The most popular sports in Canada

Canada has been the venue of many world sports events such as the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and the 1967, 1999 and 2015 Pan American Games.

Canada is a country where sport is promoted as a way of keeping healthy. So much so that it has become tradition for every university to have sport teams that compete against one another in big tournaments. Some Canadian University teams even compete at international level, where they show the high level reached in their sport.

Below is a list of the most popular sports in Canada.

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• Ice hockey:

Ice hockey dates back to the end of the 19^th century and according to history, the first game on an indoor rink took place in the city of Montreal in 1875. The sport became so popular that in 1917, the National Hockey League began in Canada, becoming the sport’s most important tournament in North America.

For Canadians, ice hockey is a matter of national pride. Both the male and female teams are strong rivals in any tournament and, on many occasions, they are unbeatable. Historically, they have always obtained the best results in the Olympics and world championships.

• Lacrosse:

Lacrosse has also been a national sport since 1859. The story goes that it is based on a sport played by Native Americans, with very different rules than those of modern-day Lacrosse.

Nowadays, there are two professional Lacrosse leagues in Canada: The National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse.

This sport is very well represented by the Canadians in the World Championships, where the national team has placed first on various occasions.

• Canadian Football:

According to historical data, this sport officially began in 1861. From that date onwards, various championships and organisations were formed until, in 1958 the ¨Canadian Football League¨ was created.

Its origins are very closely linked to American football, although there are some differences. Some of the most significant differences include the following: the number of players on the field in Canadian football is greater than in American football; the goalposts in American football are to the rear of the end zone, whereas in Canadian football they are at front of the end zone and, in American football, each team has three timeouts per half, whereas in Canadian football there is only one timeout per half.

Not only the professional competitions have attracted attention in this sport. Important tournaments also take place between the country’s universities, attracting great interest among Canadian football lovers.

• Curling:

Did you know that Canada is one of the leading countries in this sport? Yes, this unique sport has been adopted by the Canadians and they have become the sport’s best players.

Curling was introduced into Canada by Scottish immigrants and the oldest sports club in North America is a curling club in the centre of Montreal.

Canada’s professional curling league is one of the sport’s best. Its male and female teams are unbeatable in every competition in which they participate.

Like other sports, curling is very popular among university students. There are also university tournaments, playing at a high level and attracting many fans of the sport.

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• Basketball:

Finally, I would like to tell you an interesting fact that you probably don’t know about the origins of basketball. It turns out that this exciting sport was created by a Canadian physical education teacher in the University Springfield in the United States.

It came about due to the need for the students to play an indoor sport to release energy during the long winter periods.

As you can see in this article, there is a great tradition in many sports in Canada. The high level of the country’s athletes and the results obtained in the biggest competitions make Canada an important player in the sporting world, achieving first place on many occasions. There is no doubt that Canada, as well as showing great progress in education and scientific and technological research, is rising up as one of the world’s greatest sporting representatives.

See also: 3 Things You Should Know About When Visiting Canada

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3 museums you can’t miss in Ottawa

As the capital of Canada, Ottawa has become one of the country’s main tourist destinations. Many people enjoy visiting this wonderful city, because it offers something for everyone. If you visit Ottawa, you will discover that it is a charming city with abundant natural spaces and a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for an unforgettable holiday.

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Below, I will tell you about three museums that you can’t miss if you go to the Canadian capital.

1. National Gallery of Canada:

The museum that has to top our list, must be the National Museum of Canada. This magnificent institution was founded in 1880 by the Governor General, John Douglas Sutherland Campbell. Before moving to its current location, the Museum was located in various places, such as the Supreme Court building, the building where the Canadian Museum of Nature is now located and even an office building for a few years. It wasn’t until 1988 that the National Gallery of Canada was relocated to its current location.

Its exhibition rooms house a large and varied collection of different manifestations of art, such as paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs, mainly the work of Canadian artists. Although the gallery’s original purpose was to provide a space to keep national works of art, over time the gallery began to acquire important works from Europe and other American countries. This means that if you decide to visit the museum, you will find a wide collection, mainly from countries like Great Britain, France and Italy.

The museum is known by many because of the impressive spider-shaped sculpture that is housed there. ¨Maman¨ is the name of this magnificent work of art created by the artist, Louise Bourgeois, and made of bronze, stainless steel and marble. This sculpture has been the subject of many tourists’ photos, fascinated by its huge dimensions.

The museum’s facilities include a bar, restaurant and coffee shop, where you can try out the local dishes. It is also easily accessible for people with reduced mobility. The opening hours vary depending on the time of year. From October to April, you can visit from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. From May to September, you can visit from Monday to Sunday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, with the exception of Thursdays, when it is open until 8:00 pm.

2. Canadian Museum of Nature:

The second place that I suggest you visit is the Canadian Museum of Nature. The origin of this museum is closely linked to the Geological Survey of Canada, formed in 1842. Since its early days, important research work has been undertaken here, enriching the natural history of the country every day.

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The building where the museum is located was originally called the ¨Victoria Memorial Museum¨, in honour of the English queen and it is popularly known as “the castle”, due to its similarity to a medieval fort.

The museum houses interesting collections of animals, fossils, plants and minerals, all Canadian indigenous species, and many of them are presented in an interactive manner, attracting public of all ages.

As well as the exhibition rooms, this institute has study rooms and libraries, encouraging the interest of children in natural science. The museum also presents projects for anyone interested in delving into this interesting world.

The normal opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. In winter, the museum opens every day between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, with the exception of Thursdays, when it stays open until 8:00 pm.

3. Canadian War Museum:

If you love history and you are visiting the city of Ottawa, don’t miss the chance to take the interesting journey in time offered by this magnificent museum.

Although the museum is located in quite a modern building, inaugurated in 2005, its rooms present the history of Canada’s participation in the various wars over the years, both in Canada and abroad.

You can begin your visit in the gallery dedicated to the first Canadian wars, moving on to those presenting the Canadian involvement in the First and Second World Wars, as well the chance to visit the Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour. This last exhibition reflects on the damage caused by war and remembers the fallen soldiers. Each hall has an extensive collection of objects from each era and displays a detailed explanation of their origin.

Read also: Currency – What Is Good To Know Before Arriving In Canada

As well as offering a broad overview of Canadian military history, the museum is associated with educational projects helping teachers to perfect their teaching of history to students.

The museum’s opening hours are from Friday to Wednesday between 9:30 am and 5:00 pm and Thursdays from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm.

There is no doubt that these museums are a magnificent way of combining learning and fun.

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