The world around us has changed rapidly and whether we know it or not, we adjusted our behavioral patterns to match what’s available. In Canada, outdoor activities traditionally accounted for a huge chunk of free time but this might not be completely true any longer. With new forms of entertainment now becoming commonplace, the list of favorite pastimes in the 2020s doesn’t look anything like it did 30 years ago, and some of the new favorite leisure activities might have a questionable impact on our collective health.

Here is what Canadians tend to do for fun in the current era:

Fine Dining and Cultural Events

A nice dinner in a stylish restaurant followed by a visit to a theatre still ranks very high on the check list of a typical Canadian. That’s especially true in the urban areas, where there are plentiful options for a night out that includes a fine meal and a cultural treat. Those options are getting more and more diverse, so it’s possible to explore different cuisines and enjoy all kinds of artistic and educational contents. You can still go traditional and stay within the confines of Canadian culture, or you can open new horizons by trying something completely unfamiliar.

Winter Sports

It is comforting to know that a nation famous for its love of winter sports is staying committed to this active and healthy pastime. From ice hockey to snowboarding, lots of different disciplines are hugely popular among Canadians of all ages. The younger generation gets an extra boost from the possibility to follow sports online, which frequently serves as a gateway for a lifelong fandom. Canadians who like to watch sports are more likely to practice them as well, with the added benefit of regular exercise and breathing cleaner air. 

Digital Entertainment

We live in an age of instant access to countless forms of entertainment. A few taps on your phone and you can watch any movie you like, find out news about the current events, or connect with people half a world away. This is a big temptation, and many Canadians succumb to it on a regular basis. A few hours on social media followed by a couple of episodes of a favourite streaming show add up quickly. While access to information and entertainment is not a bad thing per se, neglecting physical activity and social life in order to be online non-stop is a real danger. 

Music & Arts Festivals

For young people, festivals represent a unique chance to find a broad collection of interesting content while interacting with total strangers. The appeal of mass events doesn’t wane, and Canada hosts hundreds of festivals of all types, large or small. Most of the events are organised annually, and they tend to have a core audience that keeps coming back year after year. It may be hard to find the time on a busy schedule to keep visiting festivals as you age and start a family, but this remains a great opportunity to refresh mentally.

Hiking and Camping

The unmatched natural beauty of Canada remains the most valuable national resource, and many people continue to take advantage of it. There is a whole world to discover away from the big cities and major tourist attractions, so it makes a lot of sense to go on a hiking or camping adventure every once in a while. Of course, you don’t have to wander deep into wilderness or wade through waist-deep snow to have a taste of the famous Canadian countryside, since there are plenty of well-maintained trails and camping sites where you will be completely safe.