Hello friends,
Today is Canada Day, a celebration of Canada’s birthday, but this year it’s an extra special birthday…Canada is 150 years old today!
Canada used to be a British colony, but became its own independent country on July 1st, 1867. ( Well, to be totally correct, the colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia joined to form the semi-autonomous federal Dominion of Canada on that date, but most would consider this date the birth of Canada as a country).
Here are some fun facts about Canada:
- The capital city of Canada is Ottawa and is located in the province of Ontario. Other major cities include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary.
- There are 2 official languages in Canada: English and French.
- Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories.
- Canada’s prime minister is Justin Trudeau.
- Canada is the second largest country in the world ( after Russia)
- Some famous Canadian people are Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, William Shatner. Michael Bublé, and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson.
- Canada is famous for Timbits, ice hockey, and Poutine ( A French Canadian specialty of french fries covered with pieces of cheese curd and gravy).
Aren’t you oh so glad you are reading my blog and learning all kinds of interesting facts today?? 🙂
You might wonder why I would be writing about all this…it is because I am a Canadian. I was born in the Netherlands, moved to Canada in my teens ( where I, along with my parents and sister, became a Canadian), and moved to the USA in my 30’s, where I still live today with my own family. Watching the Olympics is great at our house, because I have 3 different countries I get to root for! ( Not so easy if 2 of those countries are competing against each other…but then I decide to root for the winner~teehee!)
Just for fun ( and because this is a quilting blog) I decided to go find some Canadian quilt projects:
This pillow is so cute and the pattern is FREE!
This Maple leaf runner comes with a great tutorial! ( Also FREE!)
This cute mug rug would be so quick to make! (Yes, FREE also)
I would love to go anywhere in Canada, I’ve never been. I live vicariously through websites and blogs that have beautiful pictures and history.
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Lots of beautiful places to visit, that is for sure!
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My husband and I hope to travel from Kentucky up to Vermont and into Canada. We would love to see Quebec and tour Old Quebec. Such history!
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Oh yes, old Quebec City looks gorgeous!
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I would love to explore Canada in so many ways! A train trek through the Rockies and Lake Banff, a long relaxing visit to Prince Edward Island to pretend I was Anne of Green Gables, a time in the culture and history of Montreal, a visit to Vancouver to see the gardens, perhaps the Calgary Stampede, and… I love the USA, but what a great nation Canada is too.
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Oooh, a train trip through the Rockies would be amazing! And I LOVE Anne of Green Gables!!
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Would love to visit Canada in the Nova Scotia. My sister lived there for several years and the stories she tells. I would love to see it.
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I have never been there but it looks beautiful!
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My mother in law was born in Prince Edward Island, pretty close to Nova Scotia!
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I love Canada. I was born in Detroit, and in case you did not know, that is the only place in the USA where Canada is to the SOUTH of the US. That’s correct, you go South to get to Canada. Now I live in MN, about 12 miles from the Manitoba border. Needless to say, growing up and currently again living in such close proximity to Canada, it is like a second home to me and I have many friends to the north. However, I have never been to Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and would love to go thataway someday. I have driven thru the Laurentian mountains in Quebec and eaten hot bread baked in stone ovens on farms and have loved every minute.
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That is funny, Geri! I did not know that. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Went on our honeymoon to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. and some of the nearby sights .
Would have loved to see more of Canada but a week-end trip was all we had. Would love to go back again and explore this great nation!
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I have never seen either side of Niagara Falls! Lucky you.
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My dear friend Anne, lives in Larder Lake, Canada. I would love to visit her there. She sends me photos of the beautiful scenery and stunning sunsets. She lives right on the lake and she and her husband go ice fishing in the winter.
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I hope you get to visit her someday, Joyce!
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I am a Canadian and live in southeastern Manitoba. There are still so many places in this great country I would love to see yet, particularly our nation’s capital of Ottawa. I love getting your emails from Farm House Quilts. Would love to visit your part of the world someday.
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There are just so many beautiful places everywhere, aren’t there? I’m glad you enjoy my blog!
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For a country so far away, I still would love to visit one day…i don’t know much about the places in Canada, but watch the Montreal comedy festival on TV every year haha, and love everything French 😃 and love the Canadian flag lolz
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I hope you do get to visit one day, Skye! And I would love to visit Australia! ❤
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Like you a Citizen of three countries. Great Britain, Canada and now the USA. I think my favourite place to visit was Niagara Falls, especially during winter and early spring. But the USA like Canada has some stunning scenery.
Happy Canada Day
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I do hope to visit Niagara Falls sometime, but also wish I could see the Maritime provinces!
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My daughter wants to live in Canada, that is her dream. I have seen pictures and have very distant family living there, but have never been. It would be an adventure and even more so, seeing it through my daughters eyes. Thank you for the lovely patterns.
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Well, Guida, when you visit for a trip to Amish country and Cream Puff Dessert, we will take a little detour up to Canada too :). Tell your daughter that I dream of living in Australia !
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Oooh maybe we will be neighbors, come live in Toowoomba when you move. Then we just have to talk everyone else into moving, Skye, Kristie and the other girls. Then we can go fabric shopping, what fun that would be.
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I grew up in Montreal and I’ve lived in Halifax and now in Calgary. I’ve been to every province but not the Northwest Territories, Nunavut or Labrador. This summer we plan to explore Vancouver Island. There are so many beautiful places to see!
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Wow, Mo, you are so lucky to have been able to see all those places!
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Well, I’ve never thought about visiting Canada! I really don’t know much about it, but I know more now thanks to your facts. 🙂 The company I used to work for was owned by a family that came from Canada. I remember their daughter telling how there was always tomato juice to drink when she visited her grandmother, which I found interesting. That train ride another commenter mentioned sounded fun! I’ve always wanted to take one across the US too. Maybe one day!
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Hmmm, the tomato juice thing is interesting ….not a Canadian tradition that I am familiar with ( although my hubby does like his tomato juice….. 🙂 )
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Hi Monique,
My husband was in Montreal at the 1976 Olympics and saw Nadia Comaneci compete and be given a perfect score of 10. He enjoyed his tour of Canada then and is retiring this year, so hopefully soon we can visit there soon. Thanks for sharing a bit of the country’s history, and yours.
Diane
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Wow, Diane, that must have been amazing for your husband to witness that event!
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I have a friend I met online, she lives in Thunder Bay. I would love to visit someday…
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Isn’t it cool how we meet new friends online these days? I have made a few new friends in Australia the same way!
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I’ve been to Canada once. We took a boat from Washington and we went to the Gardens. I would definitely love to see more of Canada!
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I have never been to British Columbia but it looks beautiful!
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I’m a Canadian and have been able to visit a lot of Canada but it’s a big country! Some day I’d like to visit the fjords in Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. I’ve been told Newfoundland has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
I came across your blog via “Diary of a Quilter”. To you and my fellow quilters, I live near Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario. There’s a large Mennonite community here and quilting is big business. As you drive through the beautiful countryside , you’ll often seen a sign at the end of a long driveway stating “Quilts for Sale.” (And the disclaimer, “No Sunday Sales”.) It”s worth visiting!
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Hi Bunny! Thanks for popping over to comment! Yes, we have those “No Sunday Sales” signs here too…that’s how you know it’s an Amish farm 🙂
I have not seen a lot of Canada either, but there is time, right?!
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