Canadian Culture

Needless to say it is impossible to describe the "average" Canadian in terms of their culture because everyone is different and unique. In fact, the celebration and recognition of being individual and unique is perhaps one of the things that Canadians have in common. Being different and individual is promoted and respected. Most Canadians are very proud of their country’s diversity and celebrate peoples’ differences. Schools tend not to encourage school uniforms in order to make children look similar for example and it is usually okay not to "conform".

Canadians are generally fairly informal at work and especially at home. Strangers are welcomed into their homes in a relaxed manner without ceremony or rituals and simply invited to join in as part of the family. Canadians are generally very polite and respectful of each other, especially to neighbors and colleagues.

Outside of work life centers heavily around family activities and sports/recreation. Weekends are taken up with family picnics, canoeing, skiing or skating (in winter), camping, hiking or days at the beach. The "great outdoors" are definitely not wasted. Kids are encouraged to play sport such as hockey, baseball, basketball and soccer.

Although not officially the national sport, ice hockey is definitely the nation’s favorite and Canadians are enthusiastic followers of their local hockey team.

People in Canada work hard and play hard. It’s considered important to succeed but, at the same time, Canadians are not big risk takers. They generally have a frugal attitude to managing finances and save and invest cautiously and methodically for the long term and look forward to long, healthy and well-funded retirements.