I love Canada, from it’s gorgeous majestic landscapes to it’s iconic beginnings and famous people that we have produced. From coast to coast there are so many things to see do and experience. People to meet and enjoy and experience and appreciate the differences and uniqueness that make up our country.

I love all the accents and dialects of the different regions and the pure joy and friendliness wherever you go. So in honour of Canada’s 150th year I’ve (with the help of many friends) compiled a list of 150 Reasons why we love Canada and I hope it inspires you to come see us and experience Canada for yourself.

1. Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia – this has to be the most beautiful place
2. Universal Health Care
3. Our delightful obsession with maple
4. Stuart McLean and his Vinyl Cafe
5. This Hour Has 22 Minutes
6. Our plethora of National Parks (over 40)
7. The Rocky Mountains
8. The Prairie Skies
9. Our eloquent (and frequent) use of ‘eh’ in a sentence
10. We touch 3 oceans!
11. Bryan Adams “Summer of 69”
12. Tim Horton’s
13. Canadian Bacon
14. Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
15. Gorgeous landscapes
16. Our ‘go with the flow’ mentality
17. Terry Fox
18. The Covered Bridges of New Brunswick (there are 60)
19. The Great White North
20. The polar bears of Churchill, Manitoba
21. The Little Church in Drumheller (it seats 6)
22. Bob and Doug MacKenzie
23. The Badlands – I love this landscape and the discovery of so many dinosaurs in this area
24. Beaver Tails – a delicious yummy sweet treat
25. The Bluenose
26. Fresh Atlantic seafood
27. Gentle Patriotism
28. Birthplace of Hockey
29. The Calgary Stampede – the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth (love this 10 day celebration of cowboys and our Calgary beginnings)
30. Kejimkujik National Park
31. We never give up
32. The Kids in the Hall
33. Poutine
34. Donairs
35. Our ski hills – they are not hills they are actually huge majestic mountains! unless you are skiing Martock in NS, but let’s not talk about that
36. Michael J. Fox
37. The Canadarm – remote-controlled mechanical arm with NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, the robotic arm deployed, captured and repaired satellites, positioned astronauts, maintained equipment, and moved cargo.
38. Anne of Green Gables – the beloved story of Anne Shirley an orphan girl who goes to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 20 languages.
39. We always say sorry – even when it’s not our fault. We are polite and caring, when we bump into someone by accident we are always the first to apologize
40. Our tolerance and acceptance
41. The National Film Board – has always made lovely and delightful little cartoons and vignettes
42. Ogopogo – our resident sea monster in the lakes of the Okanagan
43. The Cabot Trail – Nova Scotia
44. Hopewell Cape Rocks – these look like giant flower pots and are pretty cool – New Brunswick
45. The Caesar – yes we invented it by restaurant manager Walter Chell of the Calgary Inn
46. Keifer Sutherland
47. Loius Riel
48. We invented the telephone – by Alexander Graham Bell in Baddeck, NS in 1876
49. Our giant moose – and other cool wildlife here
50. Invention of Basketball by Canadian James Naismith
51. Jim Carrey
52. We invented insulin courtesy of Fredrick Banting
53. Santa Claus is Canadian – it’s true he lives in the Canadian North and officially has a Canadian passport
54. Hawaiian Pizza – created in 1962 by Sam Panopoulos in his pizza joint in Chatham, Ontario
55. Trick or Treat is ours – the Halloween phrase “trick or treat” was first used in the hamlet of Blackie, Alberta way back in 1927
56. The Bunny Hug – if you live in Saskatchewan it’s not a hoodie
57. Big country, small town feel
58. Winnie the Pooh – During the first World War, troops from Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) were being transported to eastern Canada, on their way to Europe, where they were to join the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade. When the train stopped at White River, Ontario, a lieutenant called Harry Colebourn bought a small female black bear cub for $20 from a hunter who had killed its mother. He named her ‘Winnipeg’, after his hometown of Winnipeg, or ‘Winnie’ for short.
59. Superman – co created by Joseph Shuster and has had many Canadian actors such as Erica Durance and Margot Kidder play our favorite Superman characters
60. Newfoundland (and Newfies) – there’s just nothing like the rugged lands of Newfoundland and the colorful people with their big welcoming smiles and accents. It’s often said that Newfoundland is in it’s own little corner of the world they are so unique to the rest of Canada
61. The many many abundant and beautiful lakes we have
62. We have our own desert – South Okanagan, British Columbia
63. The fruit of the Okanagan – peaches, cherries, blueberries, strawberries and more!
64. We have a town, Oliver, BC, that has over 100 wineries within 50 km
65. We started the NHL – at it’s inception had 4 teams all in Canada
66. We have a mile zero at each end of the country (east and west)
67. We experience all 4 seasons
68. Niagara Falls
69. Freedom of speech
70. Freedom of religion
71. We invite, embrace, train and absorb immigrants
72. The right to protest peacefully
73. The Trans Canada Highway connecting us from coast to coast
74. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) – The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was formed in 1920 by the merger of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (RNWMP, founded in 1873) with the Dominion Police (founded in 1868). The former was originally named the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), and was given the Royal prefix by King Edward VII in 1904. Much of the present day organization’s symbolism has been inherited from its days as the NWMP and RNWMP, including the distinctive Red Serge uniform, paramilitary heritage, and mythos as a frontier force.
75. The RCMP Musical Ride – a spectacle known around the world the RCMP Musical Ride is performed by a full troop of 32 riders and their horses. Their performance consists of intricate figures and drills choreographed to music. These movements demand the utmost control, timing and coordination.
76. Alexander Graham Bell – though born in Scotland, lived the majority of his life in Canada and became a Canadian citizen who invented the telephone
77. The CBC radio and television
78. The Northern Lights
79. Takakkawa Falls – Canada’s second highest waterfall
80. PEI Confederation Bridge
81. Laura Secord – Canadian heroine of the War of 1812
82. The Wonderbra – made in Canada by Moses (Moe) Nadler
83. The vast amount of open space and wilderness in our country
84. Nanaimo Bars – invented in 1952 by E. MacDougall for the Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary, British Columbia
85. L’Anse aux Meadows – first Viking settlement
86. St. Anne de Beaupre
87. The Fortress of Louisburg
88. The Habitation – Port Royal
89. The Churches of Mahone Bay
90. The goalie mask – Jacques Plante was the first goaltender to create and use a practical mask in 1959. Plante’s mask was a piece of fiberglass that was contoured to his face. This mask later evolved into a helmet/cage combination, and single piece full fiberglass mask. Today, the full fiberglass mask with the birdcage facial protector is the more popular option because it is safer and offers better visibility.
91. The large number of volunteers we have in Canada
92. The invention of the Imax – Ivan Graeme Ferguson, one of the inventors was born in Toronto on October 7th 1929.
93. The Log Driver’s Waltz – my favorite Canada vignette
94. Nellie McClung – Canadian feminist, politician, author, and social activist.
95. John Candy
96. Our plethora of Birch Trees
97. Quebec Winter Carnival and it’s International Ice Sculpture Contest
98. Lake Louise
99. The red sands of PEI
100. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park – shared between Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada’s first and only
101. Revelstoke Railway Museum – presents the history of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Columbia Mountains as well as the role the railway and it’s workers have played in building Canada as a nation.
102. The Enchanted Forest – set in one of British Columbia’s beautiful old growth forests, it’s a magical place where visitors can see, touch and step into the homes of fairytale heroes, villains and creatures that hold so many memories for all of us!
103. Writing on Stone Provincial Park – set in the prairie grasslands and along the spectacular Milk River this area contains the largest concentration of First Nation petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) on the great plains of North America.
104. The various modes of transportation – we have the opportunity to travel by car, boat, train, plane, bicycle and more
105. William Shatner – such a fantastic colorful man and the actor who played the infamous Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series
106. Jann Arden – native Calgarian and Canadian music artist
107. We have two official languages – French & English
108. The CN Tower – when built in 1974 was the world’s tallest communications tower
109. Our wonderful zoos – Toronto and Calgary being the two largest in Canada
110. The Vegreville Ukrainian Egg
111. Buchart Gardens in Victoria, BC
112. Vancouver Aquarium – an Ocean Wise ® initiative, is home to thousands of incredible ocean species and amazing aquatic life. It’s also Ocean Wise headquarters, where our scientists, educators and conservation experts do their work, not only to protect our oceans but to inspire others to join us in our mission.
113. Rugged and wild coast of Tofino
114. Granville Island -a peninsula and shopping district in Vancouver, BC, filled with charm and features a farmers market, an extensive marina and local artisans
115. Prairie thunderstorms – watching the lighting literally strike across the prairie
116. A real walled city – Quebec City is the only fortified city north of Mexico whose walls still exist. Plus it’s on the water.
117. Top summer vacation spot in the world – Muskoka Cottage Country is the best. Lakes and waterfalls weave through 17 historic villages, where canucks gather to hear the nightly wolf chorus.
118. The adorable slang phrases you ever did hear – need to run to the biffy or bring your two-four?
119. Butter tarts – are a distinctly Canadian treat. Some articles have traced their origins to pioneer cookbooks published in the early 1900s. However, a 2007 Toronto Star article suggests they date back to the mid-1600s and the arrival of the filles de marier, or imported brides, from France.
120. Old Montreal – once enclosed by stone walls the oldest part of the city is a charming and beautiful area, where you’ll find Notre Dame Cathedral, stone warehouses and residences bristling with Victorian ornamentation. Also a wonderful spot for an old fashioned horse drawn carriage ride through the magical streets of the old city.
121. MEC – Mountain Equipment Coop, a Canadian consumers’ cooperative, which sells outdoor recreation gear and clothing exclusively to it’s members founded in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1971 and noted to its commitment to environmental causes.
122. Casa Loma – a Gothic Revival style house and gardens, lasting architectural and historical legacy in midtown Toronto, Ontario. Constructed by Sir Henry Pellatt in 1911 it took 3 years to complete at a cost of 3.5 million dollars. Featured in movies such as XMen, Chicago and Twitches Too.
123. The Edmonton River Valley – is the largest largest urban park in Canada, with more than 160 kilometres of maintained pathways and 20 major parks, a natural wonder with unparalleled opportunities to connect with nature.
124. Largest producer of potash in the world – Saskatchewan
125. Tunnels of Moose Jaw – tour the underground tunnels where Al Capone was said to have used in his bootlegging days and explore the history of the Chinese Immigrants
126. Caves of Vancouver Island – Vancouver Island has the largest concentration of caves in North America. Nearly 4% of the island is ‘karst’ which is a landscape formed by the erosion of soluble rocks. (That’s limestone, dolomite or gypsum.) These landscapes are characterized by sink holes and caves, which is the reason why Vancouver Island has more than 1,000 recorded caves.
127. Has two official sports – winter sport is hockey and the summer sport is lacrosse
128. First lighthouse in Canada at the Fortress of Louisburg
129. Signal Hill – 1901 when the famous Guglielmo Marconi made communications history at Signal Hill by receiving the first ever transatlantic wireless signal.
130. The Spiral Tunnels – built on the most difficult piece of the Canadian Pacific Railway track so trains could safely climb the ‘Big Hill’ safely and is a fascinating sight to view (looks like the train is literally going in two different directions)
131. Magnetic Hill – Moncton, New Brunswick – drive to the bottom of this world-famous hill, take your foot off the brake and your car will roll uphill in total defiance of natural law, even as your brain is telling you it’s simply not possible!
132. L’Ile de L’Anticost – a wild and enchanting island bathed in the transparent light of the North in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and a National Park
133. Anne Murray – first Canadian female solo singer to reach No. 1 on the U.S. charts, and also the first to earn a Gold record for one of her signature songs, “Snowbird” in 1970
134. The Tragically Hip – Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario
135. Gordon Lightfoot – Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s.
136. Rick Hansen – is a Canadian Paralympian, activist, and philanthropist for people with disabilities. Most famous for his Man in Motion tour.
137. Springhill Miners Museum -The coal mines of Springhill, Nova Scotia were huge, some of the deepest and most extensive in the world. The museum encompasses the lives and stories of the Springhill miners including the story of the Springhill Mining Disasters in the 1950s which were two of the worst mining disasters in Canadian History.
138. The Acadiens – descendants of the French settlers who came to Canada and mostly lived along the shores of the Bay of Fundy.
139. We were the major port for the rescue and recovery for the Titantic – Halifax, NS was the closest major port when the Titanic sank and played a key role in rescue efforts. Cable ships were sent from Halifax to recover the bodies of the dead and many of those people were buried in the cemetaries in Halifax. There’s also an extensive exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic depicting the Titanic disaster.
140. Joggins Fossil Cliffs – Explore one of nature’s most inspiring creations, where the highest tides in the world reveal the most complete fossil record of the “Coal Age,” 100 million years before the dinosaurs.
141. The Second City – though the first one opened in Chicago the Second City in Toronto has found memories for me and is the home of many great starts for famous Canadian actors such as John Candy, Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd and has a special place in my heart because my sister Leslie Seiler works there! It has since grown to become the world’s premier comedy club, theatre and school of improvisation—with live shows every night.
142. Neil Young
143. Tom Cochrane
144. We invented the Walkie-Talkie -The walkie-talkie as we know it today was produced by Canadian inventor Donald Hings in the 1930s. He created it for his company CM&S in British Columbia and it was originally known as a “packset.”
145. The Cape Breton Highlands – one of Canada’s most enchanting places, where the mountains meet the sea. Wind through lush, forested river canyons carve into the ancient plateau, edged by rust-coloured cliffs and keep your eyes peeled for moose and bald eagles.
146. The Salmon Run of British Columbia is a wonderful natural spectacle you have to see with your own eyes to experience the full brilliance of this colorful event.
147. The Champlain Boulevard Walkway – kilometres of walkway along the beautiful St. Lawrence River
148. Maple Syrup Pie – traditional French Canadian pie (Tarte au Sucre)
149. The Micro-breweries of Quebec – home to more than 150 microbreweries and over 30 hop producers offering high-quality products, Québec beers stand out from the majority of U.S. beers through their long fermentation.
150. The farmers – that is where our roots come from. That is how this great nation started and many families continue in this industry today to bring good quality food to our table.

Canada is a wonderful, beautiful, diverse place and even though I would say that I explored and experienced many parts of this great country there is so much more to see as I have really hardly scratched the surface. This list of what we love was super fun to put together and I learned quite a bit.

Thank you to all the people who contributed their thoughts and ideas to this list without you I’d have been sitting here for months to get to 150. And I love the diversity their contributions created.

What do you love the most about Canada?