Well before Columbus stumbled upon America in 1492 prehistoric tribes from Asia came across the bering strait - before the sea levels rose and it was still possible to walk between the two continents. Around 1000 AD Vikings, the first European visitors, tried to settle in what is now Newfoundland. However they were forced out by the native people. By the time the next wave of Europeans arrived Canada's native Indians had already developed a multitude of languages, customs, religious beliefs and laws amongst other things. A number of European countries took an interest in creating settlements in the Americas, but it was French explorer Jacques Cartier who made the first claim on the area surrounding the St. Lawrence River in 1534.

Samuel de Champlain, founded Quebec City in the early 1600s. Canada became home to around 3000 French settlers and in 1663 it became a province of France. While the French were starting to thrive on the fur trade the British came along and founded Hudson's Bay Company in 1670. For a while the two European cultures co-existed peacefully, until 1745 when British troops captured a French fort in Nova Scotia. The a struggle for control of the new land ensued. During the Seven Years War the British defeated the French at Quebec City in 1759. As a result in 1763 at the Treaty of Paris, France handed Canada over to Britain.

About 50,000 British 'Loyalists' migrated to Canada from the USA by the end of the American Revolution (1775-83) and created more of a balance between to French and British populations. After the last war between Canada and the USA in 1812, in which Canada was victorious, the British became fearful of losing Canada so in 1867 it proclaimed the British North America Act (BNA Act). The Act established the Dominion of Canada. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885 joined the country's east and west coasts. By 1912 all provinces had become part of the central government, except Newfoundland which finally joined in 1949.

In 1931 Canada voluntarily joined the Commonwealth as the country was growing steadily in stature and prosperity. Canada once again fought alongside Britain, this time against Germany in World War II. It also entered into defence agreements with the USA, declaring war on Japan after it bombed Pearl Harbour.
In the years after WWII Canada experienced an influx of European immigrants, as well as Asians, Arabs, Indians, Italians, Hispanics and Caribbeans arriving in the sixties.

Canada celebrated it's 100th anniversary in 1967 with the Expo World Fair in Montreal as one of it's attractions. Since 1975, a series of land rights have been agreed with Canada's native people, giving them some control over the vast northern portion of the country.