Charles Doolittle Walcott named Canadia in 1911 after Canada, the country from which its remains have been found.

A 1998 paper suggested that it may have been iridescent due to the supposed presence of diffraction gratings,[3] however other studies have interpreted these structures as internal microvilli.

The gut of Canadia was straight and had the ability to extend out of the body in the form of a proboscis, suggesting that the animal was carnivorous.

[5] Canadia is thought to have swum above the seafloor as a primary means of locomotion by beating its numerous notosetae.

[7] However, Wiwaxia is no longer believed to have been an annelid and there is currently dispute as to whether or not Canadia should be classified as belonging to anything more derived than Polychaeta.