Poutine has been called many things, some people think of it as the national dish of Canada. Others call it an instant artery-clogger, and there’s even a restaurant in Montreal that offers the bravest among its patrons with a 15-pound monstrosity called “The Heart Attack.”
Poutine is comprised of three main ingredients: French fries, brown gravy, and cheese curds. It comes from rural Quebec and has been traced back to the 1950s.
IMAX was Invented in Canada
IMAX was first invented by a trio of Canadian filmmakers — Roman Kroitor, Graeme Ferguson, and Robert Kerr back in 1967. After being independently asked to produce large-screen films for Expo 67, the filmmakers understood they needed different equipment.
When Japan asked them to produce a film for its Expo '70, the men created Multiscreen Corporation with some financial support from Fuji. The three directors recruited engineer William Shaw to assist them in inventing the cameras needed to film in image maximum — IMAX for short. Tiger Child, screened at Expo '70, was the first-ever IMAX movie.
Unusual Tax Returns
Canadians can deduct several things from their tax returns, but I bet you didn’t know that dog food is tax-deductible in Canada.
It began when the Tax Court decided a farmer could claim cat and dog food because they were outdoor pets meant to keep wildlife away from their blueberries. Dog food is also deductible if it is for a service dog.
Margaret Marshall Saunders
Canada's first million-selling author was Margaret Marshall Saunders, with her novel Beautiful Joe in 1894. In response to the publishing industry's male-dominated nature, and she shortened her name to Marshall Saunders.
In 1889 Saunders submitted "Beautiful Joe" to publication in 1893, both the book and its subject received worldwide attention. It was the first Canadian book to sell over a million copies, and by the late 1930s had sold over seven million copies worldwide.
Insulin is From Canada!
Insulin was first discovered in 1921 by Toronto doctor Frederick Banting and further developed at the University of Toronto by Banting, Charles Best, John Macleod, and Bertram Collip.
Banting and Macleod were both awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine two years later. According to the Nobel Prize website, the team patented their insulin extract but sold the university's rights for $1, which used the money to fund new research.