Canada isn’t a country that typically likes to boast about itself, but it happen to excel at some day-to-day aspects of life better than just about any other country on Earth.
Integration
Instead of trying to create a “melting pot” of society where everyone eventually assimilates and eliminates their distinguishing characteristics, we invented what we like to call a “cultural mosaic.”
Canada was the first country to institute an official multiculturalism act that not only welcomes immigrants into the established legal and financial system but also financially supports and promotes several cultural groups, making an effort to maintain their ethnic backgrounds, language, and history. The result is some of the most cohesive, multicultural cities in the world.
Education
Data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has found Canada to be number one when it comes to the most educated citizens. Statistics show that over 56 per cent of Canadians over the age of 25 and under 64 have obtained a post-secondary credential.
Canada provides excellent university education and accessible public colleges, in addition to valuing immigration applicants who have high levels of education.
Transit
Canada’s highways and transit systems are designed to accommodate harsh winter storms. Cities have developed extensive underground walkways such as Montreal’s RÉSO and Toronto’s PATH, which connect transportation centres, shopping centres, and office buildings downtown, allowing pedestrians to avoid the snow.
Efficient city snowplow operations equipped with GPS locator systems and ice roads in the north mean Canada welcomes cold weather like it’s just another.
Wilderness
Canada is truly unique when it comes to the vastness of its land mass, and because of this we take preserving the environment seriously.
Parks Canada actively administers over 447,698 kilometres of natural space. This includes everything from snow-capped mountain ranges found in Banff carved by glaciers over thousands of years to the great tidal lands found in the Bay of Fundy.
Brewing
Although the craft beer revolution has been booming across North America in recent years, Canada’s macro breweries have been perfecting the recipe for incredibly clean, crisp, cold-conditioned commercial lagers for generations.
Created with the utmost intention of being super refreshing and sessionable, classics such as Kokanee, Moosehead and Labatt have set the global benchmark for beers that finish crystal clean. There is no room for even the slightest flavour inconsistencies in these beers, making extreme attention to detail during the brewing process essential.
Safety
Canada shares with the United States the longest open border in the world and one of the most integrated information environments. However, violent crime remains significantly lower than might be expected given these conditions and Canadian cities are routinely ranked among the safest and most livable in the world.
Canada has strict federal gun control laws, comparatively little urban poverty, and police forces focused on building relationships with the communities they serve.
Air
Thanks to having one of the largest areas of uninterrupted boreal forest in the world as well as stringent environmental policies and lower population density, Canada has some of the world’s least polluted air quality.
Both provincial and federal levels of government regulate emissions produced by industry, and large areas of undeveloped land help absorb greenhouse gases and filter particulates out of the atmosphere.
Weather preparedness
Life in Canada makes people understand to always expect the unexpected weather-wise. Lots of Canadians carry emergency supplies in their cars, own at least one outfit for multiple seasons, and check the forecast before even small outings.
There’s nothing strange about massive shifts in weather in a matter of hours/days.
Small-town festivals
One thing that Canadian small towns do extremely well is festivals. Communities of only a few thousand people will put on massive celebrations honouring everything from hometown foods and cultures to agriculture, music and history.
Hundreds of volunteers plan for months to help put on sometimes just a few days’ worth of festivities. It is evident from the moment you step into these communities just how proud these people are of where they live.
Community arenas
Visitors to Canada are often surprised at how many community arenas and rec centres there are, even in small towns.
Towns with only a few thousand inhabitants may still have hockey arenas, curling rinks, swimming pools, sports fields, and community centres that host citizens year-round. Community arenas aren’t just about sports. They hold room for public meetings, fundraisers, holiday celebrations, and social gatherings.
Circus
Canada revolutionized the worldwide circus industry when it took the template of the traditional circus, eliminated all animal performances, and rebranded it as a mix of theatrical storytelling, original live music, and death-defying human stunts.
Popularized by international juggernaut Cirque du Soleil and helped by premier circus schools such as Montreal’s National Circus School, Canada has positioned itself as the global leader in modern-day circus.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.