Canada received the first McDonald’s restaurant outside the United States, opening in Richmond in 1967.
The Canadian opening marked an important step in McDonald’s international branding history. Richmond, British Columbia, became the company’s first location beyond the U.S. border, establishing a model for carrying the restaurant’s name, visual identity, menu structure, and service system into other countries.
The opening is sometimes confused with McDonald’s first European or Asian expansion. The company later entered many international markets, but Canada came first outside the United States. International growth also required local adaptations, including menu choices, advertising language, and operating practices.
The Canadian business eventually became one of McDonald’s largest national operations. Its history illustrates how the company combined standardized branding—especially the arches and restaurant identity—with country-specific products and marketing.