Summer... by the numbers

2018

It's summertime! Here are some facts on assorted topics related to summer.

(Last updated: June 26, 2018)

School's out for summer!

Kids across the country are getting a break from the classroom.

  • 5,068,587 — The number of students in public elementary and secondary schools in Canada in 2015/2016.

Source: "Elementary-Secondary Education Survey for Canada, the provinces and territories, 2015/2016," The Daily, November 3, 2017.

Summer is also a great time to try a new game at the arcade, check out a local exhibit at a museum, or, for thrill-seekers, a ride at a theme park.

  • 301 — The number of amusement and theme parks in Canada in December 2017.
  • 419 — The number of amusement arcades in Canada in December 2017.
  • 302 — The number of history and science museums in Canada in December 2017.
  • 122 — The number of zoos and botanical gardens in Canada in December 2017.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 33-10-0037-01 Canadian Business Counts, with employees, December 2017 and Table 33-10-0038-01 Canadian Business Counts, without employees, December 2017.

  • $566.0 million — The amusement parks and arcades industry group's operating revenue in 2016, an increase of 9.6% since 2015.
  • $3.6 billion — Operating revenues for fitness and recreational sports centres in 2016, a 11.9% increase since 2015.
  • $2.6 billion — The operating revenue generated by all other amusement and recreation industries in 2016, yielding a 6.8% operating profit margin. This category includes marinas, bowling alleys, recreational sports teams, observation towers and all other related activities.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 21-10-0057-01 Amusement and recreation, summary statistics.

A-camping we will go

Happiness is roasting marshmallows over a campfire while stargazing and listening to loons calling across the lake.

In 2016, nearly 7 in 10 Canadians participated in outdoor or wilderness activities!

Source: Canadians and the outdoors infographic, 11-627-M

  • 44% — The proportion of Canadians aged 15 and over who reported that they had been hiking or backpacking in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.
  • 24% — The proportion of Canadians aged 15 and over who reported that they had been tent camping in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.

Source: "Life in the fast lane: How are Canadians managing?, 2016," The Daily, November 14, 2017.

  • 2,542 — The number of recreational vehicle (RV) parks and campgrounds in Canada in December 2017.
  • 2,078 — The number of hunting and fishing camps in Canada in December 2017.
  • 1,023 — The number of recreational (except hunting and fishing) and vacation camps in Canada in December 2017.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 33-10-0037-01 Canadian Business Counts, with employees, December 2017 and Table 33-10-0038-01 Canadian Business Counts, without employees, December 2017.

  • 129,000 — The number of program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness in Canada in 2017. This includes camp counsellors, day camp leaders, lifeguards and more.

Source: Labour Force Survey.

On the water

Take the plunge! Kayaking, sailing, boogie boarding, and tubing are all fun ways to get out on the water. Just don't forget to pack a swimsuit!

  • 22% — The proportion of Canadians aged 15 and over who reported that they had gone either canoeing or kayaking in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.

Source: "Life in the fast lane: How are Canadians managing?, 2016," The Daily, November 14, 2017.

  • 915 — The number of marinas in Canada in December 2017.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 33-10-0037-01 Canadian Business Counts, with employees, December 2017 and Table 33-10-0038-01 Canadian Business Counts, without employees, December 2017.

  • 1,169,561 km2 — Total freshwater area in Canada.

Source: Human Activity and the Environment, 2016.

  • 243,042 km — The length of Canada's coastline, the longest in the world.
  • 31,328 km2 — The area of Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories, the largest lake entirely within Canada.

Source: Canada Year Book, 2012.

Beat the heat

Enjoy your time in the sun, but don't get burned!

  • 33% — The percentage of adult Canadians who reported a sunburn in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.
  • 29% — The percentage of Canadians who spent 2 to 4 hours in the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on a typical day off during summer in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.
  • 51% — The percentage of women who spent at least 30 minutes in the sun who wore sunscreen on their body in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.
  • 26% — The percentage of men who spent at least 30 minutes in the sun who wore sunscreen on their body in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.

Source: "Sun Safety and Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) in Canada," May 17, 2017.

  • 21,361,224 — The number of sunglasses imported in 2017.

Source: Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database.

  • $3.4 million — The value of permits for the new construction of in-ground swimming pools in January 2018.

Source: "Building permits, January 2018," The Daily, March 8, 2018.

Patio season

If camping isn't your style, maybe you could experience a different kind of outdoors… like a rooftop patio. Enjoy an iced tea or another kind of cold drink!

  • $9.2 billion — Total sales of beer in 2015-2016, 41.5% of total alcoholic beverage sales.

Source: "Control and sale of alcoholic beverages, year ending March 31, 2016," The Daily, May 2, 2017.

  • 9.6 — The number of total standard drinks sold per week in Canada to persons over the legal drinking age in 2016/2017.
  • $755 — The average sales of alcohol in Canada to persons over the legal drinking age in 2016/2017.

Source: "Alcohol Sales in Canada," May 10, 2018.

  • 5,164 — The number of drinking places (alcoholic beverages) in Canada in December 2017.

Source: Statistics Canada. Table 33-10-0037-01 Canadian Business Counts, with employees, December 2017 and Table 33-10-0038-01 Canadian Business Counts, without employees, December 2017.

  • 36,900 — The number of bartenders in Canada in 2017.

Source: Labour Force Survey.

  • 10,813,600 KGM of black tea (fermented, partly fermented, in immediate packings content of <= 3kg) were imported into Canada in 2017.

Source: Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database.

Fire up the BBQ

It's around the time where you spark up the BBQ, spark up some conversation, and, here's a bright idea, share some fresh fruit for dessert.

  • $12.05 — The average price of 1 kg of regular ground beef in May 2018.

Source: Table: 18-10-0002-01.

  • 14.1 million — The number of pigs counted in Canada in 2016.
  • 23,910 — The number of farms reporting hens and chickens in Canada in 2016.
  • 6,883,906 — The number of heads of beef cattle in Canada in 2016.

Source: "2016 Census of Agriculture," The Daily, May 10, 2017.

  • $989,228,000 — The value of Canadian exports of Atlantic salmon and Atlantic salmon fillets in 2016.

Source: "Aquaculture, 2016," The Daily, November 16, 2017.

  • 47,560 acres — Area of sweet corn in Canada in 2016.
  • 37.1 million kilograms — Exports of fresh blueberries in 2016.

Source: "2016 Census of Agriculture," The Daily, May 10, 2017.

  • 6.11 kilograms — Watermelons available for consumption per person in Canada in 2017.

Source: Table: 32-10-0054-01.

Summery places

Census Profile

For more information about this page or for help finding more data, contact Media Relations.

See features on many other subjects in By the numbers.

Date modified: