What Is Canada Like?

[NoOne]

Very stupid but honest question. What is Canada like?

My interest stemmed from a Canadian show I found on YouTube that was called "Zero Hour" which basically was about the bad things humans have done, like 9/11, the OK bombing, the Columbine high school shooting, you get the point. I started looking up all these jokes and facts about Canada because I noticed the environment (at least the environments in the show) looked a lot in America's. Apparently, it snows a lot and there's a lot of construction. I don't know if this is true, I'm just saying what I looked up. Also, Canadians say sorry a lot and they're more polite than Americans (but then again, I think everyone is more polite than Americans...). I also read that Canada is pretty liberal and irreligious, but again I'm not sure. By the way Canada sounds so far, I might want to live there when I'm older. I live in northeastern part of the U.S. and used to live in MN, I'm so used to snow. And my current town is always having the roads re-done. I need more polite, overly-apologetic people in my life because I'm kind of like that lol. While I'm not completely a liberal, I definitely like them more than conservatives and I would like more irreligious people in my life too. And the middle class is shrinking here so I don't want to see what it'll be like by the time I'm an adult. I don't know Canada's economic situation though.

So, any Canadians here? I'd love to hear your stories. What's the same and what's different about America and Canada?

Thanks~!!

[florduh]

It's been a long time since I visited Canada, but I know and have met quite a few Canadians. I like 'em. Don't tell Margee.

[duderonomy]

I live in Michigan and have visited Canada a few times over the years. I've never had a negative experience with Canada or any Canadians I met there. I know (knew...it's been a while) some people that live here that were born and raised in Canada, and they were quite nice.

 

Sorry I don't really have anything more than that to offer. I hope one or two of our Canadian members here see this and post. It would be interesting to see what they say.

 

I'm also hoping one of them will let me crash on their couch for four to eight years if Hillary gets elected, but that's another story.   

[mwc]

     It's been nearly 30 years since I've been to Canada but as I recall it was a creepy place with people that were almost just like regular folks but just a little bit "off."  They pronounced some words a bit funny and were generally pleasant overall.

 

     Now, my brother-in-law, on the other hand, was whisked away without a sound (without anyone noticing at all mind you it was like he disappeared into thin air) when we walked into the place and was very quickly and efficiently searched (he says he was stripped searched...if so this happened in the space of a few minutes).  Once we even noticed his absence and were going to ask the authorities to help us find him he appeared from the side door and told us they were the ones that had silently took him away (he was never more that a foot behind us).  His opinion is lower than the rest of ours.

 

          mwc

[Fweethawt]

So you're thinking of moving to Canada, eh. (Not a question in Canada. Get used to it.)

 

I spent a month in Tillsenburg (sp?). Everybody was quite nice and they were really big on Tim Horton donuts.

[★ Citsonga ★]

I think everyone is more polite than Americans...

 

You think Osama bin Laden was more polite than my mother?

 

Just nit-picking. I'm sure you didn't mean it that literally, but I just want to clarify that there are plenty of Americans who are polite. Just because many aren't doesn't mean that none are.

 

I've only been to Canada once. My family went to Niagara Falls for a weekend. That's not enough to rate the country, but I didn't have any problems with anyone when I was there. From what I've heard, Canada seems like a great country and overall probably is better than the USA, but I absolutely HATE cold weather, so there is no way that I could ever move to Canada. I can visit in the summertime, but they can keep their winters!

[disillusioned]

I'm a Canadian. I've lived here my whole life.

 

Some differences:

 

We have fewer people. A lot fewer. Like, the whole country has about 35 million.

 

We have more space. A lot more space. America is big. Canada is much bigger. And because we have fewer people, it feels even bigger. If you've ever driven through northern Ontario, you know what I'm talking about.

 

We really do love hockey. We like other sports too, but if you run into someone on the street, chances are they are a hockey fan first and foremost.

 

Yes, we do say "eh". Most of the time we don't notice it.

 

Cost of living is somewhat higher here, but so is average income so we don't really notice it that much.

 

Politics is different here, and we're not nearly as into it as you guys are. To give you an idea of this, we have a federal election in October, and no one has really started campaigning yet.

 

We don't own guns (as a general rule). One of my friends has a family member who hunts. I also know some police officers. I don't know of anyone else who has guns. I've never held or fired a gun, and the only time I've ever seen one on sale was in the US. I don't even know how I would go about getting one here. (This, of course, is different if you live in remote areas of Canada).

 

We're a little more socialistic than our southern cousins. We've had universal health care since forever. Our taxes are also (generally) higher.

 

We're usually quite polite. We tend not to speak our minds quite as much as some other people. We also apologize for everything. Seriously. If someone bumps into me, I will usually apologize to them. We actually have laws that make offering an apology not an official admission of wrongdoing for this very reason.

 

Lawsuits are far less common here.

 

There's also the whole French thing. There are parts of Canada where it is non-existent, but others where it is the default.

 

Our money is plastic, although this is relatively new. It's also brightly coloured. (And we tend to spell colour with a "u").

 

Poutine is awesome.

 

Our bacon is regular bacon, not the so called "Canadian Bacon". I've never met anyone who refers to "Canadian bacon" as "bacon".

 

If you order Rye here, you will be getting Canadian Whiskey. This may or may not actually be Rye whiskey. It's awesome in any case. Bourbon isn't nearly as popular here, because we all drink Rye.

 

I prefer our macro beer to yours, generally speaking.

 

Job prospects aren't great. If you want to move here, make sure you have a job lined up ahead of time. Also, make sure you get started on the paperwork before you move, otherwise you might just find out that you're ineligible to work and unable to become eligible.

 

The bottom line, though, is that Canada is huge. Where you live in Canada will have an incredible effect on your "Canadian experience". Living in Igloolik is about as different from living in Toronto as living in a Las Vegas casino is different from living in Anchorage. If you live in Toronto, your daily experience on average will be quite similar to living in the North Eastern United States. If you live elsewhere, it could be drastically different.

 

I'm happy to try to answer any further questions...

[Overcame Faith]

I have been to Halifax, Quebec, Toronto, and Victoria, BC. I love it every time I go there. Beautiful country and beautiful people. They also have one of the coolest flags in the world.

[Margee]

It's been a long time since I visited Canada, but I know and have met quite a few Canadians. I like 'em. Don't tell Margee.

Even though you are an American and also live in Florida, I forgive you because I find you to be such a nice person.  I think you were a Canadian in another life...

 

I'll be back to post later when I have some time.... 

 

((hug))

[Ravenstar]

Canada is big.. like unbelievably huge. So it's very diverse. I grew up on the West Coast, a lot like Seattle, or Portland. Very laid back, lots of hippie types.. weather is fantastic (if you don't mind rain) Rarely get's cold. Everywhere else has pretty brutal winters - but you get used to it and summer is that much more sweet!

 

We have REALLY big mosquitoes. Like landing gear big, but at least winter kills them off for half the year.

 

Alberta is the most redneck, Saskatchewan we leave to farmers… not much to see there unless you like prairie, and wheat, and more prairie, Manitoba is damp - and cold - but there's work in Winnipeg, it's where we keep most of our Native Canadians. Quebec, unless you speak french is intolerable - except for Montreal, which is an amazing city. I despise Ontario, which sucks because I live here right now but I do have to say Toronto is a lovely city for it's size… as you get farther east you get into the land of Newfies. (Sorry) - very, very friendly but you have to experience them to understand - however some of the most wonderful scenery is on the east coast.  

 

Compared to the USA it's pretty clean up here and there is less junk food and less fast food places, and more ethnic diversity – especially in the major cities.

 

I haven't been way north other than to vacation so I can't speak about the people.

 

The ROCKIES!!!!  Banff and Jasper are must see's - absolutely amazing.

 

Maple Syrup.

 

Fresh Salmon. (on the Coasts) and Lobster.

 

We are politically apathetic, and although very proud of our country we don't wear it on our sleeves - not so much nationalistic. You won't see Canadian flags flying in people's yards.

 

We actually DO have armed forces - highly trained and dispatched all over the world, they don't brag much and since we have a minuscule military budget there's not that many, but they do exist. The Canadian armed forces are respected all over the world, from what I hear.

 

Beer… and BBQ's. Cottages, fishing, hunting is big and I have to disagree about the guns. There are a LOT of rifles and shotguns in Canada - but they are used for hunting, not shooting people, mostly. Handguns are rare among regular people.

 

Universal healthcare… don't know how people exist without it. We also have a lot more social programs than the USA, which kind of explains the high taxes I guess.

 

Potholes.  Lots of trees.

 

Most Canadians know more about American politics than our own… I blame Cable TV.

 

Our Prime Minister is a twat. Maybe he won't be Prime Minister for much longer (?).

 

We used to do a lot of really good stuff all over the world - but not as much anymore (see above).

 

We are, for the most part, fairly well-educated. Well, at least literate.  

 

One big difference - we feel pretty safe, overall, compared with the USA. I rarely lock my door and have no problem walking through my city streets at any time.

 

I don't think I could live any other place except maybe, Sweden.

 

Find an employer before coming up… they can sponsor you.

[Burny]

What other Canadians have said is mostly true although I bristle at being labeled a 'redneck' because I'm Albertan. We elected a gay Muslim mayor and are trying very hard to shed our image as 'rednecks', although I have to admit the older generation is still very cowboy. I'm from Calgary, which is one of the best places to find a good paying job in Canada, thanks to the Oil and Gas industry which I have a love / hate relationship with. Calgary is regularly put in one of the top places to live in the world, thanks to its booming economy and proximity to some of the most pristine mountain wilderness on earth. (Contact me personally for details, I have climbed many of the mountains here and can supply you with a link to more details.)

 

All the economic downturns over the past decade were barely felt in Calgary or in most of Alberta as a whole - I certainly never experienced anything other than a slight cut in wages one year. Some people did lose their jobs and I volunteer with a food shelter, so I know people have been affected here, but on the whole it's nothing compared with the USA or other parts of Canada.

 

I think the further west you live, the more 'green' you'll find the culture and the warmer the weather, other than southern Ontario which is pretty warm too.

 

Canadians don't generally wear their religions on their sleeves and many of us are non religious. That being said, there are pockets of extremely fundy sects including Mormons, Mennonites, Dutch Reformed and others. It's a HUGE country so it's easy to hide your sect somewhere out in the country where nobody is going to bother you.

 

In general we are quite liberal in our world views and politics. Even the 'conservative' government is actually center or even slightly left leaning. We believe in equal rights for everyone, no matter their sexual orientation, gender, race or political persuasion - other than those fundy sects I mentioned above of course! Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming and drinking beer are national past times. The younger generation is really all about love-ins and getting along with everyone and accepting people for who they are. I am really encouraged by our youth - they know what's going on in the rest of the world and they seem to be the voice of reason and change towards tolerance and peace. We are well traveled and respected throughout the world as non-confrontational and easy to get along with.

 

Canadians aren't just peace loving hippies though! We are TOUGH. This is probably because we live in a fairly harsh climate where we often have to get ourselves out of trouble. Many of us come from farms, where we learned how to work for very little pay and what life is really all about. This is very slowly changing as we become urbanized, but our history is definitely a farming nation. I don't think many people realize how truly massive our country is. I live in a city of 1.1 million (which is considered very large here) and I've climbed mountains 2.5 hours away that have only ever seen two other people on the summit! You can drive for over 12 hours and still be in the same damn province. LOL.

 

Yes, our winters can be brutal, but we enjoy them for the most part. We have warm houses and hockey. We have curling and downhill ski resorts that are rated very highly around the world. We have ice fishing, dog sledding and snowmobiles. And when summer hits we have daylight from 05:30 in the morning until 22:00 at night! I can play a full round of 18 holes after work and still get home in day light. We really take advantage of our long summer days. Most of Canada doesn't have to worry about tornadoes, hurricanes or tsunamis either - this is a very comforting thought. Canada has some of the largest reserves of fresh water anywhere in the world, which will become very important in the future.

 

It's not all roses. We treated the original people of our country like crap. Mostly it was the Catholic church, who tore native Americans away from their families and forced them into institutional schools where they were abused sexually and emotionally. We destroyed a culture and now we're paying for it with a subset of our people living in poverty and crime. This is a huge black eye for Canada and we seem incapable of admitting our mistake, fixing it, and moving on. The most similar other country to Canada is Australia. Many young people from Canada will go there for a year and many young people from Australia will come here. I guess we like their lack of snow and they like our piles of it!

 

Because of our size and lack of population, the infrastructure (i.e. roads, rails) isn't nearly as developed as in the USA or especially Europe. It simply costs too much and we don't have enough people to pay for it. Driving on gravel roads is a common thing for most Canadians. Everyone here understands what a "washboard road" is.

[florduh]

I'm sure I could be quite content living in Canada were it not for the climate. It was hard enough growing up in Ohio!

 

I know people who fled to Canada to escape the draft during the Vietnam War. I admit it was a consideration, but my Conscientious Objector status was actually approved at the last minute so I just did civilian service elsewhere in Ohio. I do know that though amnesty was eventually granted, many who fled to Canada just stayed there anyway. Those American expatriats are probably today's Canadian Rednecks. 

[Astreja]

I was born in Montreal and spent My childhood there.  Lots of good stuff there, but you'll enjoy it more if you speak French.  Eastern Townships of Quebec have a few English-speaking communities but mostly francophone, but the scenery there is drop-dead gorgeous.  Fairly high humidity around Montreal, so summers are not that great.

 

I've lived in Winnipeg since 1977.  We have an amazing arts community (multiple symphonies and bands, ballet, theatre, and lots of festivals).  Sports are hit-or-miss.  Winters can be very cold, but have been less so over the past couple of years.  Lots of lake country a reasonably short drive away if you like to hang out at a summer cabin.

 

Urban centres are by and large non-religious, although the occasional godbotherer comes a-knocking at the door.

 

Rural Manitoba, particularly southeast and south-central Manitoba, is sometimes obnoxiously religious and occasionally in the news for opposing gay-straight alliances or trying to push prayer on students.  Generally very nice people, though.

 

Educational resources are generally good to very good.  Health care is free; prescription drugs are not, alas.  Roads could be better-maintained.

[DragonTheDruid]

Reading all these posts just make me want to move to Canada even more than I already wanted to. =P

[buffettphan]

Reading all these posts just make me want to move to Canada even more than I already wanted to. =P

 

 

I feel the same way!  

 

I've been to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and some other small towns on our "Northern Road Trip" a few years ago.  Never got approached by a religious person at all whatsoever in over a week there.  (Since I live in the US Buybull Belt, that was a welcome change of pace from my usual life!)   The people were all very nice -- just like the Canadians on Ex-C.    Had a great time.

 

So many things make me think about moving there (the health care system and lack of fundies, for example). If it weren't for that awful winter weather............   I also spent time in Ohio--in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades--with snow up to my knees on Halloween and on my birthday in April (thankfully not continuously though - lol).  I don't ever want to live that far north again.

[Jeff]

Jelly donuts !!!!

[DragonTheDruid]

 

Reading all these posts just make me want to move to Canada even more than I already wanted to. =P

 

 

I feel the same way!  

 

I've been to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and some other small towns on our "Northern Road Trip" a few years ago.  Never got approached by a religious person at all whatsoever in over a week there.  (Since I live in the US Buybull Belt, that was a welcome change of pace from my usual life!)   The people were all very nice -- just like the Canadians on Ex-C.    Had a great time.

 

So many things make me think about moving there (the health care system and lack of fundies, for example). If it weren't for that awful winter weather............   I also spent time in Ohio--in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades--with snow up to my knees on Halloween and on my birthday in April (thankfully not continuously though - lol).  I don't ever want to live that far north again.

 

I've not travelled outside of the Pacific Northwest and while I like it a lot here, it's still crazy USA and it's still too hot in southern WA for me(85 is too hot for me), however I do not have a very strong heat tolerance and lose my appetite/get really irritable in hot weather, so I definitely want to move farther North at some point, whether it's just north Washington or if it's somewhere farther up, like Canada =)

[★ Citsonga ★]

Politics is different here, and we're not nearly as into it as you guys are. To give you an idea of this, we have a federal election in October, and no one has really started campaigning yet.

 

That's probably the greatest thing about Canada. I despise the politics down here in the USA. Our next presidential election is a year and a half away and I'm already sick of hearing about it.

[francesco]

 

 

:troll:

 

I'll put my experience living in vancouver later

[Stamps1962]

I have to say, the only people I meet in Canada I don't like are the customs police. God, what is it with those people? My wife is much more traveled than I and she says they are the nastiest in the world. It's like they send them all to some school where they learn to be officious, arrogant, rude and petty. Every time we drive up there we sort of assume we will be detained at the  border. I think we may be in some computer registry. It must be our ages- they seem to think we are coming up there to mooch off their health care system. It didn't used to be this bad, just in the past several years- I think it has something to do with the current government's policies toward immigration and curbing alleged abuse of the healthcare system by outsiders. Hopefully you fine folks up there will get a new PM and government this Fall. It's overdue, IMO. That's my two cents and my opinion only.  

[sparklingphoenix]

now I want to move to Canada! ...but I don't know what kind of job I could get and I'm cold-intolerant Health care in the US is so frustrating. I need it but I can't afford it even with insurance... 

[Blood]

It'd be nice to live in a country where fundamentalists don't run everything. 

[RealityCheck]

I have to say, the only people I meet in Canada I don't like are the customs police. God, what is it with those people? My wife is much more traveled than I and she says they are the nastiest in the world. It's like they send them all to some school where they learn to be officious, arrogant, rude and petty. Every time we drive up there we sort of assume we will be detained at the  border. I think we may be in some computer registry. It must be our ages- they seem to think we are coming up there to mooch off their health care system. It didn't used to be this bad, just in the past several years- I think it has something to do with the current government's policies toward immigration and curbing alleged abuse of the healthcare system by outsiders. Hopefully you fine folks up there will get a new PM and government this Fall. It's overdue, IMO. That's my two cents and my opinion only.  

Agreed with Stamps1962.  I visited the country for the first time last week (Toronto area).  Apparently, the CBSA is suspicious of anyone traveling alone therefore I was pulled aside and received a full interrogation.  If you're going there, just be sure to have a step by step itinerary and state the reason for your trip clearly.  It helps if you know people up there as well (as it's one of the first questions I was asked).  Once you get past those thugs, you're in for an amazing time.  I found most of what has been said on this thread to be quite accurate. 

[disillusioned]

 

I have to say, the only people I meet in Canada I don't like are the customs police. God, what is it with those people? My wife is much more traveled than I and she says they are the nastiest in the world. It's like they send them all to some school where they learn to be officious, arrogant, rude and petty. Every time we drive up there we sort of assume we will be detained at the  border. I think we may be in some computer registry. It must be our ages- they seem to think we are coming up there to mooch off their health care system. It didn't used to be this bad, just in the past several years- I think it has something to do with the current government's policies toward immigration and curbing alleged abuse of the healthcare system by outsiders. Hopefully you fine folks up there will get a new PM and government this Fall. It's overdue, IMO. That's my two cents and my opinion only.  

Agreed with Stamps1962.  I visited the country for the first time last week (Toronto area).  Apparently, the CBSA is suspicious of anyone traveling alone therefore I was pulled aside and received a full interrogation.  If you're going there, just be sure to have a step by step itinerary and state the reason for your trip clearly.  It helps if you know people up there as well (as it's one of the first questions I was asked).  Once you get past those thugs, you're in for an amazing time.  I found most of what has been said on this thread to be quite accurate. 

 

 

That's funny, because I have almost the exact same experience every time I go south of the border. For some reason US customs hates me. Coming back is literally like "Are you going home? Anything to declare? Ok, have a nice day!".

[Margee]

I stay in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for one reason and it's this.....

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dartmouth-shop-has-best-fish-and-chips-in-canada-1.1397382

 

 

If you're not fussy for fish and chips, I suggest you move to the interior of British Columbia. It is classified as the 'Hawaii of Canada'. I lived there for 3 years and if I could wiggle my nose today, that's where I would be living. The winters are very short and the rest of the year it is absolutely gorgeous.