McDonald’s opened its first Canadian restaurant in Richmond, British Columbia, in 1967.
The opening marked the company’s first international expansion. Canada was a natural early choice because of its geographic proximity to the United States and strong economic ties. The Canadian business later became one of McDonald’s largest national markets.
McDonald’s international growth is often confused with its later openings in other countries. The chain entered Japan in 1971 and opened in the Soviet Union in 1990, but Canada came much earlier. The Richmond restaurant therefore represents a key early step in the franchise’s worldwide development.
McDonald’s began franchising before its Canadian launch, and its global restaurants generally operate through a mix of franchisees, development licensees, and company-owned locations. The Canadian opening helped establish the model outside the United States.