exactly why. Perhaps there's just too much competition from other sports. Regardless, soccer does have a modest following in Canada, and there are signs that interest has been steadily growing in recent years.

A lot of Canadian children grow up playing soccer at school or on amateur teams, but interest generally trails off during the teen years, as attention is transferred to more "adult" professional sports like hockey, football or baseball. To a considerable degree, those who remain interested are frequently Europhiles who are attracted to the sport's rich tradition in nations like England and France, or recent immigrants who maintain loyalties to their team back home. Since Canada has never had a particularly competitive team in the professional international soccer league - known as FIFA - and has only qualified for their World Cup tournament once (in 1986), the most passionate soccer fans in Canada are forced to look beyond their borders for a team to cheer.

That said, interest in North American soccer has steadily grown over the last two decades, with three Canadian teams - , the Vancouver Whitecaps, and the Montreal Impact joiningMajor League Soccer ( MLS), the leading American professional soccer league, between 2007 and 2014. As these teams rack up victories and become better-known in their cities Canadian interest in soccer is likely to rise.

Basketball in Canada

Basketball's Canadian fate has been broadly similar to that of baseball, in the sense of being a major American sport that has faced difficulty making inroads north of the border. The country's only team in the otherwise entirely American-dominated National Basketball Association ( NBA) is the Toronto Raptors, a not terribly successful expansion team perhaps best known for starting the career of future NBA All-Star Vince Carter (b. 1977). A short-lived Vancouver team, the Grizzlies (1995-2001), was even less successful, and was quickly relocated to Memphis, where they remain to this day. The relative unpopularity of basketball in Canada is sometimes attributed to the country's lack of a large African-American population, a demographic that has traditionally provided some of the sport's most ardent fans in the United States.

It's an ironic fate for a sport Canadians like to take credit for inventing. Dr. James Naismith (1861-1939), an Ontario-born physical education teacher and Presbyterian minister, helped establish basketball's modern rules in 1891 during the great "indoor sports" craze of the late Victorian era.

Other Sports in Canada

It's hard to find a sport that's not played at least somewhere in Canada, and almost all of them have their own uniquely Canadian heroes - though their profiles may be decidedly lower than some of the folks mentioned above.

Skating has long been both a casual pastime and competitive sport in Canada, and the two most decorated Canadian Olympians of all time, Clara Hughes (b. 1972) and Cindy Klassen (b. 1979), are both speed skaters.

Skiing, of both the cross-country and downhill variety, is one of Canada's major tourism industries, and every year thousands of foreign visitors join locals to participate in the long Canadian ski season, which usually lasts from November to April. The rocky mountain provinces of British Columbia and Alberta are home to some of the world's largest and most glamorous ski resorts, with a few smaller-scale ones in Quebec as well.

Other sports that enjoy some degree of mainstream popularity in modern Canada include golf, volleyball, tennis, rugby, boxing, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, mountain climbing, cycling and bowling. Most large Canadian cities will have some manner of organized league for all of them.

Canada and the Olympics

Canada is a vastly uneven country when it comes to the Olympic Games, winning huge during the winter games but lagging quite far behind in the summer ones. This is a fairly predictable outcome for a nation which specializes so heavily in winter sports, and as a result the winter Olympics are generally a much more patriotic and exciting time for the country as a whole.

Three times in Olympic history have the games featured a Canadian host city: Montreal (summer, 1976), Calgary (winter, 1988) and Vancouver (winter, 2010). As is so often the case with the Olympics, all three cities experienced both glory and controversy during the course of their hosting duties, and all are still experiencing, in some form or another, in the consequences of both.

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Whether they're in it for the competition, teamwork, or fitness, sports have long been a favourite pastime of Canadians - whether watching or playing. Though hockey and football remain the country's most clichéd and famous, virtually every major organized sport has its share of Canadian fans, and the nation is home to a vast array of professional teams, leagues and players just waiting to be cheered or booed.

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OFFICIAL NAME: Canada

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Federal parliamentary state

CAPITAL: Ottawa

POPULATION: 35,881,659

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: English, French

MONEY: Canadian dollar

AREA: 3,849,674 square miles (9,970,610 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Rockies, Coast, Laurentian

MAJOR RIVERS: St. Lawrence, Mackenzie

Canada is a vast and rugged land. From north to south it spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere. From east to west it stretches almost 4,700 miles (7,560 kilometers) across six time zones. It is the second largest country in the world, but it has only one-half of one percent of the world's population.

Canada features black-blue lakes, numerous rivers, majestic western mountains, rolling central plains, and forested eastern valleys. The Canadian Shield, a hilly region of lakes and swamps, stretches across northern Canada and has some of the oldest rocks on Earth.

Canada's far north lies in the frozen grip of the Arctic, where ice, snow, and glaciers dominate the landscape. Few trees grow here, and farming is not practical. Native Canadians, called First Nations people, live in this region by hunting and fishing.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

In some ways Canada is many nations in one. Descendents of British and French immigrants make up about half the population. They were followed by other European and Asian immigrants. First Nations peoples make up about four percent of the population.

Inuit people live mostly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Many Native Canadians live on their traditional lands, but many others have moved to cities across Canada. First Nations artwork is widely recognized and is seen as a symbol of Canadian culture.

Canada's remote north and extensive forests are home to wildlife, from bears, wolves, beavers, deer, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep to smaller animals like raccoons, otters, and rabbits. The country's lakes and rivers, which contain about 20 percent of all fresh water on Earth, are full of fish such as trout and salmon.

Canada's prairies in the south are home to bison and pronghorn antelope. Farther north are Canada's sprawling evergreen forests, which have lots of wildlife, including moose and black bears. Even farther north is the cold, bare tundra, where herds of caribou and musk ox live.

Canadians work hard to protect the native wildlife. Canada has 41 national parks and three marine conservation areas. Nevertheless, species like wolves, lynx, and Atlantic fish have been overhunted and overfished.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

The British monarch is the head of state of Canada. The monarch is represented by a governor-general, who has very limited powers. Laws are made by Canada's elected federal government, which includes a parliament and a prime minister.

Britain's Quebec Act of 1774 granted Quebec its own legal and religious rights. Despite this concession, many Quebec citizens have long sought independence. In votes held in 1980 and 1995, Quebec decided to stay in Canada. But the second vote was very close, and the debate is still alive.

Canada has provided fish, furs, and other natural resources to the world since the 1500s. Today, it is a world leader in agricultural production, telecommunications, and energy technologies. The vast majority of Canada's exports go to the United States.

The first people to come to Canada arrived between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago across a land bridge that joined Asia and North America. Around A.D. 1000, the Viking explorer Leif Eriksson reached Newfoundland, Canada. He tried to establish a settlement, but it didn't last.

In the 16th century, French and British settlers arrived. Land disputes between farmers and fur traders led to four wars between 1689 and 1763. The final war, called the French and Indian War, left the British in control of Canada, but French influence remains strong even today.

In 1867, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick combined to form a dominion with its own government, parliament, and prime minister. Manitoba joined soon after. In 1931, Canada became an independent nation.

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Canada Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Canada is a vast and rugged land. From north to south it spans more than half the Northern Hemisphere.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX_sPgvYSCI

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Amazing Places to visit in Canada - Travel Video

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All about Canada for Kids | Learn about this fun country's history and culture

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Canada's History II - Discover Canada Study Guide

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https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/listen-and-watch/short-stories/the-first-marathon

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The marathon is a 42km race! It was first run 2,500 years ago. What is the history of this race? Watch and find out!

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https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/en/English_as_a_Second_Language_(ESL)/Articles/A_an_the_zero_article_ei1402677ik

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Liveworksheets transforms your traditional printable worksheets into self-correcting interactive exercises that the students can do online and send to the teacher.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPT_-eKvFf8

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https://youtu.be/f1QOtPDAAeY

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Liste de vocabulaire à travailler sur Quizlet