As the home of some of the world’s most beautiful sights—like Niagara Falls and the Canadian Rockies—and as the country that’s gifted us with some of the most talented artists, Canada is a place that leaves no one indifferent. The natural beauty of this country always gives you something to do and see in your spare time – but what do Canadians do when they aren’t sightseeing?
Turns out, most Canadians like to spend their free time cooking. According to Statista’s survey, 41% of people said that cooking/baking is their favourite hobby. With the amazing flavours of Canadian traditional cooking, who can blame them for choosing to spend their time in the kitchen with rolled-up sleeves? There’s a plethora of tasty Canadian food to try and perfect in the kitchen, with the most famous ones being poutine, Nanaimo bars, and tuton.
The most popular hobby in Canada—cooking—seemingly doesn’t have a lot in common with the second most popular pastime activity – reading. However, neither reading nor cooking requires any special investment or skill, and they can be enjoyed by anyone.
Reading is more than just a convenient hobby; it’s also an activity that can stimulate your mind and improve your vocabulary. It fosters creativity and provides an escape from daily stress, making it a valuable tool for every Canadian trying to manage their stress levels. Surveys suggest that the three most popular genres in Canada are memoirs/biography, mystery, and science fiction. With famous writers like Alice Munro, Margaret Atwood, and Yann Martel, it’s no wonder Canadians like to read and spend time immersed in fictional worlds.
What happens when an average Canadian fulfils his/her need for enriching the mind and wants to do something that tests their luck? That’s when they turn to online casino games, which are growing in popularity year after year. Since online casinos are legal and regulated in many Canadian provinces, the country’s residents have quite a few options.
Before playing and creating an account, Canadians have a few decisions to make. For starters, do they opt for secure but strict Gamstop casinos, or do they go for a bit more freedom by choosing casinos not on Gamstop? Do they prefer to pay with their credit card or do they pay with a digital wallet? Once they get past this initial stage, all Canadians have to do is decide which game to play first. Due to relaxed rules & regulations of the country’s online gambling landscape, they have limitless options.
Statista’s research shows that Canadians are social people. 27% of them reported socializing as their go-to hobby. This is when the country’s residents choose to take advantage of Canada’s amazing landscapes and partake in outdoor activities. Once the Sun goes down, they like to kick back and enjoy Canada’s nightlife. Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal top the list of Canada’s best nightlife cities.
These cities have a higher number of bars, late-night restaurants, and live music venues than any other place in Canada. Whether you are into dancing, pub crawling, or live music, this country’s cities have the potential to suit every taste and preference – not to mention budget.
Speaking of budgeting, Canadians who want to combine the best of both worlds and be frugal as well as creative report DIY projects and arts & crafts as their favourite hobby. 24% of Canadians report spending significant amounts of time on projects like building shelves, refurbishing furniture, and painting kitchen cabinets. On the other hand, Canada’s residents who don’t mind spending their money will choose to indulge in shopping in their spare time.
30% of respondents named shopping as their most enjoyable activity. It’s no wonder that Canadians enjoy shopping as much as they do, as most major cities in Canada have an enviable number of well-supplied shopping malls. The residents of those areas where there aren’t so many opportunities for in-person shopping can still enjoy online sites where one can buy anything from clothes to electronics and everything in between.
Not every hobby is materialistic; some hobbies are purely there to feed the soul. One such hobby is owning a pet and taking care of it. According to research, 33% of Canadians have a soft spot for a furry friend. Whether that looks like adopting a cat that needs a home or buying a little chihuahua, Canada’s residents love to spend their time taking care of a pet.
Unlike the majority of the world, cats reign supreme in Canada. They are, by far, the most popular pets, with dogs taking the second spot. Fish, birds, and small mammals are third, fourth, and fifth in popularity, followed by reptiles and exotic animals. So if you know someone who has a pet snake or a tarantula, know that they aren’t alone.
Sure, owning and taking care of a tarantula might not be as popular of a hobby as photography or gardening, but it’s still on the list. In fact, only 2% of responders said they didn’t have a hobby or couldn’t think of one at the time. That group probably had a different definition of what a hobby is and thought more among the lines of language courses and painting lessons, when, in fact, even something as mundane as cooking can be seen as an enjoyable pastime activity.
