Canadian culture has historically been influenced by British, French, and Aboriginal cultures and traditions. It has also been influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between the two countries. American media and entertainment are popular if not dominant in Canada and conversely, many Canadian cultural products and entertainers are successful both in the US and worldwide. Many cultural products are marketed toward a unified "North American" or global market.

Because of its large size, the country's climate is complex to describe. In the north the country lies just below the Arctic circle, with accompanying freezing temperatures, while in the south the region lies at a similar attitude to northern California with a climate similar to the eastern US. However, the northern parts of the country are very sparsely populated while the majority of the people live in the south. Here summers are generally slightly cooler than in the US, however, it can be very hot with temperatures over 38°C. Humidity is generally much lower than in the United States. Coastal towns are also generally cooler than the hotter southern interior, and they have a higher rainfall.