100 Cool Canadian Nicknames
Canada has a very friendly, very beautiful natural place, and quite culturally diversified geographies.
One of its more lovable qualities, however, is its fondness for nicknames-along with these are for people, places, or entire regions.
Hockey-inspired epithets to pun-filled city names, Canadians find a way to personalize just about everything.
In this post, we shall examine some of the most famous, quirky, and surprising Canadian nicknames-how it came about, what it means and why it has stood the test of time.
canadian nicknames
Canuck – A common slang term for a Canadian, sometimes used affectionately or humorously.
Hoser – A classic Canadian slang term, originally used as an insult but now often said jokingly, referring to someone a bit goofy or unsophisticated.
Toque-head – A playful term for Canadians who always wear toques (knit winter hats).
The Great One – Nickname for Wayne Gretzky, Canada’s most famous hockey player.
Captain Canada – Used for athletes or figures who strongly represent Canada, like hockey player Ryan Smyth.
The Kid – Refers to hockey star Sidney Crosby, who was called “Sid the Kid” as a young prodigy.
Timbits – Used affectionately for young Canadian hockey players, inspired by the bite-sized doughnuts from Tim Hortons.
Double-Double Nation – A reference to Canadians’ love for Tim Hortons coffee, especially ordering it with two creams and two sugars.
Lumberjacks – A classic image of rugged Canadians working in the forestry industry, often wearing plaid.
Mountie – A nickname for members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
T-Dot (or The 6ix) – Nicknames for Toronto, popularized by rapper Drake.
Hogtown – Another Toronto nickname, historically linked to its meatpacking industry.
The Big Smoke – A nickname for Toronto, possibly from its industrial past or its size.
YVR – A common shorthand for Vancouver, based on its airport code.
Raincouver – A playful take on Vancouver’s notoriously rainy weather.
Lotusland – A nickname for Vancouver, referring to its laid-back West Coast lifestyle.
Cowtown – A nickname for Calgary, reflecting its cowboy and rodeo culture.
Stampede City – Another Calgary nickname, referencing the famous Calgary Stampede.
Deadmonton – A half-joking nickname for Edmonton, used by some when the city seems too quiet.
The Peg – Short for Winnipeg.
Winterpeg – A humorous take on Winnipeg’s famously cold winters.
The Gateway to the West – A nickname for Winnipeg due to its historical role in western expansion.
The Paris of the Prairies – A poetic nickname for Saskatoon, referencing its bridges and beauty.
Queen City – A nickname for Regina, named after Queen Victoria.
The City of Champions – A nickname for Edmonton, originally tied to its sports teams and later to its community spirit after the 1987 tornado.
The Hammer – A nickname for Hamilton, reflecting its industrial, hardworking image.
Steeltown – Another nickname for Hamilton, referencing its steel industry.
Loo – Short for Waterloo, Ontario.
The Royal City – A nickname for Guelph, named in honor of British royalty.
Bytown – The historical name for Ottawa before it became the capital.
O-Town – A casual nickname for Ottawa.
The City That Fun Forgot – A tongue-in-cheek nickname for Ottawa, sometimes used to poke fun at its bureaucratic reputation.
Hali – A shorthand nickname for Halifax.
The Rock – A nickname for Newfoundland, referring to its rugged geography.
The 709 – A nickname for Newfoundland, based on its area code.
The Island – What locals call Prince Edward Island.
The Soo – Short for Sault Ste. Marie.
Sudbury Nickel – A nickname for Sudbury, referencing its giant nickel monument and mining history.
La Belle Province – A nickname for Quebec, meaning “The Beautiful Province.”
The True North – A nickname for Canada, inspired by the national anthem.
The Great White North – A common way to refer to Canada, highlighting its northern location and snowy winters.
Hollywood North – A nickname for Canada, especially Vancouver and Toronto, due to its booming film industry.
Saltwater Cowboys – A nickname for Newfoundland fishermen and horse wranglers on Sable Island.
Bluenosers – A nickname for Nova Scotians, originally from a famous racing schooner.
The Maritimes – A term for the eastern coastal provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Newfie – A sometimes affectionate, sometimes controversial nickname for Newfoundlanders.
Prairie Folk – A nickname for people from Canada’s Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba).
The Left Coast – A playful political nickname for British Columbia, known for its liberal leanings.
Tragically Hip Nation – A cultural nickname for Canada, referencing the beloved Canadian rock band.
Moose Country – A nickname for remote and northern parts of Canada, where moose are common.
Maple Leaf Nation – A patriotic nickname for Canada and its people.
Puckheads – A term for Canadians who are obsessed with hockey.
Beavertails – Refers to Canadians, inspired by the popular fried pastry shaped like a beaver’s tail.
Tundra Dwellers – A nickname for Canadians living in the northernmost regions.
The 49th Parallelers – A term referencing Canada’s border with the U.S., which mostly follows the 49th parallel.
Igloo Dwellers – A stereotype-based nickname, jokingly used for Canadians, even though most don’t live in igloos.
Bilinguals – Refers to Canada’s French and English-speaking population.
Molson Army – A nickname for Canadians who love Molson beer.
Poutine Nation – A cultural reference to Canada’s love for poutine, the iconic fries, gravy, and cheese curds dish.
Cottage Country Crowd – A term for Canadians who vacation in lakeside cottages, especially in Ontario.
T.O. – A common short form for Toronto.
The Megacity – A nickname for Toronto, reflecting its large population and amalgamation of boroughs.
Centre of the Universe – A sarcastic nickname for Toronto, used by other Canadians who think Toronto sees itself as the most important city.
VanCity – A cool shorthand for Vancouver.
The Left Coast – A political nickname for Vancouver and British Columbia, known for its progressive views.
Oil Town – A nickname for Calgary and Edmonton, referencing Alberta’s oil industry.
Battle of Alberta – A nickname for the fierce rivalry between Calgary and Edmonton, especially in hockey.
The Polar Bear Capital – A nickname for Churchill, Manitoba, known for its large polar bear population.
Gateway to the North – A nickname for Edmonton, due to its role as a northern transport hub.
Pothole Capital – A sarcastic nickname for Winnipeg, joking about its rough roads.
The Wheat City – A nickname for Brandon, Manitoba, reflecting its agricultural roots.
P.A. – Short for Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
The Bridge City – A nickname for Saskatoon, referencing its many river crossings.
Heart of the New West – A nickname for Calgary, reflecting its modern and entrepreneurial spirit.
Red Mile – The nickname for Calgary’s entertainment district, famous during hockey playoffs.
Lakelands – A general nickname for Ontario’s cottage country region.
Sunshine City – A nickname for Orillia, Ontario.
The Limestone City – A nickname for Kingston, Ontario, because of its historic limestone buildings.
The Steel City – A nickname for Hamilton, similar to “Steeltown.”
Forest City – A nickname for London, Ontario, due to its many trees and parks.
The Electric City – A nickname for Peterborough, Ontario, for being one of the first cities in Canada to use electric streetlights.
The Gold City – A nickname for Timmins, Ontario, due to its gold mining history.
The Nickel Belt – A nickname for the Sudbury region, known for its nickel mining.
Cottage Country – A term for areas in Ontario, Quebec, and other provinces where people own summer cottages.
The Capital – A simple but common nickname for Ottawa.
Hollywood North – A nickname for Vancouver and Toronto, reflecting their booming film industries.
The Cod Coast – A nickname for Newfoundland, referencing its historic cod fishing industry.
Cape Bretoners – A term for people from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
Bluenose Province – A nickname for Nova Scotia, referencing the famous racing schooner.
The Birthplace of Confederation – A nickname for Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, where the Confederation discussions took place.
True North Strong and Free – A patriotic nickname from the Canadian national anthem.
The Dominion – A historical nickname for Canada, from its former official name, “Dominion of Canada.”
The Beaver Nation – A reference to Canada’s national symbol, the beaver.
Moose Jaw Mafia – A joking nickname for Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, referencing old bootlegging stories.
The Foggiest Place on Earth – A nickname for St. John’s, Newfoundland, due to its frequent fog.
The Iceberg Alley – A nickname for Newfoundland’s coastline, where icebergs from the Arctic drift past.
Big Sky Country – A nickname sometimes used for the Prairies, especially Saskatchewan, for its wide-open skies.
Atlantic Canada – A collective term for the four easternmost provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Snow Belt – A nickname for areas in Ontario and Quebec that get heavy snowfall.
The Land of the Midnight Sun – A nickname for Canada’s northern territories, where the summer sun doesn’t set for weeks.
