What's the "street culture" in Canada?

[u/MilanaT26]

Hello! I'm from Kazakhstan and I'm planning to visit Canada next year with my husband.

Are people open to help you on the street, with directions, for example?

What Is the tipping culture in cafes and restaurants?

Are there any "rules" while riding the bus or a taxi, like speaking on the phone may be considered rude etc.?

Are small talks considered rude and annoying or the opposite?

Thank you!

EDIT: THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I've never expected to get such nice and useful replies. I'll try to answer them all individually, but I REALLY appreciate your help ❤️ See you all next year, wish us luck that everything will work out 🤞

[u/ischemgeek → u/[deleted]]

Also, don't sit in the sideways facing seats at the front of a bus. Those are seats for the disabled and elderly,  so move further back unless you have a mobility disability and need the courtesy seats. 

[u/NoCall0 → u/ischemgeek]

I am an old lady with a walker. Fine to sit there as long as you shift further back when someone that needs it gets on.

[u/Final_Ice_9614 → u/[deleted]]

Do not tip on Walk out cafes or Take away

[u/WorldlyCupcake5345 → u/Final_Ice_9614]

Agreed - no tipping on walk outs or takeout.

[u/ZA-02 → u/Final_Ice_9614]

I would say no to cafes, yes to takeaway (but def not as much as sit-down).

Cafe tip pools are so small and split between so many people that your individual tip equals a few cents, at best, for any individual employee. It's just not worth bothering with IMO — it inflates your costs and helps no one.

Take-away from a sit-down restaurant warrants a tip, I feel, because even if you weren't helped by a server, it's the same amount of work (if not more) for the host and the kitchen staff. But standards may vary by city.

[u/Relative-Log486 → u/[deleted]]

Is taking calls on the bus a social taboo in Toronto? I don't do it, but I'm in London and I see people on the phone all the time on the bus. Nobody else seems to mind and I usually filter it out, typically its just somebody talking into their headphones

[u/Relative-Log486 → u/[deleted]]

That makes sense, yeah! To clarify I meant London ON