Mile Zero, Victoria.
Image Credit stevevoght

Sometimes it is exciting the stop and see the “Worlds Biggest something”. Many small towns in Canada make claim to something that is apparently the World’s Biggest. Often there is a monument celebrating it – from hockey sticks, to fruit, to a piece of mechanical equipment. While there is much to see on the road across Canada, the list below was compiled focusing on those attractions that are a “World’s Biggest” or of special local theme.

Roadside attractions are a great place to stop and take photos. Everyone chooses different routes across Canada and so you might have to detour to see some of these.

Mile Zero, Victoria

At the intersection of Douglas Street and Dallas Road you will find Mile 0 – the western end of the Trans Canada Highway. Here you will find a small monument to mark the beginning (or end) of your cross-Canada adventure.

World’s Tallest Totem Pole, Alert Bay

This totem pole stands at 173 ft (56.4 m), in Alert Bay, BC a town with slightly more than half of the village’s 556 residents First Nations people, in traditional Kwakwaka’wakw territory.

The Penticton Peach, Penticton

This Peach celebrates the great peaches grown in Penticton. Penticton is home to PEACHFEST – an annual, South Okanagan Valley tradition, which first began in 1947, to celebrate the peach harvest in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. Peachfest always starts on the morning of the first Wednesday after the long weekend in August, and runs for 5 days, finishing on Sunday night.

The Titan – World’s Largest Truck, Sparwood

From the plaque:

The Titan – World’s Largest Truck, Sparwood.
Image Credits 844steamtrain

The biggest truck in the world! Titan 33-19. It can hold 2 buses and 2 pickups (or 2,000,000 golf balls) and is about the size of the largest of the dinosaurs, but the Titan was built to haul 350 tons of earth in mining operations. The Titan began to take shape on the drafting boards of General Motors London offices in 1968 and by 1974 the monstrous truck was finished and loaded onto 8 railway cars for display at the American Mining Convention in Las Vegas. The impressive off-road hauler was the talk of the convention and Kaiser Steel agreed to put the truck to work at the Eagle Mountain Mine in southern California. In 1978 Kaiser moved the Titan to its coal mining operation near Sparwood where the hauler joined a fleet of smaller trucks to move earth away from the coal seams in the open pit mine.

It even has its own WebCam! Click here to see the truck live.

Inukshuk, Vancouver

The Inukshuk statue is located at the southern end of English Bay Beach.

From the plaque:

Inukshuk, Vancouver.
Image Credits GlacierTim

Ancient symbols of Inuit culture traditionally used as landmarks and navigation aids, this grey granite statue representing a human form with outstretched arms is a well-known symbol in Canada of northern hospitality and friendship. Constructed originally by Alvin Kanak of Rankin Inlet, this monument was commissioned by the Government of the Northwest Territories for its pavilion at Expo 86, and given to the City of Vancouver. Permanent location of the Inukshuk on this site was sponsored as a gift to the city in 1987 by Coast Hotels through the Vancouver Legacies Programs. Vancouver Board of parks and Recreation

Penny, Salmo

Salmo is located 43 km east of Castlegar at the junction of Highway 3 and 6. I’m not too sure why there’s a giant penny here, beyond it having something to do with a GST Penny Drive Bank.

Salmon, Sandspit or Sicamous

Both Sandspit and Sicamous have a giant salmon, if you happen to be passing through and like salmon!

World’s Largest Tin Soldier, New Westminster

This Giant Tin Soldier stands at 32 feet tall, weighs and 5 tonnes. It was built as part of 9-day fundrasing event at the Festival of Trees.

World Famous Gnome, Nanoose Bay.
Image credits Lori & Todd

World Famous Gnome, Nanoose Bay

If you’re travelling along Highway 19, you will likely spot this 29 foot gnome at the Nanoose Esso. It was originally built as a junk art project in the late 90s by Nanoose Bay resident Ron Hale.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Fort St. James

The Mountie was carved in 1992 at the Vancouver PNE, and represents the typical image tourists have when they think of Canada, or the RCMP.

Lumberjack and Chainsaw, Fort St. James

Another carving in Fort St. James, this logger was carved in 1993 at the Grouse Mountain resort, and depicts the importance of forestry to most communities in British Columbia.

Canadian Flag, Falkland

What Canadian tour would be complete without a photo next to a giant Canadian flag? Falkland is home to Western Canada’s largest Canadian flag. It was built in support of the I Care Campaign which received international attention when the people of Falkland challenged the rest of Canada to fly the Canadian Flag.

World’s Largest Hockey Stick and Puck, Duncan

Found on Vancouver Island, the Worlds Largest hockey stick and puck were built in 1985 out of Douglas Fir, reinforced with steel, and weighs 61,000 pounds. They can be found outside the the Cowichan Community Centre.

Hockey Sticks, Dawson Creek

If you’re looking for some more hockey monuments to stand by, head up to Dawson Creek for their giant Hockey Sticks.

World’s Largest X Country Skis, 100 Mile House

100 Mile House is serious about cross country skiing – as the home of one of the longest groomed network of trails in Canada. Here you will find the world’s largest pair of cross country skis, along with a pair of 9m/30ft poles.