Spring arrives later in the Great White North than in most parts of the world.
When the icy grip of winter finally weakens, most Canadians are anxious to venture into green nature and enjoy some time outside an arena.
We know this because you told us in 2021, during the pandemic, and in 2019, before the pandemic.
While survey results for 2021 will be coming out later this year, this article is based on what outdoor activities Canadians partook in close to home (within about a 10-minute radius) before their lives were upended by the pandemic.
Three-quarters of Canadian households go for walks close to home, and one-third bike
Canada is the second most spacious country in the world, so there are plenty of outdoor activity options for Canadians to choose from.
Almost three-quarters (72%) of Canadian households reported going for walks close to home—by far the most popular activity in 2019—while 26% hiked. Just over one in five households (22%) jogged, ran or rollerbladed.
One-third (34%) of Canadian households reported cycling in 2019.
One-quarter of Canadian households take to the water
Canada has the fourth-greatest amount of fresh water in the world, as well as the longest coastline, so there are plenty of places to splash in and play, not to mention 2,098 indoor and outdoor public swimming pools and countless private ones.
Just over one-quarter of Canadian households went to a swimming pool or to the beach, surfed, scuba-dived, or snorkelled close to home in 2019. Just over 1 in 10 households boated, sailed, canoed, kayaked, rafted, rowed, dragon boated or jet-skied on water.
Sit, sweat or swing
Over one-third (36%) of Canadian households went to a nearby park or playground in 2019, while 29% had a picnic or barbeque.
Canadian households were more likely to play faster-paced sports such as football, soccer, basketball, baseball or road hockey (17%) in 2019 than the more sedate games of golf, croquet, lawn darts, lawn bowling and bocce (13%).
Less than 1 in 10 Canadian households (8%) played badminton or tennis.
Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts—only six more months until the next hockey season begins.
To learn more about what Canadians did in the great outdoors close to home in 2019, check out our Households and the Environment Survey.
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).