Happy 143rd Birthday Canada!! Some Truths About Canada

Happy Canada Day. You don't look a day over 140. In honour of Canada’s birthday I compiled a list of Canadiana, facts that you may, or may not know.

-Kanata is the St. Lawrence-Iroquoian word for village.

-According to StatsCan, Canada’s estimated population as of April 2010 was: 34,018,957.

-In 2008, 519,722 arrivals immigrated to Canada. 

-We are bigger than a breadbox, covering 9,984,670 sq. km, (3,855,103 sq. mi.) making us the second largest country just behind Russia.

-Our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald was born in Glasgow Scotland.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was born in Toronto.

-Canadians consume more macaroni and cheese then any other country in the world

-The province of Alberta has been completely free of rats since 1905.

-The red flag with a white square and a red maple leaf was adopted on February 15, 1965. 

-Before 1965 we flew a British maritime flag.

The Coat of Arms was proclaimed by King George V on November 21, 1921 it has four quarters that represent the founding peoples of Canada: England, France, Ireland and Scotland.

-The border between Canada and the United States is officially known as the International Boundary. At 8408 kms (5,525 miles), including 2475 kms (1,538 miles) between Canada and Alaska, it is the world's longest border between two nations.

  

According to 2010 Estimates the breakdown of the population by age is 

0-14 years: 15.9% (male 2,7 million / female 2.6 million)

15-64 years: 68.6% (male 11,7 million / female 11,4 million)

65 years and over: 15.5% (male 2,2 million / female 2,9 million)

This means there are more males in my age group then females. That must be why I am still single!

Ethnic groups:

British Isles origin 28%

French origin 23%

Other European 15%

Amerindian 2%

Other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, 

Mixed background 26%.

Despite my name, I fall under the “other European” category.

    Religions                     %

Roman Catholic	43.2
Protestant	29.2
Christian Orthodox	1.6
Christian (Other)	2.6
Muslim	2
Jewish	1.1
Buddhist	1
Hindu	1
Sikh	0.9
No Religion	16.2

One of the biggest differences between Canada and the United States is the use of the English language. Americans do not use it properly. (I believe I have just alienated half of my readers). Here below are some differences between Canadian and American Spelling. For a more extensive list of spelling comparisons please go here.

Canadian	American
armour	armor
behaviour	behavior
calibre	caliber
cancelled	canceled, cancelled
candour	candor
centre	center
cheque	check
clamour	clamor
colour	color

Happy Canada Day! Enjoy. Celebrate. Don't drink and drive.