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What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Canada?

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We asked people in Canada if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!...

"It is important to be mindful of cultural customs and taboos when interacting with people in Canada. For example, it is polite to address people by Mr., Mrs., or Miss, or another formal title, rather than only using first names. Additionally, it is important to respect customs like not discussing politics or religion in public or being overly loud in conversation. When eating with others, it is important to wait to be served before beginning to eat. Finally, as a visitor, it is important to be aware of Canadian holidays and not assume holidays celebrated in other countries are celebrated in Canada," wrote a member who made the move to Canada.

"The "embarrassing" blunder we committed is actually leaving our dandelions in the garden because we like them. It's one of the few flowers children are actually allowed to pick in abundance. However, according to several of my friends, it is actually "asocial" to have dandelions in your garden because you "contaminate" the gardens around you and trouble your neighbours who will therefore have to work harder getting rid of theirs. I am still in culture shock and feel sad about this desire to eradicate innocent natural plants (including forget-me-nots, lilies of the valley, and many other beautiful wildflowers which don't cause any harm.)," explained one expat living in Toronto, Canada.

Other Questions:

What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Canada?

If you live in Canada, newcomers to Canada would love to hear your answer to this question.

If your answer relates to a specific city or town in Canada, please include the name of the city/town below:


About the Author

Betsy Burlingame Betsy Burlingame is the Founder and President of Expat Exchange and is one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Prior to Expat Exchange, Betsy worked at AT&T in International and Mass Market Marketing. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in International Business and German.

Some of Betsy's articles include 12 Best Places to Live in Portugal, 7 Best Places to Live in Panama and 12 Things to Know Before Moving to the Dominican Republic. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.

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