If you were to inquire with any upperclassmen about the Canvas Email feature, there's a good chance they either have no idea it exists or will burst into laughter at the suggestion that they've ever used it. Among all the features on the website, it's perhaps one of the most underutilized. After all, why bother with it when Gmail is just so much better?
But here's the twist: Professors. Some educators have recognized how students generally disdain email and decided to make the experience a million times worse by adopting the Canvas version as their primary mode of communication. Due to this unfortunate fact, it's important to at least familiarize yourself with how to use Canvas email or locate it so you don't miss an important message.
This feature is aptly named 'Inbox' on Canvas and can be found on the same bar as the dashboard link. It shares a visual resemblance with most email platforms, albeit it's considerably simpler, which might be viewed as both a pro and a con.
One key distinction between Gmail and your Canvas inbox is that, in the latter, you can only message a limited number of people. By default, you have access to email each of the professors you have in a given semester. You might also be able to message individual students from the class, but this is only possible if the professor has made the class list visible to students. If the list is private, you'll need to use Gmail. Furthermore, you can utilize Inbox to promptly send a message to a Canvas group you're a part of. These groups usually correspond to discussion or project teams, and it can be quite helpful to email the entire group if you encounter an issue or need to pose a question.
While it's not a feature you'll use frequently, taking the time to become familiar with it could prove to be exceptionally useful down the road.