Canada vs. Mexico in Numbers

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July 12, 2024

Satellite image of North America — Learn more about the differences and similarities between North American neighbors Canada and Mexico. (Shutterstock/MND)

Neighbors of the United States. Signatories to the USMCA trade pact. Members of the G20 and APEC. Former colonies of European empires.

Mexico and Canada have their similarities, but there are also some major differences between the two North American nations. Their geographical size, for example.

In this article — the latest addition to our “Canada in Focus” and “Mexico in Numbers” series — I’ll present a selection of Mexico and Canada data and make some objective comparisons between the two countries.

How much longer is the Canada-United States border than the Mexico-U.S. border?

How many Canadians live in Mexico?

How does the coldest temperature ever recorded in Mexico compare to the coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada?

Read on to find out!

Population data

The population of Mexico is more than triple that of Canada.

Mexico’s population was just over 126 million at the time of the last census in 2020 and exceeded 131 million last year, according to the National Population Council.

According to the Canadian government, Canada’s population exceeded 41 million people in the first quarter of 2024 and was 41.01 million on April 1.

Mexico is the world’s 10th most populous nation (just ahead of Ethiopia and behind Russia), while Canada ranks 38th.

Population density in Canada is just over four people per square kilometer, making the country one of the world’s least densely populated. There is a lot of space out there on the Canadian Shield and in the Canadian Prairies!

By contrast, Mexico’s population density is about 66 per square kilometer, or more than 16 times higher than that of Canada.

Area and other geographical data

Canada, as you already know, is BIG. How big? Almost 10 million square kilometers — 9,984,670 square km to be exact. Canada is thus the second largest country in the world behind Russia.

Mexico — the world’s 13th largest country by area — covers 1.96 million square kilometers. It could fit into Canada more than five times over.

While Mexico is divided into 32 states (including Mexico City), Canada has 10 provinces and three territories. Canada’s largest territory, the sparsely populated Nunavut, is slightly bigger than all of Mexico.

Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan in the territory of Yukon, is the second highest peak in North America after Denali, located in Alaska. It is 5,959 meters high, just over 300 meters higher than the 5,636-meter-high Pico de Orizaba, an active stratovolcano on the Veracruz-Puebla border that is Mexico’s highest peak and the third highest in North America.

Canada and Mexico size comparison — Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area, and Mexico is the 13th largest. (Thetruesize.com)

Meanwhile, the land border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, measuring 8,891 kilometers. Canada, of course, has both southern and northwestern borders with the United States, the latter separating the territory of Yukon from Alaska.

The Canada-U.S. border (or borders) is almost three times longer than the 3,145-kilometer-long border between Mexico and the United States. In kilometer terms, it is 5,746 km longer than the Mexico-U.S. border.

The Canada-U.S. border is considerably less fortified than the Mexico-U.S. border. There is no border wall, and one section of the border is (or was) marked by nothing more than a row of potted petunias.

Economy: What does the data say?

Mexico became the the 12th largest economy in the world in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while Canada ranked 10th.

The IMF estimates that the nominal GDP of Canada was US $2.14 trillion last year, making the Canadian economy about 1.2 times the size of the Mexican economy. Mexico’s nominal GDP was $1.79 trillion in 2023, according to the IMF.

Wealth, as measured on a per-person basis, is almost four times higher in Canada.

Per-capita GDP in Canada was US $53,371 in 2023, according to the World Bank, while the figure for Mexico was $13,926.

Mexico’s economy grew 3.2% last year while the GDP of Canada increased by 1.1%.

Indigenous peoples in Mexico and Canada

There are much higher numbers of Indigenous peoples and groups in Mexico than in Canada.

According to the results of the 2020 census, 23.2 million people aged 3 and over in Mexico identify as Indigenous. That figure accounted for 19.4% of the total population of that age, according to the national statistics agency INEGI.

By contrast, Canada’s 2021 census counted around 1.8 million Indigenous persons, or about 5% of the total population.

There are 68 different Indigenous groups in Mexico, including the Maya, Yaqui, Chontal, Mixtec, Nahua and Tarahumara peoples.

The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples: the First Nations people, the Inuit and the Métis.

A child wearing a cowboy hat and traditional clothing looks at the camera as festival dancers prepare to perform in the background. — There are 68 Indigenous groups officially recognized in Mexico, including Purépecha communities like this one in Coeneo, Michoacán. (Juan Jose Estrada Serafín/Cuartoscuro)

Canadians in Mexico, Mexicans in Canada

Mexico’s 2020 Census counted 12,439 Canadian residents in Mexico.

However, the Canadian government says that over 50,000 Canadians live in Mexico. That number presumably includes “snowbirds” who spend winter months in Mexico.

According to the Mexican government, 129,745 Mexicans were living in Canada in 2020. Some of that number are students.

In 2023, the Canadian government issued over 23,000 study permits to Mexican students.

The Canadian government also said that in 2023 over 12,000 Mexican students took part in short-term language courses in Canada that didn’t require a study permit. That number represented a 47% increase from 2022.

A closeup of a Canadian visa. — Canada recently began requiring visas for Mexicans wishing to enter Canada. (Shutterstock)

The number of Mexicans seeking asylum in Canada increased significantly last year, leading Canada to take the decision to end visa-free travel for some Mexicans earlier this year.

Tourism

Mexico’s Tourism Ministry reported in February that just under 2.47 million Canadians flew into Mexico last year, a 40.3% increase compared to 2022. Canada was Mexico’s second largest source country for tourists after the United States.

According to the Canadian government, more than 350,000 Mexicans visited Canada in 2022, a figure described as “close to pre-pandemic levels.”

Based on the numbers above, Canadian tourism to Mexico is about seven times greater than Mexican tourism to Canada.

Highest and lowest temperatures in Mexico and Canada

Canada, of course, has a considerably colder climate than Mexico. How cold can it get in the “Great White North”? Very.

The lowest temperature ever recorded in Canada was -63 C (-81.4 F) in Snag, Yukon, on Feb. 3, 1947.

That record low is more than 30 degrees colder than the coldest temperature ever recorded in Mexico. On Jan. 11, 1962, the mercury dropped to -30 C (-22 F) in Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico’s coldest ever recorded temperature.

Canada recorded its hottest temperature much more recently.

On June 29, 2021, the mercury soared to a record high 49.6 C (121.3 F) in Lytton, British Columbia.

According to several media reports, the highest temperature ever recorded in Mexico was 58.8 C (137.8 F) in San Luís Rio Colorado, Sonora, on July 6, 1966.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

This article is part of Mexico News Daily’s “Canada in Focus” series. Read the other articles from the series here.

Querétaro airport on track to become Mexico’s first aerospace port

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MND Staff

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July 12, 2024

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A rocket blasts through clouds and into the blue sky, representing Querétaro airport's goal of becoming an aerospace port — Studies show Querétaro airport's location and facilities make it a candidate to become an aerospace port. (Shutterstock)

The Querétaro International Airport (AIQ) may be the first airport in the country to host an aerospace port.

Preliminary studies show that AIQ has the appropriate conditions to operate a spacecraft takeoff and landing base, according to Marco Antonio del Prete, Querétaro’s secretary of sustainable development. These positive features include the airport’s location, good weather conditions (low humidity without high temperatures), lack of extreme weather events, low population density around the airport, and a more than 4-kilometer runway.

The studies are a step toward becoming a certified aerospace port with the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The next step is to obtain final approval from the FAA, a process that will take about six months. A consulting firm from the U.S. is advising AIQ to achieve the final certification.

Del Prete explained that the upcoming assessment will determine whether additional infrastructure in the airport would be needed. These may include hangars, fuel storage tanks or other specific requirements.

According to Del Prete, no airport in the region provides assistance to spaceships. “This would be the first spaceport in the country and probably in Latin America,” he said.

Marco Antonio del Prete and other Querétaro officials look at machinery in an aerospace industry factory. — Querétaro Sustainable Development Secretary Marco Antonio del Prete visits a factory that supplies the aerospace sector, a growing part of Querétaro’s economy. (Marco del Prete/X)

This certification would first allow Querétaro to expand its presence in the aerospace industry and attract companies in the sector interested in developing ships and manufacturing components for the aerospace industry, Del Prete added. Looking forward, they would use Querétaro airport as a spacecraft take-off and landing base.

“This is a niche industry, because it is not that developed. But the sector is becoming democratized; it is becoming more and more commercial. There are more companies that are starting to venture into this field, and the space port will help us attract them,” Del Prete explained.

Querétaro is a major hub for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Mexican aerospace industry. From 2006 to the first quarter of 2024, Querétaro captured 7.8% of FDI in the industry as per figures from the Economy Ministry. In that period, the country received US $3.7 billion in aerospace investment, mainly from the United States, France and Spain.

Del Prete has praised the rise of aerospace supply in the state, particularly in maintenance, heat treatments, and engine parts production.

With reports from Milenio, Cluster Industrial and El Economista

Authorities ‘close’ controversial Poseidon statue in Yucatán

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MND Staff

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July 12, 2024

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Visitors take photos near a statue of Poseidon in the ocean outside Progreso, Yucatán — The Progreso City Council apparently built the statue in a marine area without first completing an environmental review. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

The statue of Poseidon in the surf just off the coast of Progreso, Yucatán, has been “closed” by Mexico’s Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa).

The 3-meter-tall statue of the “king of the seas” was erected at El Playón beach in May to promote tourism, but Profepa announced Thursday that the Progreso City Council completed the project without obtaining environmental impact authorization from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).

“Profepa inspectors in the entity have imposed the temporary total closure of the work,” the agency said in a statement.

Neither the statement nor media reports mentioned exactly how one “closes” a huge statue that is located in the water 5 to 15 meters off the beach, depending on the tide level.

All Profepa said was that its office in Yucatán state “will continue with administrative procedures to determine the appropriate actions.” An authorization from Semarnat was necessary because the structure was installed in marine waters off the coast.

A photo of the statue with the word “CANCELADO” in big, red font “stamped” over it ran in the newspaper El Financiero, which also used the cheeky headline “Chaac 1, Poseidon 0.”

Profepa officials stand on the beach near the "closed" statue of Poseidon in Progreso, Yucatán. — Profepa officials visited the statue after becoming aware that lacked proper environmental permits. (Profepa)

That was in reference to the hullabaloo that followed a fake event listing on Facebook calling for the statue of Poseidon, a god from ancient Greek mythology, to be torn down because it was an affront to the Maya god of rain, Chaac.

More than 6,000 people said they would attend the destruction on July 15, an event that never occurred. The listing did, however, spark an avalanche of social media posts.

Many pointed out that the recent onslaught of heavy storms in the Yucatán Peninsula had not coincidentally occurred since the Poseidon statue was installed in late May — because an angry Chaac was unleashing his wrath. Chaac is said to strike the clouds with his lighting ax to produce thunder and rainstorms.

Many of the posts went viral, and there was a lot of newspaper and TV coverage.

Although the social media eruption was mostly tongue-in-cheek, there was actually a formal complaint filed on behalf of an Indigenous person in the area, according to La Cadera de Eva.

The digital site reported that the civil association Indigenous Strategic Litigation filed a petition to have the statue removed because it “violates the human right to a healthy environment.” The suit cites an environmental law “that says that our environment cannot be modified.”

With reports from Reforma and El Financiero

México state to join bilateral firearms tracing initiative

By

MND Staff

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July 12, 2024

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Twenty-two Mexican states already use the eTrace system, which helps authorities identify leads in the trafficking of firearms between the U.S. and Mexico. (@FiscaliaEdomex/X)

In an ongoing effort to contain arms trafficking from the United States, México state is receiving training to utilize the eTrace platform that tracks the purchase and use of firearms used in violent crimes.

Twenty-two Mexican states and the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) have already been accredited to use the eTrace system which was created by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to electronically exchange traced firearm data via a secure internet-based environment.

Last year alone, the United States opened 655 cases of arms trafficking to Mexico using eTrace. (@FiscaliaEdomex/X)

U.S. and Mexican officials met Wednesday to discuss progress on the joint initiative that has already resulted in 473 arrests and the removal of some 10,000 firearms from Mexico’s streets. Last year alone, the United States opened 655 cases of arms trafficking to Mexico.

The ATF and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) are also training state authorities to identify arms and ammunition.

“The reason for this collaboration is to improve the best practices for identifying weapons so our forensic experts have all the necessary information [to trace them accurately], said INL Director Leah Pease.

According to the ATF, the eTrace system “is key in generating investigative leads to help solve violent crimes. … [to] quickly identify potential gun traffickers and suspects in criminal investigations. eTrace is used to trace crime guns from their original manufacturer or importer, through the wholesale/retail distribution chain, to the first person who bought them.”

During a June 27 conference at the United Nations, Mexico’s Public Security Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez urged the U.N. to take steps to curtail the arms trafficking that has contributed to rising violence in Mexico.

The subject of arms trafficking was also addressed by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar during U.S. Independence Day celebrations in Mexico City. “While celebrating 248 years of our democracy, our commitment is to continue the important work of guaranteeing security for our two peoples.”

Back in December, Salazar had acknowledged that arms trafficking to Mexico was a serious problem, with 70% of firearms used in violent crimes in Mexico coming from the United States.

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry estimates that 200,000 firearms enter national territory every year, of which Mexico intercepts only about 5%.

The 22 Mexican states already using eTrace are Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Puebla, Querétaro, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Yucatán and Zacatecas.

With reports from El Sol de Toluca, Excelsior and Milenio

CDMX authorities shut down illegal mega-market

By

MND Staff

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July 12, 2024

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The market operated in a 16-story building known as Plaza Izazaga 89, located at the southern end of the capital’s Historic Center. (Cuartoscuro)

Mexico City authorities on Thursday shuttered a downtown mega-market specializing in Chinese goods known as “Mexico Mart.”

The city’s Institute of Administrative Verification (Invea) stated that the shopping plaza and individual stores were being investigated for selling contraband and failing to pay import fees.

Plaza Izazaga 89, or Mexico Mart, after being shut down by Mexico City authorities on Thursday — This is the second time that authorities have shut down Plaza Izazaga 89 under the suspicion that vendors are selling contraband goods. (Cuartoscuro)

The target of the raid was a 16-story building named Plaza Izazaga 89, located at the southern end of the capital’s Historic Center.

Plaza Izazaga 89 came under the spotlight last month after a June 16 front-page exposé in the newspaper Reforma entitled: “Chinese emporium thrives in informality.” The report claimed that the popular shopping plaza sold a large variety of products cheaply, without receipts or warranties, while employees were paid under the table.

Invea agents arrived at the plaza to carry out an inspection early on Thursday, accompanied by officials from the Interior Ministry as well as city officials from three agencies: Housing and Urban Development, Civil Protection and the Historic Center Authority.

As the market was opening, Invea agents sealed the building with official notices ordering it to remain closed. Some merchants had managed to close up their shops and prevent their goods from being confiscated, but the news site Infobae reported that 300 tons of merchandise had been seized.

Invea said that neither the individual shops nor the building owner had filed proper documentation reflecting the business being conducted at the site, as reported by the news organization Aristegui Noticias. Officials told reporters that the decision to close the building was taken for safety, security and health concerns.

This is not the first time Plaza Izazaga 89 has been shuttered. In March, Invea closed the mega-market while investigating accusations of contraband goods that had been smuggled into the country illegally, primarily from China and South Korea.

The newspaper La Jornada reported that Mexico City health inspectors had previously closed down several shops in the plaza for selling electronic cigarettes and accessories, all of which are banned in Mexico by presidential decree.

With reports from La Jornada, Aristegui Noticias and Infobae

Sheinbaum to start term with 3 passenger train projects; railway sector responds

By

MND Staff

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July 12, 2024

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President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum pointing to a presentation of a new passenger train route — President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed her plans to open three new passenger train routes by the end of her six-year term. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro) MARIO JASSO/CUARTOSCURO.COM

On Wednesday, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled her plans to build — not one, but three — new passenger train routes in Mexico based on the model of the Maya Train, which used a combination of public and private investment.

These three lines will connect Mexico City with Nuevo Laredo, Mexico City with Guadalajara and the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) with Pachuca.

Sheinbaum expects construction on the three routes to be completed before the end of her term in 2030. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

At a press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum confirmed her interest in developing new train routes, building on President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s commitment to revive passenger trains across the country.

Speaking on Wednesday, the president-elect provided further details of her plans, detailing which routes she will seek to develop and the public tender timeline.

For two of the three routes, the passenger lines will seek to use the same rights of way currently used by private freight operators. Existing tracks will be rehabilitated or new tracks will be laid along freight lines to accommodate the passage of both.

So far, three international firms have shown interest in the public tender to build the train cars: French Alstom, Spanish Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and Chinese CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive.

The new passenger train routes

Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo

On Monday, Sheinbaum announced a new passenger route passing through eight states, starting in Mexico City and ending in the border city of Nuevo Laredo. Construction on the route is scheduled to begin in October and will be completed in December 2029, Sheinbaum said.

Mexico City to Guadalajara

This train would connect Mexico City with the western city of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Sheinbaum said this line could be extended to the border city of Nogales, Sonora. Construction is also expected to begin in October and finish in May 2029.

This route will pass through Mexico City, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Guanajuato and Jalisco, covering 581 kilometers of railway.

AIFA to Pachuca

This route will connect the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) in México state with Pachuca, Hidalgo.

The first part of this train, which connects Buenavista station in Mexico City with the AIFA, is on track to be completed before the end of López Obrador’s term in September, as announced by the president at a press conference in May.

AIFA-Pachuca, like Buenavista-AIFA, will require new tracks to be laid.

Mexico’s railway sector is “all aboard”

The head of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF), Óscar del Cueto, celebrated Sheinbaum’s announcement.

In an interview with the newspaper El Economista, del Cueto said that planning three train lines — instead of the eight routes originally proposed during Sheinbaum’s campaign — shows a well-structured start for her government. However, he said that completing the routes in five years depends on the successful negotiation of right of way, which implies a complex analysis.

Members of the AMF — including Canadian Pacific Kansas City — have carried out several technical studies to analyze the feasibility of new train projects.

With reports from Milenio, El Economista, CNN, El Financiero, and Proceso

Talk about ‘tiempo’ with these handy words for time

By

Paulina Gerez

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July 12, 2024

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A woman checking a smart watch — De vez en cuando, we all need new vocabulary. Paulina Gerez is here to help. (Luke Chesser/Unsplash)

¡Hola a todos! It’s time to practice our Mexican Spanish once again — and today we’re going to learn about adverbs of time. Adverbs of time are words that help us situate actions or events in time. They are essential for structuring and correctly understanding sentences. They can help you describe the frequency with which you do something.

Here are some of the most common adverbs of time in Spanish, focusing on “a menudo,” “de vez en cuando,” and “rara vez” in context to illustrate their usage.

A menudo

Meaning: Often

Examples:

A menudo visito a mis abuelos los domingos. (I often visit my grandparents on Sundays.)
A menudo leo antes de dormir. (I often read before going to sleep.)
No salimos a cenar muy a menudo. (We do not often go out for dinner.)
A menudo practicamos deportes en el parque. (We often play sports in the park.)
A menudo me reúno con mis amigos para tomar un café. (I often meet my friends for coffee.)

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De vez en cuando

Meaning: Occasionally

Examples:

De vez en cuando me gusta salir a caminar. (Occasionally, I like to go out for a walk.)
De vez en cuando vamos al cine a ver una película. (Occasionally, we go to the movies to watch a film.)
De vez en cuando cocino una cena especial para mi familia. (Occasionally, I cook a special dinner for my family.)
De vez en cuando hago ejercicio por las mañanas, pero casi siempre en las tardes. (Occasionally, I exercise in the mornings but more often in the afternoons.)
De vez en cuando tomamos un día libre para relajarnos. (Occasionally, we take a day off to relax.)

Rara vez

Meaning: Rarely

Examples:

Rara vez veo televisión. (I rarely watch television.)
Rara vez salgo a bailar los sábados. (I rarely go dancing on Saturdays.)
Rara vez como comida rápida. (I rarely eat fast food.)
Rara vez viajo por trabajo. (I rarely travel for work.)
Rara vez tengo tiempo para descansar durante la semana. (I rarely have time to rest during the week.)

These adverbs are fundamental tools in learning to talk about time in Spanish. They allow us to place actions within a temporal framework and enrich our conversations. Familiarizing yourself with these adverbs and practicing them in various contexts will improve your fluency and understanding of the language. Start using them and see how your Spanish starts flowing!

Paulina Gerez is a translator-interpreter, content creator, and founder of Crack The Code, a series of online courses focused on languages. Through her social media, she helps people see learning a language from another perspective through her fun experiences. Instagram: paulinagerezm / Tiktok: paugerez3 / YT: paulina gerez

Why Mexicans and Canadians make for natural buddies

By

Ian Ostroff

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July 12, 2024

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Mexicans with a Canadian flag — While they might seem an unlikely pair, Mexicans and Canadians are actually best friends. (Can Pac Swire/Flickr)

Recently, my cousin in Mexico City joked that he believed every Mexican’s dream was to live in Canada and every Canadian’s dream was to retire in Mexico. He works in real estate, so I guess he was speaking from experience. But I’m in a different field and I have to admit, I didn’t understand his perspective at first.

I grew up in Montreal with a Mexican mother. As a kid it was normal for me to interact with both Canadians and Mexicans, whether at social gatherings, on the phone or at the supermarket.

Inuits — Mexicans in Canada have to dress like this to beat the cold. Every day. Even in summer. Especially in Summer. (Bushcraft Buddy)

But now I’m 30. If there’s anything I’ve learned in that time, it’s that anyone can get along with both Canadians and Mexicans. In the last three years, I’ve all over Mexico and met travelers from all over the world, both there and in Canada.

Visitors to Mexico almost universally love their time in the country, in no small part due to the warmth of the locals. Canadians have a similar reputation for being polite, which has now become a well-known and universally respected stereotype.

Here’s why Canadians and Mexicans make great friends.

Warmth & community spirit

Mexicans have strong family values. After all, I’m always surrounded by relatives when I visit my grandmother in México state. I can’t escape them. But they have a warmth that makes me feel right at home. It also translates into their friendships, interactions with neighbors and even passing strangers on the sidewalk.

Three years ago in Bacalar, a local I befriended told me something interesting. She said that, as a native Mexican, she’s used to saying good morning, good afternoon, and good evening to every person she makes eye contact with throughout her day. When she leaves a restaurant or convenience store, she always thanks the owners and staff, even if the service isn’t five stars.

This is a community spirit that resonates with me as a Canadian. In major cities like Montreal and Toronto, it’s easy to get caught up in the rat race. You work hard to get ahead at the office and at times struggle to find balance. But despite that, most Canadians don’t let career stress damage their relationships. I have friends who work in busy corporate environments, but you’d never know if you met them at the bar on a Friday night.

In other words, we treat people the way we want to be treated and try not to let our everyday problems affect our interactions with others. This mentality allows us to be more approachable and respectful. I think Mexicans also understand this. It’s almost like a compatible energy we both feel. In other words, kindness is super contagious.

Nightlife & incredible food

Poutine tacos — Admittedly, these poutine tacos may not be the perfect way to fuse Canadian and Mexican cuisine, but they’re definitely both great examples of delicious food on their own. (Reddit)

Mexicans love to drink and throw parties. That’s nothing new to vacationers who have stayed in places like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen or Puerto Escondido. It’s no less true in smaller cities too however. Salsa bars and late-night taquerias are perfect examples of how Mexicans love to eat, socialize and dance all night.

Where I’m from in Montreal, we’re known for having a thriving nightlife culture and many amazing restaurants from different cuisines. Other major Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver also have a present nightlife that’ll appease most party animals.

Pride at beating the U.S. at any sport

Crying baseball child — Mexicans and Canadians will always love beating the United States, at literally any sport. (Screen capture)

If we have anything in common, it’s that both Mexicans and Canadians have a complicated relationship with the United States. This of course goes beyond sports, but that doesn’t mean the rivalries both nations have with the U.S. in various sports and events are irrelevant.

The U.S. often cleans up at the Olympics and is known to have elite professional leagues in its own sports, like American football, basketball and baseball. From Mexico’s rivalry with the U.S. in soccer to Canada’s in hockey, winter Olympics events and basketball, both fan bases can find common ground in their shared rival and take pride in beating the powerhouse athletes the U.S. often produces.

One of my fondest memories with my dad was seeing him cheer with absolute joy when Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal against the U.S. in the gold medal hockey match at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Along with my brother, we were the lone Canadians in a bar full of Americans, which made the victory even sweeter.

In contrast, I also remember the sadness my Mexican family felt when the Americans knocked Mexico out of the 2002 World Cup. Ask any group of Mexican soccer fans on the street, and they’ll agree that had that defeat been against any other nation, it wouldn’t have been as painful.

That’s one of many reasons El Tri has ensured they’ve never lost to the U.S. at the Estadio Azteca. Let’s hope it stays that way forever!

Did we just become best friends?

Step brothers — “Did we just become best friends?!”

Canadians and Mexicans may be divided by distance and language, but they connect on the important things.

With countless Canadians visiting Mexico every year and thousands of Mexicans living in Canada, the chances of us becoming best friends have never been higher.

Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.

This article is part of Mexico News Daily’s “Canada in Focus” series. Read the other articles from the series here.

Heavy rains continue across Mexico through Friday morning

By

MND Staff

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July 11, 2024

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Three Mexico City residents in single file, crossing a rainy street carrying umbrellas. — Mexico has had its rainiest June in years, and this week has been no exception, as this picture from Tuesday in Mexico City shows. The National Meterological Service has predicted intense to heavy rains will continue over most of the country at least until Friday morning. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)

Heavy rains are expected to persist in much of Mexico throughout Thursday evening, due to the impact of tropical waves 8 and 9, according to the National Meteorological System (SMN).

Troughs over Mexico’s west, northeast, east, and center, combined with humidity coming in from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, brought electrical storms, strong winds and hail to some parts of Mexico — and rain, lots of it. And will continue to do so overnight, the SMN predicted.

Satellite weather map from Mexico's National Meteorological Service labeling several weather systems and two tropical waves currently bringing heavy rains to most of Mexico — A satellite weather map shows how low-pressure systems, two tropical waves and other factors are leaving most of Mexico very, very wet. (SMN)

Here’s a look at what the SMN is predicting through 8 a.m. Friday.

Rainfall by states

Intense rainfall, expected to bring a total of 75 to 100 mm through Thursday, is forecast for parts of:

Coahuila
Nayarit
Jalisco
Colima
Michoacán
Guerrero
Morelos
Veracruz
Oaxaca
Chiapas

Very heavy rains (50 mm to 75 mm) are forecast for parts of the following states:

Nuevo León
Tamaulipas
San Luis Potosí
Guanajuato
Querétaro
Hidalgo
México state
Puebla

And SMN predicted between 25 and 50 mm of rain for areas of:

Sonora
Chihuahua
Durango
Sinaloa
Zacatecas
Aguascalientes
Mexico City
Tlaxcala
Tabasco
Campeche
Yucatán
Quintana Roo

Light rainfall, i.e. less than 5 mm, is expected for Baja California and Baja California Sur.

In addition, SMN is warning of brief, occasional but intense electrical storms until 9 p.m. Thursday in areas of the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatan, Campeche Quintana Roo, Guerrero, Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Zacatecas and Durango, with wind gusts of 40 km/h to 60 km/h and possible hailstorms in Sonora and Sinaloa.

The SMN has warned that heavy, sudden rainfall could lead to landslides, increased river and stream levels, and flooding in low-lying areas and urged residents of areas experiencing heavier levels of rain to take precautions.

Updated forecasts and alerts can be found at the SMN’s account on the social media platform X.

The national weather agency also said it is monitoring a potential low-pressure zone south of the Yucatán Peninsula, with a 20% probability of cyclonic development in the next week.

Mexico has had a rainy summer so far, with its rainiest June in more than 80 years. July is expected to continue the same trend, with some models predicting rainfall well above average in many parts of Mexico.

Mexico News Daily

Nike and Jordan Brand open flagship store in Mexico City

By

MND Staff

-

July 11, 2024

1

The store will offer a sneaker customization workshop and exclusive events for Nike members and the brands' sponsored athletes. (Nike)

Nike and Jordan Brand opened a “one-of-a-kind retail destination” in the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center on Thursday.

Sneakerheads will find the shop on the corner of Madero and Gante streets, right next to the famed Iturbide Palace. The over 22,000 square-foot Nike & Jordan World of Flight Mexico City is the two retailers’ first store in Latin America. It is also just the two brands’ fifth joint location in the world.

Shoppers will find the latest innovations of both brands for sale there, including the Air Jordan 5 “El Grito,” starting Sept. 7. Designed to celebrate Mexico’s heritage, the new sneaker, inspired by Miguel Hidalgo’s historic “Cry of Independence” on Sept. 16, 1810, “commemorates Mexico’s fight for freedom, while expressing the pride in Mexican diversity through mysticism, culture and traditions.”

The retail price of the sneaker will be US $225.

Nike touted their new three-story Mexico City showroom in a press release, calling it “more than just a store.”

“The space is designed to serve Nike Members, who will have the opportunity to participate in exclusive sport, wellness and creativity events featuring Nike and Jordan Brand’s elite athletes, clubs, collaborators and more,” the brand proclaimed.

The Jordan World of Flight space will offer “exclusive footwear drops” and a workshop where fans can customize their Air Jordans and other sneakers, the companies announced. (Nike)

The Jordan space features “a lineup of exclusive high-heat footwear drops and hyperlocal apparel, as well as the Jordan Workshop experience. … Local basketball-inspired artwork and photography will highlight the city’s rich creative community, and The Lounge will provide a gathering place for the basketball community.”

Buyers can also customize the Air Jordan 1, Diamond Short and other iconic styles.

The Nike space begins on the second floor and provides “direct access to the brand’s latest innovations alongside immersive customization experiences.” The second floor is dedicated to women and girls, while the Nike by You experience is found on the third floor along with the Nike Football zone.

Limited-edition T-shirts, laces and dubraes (ornamental shoelace tags) paying homage to the rich culture of Mexico City and created in partnership with Mexico City-based graphic designers TodoBien Estudio will also be available while supplies last.

“Our exclusive products and member-only events from both brands are an invitation for the Latino community to join the Nike family,” Doug Bowles, vice president and general manager for Nike Latin America, said in a press release.

With reports from Yahoo! Finance, Expansión and Sneaker Bar Detroit