Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Canada Day, Eh...?

I may be just slightly biased, but I think Canada is the greatest country in the world in which to live. Well, apparently the United Nations Human Development Index agrees with me, and says that Canada has the highest quality of life in the world. Well ... I knew that. Around the world, we are known as that little country just north of That Other Big Country across the border, but I'll bet there are a lot of things about Canada that you didn't know. Right? Well, here are a few little facts about Canada that just might surprise you:

1.  Canada is the largest exporter of total petroleum to the United States.

2.  Crude Oil Imports by the U.S. (Thousand Barrels per Day).  Year to date so far in 2001:
Canada         2142
Saudi Arabia 1102
Mexico         1097
Venezuela       923

3. Canada is the second largest country in the world at 9,984,670 square kilometers. Russia is the largest at 17,075,200 square kilometres.

4. Canada has over two million lakes and the most fresh water of any country in the world.

5. Albert Einstein once lived in a small town called Canwood Saskatchewan for a short period of time so he could have some solitude, and he played goalie for the Canwood Canucks hockey team. He had played hockey in his younger years in Germany.

6. The Trans-Canada Highway is over 7604 kilometres in length and is the longest national highway in the entire world.

7. Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world and is the world's eighth biggest trader.

8. Canada is the home of many great inventions, including: basketball, the electric light bulb, ice hockey, the baseball glove, the electric range, the electron microscope, insulin, standard time, the television, the telephone, Trivial Pursuit and the zipper. Oh, and botox.

9. Canada has the world's highest tertiary education enrolment, and the residents of Toronto hold more university degrees than any other city in the world.

10. Canada has the largest polar bear population of any country.

11. Canada has ten provinces and three territories, and the total population of Canada is 34,278,400 which is less than the State of California.

12. Della Falls, which is located on Vancouver Island, is the tallest waterfall in Canada, at 1443 feet in height. In comparison, Niagara Falls is only 180 feet in height.

13. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world at 151,600 miles.

14. The literacy rate in Canada is over 99%.

15. There are more donut shops per capita in Canada than any other country.

16. Justin Beiber is Canadian.

17. Canada produces so much energy, that it provides to the U.S. as well.

18. In 1967, the IMAX film system was invented by Canadian Ivan Grame Ferguson to premier at Expo 67.

19. The average life expectancy at birth for a Canadian is 81.16 years, the eighth highest in the world. The United States ranks 46th, at 78.14 years.

20. The Moosehead Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick, turns out 1,642 bottles of beer per minute.

21. The world's strongest current is found in the Nakwakto Rapids at Slingsby Channel, British Columbia. The current has been measured at speeds up to 18.4 miles per hour.

22. Canada is also home to the longest street in the world. Yonge Street in Ontario starts at Lake Ontario, and runs north through Ontario to the Minnesota border, a distance of almost 2000 kilometres.

23. Actor Leslie Nielsen was Canadian and his brother Erik was the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada for two years, from 1984 to 1986.

24. Actor Raymond Massey was Canadian and his brother Vincent was the Governor General of Canada for seven years, from 1952 to 1959. Their father was the owner of Massey Harris which later became Massey Ferguson, the manufacturer of agricultural equipment.

25.  Famous Canadians include:  Nelly Furtado, Keanu Reeves, Pamela Anderson, Jim Carrey, Dan Aykroyd, Lorne Michaels, Neil Young, Avril Lavigne, Kim Cattrall, Guy Lombardo, Peter Jennings, Shania Twain, Sarah McLachlan, Jennifer Tilley, Alanis Morisette, Gordon Lightfoot, Bryan Adams, Wayne Gretzky, Lorne Greene, David Foster, Martin Short, Howie Mandel, Ryan Reynolds, Paul Anka, Mary Pickford, Rich Little, John Kenneth Galbraith, Hayden Christensen, Diana Krall, Joni Mitchell, Oscar Peterson, Lucy Maude Montgomery, Raymond Burr, Eric McCormack, Michael BublĂ©, James Cameron, John Candy, Matthew Perry, Jason Priestly, Art Linkletter, Morley Safer, Paul Shaffer, Cirque de Soleil, k.d. lang, Christopher Plummer, Celine Dion, Monty Hall, Hank Snow, both Scotty and Captain Kirk, Michael J. Fox, Frank Gehry (architect), James Gosling (author of Java computer language), Rick Moranis, W.P. Kinsella ("Field of Dreams"), Alex Trebek, Robert MacNeil (The MacNeil/Lehrer Report), Rachel McAdams ("The Notebook"), Mike Myers, Joe Shuster (creator of "Superman"), Donald and Kiefer Sutherland.  I'll bet you didn't know some of those folks were Canadian, did you?

26.  I have never seen a dog sled, snow shoes or an igloo.  I have, however, ridden on a skidoo.  I do say, "eh?"  A lot.

Great list, eh?

19 comments:

Pauline said...

It IS a great list. My grandparents on both sides were native Canadians from St. Bruno, Montreal and Quebec. We may be related, eh?

The Bug said...

OK, the donut shops sold me - I'll be immigrating shortly. Heh.

(Actually we have a Tim Horton's just a few miles from our house here in Ohio).

Belizegial said...

Hi Josie,

I like your list and Happy Canada Day! For me, it's happy weekend although I am working this time. So, cheers and enjoy your day off.

Saludos,

Enid

DJan said...

Happy Canada Day! I saw that the border crossing at Peace Arch was two hours at 9:00 am this morning, only projected to get longer. I stayed home, but I did think about Canada's greatness today. Now I have more reasons for admiring you! :-)

Indian Pundit said...

A very Happy Canada day to you Jo.

Thanks for all the information about Canada and its stunning. I must say it is perhaps the best place in the world to live.

What i found curious about this post is the first 2 "facts" about Canada.
While talking about your nation , the first 2 facts you decided to tell the world is how Canada serves the US!!

I am sorry but the fact is nations like Canada , Britain and Australia should just stop playing "Robin" to "That Other Big Country" Batman!!

Canada deserves more because of its amazing people and stunning natural beauty. The point 3 and 4 should have been 1 and 2!

Anyways , loved reading about Canada.

PhilipH said...

A huge amount of work has gone into this post Jo; many thanks for doing a great job.
I would LOVE to live in Canada but it's far too late for me to emigrate unfortunately.
One thing missing from your list is THE MOUNTIES ! One of the most famous police forces in the world - and they always got their man. At least, they did when I was a lad and loved some of the films about the Mounties.
I hope Kate and Wills are having a great time in Ottowa today and that their visit to your superb country is something they will never forget.
Cheers, Phil-George...

Leslie: said...

You always write such great things about "our" country and even I learn something new from you every year. My sister was chattin with some Dutch tourists the other day (downtown waiting for the bus) and they were saying that Vancouver is such a beautiful city - and don't worry about all that recent ruckus! It was a gloriously beautiful day today and I, too, hope the Dude and his Duchess are enjoying their stay.

Smalltown RN said...

that was a great and impressive list Jo...I learn't a thing or two about our country. I am darn proud to be Canadian eh!

PinkPanthress said...

As a fanatic I knew a lot of these, but some were new to me, too. :)
Canada is THE Best Country in this world!

A belated Happy Canada Day to you.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Yes Hon, that is a great list.

I'm so happy to see someone be totally and unabashedly proud of their country!

Ya' know how, among a lot of people today, it isn't COOL to be so. Bahhhhhhhhhhh-humbug I say to them.

Gentle hugs,
~♥~

Carl said...

Nice list and a great country.

HAPPY IN NEVADA said...

That was truly fun!! I always enjoy reading facts and figures about countries; cities - towns, right down to the smallest hamlet. I also enjoy reading key facts where it's the 'one and only' - or it's the 'biggest', 'longest', etc.

I think the thing if I were a Canadian would be to say 'we're rarely involved in massive wars and conflicts'. Rarely, do we read bad news about anything going on in Canada.

Frankly, I think Canada is a country to be admired in so many ways - it's leading edge while also maintaining old customs and all seem so proud of their heritage and their country.

I was in Toronto a few times and each time the locals were very polite and helpful.

A few of my friends were born in Canada - now live in the United States; they are well educated - they speak very clearly and don't run their sentences or words into a 'blur' as we Americans often do.

We came close to becoming a Canadian back when London, Ontario, Canada wasn't that far from where we lived in Michigan. We didn't want to move far away from our Michigan roots and family, and that would have done the trick. However, after starting to research it, my former husband backed out of the idea, so that ended that.

When I lived in Seattle, I loved driving up to Vancouver - it is a lovely lovely place indeed, and I have good memories of those visits.

Cheers to your celebration and Monday we celebrate our country too! Diane

Anonymous said...

WOW, I had no idea of most of those facts. Canada IS a wonderful place :)

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Sunday... Just letting you know that your "Mothers and Sons" post, is completely visible/readable, for people who use Google Reader to follow new posts.

Hugs...

Anonymous said...

Canada is also home to many grey squirrels! ....and some great bloggers like YOU! Happy Canada Day.

Anonymous said...

In my next life, I'm going to be a Canadian.

On your list, Paul Anka was a surprise, but I did know that most of the others are Canadian. I've recently discovered Canadian singer/songwriter Ken Tobias. He's wonderful!

@eloh said...

#15 Had me grabbing my bag and slipping on my shoes...then came #16, eh, never mind.

Brayden Cormac said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brayden Cormac said...

Did you Know that Canada is the biggest exporter of Wild Blueberries and has the largest supply/harvest compared to any where in the world,we also grow cantaloupes

Canada also is a country that has no unique foods,spices or special recipes label after it,including Canadian provinces
(i.e German chocolate cake,Boston cream pie,Mexican red peppers)

Ex-Canadians not so proud to say they were Canadian:

1.Yvonne De Carlo (The mother of Eddie Munster - The Munsters)
2.Conrad Bain (Different Strokes,Maude)
3.Hume Cronyn (The Pelican Brief,Cocoon)