Canada was McDonald’s first international market, entered with a restaurant in Richmond, British Columbia.
McDonald’s opened its first Canadian restaurant in Richmond in 1967. The expansion marked the beginning of the company’s international restaurant network, which later spread across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and many other regions.
The Canadian opening was significant for branding because it tested whether McDonald’s recognizable name, restaurant design, menu presentation, and Golden Arches could travel beyond the United States. The company retained core visual elements while adapting operations and selected menu details to local markets.
A frequent mistake is identifying Puerto Rico as the first international market. Puerto Rico opened a McDonald’s restaurant in 1967 as well, but Canada is generally credited as the company’s first international market. The Richmond restaurant therefore occupies a central place in McDonald’s global branding history.