Canada became McDonald’s first international market when the company opened a restaurant in Richmond, British Columbia, in 1967.
The opening marked McDonald’s first expansion beyond the United States. The Canadian restaurant helped establish the chain’s recognizable branding outside its home country, including its menu, service model, and Golden Arches identity.
McDonald’s later expanded into many other countries, but Canada came before Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The first Canadian location was not the same as the company’s first restaurant overall, which had opened in San Bernardino, California.
The Canadian launch also began a long cross-border relationship between McDonald’s and its northern neighbor. Today, Canada remains one of the chain’s largest international markets.