Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[tvguy]

That's the other interesting thing middle school and junior high. Sometimes junior high is referred to 7th and 8th grade sometimes it's 7th,8th and 9th grade. Middle school is sometimes 6th,7th, and 8th grade and sometimes it's just 7th and 8th grade.

I went to a middle school where it was 7th and 8th grade. Elementary was K-6th with high school 9th-12th. For me personally sadly my elementary school was demolished not long after I left (district was consolidating) followed several years after I left middle school same thing happened (again district was consolidating). My high school still stands though and is about to celebrate it's 100th anniversary next year.

And to further confuse things, they also use the term "Intermediate" school for grade 7 and 8. I want to school that had Intermediate in the name for 7th and 8th grade. That school has been closed, but now that district uses "Middle School" for the schools with 7th and 8th grade.

 

[declansdad]

Also - the thing I get is that almost every male had played some sort of youth hockey, and most really, really love hockey. I mentioned the guy from Newfoundland, and when he met a Russian he had to say something about one of the best international games he'd ever seen between Canada and maybe the old USSR team. OTOH once I met a Canadian doing some technical training in San Jose. And he sounded very Canadian, so I mentioned I was going to the Sharks game that night. He said that all boys play hockey, but that he wasn't particularly interested in the NHL. Kind of surprised me because love of hockey is a big stereotype we have of Canadians.

Now that is a stereotype, there are many boys who don't or who have never played hockey.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Another difference. I would be willing to bet that most Canadians have not written a cheque (or check) in the last year. In fact, a great many have probably not written one in the last 5 years. I sometimes wonder how many of our young people even own cheques. We all have chequing and savings accounts, but don't need to use paper cheques very often. Even the school does things online, now.

We do things with cash, credit or our debit cards. Just about everywhere takes one of these three, including taxis and vending machines. And those credit and debit cards all have chips in them. Yes, we all know our PINs, although, since Covid, Tapping your card is much more common.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And that right there, is what comprises our distinct culture but I guess that would be impossible to explain here. THAT IS CANADA - (mostly) enriched and ever-evolving; not a Canada threatened, damaged or diminished by our newcomers.

While I have no doubt that there is an attitude towards immigration in a more positive way the recent push for immigration in Canada seems largely work force related.

From an article back in August:
“Immigration is increasingly becoming the primary, if not the only, source of labor force growth” in Canada as the baby boomers retire, said Andrew Agopsowicz, a senior economist at the Royal Bank of Canada.

To make up the shortfall in 2020, the Canadian government in October announced even loftier immigration targets. It hopes to welcome 401,000 permanent residents in 2021, up from a previous goal of 351,000. That target would increase by 10,000 in 2022 and again in 2023."

I guess in other words there's not necessarily an altruistic embracing at least from the Canadian government, citizens' viewpoints may differ. That is still largely contrasted by the U.S.'s viewpoint on workforce and immigration though we recognize certain sectors (like tech, like agriculture, like construction) can be heavily reliant upon immigrant workers.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Minimum drinking age in most of Canada is 19. In a few provinces, it’s 18.

Drinking age in the US is 21. Back when I was 18 (40+ years ago, but who’s counting ), I was able to drink legally. (Prior to 1984, it varied by state.)

 

[bcla]

Now that is a stereotype, there are many boys who don't or who have ever played hockey.

OK. My perception was via meeting someone who said that pretty much every Canadian boy ends up playing hockey at some point. I guess that could have been where he lived.

 

[tvguy]

Another difference. I would be willing to bet that most Canadians have not written a cheque (or check) in the last year. In fact, a great many have probably not written one in the last 5 years. I sometimes wonder how many of our young people even own cheques. We all have chequing and savings accounts, but don't need to use paper cheques very often. Even the school does things online, now.

We do things with cash, credit or our debit cards. Just about everywhere takes one of these three, including taxis and vending machines. And those credit and debit cards all have chips in them. Yes, we all know our PINs, although, since Covid, Tapping your card is much more common.

I know home loans are different too at least in some cases. One of my cousins moved and I asked what mortgage rates were, and he said he bought his house with a line of credit, not a mortgage.
As for checks, I wrote 1 in August, none in September and 4 this week. 2 of those were donations to charities who DO take credit cards but prefer checks so they can avoid paying the 3% credit card processing fee.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

And those credit and debit cards all have chips in them.

This is the same with the U.S. It was introduced in 2015 with a gradual migration that has taken years. Some financial institutions just replaced card holder cards upon the expiration date of each card, some used account activity, some were ahead (my husband's DeltaSkyMiles Amex card was replaced in 2016 but our other accounts took longer a year or so more) etc. The U.S. was slow to decide to make the switch to chips though.

Tap pay is like the new graduation integration although many people have tap pay presently since it's been a few years.

The bigger hurdle for many people here was the machines at places had to be changed, other ones the software turned on to accept chips and now these days the machines that will accept tap pay. I seldom use tap pay but have started to at gas stations more.

 

[bcla]

Well - there is this perception that almost any brand can be made Canadian by simply adding a maple leaf to the design. However, in my visits to Canada the maple leaf was actually quite ubiquitous. I don't know if there's any other symbol that's as instantly recognizable.

And the rumour [sp] that the new polymer bank notes were made to intentionally smell like maple syrup. When I was in Canada in 2015 and experienced the polymer notes for the first time I never heard of the claim but my first thought was that they smelled like maple syrup.

https://globalnews.ca/news/590792/does-our-money-smell-like-maple-syrup/

 

[AppleDumpling]

Another difference. I would be willing to bet that most Canadians have not written a cheque (or check) in the last year. In fact, a great many have probably not written one in the last 5 years or more. I sometimes wonder how many of our young people even own cheques. We all have chequing and savings accounts, but don't need to use paper cheques very often. Even the school does things online, now.

We do things with cash, credit or our debit cards. Just about everywhere takes one of these three, including taxis and vending machines. And those credit and debit cards all have chips in them. Yes, we all know our PINs, although, since Covid, Tapping your card is much more common.

I don’t think there’s a difference. I believe all of this is true for Americans as well, at least it is in my area. I still have a checking account, though I’ve written very few checks in the last 5 years or more. I pay most bills electronically online. And I think you’re right about the younger generation. DS is 24 and I don’t think he’s ever written a check in his life or even knows how.

 

[bcla]

I don’t think there’s a difference. I believe all of this is true for Americans as well, at least it is in my area. I still have a checking account, though I’ve written very few checks in the last 5 years. I pay most bills electronically online. And I think you’re right about the younger generation. DS is 24 and I don’t think he’s ever written a check in his life or even knows how.

Bill pay used to be the way that it was it was done, but I disabled it in my account years ago. These days I will use ACH transactions, which don't cost anything.

I used to receive payments through bill pay, which either had minimums to be free or had a monthly fee. I was established as a payee and the bank literally just sent me a check. However, when I was paying through bill pay I could try and look up something like a utility company or a credit card, and I believe they typically got paid through some sort of electronic transfer.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I don’t think there’s a difference. I believe all of this is true for Americans as well, at least it is in my area. I still have a checking account, though I’ve written very few checks in the last 5 years or more. I pay most bills electronically online. And I think you’re right about the younger generation. DS is 24 and I don’t think he’s ever written a check in his life or even knows how.

It can you write a cheque in a American grocery store or Walmart?
I don’t believe that is possible here and hasn’t been in years.

 

[Buzz Rules]

It can you write a cheque in a American grocery store or Walmart?
I don’t believe that is possible here and hasn’t been in years.

Yes.

 

[ronandannette]

While I have no doubt that there is an attitude towards immigration in a more positive way the recent push for immigration in Canada seems largely work force related.

From an article back in August:
“Immigration is increasingly becoming the primary, if not the only, source of labor force growth” in Canada as the baby boomers retire, said Andrew Agopsowicz, a senior economist at the Royal Bank of Canada.

To make up the shortfall in 2020, the Canadian government in October announced even loftier immigration targets. It hopes to welcome 401,000 permanent residents in 2021, up from a previous goal of 351,000. That target would increase by 10,000 in 2022 and again in 2023."

I guess in other words there's not necessarily an altruistic embracing at least from the Canadian government, citizens' viewpoints may differ. That is still largely contrasted by the U.S.'s viewpoint on workforce and immigration though we recognize certain sectors (like tech, like agriculture, like construction) can be heavily reliant upon immigrant workers.

Whatever. All that totally misses the point of this discussion of Canadian culture. It really means nothing when, why or how Canadians have gotten here. Whether they were part of British colonization; whether they came escaping slavery in the US; whether they came in waves from Eastern Europe in the early 1900's; whether they were allowed in as a labour force to build the railroad; whether they came as refugees at any point or came as part of family reunification or more recently; if they've come as part of workforce stabilization. The religions, languages, cuisines, apparel and yes, even the ingrained ideals they hold (for better or worse) shape the mosaic that is Canada. WE ARE CANADIANS.

 

[Skippy918]

I think the biggest difference is our Medicare. I get sick, I go to the doctor. I don't think about it. I go. I show my health card anywhere in Canada and I get the service I need without ever having to take out my credit/debit card. Okay, unless they give me a prescription. But even those, I'm told, are cheaper in Canada.

My point is, we think about healthcare as necessary and just do it. We don't think about whether it fits in our household budget. And we don't think about whether that doctor or hospital is in our insurance group.

That’s gotta be nice to not have to weigh pros and cons of going to the doctor or waiting things out cause it’s a weekend and urgent care costs more than your family doctor. Plus most of the time, I have no idea how much a medical visit is going to cost as I have a high deductible plan and the doctor’s office usually can’t give you an accurate quote on a procedure so that makes it nearly impossible to shop around.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Whatever. All that totally misses the point of this discussion of Canadian culture. It really means nothing when, why or how Canadians have gotten here. Whether they were part of British colonization; whether they came escaping slavery in the US; whether they came in waves from Eastern Europe in the early 1900's; whether they were allowed in as a labour force to build the railroad; whether they came as refugees at any point or came as part of family reunification or more recently; if they've come as part of workforce stabilization. The religions, languages, cuisines, apparel and yes, even the ingrained ideals they hold (for better or worse) shape the mosaic that is Canada. WE ARE CANADIANS.
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Americans too.

 

[fly girl]

Cultural observation - Canadians don’t tend to use freshman, junior, sophomore etc for high schools or college.
We just say grade nine, grade ten, etc.

Is this terminology used in all the USA?

Unlike PP, I still hear the term Freshman being used. I still read that word and hear it on the news and during sports events as well.

I have intertwined using Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior with 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. I think most American's (did) mix them freely.

College has always been Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior. Never said first year, second year, etc. The only time a year was used was when someone was a 5th or 6th year Senior.


Speaking of terms that are being phased out, we have been looking at moving and I noticed the term master bedroom has been replaced with owners suite. Curious as what terminology Canadians use for the largest bedroom?

Minimum drinking age in most of Canada is 19. In a few provinces, it’s 18.

Drinking age in the US is 21. Back when I was 18 (40+ years ago, but who’s counting ), I was able to drink legally. (Prior to 1984, it varied by state.)

Oh yes! I remember driving to Windsor, Ontario after Madonna's Girlie Show tour in Detroit when I went to MSU. We gambled and drank and I was 19. I loved it!

I do remember playing a slot machine and it was back before you received paper tickets. The machine spit out coins. But it was gold casino coins I had to redeem for real money unlike in the States where you would get actual quarters or dollar coins.

 

[ronandannette]

...Speaking of terms that are being phased out, we have been looking at moving and I noticed the term master bedroom has been replaced with owners suite. Curious as what terminology Canadians use for the largest bedroom?




Oh yes! I remember driving to Windsor, Ontario after Madonna's Girlie Show tour in Detroit when I went to MSU. We gambled and drank and I was 19. I loved it!

I do remember playing a slot machine and it was back before you received paper tickets. The machine spit out coins. But it was gold casino coins I had to redeem for real money unlike in the States where you would get actual quarters or dollar coins.

It's called the master bedroom (and the attached bathroom is called the ensuite). Owner's suite sounds a little too pretentious.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Whatever. All that totally misses the point of this discussion of Canadian culture. It really means nothing when, why or how Canadians have gotten here. Whether they were part of British colonization; whether they came escaping slavery in the US; whether they came in waves from Eastern Europe in the early 1900's; whether they were allowed in as a labour force to build the railroad; whether they came as refugees at any point or came as part of family reunification or more recently; if they've come as part of workforce stabilization. The religions, languages, cuisines, apparel and yes, even the ingrained ideals they hold (for better or worse) shape the mosaic that is Canada. WE ARE CANADIANS.
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Okay..whatever..didn't think my comment would spark that fierce of a response given it wasn't a jab against you as a country

 

[fly girl]

It's called the master bedroom (and the attached bathroom is called the ensuite). Owner's suite sounds a little too pretentious.

I did chuckle myself when I saw owner's suite. I was looking a nice home, but no where near a mansion.