History and Government
- Canada's history is characterised by Indigenous peoples, European colonization, and the formation of a federal dominion.
- Indigenous peoples include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
- Europeans settled along the Atlantic coast in the 16th century.
- Canada became a federal dominion in 1867 through Confederation.
- The country gained increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom, culminating in the Canada Act 1982.
- Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.
- The head of government is the prime minister, who holds office by commanding the confidence of the elected House of Commons.
- The monarch of Canada, represented by the governor general, is the head of state.
- Canada is officially bilingual in English and French in the federal jurisdiction.
- The country is highly ranked in government transparency, quality of life, economic competitiveness, innovation, education, and gender equality.

Indigenous Peoples
- Indigenous peoples in Canada include the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.
- They have inhabited the land for thousands of years.
- Indigenous societies had permanent settlements, agriculture, societal hierarchies, and trading networks.
- The Indigenous population at the time of European contact was estimated to be between 200,000 and two million.
- European colonization led to a decline in the Indigenous population due to diseases, conflicts, and land loss.

Economy and International Role
- Canada has a high per capita income and an advanced economy.
- Its economy relies on abundant natural resources and well-developed international trade networks.
- Canada is recognised as a middle power in international affairs.
- The country has a history of peacekeeping and is part of major international and intergovernmental institutions.
- Canada's relationship with the United States has had a significant impact on its history, economy, and culture.

European Colonization and Expansion
- Norse explorer Leif Erikson documented the east coast of Canada.
- Norse built a short-lived encampment at L'Anse aux Meadows.
- John Cabot explored and claimed Canada's Atlantic coast for England.
- Jacques Cartier explored the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and claimed New France.
- European mariners established seasonal whaling and fishing outposts along the Atlantic coast.
- The Royal Proclamation of 1763 established First Nation treaty rights and created the Province of Quebec.
- St Johns Island became a separate colony in 1769.
- The Quebec Act 1774 expanded Quebec's territory and granted special autonomy.
- The 1783 Treaty of Paris recognised the independence of the United States and ceded territories to them.
- Loyalists migrated to Canada, changing the demographic distribution.
- Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867 with four provinces.
- Manitoba was created in 1870 due to the Red River Rebellion.
- British Columbia and Vancouver Island joined in 1871 with the promise of a transcontinental railway.
- Prince Edward Island joined in 1873.
- Alberta and Saskatchewan became provinces in 1905.

Geography and Climate
- Canada shares borders with the United States, Greenland, and France's overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
- Canadian Forces Station Alert is the northernmost settlement in the world.
- Canada can be divided into seven physiographic regions, including the Canadian Shield, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands, and the Arctic Archipelago.
- Boreal forests dominate the country, while the Canadian Prairies support agriculture.
- Canada has over 2 million lakes and contains a significant amount of the world's fresh water.
- Canada experiences varying temperatures across different regions, with harsh winters in the interior and Prairie provinces.
- Coastal British Columbia has a mild and rainy winter, while the east and west coasts have average high temperatures in the low 20s °C.
- Northern Canada is covered by ice and permafrost, which is at risk due to climate change.
- Canada's annual average temperature over land has risen by 1.7°C since 1948, with higher rates of warming in the North and the Prairies.
- Air pollution from Canada and the United States has caused acid rain, impacting waterways and agriculture.
- Canada is divided into 15 terrestrial and five marine ecozones, supporting a diverse range of wildlife.
- The boreal forest is the largest intact forest on Earth, covering approximately 3 million square kilometers.
- Canada has 42 percent of its land area covered by forests, accounting for 8 percent of the world's forested land.
- Approximately 800 species in Canada are at risk of being lost due to human activities and environmental issues.
- Over half of Canada's landscape is relatively free of human development.