You can get divorced for 3 reasons in Canada, 2 of which can be started without being separated for a year
1)Infidelity - very hard to prove, will take a long time to finalize and expensive process
2)Cruelty - same as above
And, of course:
3)Separation for 1 year. It's the easiest, cheapest and quickest way. It's by far the most common because you generally don't need proof. You also don't need to be physically separated. You just have to attest that for all intents and purposes the marriage was over on X date, even though you continued to cohabitate. A lot of people will pick the date that one of them said "I want a divorce" or "I'm breaking up with you". So a year from that date, regardless if you continued to live together, you can file for divorce. The mechanics of how to actually get divorced vary by province, but the laws are federal and apply across the country.
Very important to note, you do not need your partner's permission or participation to get a divorce.