Who were the first Europeans known to reach Canada? The answer: the Vikings. Around the year 1000 CE, Norse explorers led by Leif Erikson landed on the shores of Newfoundland and established a settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This makes them the earliest known Europeans in North America, arriving centuries before Christopher Columbus. Their journey is an important part of Canada’s early history and contributes to our national identity.

Viking exploration is occasionally featured in Canadian Citizenship Test questions, especially in topics related to Canadian origins and historical firsts.