The past few years has given many Canadians more time at home and they’ve used it to find new activities to keep minds and bodies well. More than half of all Canadians polled discovered a new hobby in the last two years, and 94% of people who have started a new pastime have continued with it!1 Have you discovered a new pastime or passion? Check out the activities below for some inspiration to try something new.
36% of Canadians polled learned a new recipe2
It’s been said that cooking doesn’t just feed bellies; it feeds minds. So, it should come as no surprise that many Canadians have embraced the heat of the kitchen to help soothe stress, build self-esteem and curb negative thinking. It’s also a perfect way to share some joy this holiday season!
Two out of every 10 people have taken up arts and crafts6
Whether it’s knitting, woodworking, sewing, painting or photography, Canadians have embraced their creative side over the past several years. Some have even found success in turning their new crafting skills into a side hustle.
40% of Canadians are now skating3
Hockey is the most popular way that Canadians have been using their skates! If you haven’t been on the ice lately, why not take the opportunity to go with friends or family this winter?
61% took up reading4
There’s only so much time one can and should spend on their phone, so it’s wonderful to see so many Canadians get back into reading. Fun fact: Did you know that as of January 2021, 75% of book purchases were print books?3
24% of Canadians tried a new sport5
Staying active was a huge help for many Canadians over the past few years, and many looked beyond the usual to try something new! Popular activities included running, hiking, yoga, weight training or cycling, much of which can be enjoyed alongside someone or even alone.
Sources:
- Matt Schulz, “53% Who Took on a Pandemic Hobby Went Into Credit Card Debt as a Result,” 4/6/2021, PRNewswire, (accessed 11/30/2022)
- Charlebois S, Music J, Faires S. “The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Food Literacy: Results of a Cross-National Survey.” Int J Environ Res Public Health. 5/20/2021, Int J Environ Res Public Health, (accessed 11/30/2022)
- Toronto Mike, “What Are the Most Popular Winter Sports in Canada?” 1/12/2022, TorontoMike, (accessed 11/30/2022)
- Szabolcs Szecseimarch, “20 Book Industry Statistics for Canadian Bookworms,” 3/25/2022, ReviewMoose, (accessed 11/30/2022)
- Narrative Research, “Two-thirds of Canadians have taken up a new hobby since the pandemic began, with playing games, cooking and baking being the most common,” NARRATIVE RESEARCH, 2/12/2021, (accessed 11/30/2022)
- Jakob Straub, “Study finds language learners are determined to keep up efforts after the pandemic,” 8/20/2021, Lingoda, (accessed 12/2/2022)
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