Canada opened McDonald’s first restaurant outside the United States, in 1967.
The restaurant opened in Richmond, British Columbia, near Vancouver, marking McDonald’s first international expansion. Canada became an important early market for the chain and remains one of its largest international markets.
This expansion helped establish McDonald’s branding beyond the United States while the company was still developing its global identity. The famous Golden Arches and standardized restaurant design began appearing in new countries as McDonald’s expanded.
A common mix-up is Australia, which was an early international market but opened its first McDonald’s later, in 1971. Japan also joined the chain later, opening its first restaurant in 1971.