Ontario is one of Canada’s most well-known and prosperous provinces, being home to several of the nation’s biggest cities. Although the province may be among the most well-known by Americans, there are still plenty of things that Americans don’t know about this great Canadian province. So if you just bought Halton real estate and are looking to find some unique facts about the province you’re moving to, what do you need to know? Here are five interesting things you didn’t know about Ontario.

History

One of the more interesting aspects of Ontario is the province’s storied history. As both Canada’s capital and most populous city can be found in the province, you might expect Ontario to have played a major role in Canadian history. Originally colonized by the French, most of Canada was given to the British as a direct result of the Seven Years War. Ontario was then known as Upper Canada and became home to many English-speaking Canadian residents, while Quebec was known as Lower Canada and was home to many French-speaking Canadians. The divide between the two regions was very apparent and led to a friendly rivalry, something that can still be felt today. It’s not often that you see a country have regions that are so starkly different in culture and language, especially not when they’re located so close together.

Diversity

A huge importance has been placed on diversity in recent years, leading many people wanting to live in more diverse areas. A more diverse area can allow you to experience new cultures and open your eyes to new perspectives and ideas. As a result, living in a diverse area can be extremely beneficial. Thankfully, Ontario is an extremely diverse location. Toronto is often labeled one of the most diverse cities in the world, being home to a wide variety of various cultural subgroups. This diversity has spilled over to the surrounding regions, allowing the whole province to enjoy the benefits of a diverse population. If you’re someone who wants to live in a diverse location, then Ontario may be perfect for you.

Sports History

Ontario and Canada are often associated with hockey, and it’s no secret why. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators are two fantastic franchises in the NHL, fostering love from hockey in the two cities. In addition, many of the sports greatest players were born in Ontario, including the statistically greatest hockey player ever, Wayne Gretsky. However, Ontario has much more than just hockey history, as it also is involved in other sports as well. Toronto has both an MLB and an NBA team, bringing two sports that are traditionally consumed by Americans up north. In fact, the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was born in Ontario, and famous slugger Babe Ruth hit his first-ever home run on the Toronto Islands. Perhaps these two sports are much more Canadian than we originally thought?

Lakes

One of the more unique facts of Ontario is the abundance of lakes in the province. Ontario is a very large province, however, a lot its size actually belongs to lakes. There are hundreds of thousands of lakes in Ontario, making it an amazing place for water enthusiasts. Those who love to fish, swim, kayak, or boat will absolutely love the variety of lakes in Ontario. In fact, studies have shown that 15-20% of the Earth’s freshwater is located in Ontario. There’s almost no place on Earth that can match that, making Ontario a truly unique place.

Landmarks

Another thing that Ontario has going for it is the city’s abundance of amazing landmarks. Ontario isn’t often thought of as a place with plenty of thrilling landmarks to visit, but it actually is. While some landmarks like the CN Tower and Parliament Hill may be more famous, the region still has some lesser-known ones that you might not have heard about. For example, attractions like The Grotto and Rattlesnake Point offer amazing views of nature and definitely deserve a visit. Additionally, there are plenty of manmade landmarks and attractions that deserve some more recognition, like the Canadian War Museum and Dundurn Castle. Regardless of your interests, you’ll surely find some type of landmark that you enjoy in Ontario.