From magical wildlife and peculiar natural phenomena, to the areas where practicing witchcraft on the waves is encouraged, Canada boasts a huge amount of wonderful oddities and each one coming up is weirder than the last!
Apology Act & The Sorry Culture
Picture this: you’re strolling down a Canadian street, minding your own business, when suddenly a stranger accidentally steps on your foot. Naturally, they apologize right away, and according to Canadian cultural etiquette, you’re expected to apologize too!
Canadians are famously polite, and nothing captures that better than their signature sorry. Apologies in Canada are almost constant, and expected, even for the smallest and most insignificant infractions. From voicing a minor complaint to requesting a small favor, even when it’s someone’s job to assist the apologizer. You’re likely familiar with the famous Canadian sorry, but what you might not know is that in the land of maple, the word is used so frequently that the government had to take legal action. In most places around the world, apologies are seen as an admission of guilt or liability, but in Canada, sorry isn’t as simple as that. While studies show the average American apologizes just a few times a day, the typical Canadian is thought to say sorry over nine times daily. Many Canadians describe their chronic sorry-ness as more of an acknowledgement that something happened, like bumping into someone. It’s not about blame but about showing respect and recognizing the other person exists. Ignoring it or not saying anything would seem rude, so whether you say "sorry" or "you okay?", in Canada it counts as the same thing.
So, in 2006, the province of British Columbia introduced a piece of legislation known as the
Apology Act. The act makes the distinction that in context of the law, an apology is simply a display of commiseration and not an admission of fault in an altercation.
The act ensures that these frequent apologies aren’t misinterpreted as admissions of liability in legal situations, allowing Canadians to uphold their cultural norm of apologizing without fear of their words being used against them in court. Today, almost all Canadian provinces have their own versions of the act. While vaguely similar laws exist in countries like the U.S. and Australia, it’s clear that for Canadians, this legal protection is especially essential! But it’s not just the people of Canada that are full of apologies, their transport services are a sorry state of affairs too! The text "Sorry" is displayed as a part of Winnipeg "Transit not in service" message for buses.
Even so, compared to other countries, Canada’s buses seem to be some of the only ones to remember their manners. From Translink buses in Vancouver, to the Toronto Transit Commission, it seems the quintessentially Canadian apology will continue to roll on and on.
Canadian Oddities
When they’re not busy being polite, Canadians seemingly love building some of the world’s weirdest attractions. Like in Drumheller, Alberta, home of the world’s largest dinosaur.
This towering, fiberglass-and-steel Tyrannosaurus Rex stands a whopping 86 feet tall, around four times the size of a real T. Rex! You can actually climb inside it and peek out through its mouth, which is probably not something you could do with a real T-Rex.Over in St. Paul, Alberta, meanwhile, you’ll find the world’s first
UFO landing pad. Built in 1967 as a symbol of peace and cosmic unity, this quirky monument was unveiled to welcome all extraterrestrial visitors with open arms, offering them a place to land, taking Canadian friendliness interstellar!
But arguably Canada’s strangest attractions are actually all-natural. Take the Spotted Lake in British Columbia, which transforms in the summer as the water evaporates, revealing hundreds of colorful pools. Each pool’s unique mix and concentration of minerals results in a distinct hue, creating a sight unlike anywhere else on Earth.
Then there’s the Smoking Hills in Canada’s Northwestern Territories. There, layers and layers of underground oil shales naturally ignite, and have been burning for centuries, with the sulfur-rich ground resulting in strange, red deposits, perpetually veiled in smoke. So whether it’s natural thrills or man-made curiosities you seek, Canada’s got you covered.
Smoking Hills from the air, Northwest Territories by Ian Reilly McCanada Exclusives
It’s no secret that many fast food chains around the world can often be found tweaking their menus to cater to local tastes, and Canada is no exception. At the golden arches of Canadian McDonald’s you can order yourself a portion of McPoutine, that is, the quintessentially Canadian delicacy of French fries and cheese curds topped with gravy.
There is also a buffalo chicken variant in Quebec branches, which makes anyone wish they were Canadian.
The McCanada menu has seen a whole host of country exclusive items including the McMini sandwich, the McLobster as well as the McPizza. However, perhaps their strangest offering of all is their vegetarian options. In 2020, McDonald’s Canada announced they’d be trialing a new vegetarian burger across its branches called the PLT, that is, plant lettuce and tomato.
While McDonald’s plant-based burgers have been a hit in other parts of the world, like Texas and California, in Canada it didn’t take off and was pulled from the menu after just six months. Thanks to the failure of the PLT, some Canadian McDonald’s restaurants have come up with their own solution for the lack of options for veggie customers. They call this the no meat big mac.
That’s a Big Mac burger, but instead of meat patties there’s nothing. So, the middle bread slice of a Big Mac becomes its patty, which is shameful. Shockingly, this infamous bready binge can often be seen on self-ordering kiosks across the country.
Candle Ice
Banff National Park in Alberta is famous for its breathtaking landscapes: towering peaks, and the iconic Moraine Lake. But there’s a lesser-known wonder that happens in this alpine lake every spring. Candle ice is a fascinating phenomenon seen in Banff’s alpine lakes as they thaw in spring. The formation begins when the lake freezes with a process called supercooling, which allows large ice crystals to form.
Then, when the spring sun begins to warm the ice, it starts to break down as water becomes trapped between the ice crystals. As the ice melts at the borders of these crystals, the thick ice sheet breaks into individual column sticks, hence the name: candle ice. Though visually captivating, candle ice is unstable and unsafe to walk on. However, gently breaking it apart from the safety of a boat or shoreline can be oddly satisfying. And for maximum satisfaction, you can even paddle through this strange icy phenomenon.
Confederation Bridge
While the candle ice of Banff’s winter wonderland is a natural spectacle, there's another icy marvel in Canada that perfectly blends mother nature’s magic with human engineering. When Prince Edward Island joined the Canadian Confederation in 1873, Canada’s government promised to connect it to the mainland. Initially, this was done through iceboats and later ferries that carried mail and passengers across the Northumberland Strait, until 1997, when the Confederation Bridge opened.
Stretched across eight miles, it’s not just Canada’s longest bridge, but also the world’s longest bridge over ice-covered water. But its most fascinating feature? The ability to withstand the strait’s harsh winter freeze. The bridge’s 62 pillars are ingeniously designed with conical bases to handle incoming ice floes. As the ice drifts towards the bridge, the conical shape forces the floes upwards, the pressure of which causes them to crack into an array of rectangular chunks. This process, known as ice deflection, prevents large ice masses from piling up and threatening the structure. Instead, the bridge's piers slice through the ice, allowing it to be safely swept away by the tides and currents.
PEI, Confederation Bridge, between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Canada by North / South Adventures It's a brilliant solution that keeps the bridge, and the connection to Prince Edward island, safe, no matter how frigid conditions get. You could say that even Canada’s bridges know how to stay cool under pressure! That ability, of course, extends to Canada’s citizens, whose ability to deftly deal with ice is as classically-Canadian as Tim Horton’s, both of which, incidentally, are encapsulated in the amazing clip below.
Moose
One of the country’s most recognizable creatures, the mighty moose may be a regular sighting for many Canadians. However, there are some moosey moments floating around online that are far from regular. The head-shaking footage below was captured by Canadian wildlife enthusiast Derek Burgoyne, who witnessed the rare moment a moose shed both its antlers at exactly the same time.
As a species of deer, male moose, also known as bulls, shed and regrow their antlers throughout the year as part of their annual lifecycle. For moose, antlers play a key role in attracting females who tend to favor bulls with bigger antlers. Anyway, as far as scientists know, antler casting is painless, mainly due to the lack of nerves and blood vessels in the fully-developed antlers themselves. Many moose will often try to accelerate the process by rubbing their antlers up against tree trunks, or in this case, opting for a bit of head banging.
Meanwhile, some moose aren’t just casting antlers, they’re also car-washing! While we all know that Canada is home to some of the friendliest on planet Earth, it’s hard to believe that these moose would really clean a stranger’s car for seemingly no reason. Well, unsurprisingly, there is actually an explanation to this car-nal craving.
Moose, apparently, are totally obsessed with salt as they need it for essential bodily functions. Problem is, their natural diet of leaves, twigs and bark is low in sodium, leading them to seek out other salt sources like mineral licks as a nutritious supplement. However, in winter, when roads are salted to prevent freezing, moose have discovered that they can easily access salt from the wheels, doors and bumpers of cars. This has led to potentially dangerous situations, as more moose began approaching vehicles, even in traffic, to lick the salty residue. The issue became so widespread that Canadian officials had to install signs in areas where moose are commonly found, instructing drivers not to let moose lick their cars, and to drive away if a moose approaches.
Maple Madness
The humble maple leaf and its tree has been an iconic symbol of Canada since the 19th century, valued for its sweet sap. Among the most cherished uses of this sap is the creation of maple taffy, a traditional and uniquely Canadian treat often referred to as sugar on snow.
The origins of maple taffy trace back to Indigenous peoples of North America, who were the first to harvest sap from maple trees and transform it into syrup. French settlers later adopted this technique, turning it into a cultural tradition that endures to this day.
In the past, maple taffy was a centerpiece of sugaring-off parties: festive gatherings held in early spring when the sap began to flow. Making maple taffy was a highlight of these events, with the snow serving as a natural cooling agent to turn the syrup into taffy. First, the maple syrup is heated to reduce and thicken it, then it’s poured over fresh snow, where it quickly cools and thickens. Once hardened, it’s then rolled onto a popsicle stick for a deliciously chewy experience sweet by name and nature.
Tire Sur La Neige (Maple Taffy) by KevGetsLost If all that talk of maple syrup has your tastebuds tingling, we’re just getting started. In Canada, fans of soda, or pop, as Canadian lingo dictates, can get their hands on bottles of Coca-Cola Quebec Maple that’s been infused with syrup straight from La Belle Province. If you’re craving a more savory twist on maple sweetness, Canada has the perfect remedy for that too. While your favorite flavor potato chip is probably something like salt and vinegar, barbeque or sour cream and onion, some folks in Canada favor something a little more patriotically coded.
In 2013, Lay’s Canada released a new flavor called Maple Moose after it came out as the
winner of the chip brand’s Do Us a Flavor contest.
The flavor was created by Newfoundland native Tyler LeFrense who won a 50,000 Canadian dollar grand prize after Canadians voted for his idea. The flavor was inspired by the bizarre but undeniably Canadian combo of maple and moose meat and the chips are described as possessing a smoky taste with a hint of sweetness. Maple moose chips were sadly discontinued in early 2014 due to a lack of sales, however, there are plenty of other uniquely Canadian chip flavors still available nationwide. One of the most popular chip choices across Canada is ketchup flavor which are also sold in the US, but are no where near as sought after. And for those having a hard time deciding which flavor they favor there’s also Ruffles All Dressed chips, which is a combination of ketchup, barbeque, sour cream & onion, and salt and vinegar all rolled into one crunchy bite.
The Great Maple Syrup Heist
While maple syrup is a cornerstone of Canadian culture, it’s also at the heart of one of the country’s most notorious crimes. In July 2012, accountant Michel Gauvreau arrived at a warehouse owned by The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers in the small town of Saint-Louis-de-Blandford to take stock of the facility’s barrels of syrup.
Expecting each barrel to weigh over 600 pounds apiece, Michel was shocked to discover that many weren’t filled with syrup at all, but instead, plain old water. It turned out that over a period of 10 months the contents of over 9,500 barrels of maple syrup, worth 18 million Canadian dollars, had been stolen in a crime that became known as the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist.
The subsequent investigation involved nearly 300 interviews, and even forensic analysis of syrup kettles and forklifts recovered from the scene. It was later revealed that the thieves had rented warehouse space and, over the course of a year, discreetly siphoned syrup while security was absent.
Though police were able to recover around about two-thirds of the stolen syrup, it seemed the rest had already disappeared into the sticky underworld, being re-packaged and sold on. Police ultimately
arrested 26 people in relation to the heist. Their ringleader, Richard Vallières, was found guilty of theft, fraud and trafficking stolen goods by Quebec Superior Court and sentenced to eight years in prison. He also received a thick, syrupy fine of 9.4 million Canadian dollars! In the end, this sticky-fingered escapade left a very bitter taste in the mouths of its perpetrators.
Hockey Singer Fall
The U.S. has football, Europe has soccer. But in Canada? It’s always ice hockey time. Even the Guinea pigs over there can’t resist a spin on the ice!
And as if watching pets and players alike scramble across the ice wasn’t entertaining enough, it’s even more entertaining when things go wrong. In October 2014, Mark Donnelly confidently sang "O Canada" during a hockey game at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, British Columbia. But mid-performance, Mr O Canada missed a key detail, the red carpet spread across the ice.
Mark Donnelly Singing The National Anthem At The Penticton VEES Game 10-3-14 by VeesTV Just a few lines in, Donnelly face-planted spectacularly, and then scrambled to his feet, narrowly avoiding a second tumble as the crowd watched in stunned amusement. And just like that, Mark Donnelly proved that even the pros can hit a flat note, literally. Big respect for pulling himself back up though.
Canadian Slang
Canada is known for its breathtaking landscapes and friendly people, but it also boasts a treasure trove of quirky slang that can leave outsiders scratching their heads. One popular term is “two-four,” which refers to a case of 24 beers, an essential for any Canadian gathering or celebration. When someone mentions picking up a two-four, you can bet a party is on the horizon!
You also may find yourself being told to “hang a Larry” or “hang a Roger,” which respectively refer to making a left or right turn while driving. Then there’s the humble bottle shop, which is a general term for a liquor store. Another charming term is “chesterfield,” a vintage word for a couch. Finally, don’t forget about “loonie,” a term for the Canadian one-dollar coin, named after the common loon bird depicted on one side. So next time you’re in Canada, and someone asks you to hang a larry around to the bottle shop to pick up a two four for a few loonies for a hang out on the chesterfield, you’ll know that’s a plan worth raising a glass to.
Milk Bags
So, you walk into a grocery store in Ontario, expecting to find your usual carton or jug of milk. But instead, you’re greeted by bizarre plastic sacks filled with loose liquid dairy. Welcome to the world of bagged milk, a phenomenon some say are as Canadian as maple syrup and hockey.
Bagged milk is one of those quirks of Canadian life that leaves outsiders scratching their heads. So why the bags? Well, it all started back in the late 1960s, when Canada was transitioning from the imperial to the metric measuring system, but this posed a problem for manufacturers. Resizing cartons or jugs required significant changes to production lines, making it a complex and costly process.
The story goes that DuPont, a Canadian food and packaging company, were the first to unveil these thin, plastic bags that could be used to store and sell milk in 1967. Sometimes known as plastic udders, these milk bags were favored over cartons or bottles because manufacturers could simply adjust the length of the plastic sealing points without needing to design new molds or pattern templates. Gradually, Canada’s dairy industry began widely adopting these innovative plastic pouches, and the trend has stuck until this day; though mainly in areas of Canada like Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritime provinces. But bagged milk isn’t just about efficiency, it’s also about freshness and food waste reduction. Most bags come in sets of three, and when you’re ready to use one, you pop it into a pitcher, snip the corner, and pour. Because the bags are smaller, you only open what you need, keeping the rest sealed fresh.
Milk bags can be found in other countries, such as South Africa, Argentina, Uruguay, Hungary and China, but Canada’s were the first. So, while the rest of the world might chuckle at these plastic udders, it’s actually a clever packaging solution that just makes sense, at least if you’re Canadian!
Weird Canadian Laws
Canadians are widely known for their politeness and law-abiding nature. However, it seems the authorities may have taken advantage of this by maintaining some rather unusual laws. One of the most bizarre laws in Canada’s Criminal Code made it illegal to pretend to practice witchcraft. The law was introduced in the 1950s, and in October 2018, a Toronto psychic named Samantha Stevenson was arrested for convincing a man that selling his house and giving her the proceeds was the only way to rid his home of evil spirits.
This was deemed to be an act of insincere fraud and exploitation of a vulnerable individual, but interestingly, practicing legitimate witchcraft as part of the Wiccan religion or as an occult practice is entirely legal and even celebrated in certain areas. For instance, the Wood Lake Water Witches, a coven in British Columbia, gather each October to celebrate the spooky season by paddleboarding across the lake in an annual event.
Coven Of Paddle Board Witches Spotted On River by CBS New York Despite a few cases against fraudulent witches, Canada’s law prohibiting fake witchcraft became known as a zombie law, that is, a law that, while still on the books, is considered outdated or redundant due to newer legal standards. In December 2018, the Canadian government repealed several of these zombie laws. Alongside the witchcraft law, other outdated provisions, such as the prohibition of dueling and a ban on publishing comics depicting crime, were also scrapped. So, while witchcraft may be legal in Canada, bad laws certainly aren't immune to a good old fashioned vanishing act. While many zombie laws in Canada are dead and buried, some bizarre bylaws still exist. For example, in Alberta, it’s illegal to paint wooden ladders, as paint could hide fractures, turning a climb into a dangerous mishap. But Alberta isn’t the only place with puzzling paint-related laws. In Kanata, a suburb of Ottawa, there’s a rumor that residents are forbidden from painting their garage doors purple. Though this gained traction online, it seems to be a misunderstanding.
The myth may stem from a 1973 bylaw in the area that asked homeowners to maintain a vaguely consistent appearance, including colors. There’s no record of enforcement of this bylaw, though, so, in reality, Kanata residents can paint their garage doors any color they want, just so long as it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb versus their neighbors’ places.
Spirit Moose
Canada is home to over a million moose, and while we've already seen that some can exhibit rather quirky behavior, a few are believed to be downright magical. Sightings such as the one in the clip below are known as being a sign of good luck in Canada, particularly among indigenous Cree culture.
#TheMoment a rare white spirit moose was spotted in Alberta by CBC News: The National In Cree culture, animals are often viewed as messengers from the spiritual realm, and white moose like this one are known as spirit moose. But beyond their spiritual significance, what does science say about these rare, ghostly-looking moose? Many attribute the striking appearance to albinism, a condition where the body can’t produce melanin, the pigment responsible for coloring skin, fur, and eyes. However, it’s not that simple. Albinism typically results in a complete lack of pigmentation, including pink eyes. Yet, close-up photos captured by the folks responsible for the clip we just saw show this moose’s eyes with seemingly normal pigment.
This has led some experts to suggest that the moose might actually have leucism, a genetic condition that causes partial loss of pigmentation, usually leaving the eyes unaffected. Whether luck, legend, or leucism, Canada’s natural world certainly isn’t afraid to stand out from the crowd.
Tree Atop Vancouver Building
Vancouver is a city where nature and urban life collide in the most spectacular ways. But there’s one spot in the skyline that takes that balance to a whole new level: the building with an entire tree on top!
This is Eugenia Place, a 19-floor apartment complex boasting spades of natural beauty, literally. But here’s the cool part: the tree isn’t just a gimmick. It’s actually meant to represent the natural world that existed here long before the concrete jungle. Back in the day, towering trees like Douglas firs and great cedars stood in place of the cityscape and the height of the building, tree included, mirrors the height of those ancient forests. But planting a 37-foot tree on top of a high-rise? That’s no small feat, especially in a city with such changeable weather. So, after lifting the tree to the roof via crane, the architects installed a specially-designed planter up there complete with hooks and cables to keep the tree in place. It’s like a giant flower pot with proper irrigation systems and soil to keep the tree happy and healthy no matter what kind of weather is thrown at it. Today, the tree on Eugenia Place is more than just a quirky architectural feature, it’s an iconic part of the city’s identity. It’s not every day you see a tree hanging out on top of a building, right?
I hope you were amazed at these Canadian oddities! Thanks for reading.
