Canadian Outdoor Activities
Despite being a younger country (many activities well-known in Canada were invented before Canada became an official country), Canada’s wide variety of weather patterns and unique culture have led to a great deal of creativity among some of our earliest people. This has led to a large variety of outdoor activities, not all of which need large amounts of snow.
Baseball
Although usually thought of as an American game, the first recorded baseball game ever occurred in Beachville, Ontario. The city’s team played against Zorra, using a hand-sewn stick as a bat, and the ball was made from twisted yard and calfskin. They used different terminology, for example, using ‘thrower’ for pitcher, ‘knocker’ for batter, and bye instead of base. The game was played on June 4, 1838, and was run by Dr Adam Ford. With only a small amount of special equipment needed per player, with many cheap substitutes available, and baseball diamonds in many public parks, one can easily play this game.
Basketball
Despite being created in America, it was a Canadian named Dr James Naismith who created the game of basketball on December 21, 1891, at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. The game used a soccer ball and had peach baskets ten feet high on balconies. Basic rules like dribbling were introduced later, as in the original game, players could not move with the ball at all, with each basket worth a single point. Despite being played indoors professionally, pick-up games can be played outside.
Broomball
Similar to hockey, broomball is played in a rink with six players (three forwards, two defenders, and a goalie). As the name indicates, players hold brooms, although in most modern games, players use sticks that are built specifically for the game. The goal is to hit a ball into a net, and with special shoes, not skates, with goalies also using special equipment. This is a great game for those who want to play hockey outside but are unable to skate.
Canadian Football
The first game of gridiron football was played at the University of Toronto in 1861, with the first game played in America taking place eight years later in 1869 in New Jersey. Despite not being as popular, Canadian Football has many differences that are built to make the game more exciting by incentivising larger, riskier plays instead of safer short gains. If you want to play football (or touch football) with friends, try using only 3 downs, the rouge, a larger field, and other Canadian rules.
Hockey
This will be quick, as most people here likely know this. The first recorded game of hockey was played on March 3, 1875. Given that hockey is often called the most Canadian sport in existence, it’s not surprising that the vast majority of Stanley Cup-winning captains are Canadian.
Lacrosse
For a while, lacrosse was Canada’s national sport, and it is still considered Canada’s national summer sport. With the founding of the Montreal Lacrosse Club in 1856 by Dr William George Beers, lacrosse became a part of Canada’s identity. Today, 7 of the 13 teams in the NLL (National Lacrosse League) are Canadian, including the Toronto Rock, who have 7 titles.
Ringette
Yet another sport similar to hockey, Ringette is much more recent, being invented in 1963. Played on ice with 6 players (including a goalie), with specialised sticks and a hollow, rubber ring, each team tries to knock said ring into an opposing goal. The sport was originally created as a non-contact sport that was specifically for women, but has since expanded to include everyone.
Tobaggan
The idea of a toboggan was created by numerous native Canadian tribes, with “toboggan” itself being an Algonquin word. It was created as a way to move children and cargo long distances in the winter. The device has now become a recreational device that is used to go downhill.
