A curious fact about each of the ten provinces of Canada

Okay, so you think you know this vast country pretty well, but each province has a surprise or two that you may not have come across before. In alphabetical order, this article will take a look at some curious facts about each of the ten provinces. Maybe you already knew them, but perhaps some are new to you. You already know that Canada is the world’s second-largest country and that it exports more maple syrup to the USA than anywhere else – more than 60% of all exported maple syrup goes there. It is also the world’s largest producer, accounting for more than 85% of total maple syrup output worldwide. That maple leaf on the flag is there for a reason!

We have to mention food and weather

However, did you know that despite poutine being the country’s national dish, Canadians eat more Mac n Cheese than their American neighbours? They eat 55% more of the dish than those Yankies – well, it is a comfort food after all, and Canada can be extremely cold, with temperatures dropping to -63 degrees Celsius in the Yukon village of Snag in 1947. While most of Canada is not that cold, average winter temperatures still tend to register between -5 and -15 degrees Celsius. As it is an average, it is not unusual for them to drop below, and that is before you have factored in wind chill! 

Alberta

Another curious fact that you might not be aware of, because it is so commonplace it hardly seems worth commenting on, but Canada has one of the strongest gambling cultures in the world. Something that stands out is that Alberta has quality online casinos, there are over 19 million registered online gambling accounts. Actually, six in ten Canadians claim to have gambled within the last month. The curious fact is that while every province has a different approach to gambling, and Canada has the fourth-highest gambling rate in the world, behind only Ireland, Australia and Singapore. Experts put it down to Canada being a sparsely populated country with high earnings per capita and a general acceptance of the sports betting and casino industries.

But not just that, Alberta has the world’s largest beaver dam, which can be seen from space. That is not the only large thing in the province – it also has the world’s largest dinosaur (but not a real one). The town of Drumheller has a 26-meter-high fibreglass T-Rex. The province is one of only two in Canada that is landlocked – the other one coming last in this alphabetical list.

British Columbia 

While British Columbia is famous for water sports, Vancouver has some real curiosities, including the world’s narrowest building and the largest Chinatown in Canada. The two are in the same place, and the Sam Kee building in Vancouver’s Chinatown is less than two meters wide! Vancouver boasts a Chinese Cultural Centre where visitors can learn about Chinese history and culture. Unsurprisingly, this sector of the city produces some delicious food, and it has a reputation for being the best Chinese food in the world. 

Manitoba 

Manitoba’s Little Limestone Lake is quite mind-blowing as it changes colour depending on the temperature. It can either be turquoise or white due to the calcite in the water dissolving. It is the world’s largest and finest example of what is known as a marl lake

New Brunswick 

New Brunswick has the world’s largest lobster, but like that pesky fibreglass T-rex, it is not a real one. The world’s largest lobster is an eleven-meter (thirty-five foot) long, five-meter (sixteen foot) tall sculpture that weighs in at an impressive ninety tonnes (almost two hundred thousand pounds). It can be found in the Lobster Capital of the World – also known as Shediac!

Newfoundland and Labrador 

Newfoundland and Labrador was once the location of the world’s busiest airport – but not because people wanted to visit. It did not used to be possible for most airplanes to make the transatlantic crossing from London to New York without refuelling. As Newfoundland is the closest bit of North America to Europe, it is where most planes stopped to pick up extra fuel. Gander International Airport (YQX) is located almost exactly on the route, and in the 1950s, it was where nearly every plane stopped.

Nova Scotia 

Not wanting to be left out for world firsts, Nova Scotia has one of its own. Its Bay of Fundy has the greatest tidal range of anywhere in the world. At low tide, visitors can dine on the ocean floor! Twice daily, every day, one hundred and sixty billion tonnes of seawater flow in and then leave the Bay of Funday. This really is a one-of-a-kind experience that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

Ontario

Ontario has a series of official symbols, including one that is an official bird. However, it is not any old bird, but a common loon known for its black head, unusual red eyes and white underbelly. The loon is a symbol of Ontario’s autonomy and its wilderness. The loon is known for its distinct calls – a series of first a tremolo, then a wail, a yodel and then a hoot. These calls are part of its territorial behaviour and signal complex information like the loon’s weight and fighting ability.

Prince Edward Island

If Alberta and Saskatchewan are the landlocked territories, Prince Edward Island is the opposite. It is the only province, or even territory, to have no land borders. While it has the smallest population of any province, it is actually Canada’s most densely populated province.

Quebec

Quebec City was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985. It is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico. It has stone buildings, narrow cobblestone streets and impressive fortifications.

Saskatchewan

So, you have been told the largest T-Rex was in the first landlocked province, but that was merely a fibreglass model. The world’s largest real Tyrannosaurus rex was discovered in southwest Saskatchewan. Known as Scotty, this T-rex can be found on display at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.