Have you ever had a misconception about Canada?

[NFLDERS]

If so what did you learn was actually fact?

 

[minkydog]

Yes. I thought Canada was covered in snow, all the time. Imagine my surprise when we went to Montreal in October and NO SNOW! Well, it did snow on the last day about 6 inches. We were in awe that the people and cars were just going along about their business like it was a little rainstorm. Heck, where we live in Atlanta 6 inches of snow would completely paralyze 23 counties--no school, no work, no shopping. Complete shut-down.

That was my one and only trip to Canada. This summer we're taking a cruise out of Vancouver in early June. I had planned to come in on the day we embark, but I'm thinking maybe we'll come in a day early so I can see a little bit of Vancouver. I hear they don't have a lot of snow, either.

 

[cleverclovers]

Not really. But I live in northern Ohio near Cedar Point, so I see many Canadians yearly. In fact, until the past few decades, Canadian coins were freely used in in this area. I always thought of them as people who just live across the lake (Erie).

 

[NFLDERS]

Yes. I thought Canada was covered in snow, all the time. Imagine my surprise when we went to Montreal in October and NO SNOW! Well, it did snow on the last day about 6 inches. We were in awe that the people and cars were just going along about their business like it was a little rainstorm. Heck, where we live in Atlanta 6 inches of snow would completely paralyze 23 counties--no school, no work, no shopping. Complete shut-down.

That was my one and only trip to Canada. This summer we're taking a cruise out of Vancouver in early June. I had planned to come in on the day we embark, but I'm thinking maybe we'll come in a day early so I can see a little bit of Vancouver. I hear they don't have a lot of snow, either.

Just don't forget your Umbrella at home! Actually summer is dryer.

 

[TifffanyD]

Apparently I have.


I thought they had regular education but recently found out that the war really affected Canada's ability to provide proper schooling.

 

[minkydog]

Just don't forget your Umbrella at home! Actually summer is dryer.

Will do. My sister lives in Washington's Olympic peninsula. I've visited her several times in May-June-July and found the weather all over the place from rainy 40s to brilliant 90s. I'm sure we'll be prepared for anything short of a tsunami (and I hear they are prepared for that too!)

 

[Gumbo4x4]

If I have, then odds are I still do. Don't know what it would be though.

Oh, did think of one. My sis & BIL vacationed there and were shocked not to be able to buy gas anywhere around Banff at 5:00 am when they were getting ready to go animal watching. And that so many places closed early even during the tourist season. They just assumed everything would be open more hours like here, and I would have assumed the same.

 

[minnie mum]

Will do. My sister lives in Washington's Olympic peninsula. I've visited her several times in May-June-July and found the weather all over the place from rainy 40s to brilliant 90s. I'm sure we'll be prepared for anything short of a tsunami (and I hear they are prepared for that too!)

You're right. Van can have up to 3 inches of rain in June (on average). This pales in comparison to what they get during the 'rainy' months over the winter, though. So a telescoping umbrella would be smart.

Apparently I have.


I thought they had regular education but recently found out that the war really affected Canada's ability to provide proper schooling.

Bwaaahaahaa. I see what you did there.

 

[mrsklamc]

Not that I know of...We do have an 'odd behavior' story from Canada though that we never figured out. We were at an IHOP in Vancouver and DH asked if they had Coke or Pepsi products. The waitress found it hysterical, and then went into the kitchen and told someone else who apparently also found it hysterical. Never did figure that one out.

 

[E&Cmom]

Not that I know of...We do have an 'odd behavior' story from Canada though that we never figured out. We were at an IHOP in Vancouver and DH asked if they had Coke or Pepsi products. The waitress found it hysterical, and then went into the kitchen and told someone else who apparently also found it hysterical. Never did figure that one out.

I live in the Vancouver area and have no idea why this is hysterical since different restaurants have different products. Maybe it was an inside joke in the restaurant not a Canadian thing.

 

[mrsklamc]

I live in the Vancouver area and have no idea why this is hysterical since different restaurants have different products. Maybe it was an inside joke in the restaurant not a Canadian thing.

Must have been.

 

[moon]

For a long time I thought everyone in Canada was bilingual (English/french)

 

[NFLDERS]

For a long time I thought everyone in Canada was bilingual (English/french)

This is a very common misconception. Right up there with always cold!

 

[moon]

Is it true that there's great friction between English and French speakers?

I've heard that things are very tense between the two groups

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Everything I know about Canada, I learned form Bobbie and Dougie Mackenzie!!

Molsons and jelly doughnuts, eh?

 

[ashley0139]

Apparently I have.


I thought they had regular education but recently found out that the war really affected Canada's ability to provide proper schooling.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I don't think so, but I grew up about 3 miles from Canada (as the crow flies). We used to pop over for lunch all the time in the summer when the weather was nice.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Well, let's see. When I was a young girl, I absolutely loved Nadia and wanted to be just liked her. A movie about her came out when I wasn't even a year old and I remember watching it when I was still quite young (though clearly not when it first came out). In the movie, Nadia was competing in the Montreal Olympics and Bela wasn't allowed to be on the floor during women's events and I didn't like that. I told my mom that I didn't like Montreal (remember, I was probably 3 at the time) and she explained to me that I couldn't blame Canada because it was the Olympic committee's decision. Does that count as a misconception?



In all seriousness, I always assumed it was cold and covered with snow for much of the year. I guess compared to where I live (Texas), it is coooler, but certainly not what I was expecting. If you can believe it, Degrassi did a lot to show me that, while cooler, it certainly wasn't frozen tundra all over the country.

 

[mrodgers]

I had thought that the police car chases were always in Los Angeles until I saw video of the recent car chase in Canada on the news.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4baX8NfOEP0

 

[tvguy]

My mom is from Canada, and I have a lot of family there. I have no-misconceptions since I am there frequently, but a lot of folks here in the U.S. have a few misconceptions.

Misconceptions like:

1) Everyone in Canada speaks French
2) Every in Canada loves their healthcare system
3) They use the metric system exclusively.
4) They don't have a Navy.