Every place in the world has its own unique and fascinating history that makes the location’s culture some kind of special. Canada is no different! Learning interesting facts about Canadian culture is a great way to determine if you would like to live there or not.

In fact, the expansive size of Canada results in different regions having their own original story and facts meaning unique cultures are born across the nation. Because of the unique features of all the regions, everyone can find a place where they fit in and are happy to live.

There are some definite characteristics of Canadian culture that are evident everywhere. The following are eight interesting facts about Canadian culture:

1. Canadians are apologetic and polite.

A common Canadian stereotype is being apologetic and saying sorry a lot. It may seem strange at first, although, there is something friendly, polite and welcoming about people who want you to feel comfortable and never at fault!

What you may not have known is that Canadians are so apologetic that they actually have an Apology Act. The Act was passed in 2009 and made apologies inadmissible in court. Essentially, in Canada, an apology is interpreted as a sympathetic or regretful expression as opposed to an admissible, legal apology in court under this Act. Who knew such an legal act would be necessary!

2. Canadians have a love for maple syrup.

The stereotype is true! Canadians have a deep love for maple syrup, perhaps it is because maple trees can be found around every corner. Part of Canada’s culture is the food, maple syrup is a must try if you visit or move to Canada!

This may not be surprising, but Canada is the largest exporter of maple syrup. Approximately 71% of the world’s maple syrup comes from Canada, 91% of which comes from Quebec alone. Canadians are definitely serious about their maple syrup!

3. Canadians have a passion for hockey.

Despite the polite and friendly nature of Canadians, they have a passion for one of the most brutal sports on planet Earth, hockey. As a matter of fact, hockey is Canada’s national sport for the winter and lacrosse is their national summer sport. Don’t be surprised if your Canadian friends are playing or watching hockey in their spare time!

4. Canadians are connected to nature.

Many are familiar with the fact that Canada is quite large and is composed of ample natural features. Within Canada, you can find huge forests, mountains, beaches and rolling plains. About 30% of Canada is covered in thick and dense forest. The natural surroundings in Canada have made citizens quite appreciative of nature.

Canadians often take pride in their national parks because of their passion and dedication to nature. Some of the national parks are actually bigger than countries! The second largest park in the world is Wood Buffalo National Park which is larger than Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

5. Canadians are passive about the military.

Canada is not as military focused as their neighbours, the United States or other countries. Canadians are not as fixated on guns either, guns are mainly used in Canada for recreational hunting. These cultural factors make Canada a little more laid back than other countries that are heavily influenced by military and guns.

A lot of countries spend a significant amount of money on their military resources, but not the Canadian economy. Canada’s passiveness about military shines through at their border between Canada and the United States. This border is the longest non-military border in the world.

6. Canadians are accepting of other cultures.

Canada is one of the most multicultural places in the world since they are so welcoming to immigration. Canadians are often very interested to learn about other individual’s origins and culture to expand their own experiences and knowledge. This can provide newcomers with a warm feeling as they sense they’ve found a home away from home.

People often assume that Canadians are British or French, however, this is false. To demonstrate Canada’s diversity, more than 140 languages are spoken in Toronto and about 50% of the population was born outside of Canada.

7. Canadians have progressive attitudes.

In many places around the world, people may be judged for things that are out of their control, such as their gender or sex, nationality and religion. In Canada, not only do people not have to worry much about being judged for these things, political parties, organizations and individuals have made an active, progressive effort to make everyone feel accepted and welcome.

The progressive nature of Canada’s culture and society trickles down into nearly every aspect of life. This includes social relationships, workplace environments and much more.

8. Safety is a priority for Canadians.

Canada has very low crime rates compared to other places in the world. Because of the low crime rates, Canada is a safe and secure place to live. Perhaps the safe and secure nature of Canada stems from the polite, friendly and welcoming nature of many Canadians.