Thursday, April 3, 2014

36 Delightful Facts about Canada

I came across these facts this morning from Buzz Feed via a friend on Facebook.  Some I knew already, and some I just learned.  But they're so wonderful, I wanted to share them with you.  Enjoy!

**************************
36 Delightful Facts about Canada

1. People in Churchill, Manitoba leave their car doors unlocked in case their neighbours need to make a quick escape from polar bears.

2. There’s also a prison for polar bears who break into peoples’ homes for food. 

3. No cows in Canada are given artificial hormones for milk production; and that means no dairy products such as milk, cheese or yogurt produced in Canada contain hormones either!  

4. For one day in 1943, Ottawa designated a hospital room to be “extraterritorial” (international) ground so a Dutch princess could be born a full Dutch citizen -- a Dutch requirement for her to keep her princess title.

5. And every year the Netherlands send Canada thousands of tulips to show their gratitude.

6. This inspired Ottawa’s annual Tulip Festival which is held in May and showcases millions of beautiful tulips in bloom.  (Photo:  Alexandre Deslongchamps)

7. Canada has banned the Westboro Baptist Church members from entering the country and picketing funerals.  Hate speech is a penalized offense by the federal and provincial government.

8. Kraft Dinner (“KD”) is the top-selling grocery item in the country. Canadians consume 55% more of it than Americans do.

9. The quality of their tap water is often better than bottled water.

10. They have a $300 collectors’ gold coin that has a narwhal on it  (mint.ca).

11. And a special quarter with a GLOW-IN-THE DARK DINOSAUR on it.  Royal Canadian Mint

12. The Canadian Mint also created a $1,000,000 coin that is actually usable.

13. Canada is the most educated country in the world.

14. It has an “Apology Act.”  It allows an apology in court to be a sign of compassion and empathy, not guilt.

15. In the 1930 World Cup, Canada’s hockey team was so badass they didn’t even have to play knockout rounds and were placed directly in the final game.They then went on to win gold.

16. Canada’s Post Office receives millions of letters addressed to “Santa Claus, North Pole” each year.  They respond to each one as Mrs. Claus, and it’s an entirely employee-led volunteer initiative :)

17. They’ve claimed the address:
 “Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0.”   
Canada Post / Via chatelaine.com
18. A part of the country actually has less gravity than the rest of Earth.
19. During the holiday seasons, it has a volunteer service that gives free rides to those too drunk or too tired to drive.  The program is called "Operation Red Nose" (operationnezrouge.com) and the drivers are called Sleigh Deer.
20. The nation’s official phone number is:
1-800-O-Canada. 
21. George Street in St John's, Newfoundland has more bars and pubs per square feet than on any street in North America.  Yup, I can personally attest to that.
22. Canada does not allow pre-employment or randomized employee drug tests.
23. An Ontario man invented Hawaiian pizza.
24. There is a strategic maple syrup reserve.
25. Alberta, Canada, is the only region in the entire world free of Norwegian rats.
26. In 1947, a group of kids protested after the price of chocolate bars were raised from 5 cents to 8 cents.
27. The Citizenship and Immigration Minister declared that Santa Claus is Canadian.
28. It has an island called “Dildo.” It's in Newfoundland, so, yup! Been there too, and it's very pretty!
29. The term “trick or treat” was first used in Alberta.
30. Canadian McDonald’s exclusively sell the McLobster in the Maritime provinces. mcdonalds.ca
31. You can thank Kiefer Sutherland’s grandpa for bringing the country universal healthcare.
32. The University of Victoria offers a course called the “Science of Batman.”
33. In Saskatchewan, a hoodie is called a “bunnyhug.” koucan.tumblr.com
34. Half of Canada’s provinces (which accounts for more than 85% of the population) are governed by women.
35. A town in British Columbia has the postal code:
 “V4G 1N4.”
(I mean honestly!  Do we really need directions there?)
36. Studies find Canadians to be the second happiest people in the world. And they’re only getting happier.tres-naturelle.tumblr.com  

Yup!  We are.  
Why, just look at me.



6 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

Great facts about you country. I didn't know about most of them. I was amazed that Candians Eat more Kraft dinners than we do. It's a staple here for me as the grandchildren love Krafts Mac and Cheese and I have to serve some every time they come over. You are a happy camper for sure !

Janet said...

Makes you proud to be Canadian, eh?

BTW - did you know there's also a town in SK called Climax?

TARYTERRE said...

I want one of those glow in the dark quarters. How cool. And my mouth is watering for a MCLOBSTER sandwich.

Miss Dishywoo said...

Those were so much fun to read! The bear stuff was surprising, the dinosaur quarter is cool and glad they don't allow protesters at funerals. Interesting about the McLobster and Kraft dinners, too. What a cool list - thanks for the entertainment!

Pat MacKenzie said...

I love this post - so many new and interesting facts about our country. I was in Nova Scotia a few years ago and had as many McLobsters and I could in the short time I was there.

WendyMcLeodMacKnight said...

Love this sandy! my kids are eating 1/2 that Kraft Dinner! Yikes! They are 19 and 22 and love it!

Fibromyalgia

  Sorry! I thought I could return to a normal schedule. But my sense of 'normal' has changed. After the past 5 years of various ailm...