Hospitalizations and mortality for stroke have been declining. However, stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability for Canadians. This study provides an overall picture of the burden of hospitalized stroke in Canada. Acute care hospital separations from the most recent three fiscal years (2007/08 to 2009/10) with a primary diagnosis of stroke (ICD-10-CA: I60-I69) were identified. The number of stroke hospitalizations, average length of stay (LOS), and discharge dispositions, by age, gender, and province/territory were calculated using IBM/Cognos Data Cubes. The number of stroke hospitalizations remained steady over the three years. The proportion by gender was similar, with males accounting for 51.7% of stroke hospitalizations in 2007/08, 52.3% in 2008/09, and 52.2% in 2009/10. There were more male than female stroke hospitalizations in younger age groups, and more female than male hospitalizations after 80 years of age. The average LOS was 15.3 days over the three years, with females staying longer than males (16.5 vs. 14.1 days). Longer LOS was seen in PEI (22.3 days), NS (21.3 days), and MB (19.9 days); shorter LOS was seen in NB (13.5 days), ON (13.9 days), and SK (14.6 days). The average rate of discharge home was 41.4% over the three years (males: 45.6%; females: 36.8%). Higher rates of discharge home were seen in PEI (57.2%), NT (50.3%), and BC (48.5%); lower rates were seen in NL (22.8%), ON (33.7%), and SK (38.8%). The average in-hospital case-fatality rate was 15.5% (males: 13.6%; females: 17.5%). Higher rates of case-fatality were in NL (18.2%) and NS (17.8%); lower rates were in AB (13.2%), PEI (13.8%), and NB (13.9%). Further, the overall rate for transfer to another health care facility was 43.2% (males: 40.8%; females: 45.7%). In comparison, hospitalized cardiovascular diseases (I00-I99) over the three years had a shorter LOS (8.6 days, males: 7.9; females: 9.7), and a higher discharge home rate (61.6%, males: 64.3%; females: 57.6%), a lower in-hospital case fatality rate (6.6%, males: 5.7%; females: 7.7%). This study provides an overall picture of hospitalized stroke across Canada. In general, stroke hospitalizations have a longer hospital stay, higher in-hospital case fatality, and lower rate of discharge home, which increases the burden per case on the Canadian health care system. Further, characteristics of stroke hospitalizations varied across Canadian provinces and territories. Significant differences in stroke management in Canada need to be addressed.