Objective: To explore the polysaccharides from selected seaweeds of Atlantic Canada and to evaluate their potential anti-influenza virus activities. Methods: Polysaccharides were isolated from several Atlantic Canadian seaweeds, including three red algae (Polysiphonia lanosa, Furcellaria lumbricalis, and Palmaria palmata), two brown algae (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus), and one green alga (Ulva lactuca) by sequential extraction with cold water, hot water, and different alkali solutions. These polysaccharides were analyzed for monosaccharide composition and other general First author: Guangling Jiao, Ph.D candidate, Glycochemistry and glycobiology, Email: sebrina2006@gmail.com; Corresponding author: Guangli Yu, Professor, Glycochemistry and glycobiology, E-Mail: glyu@ouc.edu.cn. chemical properties, and they were evaluated for anti-influenza virus activities. Results:Total sugar contents in these polysaccharides ranged from 15.4 % (in U. lactuca) to 91.4 % (in F. lumbricalis); sulfation level was as high as 17.6 % in a polysaccharide from U. lactuca whereas it couldn't be detected in an alikali-extract from P. palmaria. For polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds, the main polysaccharides were sulfated agar and carrageenan for P. lanosa, F. lumbricalis, and xylans for P. palmata. In brown seaweeds, the polysaccharides mainly contained sulfated fucans, whereas the polysaccharides in green seaweeds were composed of heteroglycuronans. Screening for antiviral activity against influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus revealed that brown algal polysaccharides were particularly effective. Conclusion: Seaweeds from Atlantic Canada are a good source of marine polysaccharides with potential antiviral properties.