The great explorers of Canada faced remarkable and spectacular difficulties. Canada's vast geography and northern character have meant that the exploration of the lands that now constitute Canada extended over three centuries, perhaps more. Canada fronts on three oceans — Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic — and the European discovery and exploration of Canada was undertaken by way of all these seas and their respective approaches to the adjacent hinterlands. The Bay of Fundy, the St. Lawrence River, and the straits near Newfoundland were vital waterways of approach for the Atlantic. For the Pacific, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Georgia, and the Inside Passage were prominent in the approaches from saltwater. For the Arctic Ocean, Hudson Bay and the Northwest Passage were critical to the coastal exploration of northern Canada and the northern rivers such as the Coppermine and Mackenzie. One of the central features of Canadian geography is the Canadian or Laurentian Shield, which fringes the northern boundary of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior, which drain to the Atlantic. The exploration of the St. Lawrence system, including the Great Lakes, was, like the exploration of much of the sea coasts of the country, a water-borne affair.

Canada's history of exploration and discovery rests on indigenous native contributions, French reconnaissance of the eastern seaboard and continental accesses, and British discoveries. In an earlier age, the Norse and Viking peoples explored parts of northeastern Canada but left comparatively little of record that would give them prominence among the list detailed here. In 1880, Britain transferred all its priority of discoveries, and its territorial acquisitions in northern North America, to the Dominion of Canada. By that date the general features of a nation from sea to sea to sea — Atlantic to Pacific to Arctic — had been acquired. The process was very much a European contribution, by persons from Europe, or by French and English living in Canada. Spain made some contributions to Pacific Coast discovery, but constraints of space do not allow for their inclusion here; besides, none of the Spanish explorers ranks of greater importance than James Cook.

From the early European era of discovery, when Canada and New France were being developed, John Cabot, Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain stand out. Late in the seventeenth century Henry Kelsey reached the Canadian plains, and his amazing journey to open up trade with the Indians is central to the discovery of the continental interior.

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