Canada Local Customs

  Fishermen!
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      Fishermen!
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  •   Local Customs
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  • Totem on Vancouver Island
      Totem on Vancouver Island
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  •   Local Customs
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  • Wall Art in downtown Vancouver
      Wall Art in downtown Vancouver
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Canada

126.

Tipping   Toronto

Tipping, Toronto

 13 Reviews  Think. Don't listen to ignorant people about tipping. 10% is an insult at a sit down restaurant. Remember, 15% is an average standard tip all over the world, and included in EVERY bill in most... 

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127.

Drugs & alcohol   Vancouver

Drugs & alcohol, Vancouver

 5 Reviews  A clever new nickname for Vancouver that I just heard recently. Let me dispel the rumours somewhat. Yes the laws towards marijuana are somewhat less strict here (and everyelse in Canada) than other... 

 See All 127 Local Customs in Vancouver

128.

Bilinguism   Montreal

Bilinguism, Montreal

 34 Reviews  I was somewhat worried about communicating in Montreal, especially as most of the signs are in French, but I didn't have a problem at all. We didn't run into anyone who didn't speak english.... 

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129.

Local food and drinks   Quebec

Local food and drinks, Quebec

 26 Reviews  Through our trip to the provences of Quebec and New Brunswick we would stop at a restaurant and see the mysterious word "Poutine" on the menu. Finally I was brave enough to ask, "What the heck IS... 

 See All 86 Local Customs in Quebec

130.

Drinking/Buying alcohol   Ottawa

Drinking/Buying alcohol, Ottawa

 10 Reviews  It happens for three days, once a year. The Ottawa Wine and Food Show is an excellent place to try different wines, food and other spirits prepared and presented by local businesses among others.... 

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131.

Cultural/Historical   Victoria

Cultural/Historical, Victoria

 24 Reviews  An artist and writer concerned with the culture of the First Nations of British Columbia, and thoroughly appreciative of the natural beauty of the place, Emily Carr is probably helped develop the... 

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132.

Cultural Mosaic   Edmonton

Cultural Mosaic, Edmonton

 4 Reviews  The Festival usually takes place the first weekend in August . Hawrelark Park serves as the venue where all the different ethnic groups have their tents and stages up. You can learn about the... 

 See All 24 Local Customs in Edmonton

133.

Calgary Stampede   Calgary

Calgary Stampede, Calgary

 8 Reviews  One of Calgary’s symbols is a White Cowboy Hat. This is the home of the Stampede and of course you'll want to be one of the good guys wearing a white hat rather than wearing a black hat. White Cowboy... 

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134.

General city Information   Winnipeg

General city Information, Winnipeg

 1 Review  The legal drinking age in the province of Manitoba is 18 years. If you look 20ish, you will be asked for ID when buying alcohol or entering a pub. It is illegal to drink alcohol in public other than... 

 See All 10 Local Customs in Winnipeg

135.

Birds/ Animals/Flowers   Banff National Park

Birds/ Animals/Flowers, Banff National Park

 25 Reviews  These cheeky little fellows popped up everywhere and were a joy to see. Please do not feed them although they will squeek for your attention = when tourists are thin on the ground they have to survive... 

 See All 44 Local Customs in Banff National Park

136.

Summer festivals   Charlottetown

Summer festivals, Charlottetown

 3 Reviews  In August, there's Old Home Week at the Charlottetown Driving Park. The main event is the big horse race, but there's also a midway with carnival rides and games, as well as farm animal exhibits. All... 

 See All 9 Local Customs in Charlottetown

137.

People / Different cultures   Toronto

People / Different cultures, Toronto

 37 Reviews  Tastes of Thailand offered a wealth of activities that surely made a mark to event goers who like cultural dance and music. I have enjoyed the parade of native Thai costumes. It was colourful. You... 

 See All 190 Local Customs in Toronto

138.

Language, accents & slang   Vancouver

Language, accents & slang, Vancouver

 8 Reviews  Take note of Vancouver's proprietary geographical terms. “The Valley” is the Fraser Valley, roughly from Surrey to Hope. “The Island” is Vancouver Island. There are other islands, but this rule is... 

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139.

Français   Montreal

Français, Montreal

 18 Reviews  If the red octogon isn't obvious enough, "Arrêt" is the French word for "Stop". Apparently the province of Quebec is the only place in the world where they have translated the word "Stop" on stop... 

 See All 224 Local Customs in Montreal

140.

Languages (French, English)   Quebec

Languages (French, English), Quebec

 20 Reviews  Outside the Old City, very few people speak fluent English, but in the tourist area, most everyone speaks English. Signs, however, are often only in French (unless the English is smaller), so take... 

 See All 86 Local Customs in Quebec

141.

French and English   Ottawa

French and English, Ottawa

 11 Reviews  Canada is English speaking, apart from Quebec which has remained French speaking, with people of French origin. Ottawa and Gatineau are divided by Ottawa river, Ottawa being in Ontario on the English... 

 See All 83 Local Customs in Ottawa

142.

Currency/Tipping   Victoria

Currency/Tipping, Victoria

 6 Reviews  Please excuse me if you think this is a silly tip but I just wanted to point out that American coins (quarters, dimes, nickels etc) are NOT considered eligible for preferential exchange in stores or... 

 See All 58 Local Customs in Victoria

143.

Fort Edmonton Park   Edmonton

Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton

 1 Review  Fort Edmonton Park, Canada’s largest open-air history park, is a recreation on the city’s early history. There’s an evocative reconstruction of the original Hudson’s Bay Company trading post of 1846,... 

 See All 24 Local Customs in Edmonton

144.

Mountains   Calgary

Mountains, Calgary

 1 Review  1.Canadians in general are very friendly and helpful, if asked for information about locations or history (although in Calgary there is NOT MUCH history left... i mean places, older than 5-10 years)!... 

 See All 50 Local Customs in Calgary

145.

Winnipeg Festivals   Winnipeg

Winnipeg Festivals, Winnipeg

 2 Reviews  Winnipeg is a cultural mosaic. There are people here from every part of the world. For the first two weeks of August each year, there is a two week long festival (called Folklorama) where 40 different... 

 See All 10 Local Customs in Winnipeg

146.

Presents/Souvenirs   Banff National Park

Presents/Souvenirs, Banff National Park

 5 Reviews  All these wonderful items were found at the shops along Banff Avenue. I took these pictures because I've learned to curb my spending on decorative items. You wouldn't believe the amount of things I've... 

 See All 44 Local Customs in Banff National Park

147.

Liquor / Beer / Wine   Toronto

Liquor / Beer / Wine, Toronto

 10 Reviews  The laws concerning alcohol consumption in Toronto follow mostly Ontario laws. The government regulates all sales of beer, wine and liquor, so you can expect prices to be expensive here. Even local... 

 See All 190 Local Customs in Toronto

148.

Multiculturalism   Vancouver

Multiculturalism, Vancouver

 9 Reviews  Vancouver is often considered one of the most integrated cities in the world with more interracial couples and less racial segregation than any other city in Canada. Since its beginnings as a city in... 

 See All 127 Local Customs in Vancouver

149.

Festival   Montreal

Festival, Montreal

 8 Reviews  Montreal is a city which takes pride in its summer festivals. I happened to be in town for the World Beer Festival: can you say "happy coincidence"? The "Mondial de la Biere" provides a space for beer... 

 See All 224 Local Customs in Montreal

150.

History, culture and politics   Quebec

History, culture and politics, Quebec

 8 Reviews  When walking through an old city you will always come across some nice brass monuments preserving the history of the district and the way of life. We found this brass monument whilst walking the old... 

 See All 86 Local Customs in Quebec

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Last of the Facts About Canada

by Shara.Buchan

Parks and Historic Sites Canada maintains 39 national parks, which cover about 2 percent of the country's landmass. Banff, located on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, is the oldest, having been established in 1885; Tuktut Nogait, in the Northwest Territories, was established in 1996. There are about 850 national historic sites, designated in honour of people, places and events that figure in the country's history. Canada also has over 1 000 provincial parks and nearly 50 territorial parks.

Facts About Canada:

by Shara.Buchan

Land Mass Canada is the world's second-largest country (9 093 507 km2), surpassed only by the Russian Federation. Geography Diversity is the keynote of Canada's geography, which includes fertile plains suitable for agriculture, vast mountain ranges, lakes and rivers. Wilderness forests give way to Arctic tundra in the Far North. Climate There are many climatic variations in this huge country, ranging from the permanently frozen icecaps north of the 70th parallel to the luxuriant vegetation of British Columbia's west coast. Canada's most populous regions, which lie in the country's south along the U.S. border, enjoy four distinct seasons. Here, daytime summer temperatures can rise to 35°C and higher, while lows of minus 25°C are not uncommon in winter. More moderate temperatures are the norm in spring and fall. Mountain Ranges Canada's terrain incorporates a number of mountain ranges:...

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More about Canada

by Shara.Buchan

Rivers The St. Lawrence (3 058 kilometres long) is Canada's most important river, providing a seaway for ships from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The longest Canadian river is the Mackenzie, which flows 4 241 kilometres through the Northwest Territories. Other large watercourses include the Yukon and the Columbia (parts of which flow through U.S. territory), the Nelson, the Churchill, and the Fraser - along with major tributaries such as the Saskatchewan, the Peace, the Ottawa, the Athabasca and the Liard. Time Zones Canada has six time zones. The easternmost, in Newfoundland, is three hours and 30 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The other time zones are Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Rocky Mountain and, farthest west, Pacific, which is eight hours behind GMT. Political System Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a federal state with a democratic system of...

Even MOre about Canada

by Shara.Buchan

Population In 2000, Canada's population was 30.7 million. Main Cities The leading Canadian cities are Toronto (4.68 million), Montreal (3.43 million), Vancouver (2.01 million), Ottawa-Hull, the National Capital Region (1.06 million). Distribution of the Population A large majority of Canadians, 77 percent, live in cities and towns. Family Size In 1998, the average family size was 3.1, including 1.2 children. Living Standard Canada ranks sixth in the world in standard of living (measured according to gross domestic product per capita), behind only the United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany and Japan. Canada's rank among nations tends to rise even higher in assessments that consider gross domestic product per capita along with other factors (e.g., life expectancy, education) that contribute to the overall quality of life. Health Care and Social Security Basic health...

Still More about Canada

by Shara.Buchan

Aboriginal Peoples In 1996, about 3 percent of Canadians belonged to one or more of the three Aboriginal groups recognized by the Constitution Act, 1982: North American Indian, Métis or Inuit. Of this percentage, about 69 percent are North American Indian, 26 percent Métis and 5 percent Inuit. Religion According to the 1991 census, more than four-fifths of Canadians are Christian, with Catholics accounting for about 46 percent of the population and Protestants about 36 percent. Other religions include Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. Some 12.5 percent, more than any single denomination except Roman Catholic, have no religious affiliation at all. Languages Canada has two official languages: English, the mother tongue of about 59 percent of Canadians; and French, the first language of 23 percent of the population. A full 18 percent have either more than one mother...

Interesting Facts about Canada

by Shara.Buchan

Ethnic Origin In 1996, about 19 percent of the population reported 'Canadian' as their single ethnic origin, with 17 percent reporting British Isles-only ancestry and 9 percent French-only ancestry. About 10 percent reported a combination of British Isles, French, or Canadian origin, with another 16 percent reporting an ancestry of either British Isles, French or Canadian in combination with some other origin. Some 28 percent reported origins other than the British Isles, French or Canadian. Education The educational system varies from province to province and includes six to eight years of elementary school, four or five years of secondary school and three or four years at the university undergraduate level. The 1996 census revealed that, among Canadians aged 15 and over, about 23 percent had graduated from secondary school, some 9 percent had bachelor's degrees, and about 6 percent...

Thanksgiving

by Carmanah

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving during the beginning of October. It's a holiday to celebrate the harvest and autumn season, as well as giving thanks to what we cherish in our lives: peace, family , friends, and good times. (In contrast, American Thanksgiving is held in November and celebrates the historic voyage of the Mayflower, and the arrival of the first pilgrims to what would become the USA)Thanksgiving is held on a Sunday. Traditionally, turkey dinners are served for the main meal, usually accompanied by mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy. My family also includes corn, brussel sprouts, roast squash, carrots, green peas, and turnip with our Thanksgiving dinners. There really are no rules for the vegetable served, although most Canadians have a variation of what I decribed above. Almost always, pumpkin pie (with whipped cream) is the traditional Thanksgiving...

~~~CANADIANISMS~~~LOONIEA...

by Lisser

~~CANADIAN-ISMS~~LOONIEA dollar TOONIE Two dollarsPOGEYUnemployment benefits. WASHROOMbathroom HOUSECOAT robe, bathrobe CHESTERFIELD A couch or sofaPOUTINEQuébecois specialty. French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. SHREDDIES A brand of breakfast cereal, vaguely resembling Chex in the United States. KRAFT DINNER, or KD macaroni and cheese. BEERS Molson and Labatt are the dominant brands and they are a lot stronger than U.S. beers. TWO-FOUR A package containing twenty-four bottles of beer.TOQUE A kind of wintertime hat.'THE STATES' The United States of America. HOCKEY GEAR A guy can get onto a bus wearing goalie pads, a helmet - everything but the skates - and nobody gives him a second look.RIDINGElected officials represent the people of their riding - also known as electoral districts. TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY Canada's equivalent to the Interstate highways - is two lanes wide for...

The Butt Scratch!

by Fudge

Hmm, an unusual way to getting acquainted, i thought, as I snapped this pic. Zal (right) and I were visiting Robin's (left) place and both of them decided to scratch their butts at the same time telling me to wait before i clicked. Of course I " couldn't " wait :p

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The Canadian "CN" hotels

by Carmanah

Back in the 1880's until the early 1900's when the CN (Canadian National) and CP (Canadian Pacific) railroads played an intricate part in linking Canada's provinces together, CN and CP would create a giant hotels in each major Canadian city along the train routes to attract potential visitors. These hotels are the "grand dame" hotels... styled after chateaus. You'll find them in each city. Fort Garry in Winnipeg, the Chateau Frontenac in Québec, The Empress in Victoria, etc. Vancouver's historic railroad hotel is the Hotel Vancouver (now owned by Fairmont, hence the name to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, although you'll never find a local calling it "Fairmont"!)When strolling along Vancouver's Georgia, Howe or Hornby Streets, visit the lobby of the hotel for a piece of Vancouver history. This was one of the first buildings built in Vancouver and still looks majestic until this day. If...

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Local traditions and culture in Canada

Top 3 Hotels in Canada

Residence Inn Toronto Downtown / Entertainment District  Toronto

 4 Reviews and 508 Opinions  I like it really much. Very clean, personnel was very professional, the suites are like a real home... 

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Opus Hotel  Vancouver

 5 Reviews and 653 Opinions  A contemporary hotel located in the very cosmopolitan Yaletown. Top-notch service from a very... 

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Le Square Phillips Hotel  Montreal

 5 Reviews and 696 Opinions  The stay was unremarkable. The hotel was drab. Dark, old, office building appearance. Our bedroom... 

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Local Customs: Cities in Canada
  1. Toronto Local Customs
  2. Vancouver Local Customs
  3. Montreal Local Customs
  4. Quebec Local Customs
  5. Ottawa Local Customs
  6. Niagara Falls Local Customs
  7. Victoria Local Customs
  8. Halifax Local Customs
  9. Edmonton Local Customs
  10. Calgary Local Customs
  11. Winnipeg Local Customs
  12. Banff Local Customs
  13. Windsor Local Customs
  14. Banff National Park Local Customs
  15. St. John's Local Customs
  16. Whistler Local Customs
  17. Mont-Tremblant Local Customs
  18. Jasper National Park Local Customs
  19. Fredericton Local Customs
  20. Saskatoon Local Customs
  21. London Local Customs
  22. Thunder Bay Local Customs
  23. Mississauga Local Customs
  24. Kingston Local Customs
  25. Regina Local Customs
  26. Canmore Local Customs
  27. Charlottetown Local Customs
  28. Vancouver Island Local Customs
  29. Barrie Local Customs
  30. Yellowknife Local Customs
  31. Collingwood Local Customs
  32. Gaspé Local Customs
  33. Kelowna Local Customs
  34. Hamilton Local Customs
  35. Tofino Local Customs
  36. Iqaluit Local Customs
  37. Lake Louise Local Customs
  38. Whitehorse Local Customs
  39. Waterton Lakes National Park Local Customs
  40. Saint John Local Customs
  41. Niagara-on-the-Lake Local Customs
  42. Algonquin Provincial Park Local Customs
  43. Red Deer Local Customs
  44. Tobermory Local Customs
  45. Hull Local Customs
  46. Cape Breton Island Local Customs
  47. Brantford Local Customs
  48. Sudbury Local Customs

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Popular Regions in Canada

Province of Ontario Local Customs  Province of British Columbia Local Customs  Province of Quebec Local Customs  Province of Alberta Local Customs  Province of Nova Scotia Local Customs  Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Local Customs  Province of New Brunswick Local Customs  Province of Manitoba Local Customs  Province of Saskatchewan Local Customs  Prince Edward Island Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi, I'm traveling to Vancouver next week, and I wondered if anyone knows whether there might be a problem with withdrawing... 

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A: The only issue that you may run into is trying to withdraw money from a machine that is not part of the Visa network. Most Canadian banks are on this network; the only... 

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