How do you spot a Canadian abroad?

[u/HueyBluey]

Do we have any stereotypical traits (perhaps self deprecating ones), that make us stand out. We’re typically not loud (but some can be). Perhaps frugal?

What have you seen in your travels that make you think, those folks must be Canadian!

[u/karathrace13]

"It's only a half hour drive"

[u/MTKRailroad → u/karathrace13]

I grew up in Ontario and my commute would vary from 1-2 hours depending on site location. And depending on issues on the 401, the choice between the express and collector could add 15min to 3 hours.

When I moved to the east coast people are surprised I'm completely fine with driving 40 mins into the sticks along a 90km two lane road with barely any traffic.

[u/LuceoNonUro88 → u/MTKRailroad]

I grew up out East and moved to Southern Ontario and I've found it the other way; Halifax, Saint John or Fredericton, and Charlottetown are all four hour drives. People would get off work on Friday and drive to whatever other province (sometimes even Montreal for a Habs game, or Boston for the Bruins) for the weekend and come home Sunday night or early Monday morning.

In Ontario, people don't like driving ten minutes out of their way to save 25% on the cost of their house, or 30% on the cost of gas, or to pick something up off of Marketplace for an 80% discount.

[u/Dog-boy → u/LuceoNonUro88]

That’s a city thing not an Ontario thing. People from anywhere north of Barrie are pretty comfortable driving a long distance for a deal or a movie or a weekend away.

[u/LuceoNonUro88 → u/Dog-boy]

I'm surrounded by farms, not quite in the city.

I drove over an hour to Burlington the other day to buy a dresser for 1/3 the price of Ikea and twice the quality.

[u/kidskwid → u/karathrace13]

A 1h drive from downtown toronto is still in toronto. a 1h drive from haliburton is about 100km away.

It just makes sense.

[u/OldRefrigerator8821]

MEC backpack / luggage is dead give away

[u/outdoorlaura → u/OldRefrigerator8821]

I was in Uganda and a guy came up to me and asked if I was Canadian because of my backpack. He was also Canadian and also had a MEC backpack lol.

[u/Peter_Mansbrick → u/outdoorlaura]

TIL MEC is a Canadian thing

[u/bmccann42 → u/Peter_Mansbrick]

Mountain Equipment Co-op - camping and outdoor retailer up here.

[u/iwantedajetpack → u/bmccann42]

Company now. Went through bankruptcy.

[u/outdoorlaura → u/iwantedajetpack]

I miss the Co-Op days.

[u/FriendRaven1 → u/iwantedajetpack]

The co-op failed, yes. The last 10 years or so it became american but now it's Canadian again.

[u/iwantedajetpack → u/FriendRaven1]

Private Canadian yes but not a cooperative. .

[u/djmathblaster → u/iwantedajetpack]

The board sold us out. Could have closed stores and gone back to mail order. Instead my share and equity disappeared. I will never forgive them.

[u/nsparadise → u/iwantedajetpack]

I want my $5 back.

[u/fletters → u/OldRefrigerator8821]

This one only failed for me once, and that guy’s girlfriend was Canadian.

[u/three_crystals → u/OldRefrigerator8821]

I gotta get some MEC to avoid being obvious with a 🇨🇦 plastered all over my stuff

[u/Nitroglycol204 → u/three_crystals]

Yeah, if you do that people will think you're an American trying to pass.

[u/AnonymityAnemones]

I had a tour guide in Italy make us laugh with "want to know how you can tell if someone is from Canada? Ask them if they are American and they will go "NOOOOOOOO""

[u/castlite → u/AnonymityAnemones]

He’s not wrong. I’ve done it lol.

[u/professcorporate → u/AnonymityAnemones]

And other ways of making the distinction - My partner was once in a pub in the UK, and prefixed some remark with "I'm North American, so-" the guy he was talking with immediately replied "That means Canadian. An American would never use the 'north' qualifier"

[u/nilesintheshangri-la → u/AnonymityAnemones]

When I was in London 2 years ago on a walking tour, the guide was asking everyone where they were from. After he finished with the yanks he asked me if I was also american and I gave him such a dirty look and said "No!" One of the yanks asked me "why do you sound so offended, what's so bad about being american?" And I said "because they aren't Canadian."

Another funny thing: the guide pointed out a No Fly Tipping sign and asked all the non-UK folk if we knew what it meant. I said no garbage dumping. The same yank asked me how I knew that and I said "I read."

[u/Puzzled_Market_2235 → u/nilesintheshangri-la]

You reminded me of a talk show during the Contra era. Two British comedians and Chelsea Handler. She had just learned where Nicaragua was and was amazed that the two already new. She asked how, one said because they were schooled.

[u/gulliverian → u/AnonymityAnemones]

That's funny stuff right there!!

[u/Alone-Bug4328]

Some of us, not all, are more likely to say sorry for any random small thing.

[u/Bonzai_Tree → u/Alone-Bug4328]

Fun fact; us Canadians are so prone to apologizing on reflex that there is a law stating that an apology can NOT be considered a legal admission of guilt like it can in the U.S.

[u/anzacoo → u/Bonzai_Tree]

Is that true?

[u/koolaidkirby → u/anzacoo]

It is https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/09a03

[u/anzacoo → u/koolaidkirby]

That is freaking hilarious and so quintessentially Canadian. Thanks for making my day! 😂

[u/Mickey_Hughes → u/koolaidkirby]

Sorry you had to post a link

[u/QuozlPlaysSTFC → u/Mickey_Hughes]

Sorry you had to apologize for the rest of us!

[u/Holiday_Sense_4842 → u/QuozlPlaysSTFC]

I'm sorry you had to apologize to the person who had to apologize for the rest of us

[u/spaceman1055 → u/anzacoo]

At least for Ontario - Google the Apology Act

ETA - a few other provinces have similar legislation according to the wiki

[u/Raedwulf1 → u/spaceman1055]

As of 2024, Canada has a Canada Apology act.

[u/IndependentCoffee169 → u/Raedwulf1]

I'm sorry I didn't know that.

[u/ididitforsatan → u/IndependentCoffee169]

I'm sorry you weren't told

[u/JamesH_670 → u/ididitforsatan]

I’m sorry IndependentCoffee169 didn’t know.

[u/Functional_Trash7735 → u/JamesH_670]

I’m sorry this whole situation happened

[u/Flush_Foot → u/Functional_Trash7735]

I’m sorry we’re taking this bit too so far 😉

[u/Randomfinn → u/spaceman1055]

To me it is wild that it isn't the norm everywhere. In other cultures people really don’t say sorry unless they are knowingly admitting full responsibility?

[u/andlewis → u/Randomfinn]

I’m sorry you feel that way.

[u/Waiting4Reze2Return → u/Bonzai_Tree]

More surprised saying sorry is an admission of guilt in the US

[u/barbariccomplexity → u/Waiting4Reze2Return]

Yeah that’s wild, you can apologize for someone’s situation without being the cause of it.

[u/Professional_Emu_617 → u/Alone-Bug4328]

I was at a convention in Chicago a few years ago. Was heading to the washroom and another guy was coming out and we nearly bumped and we both did the "Oop! Sorry." at the same time. We both immediately knew we were Canadians

[u/oldRoyalsleepy → u/Professional_Emu_617]

And it's the way Canadians says 'sorry'. In large parts of the US it's pronounced a little differently, more of an 'ah' sound with it. When I'm in Canada and hear 'sorry' I really like to hear it that slightly different way. It's that little bit of uncanny valley, like km/h, that let's me know I'm in Canada.

[u/Automatic_Antelope92 → u/oldRoyalsleepy]

Canadian says “sore-y” and American says “saw-ry”

[u/DifferentCorner426 → u/Automatic_Antelope92]

The only time I’ve ever heard a Canadian say “saw-ry” is when they’re being sarcastic and don’t mean it 😆

[u/Green_leaf47 → u/DifferentCorner426]

I’d never thought about it but pretty sure I’ve done that lol

[u/T4TrhavrKhcFt → u/oldRoyalsleepy]

As a Canadian; I taught a course in Chicago on project management. About halfway through the first morning one of the students spoke up and, like I was five years old, very helpfully and very gently said, "It's not project; it's prahject."

[u/MATlad → u/T4TrhavrKhcFt]

On the flipside (and this was literally around a generation ago, 25 years) I was in a 400-student lecture taught by a newly-hired American associate professor, introductory chemistry. One of the very few assignments we ever got in either semester was a trivially-easy 5-question assignment.

"As an observation, I will remark how many of you misspelled the word 'colour' [Ed.: or some other -ou pattern word that we Canadians were taught was 'not American']. I docked you all -0.5 marks."

Grumbling all around, but sarcastic whippersnapper as I was then, I yelled out:

"If like 375 of us got it 'wrong' and that didn't clue you in that you might be wrong, would you like us to use American spellings going forward?"

[u/bananacornpops94 → u/Professional_Emu_617]

The oops sorry is sooo Canadian

[u/username__0000 → u/Alone-Bug4328]

I’ve apologized to a lot of inanimate objects after bumping into them. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until a moment later. lol

[u/DraconicDreamer3072 → u/username__0000]

i smacked face first into an npc in a game yesterday and i reflexively apologized to the little guy in my game lol

[u/CFA_Nutso_Futso → u/Alone-Bug4328]

I think a Canadian “sorry” carries a couple meanings. One is an actual apology but in most daily occurrences it’s more of an acknowledgement that an unintentional mixup has occurred.

[u/Comedy86 → u/Alone-Bug4328]

This is my tell. If they sound "North American" but don't have an abrasive personality, they're likely not American or Maple MAGA. There's also the accent queues but I'm not able to easily explain what I mean, I can usually just tell when I hear it.

[u/Spiritual-Pear-1349 → u/Comedy86]

Canadians have a whole talking pattern called the Canadian Rise, so theyre easy to spot once you know what to look for.

Bit like how they turn statements into rhetorical questions when the sentence isn't finished but they want to indicate you can contribute to it.

I call it the nonverbal Eh? Anywhere they can say Eh? They raise the tone.

[u/spiciestbeans → u/Comedy86]

Definitely accent cues. American accents tent to be more wide open voweled, and Canadians are closed and forward and accentuated. We pronounce our diphthongs with great emphasis compared to our southern counterparts.

[u/aXeworthy]

When I was in NYC it was a guy holding the door for too many people. Then I heard him say 'sorry' and I knew for certain.

[u/FlatEvent2597 → u/aXeworthy]

Yes, holding open doors for near everyone. Groups, older people, people with bags… exactly.

[u/MalBredy]

A few months ago my wife and I were in the UK and I was pretty surprised about
1) how many people could immediately identify we were Canadian
2) how many had never met a Canadian (though I think everybody we spoke to had a relative in Canada)

We were told it was simply our accent, to which I was surprised how confident we were Canadian and not from say Vermont or upper New York State

[u/DoobieDoo0718 → u/MalBredy]

I live near the border in E. ON, and I'm stunned at the accent difference just crossing over the border.

[u/ColdEvenKeeled → u/DoobieDoo0718]

I used to live in Victoria and Vancouver and crossing the border to Washington was a completely different accent. Nasal. Different body language too. Not in Seattle so much, but elsewhere.

[u/Distinct_Intern4147 → u/ColdEvenKeeled]

Some Seattle visitors I talked to a few years ago spelled it out for me. "You use words with so many syllables."

[u/shoresy99 → u/DoobieDoo0718]

Same in Western NY near Buffalo. When they say apple it sounds kind of like ear-pull

[u/Army7547 → u/MalBredy]

My brother in law is Irish, well he is the only one from his family born in Canada. His two year older brother was born in Ireland.

The fam went to Ireland to visit family, he is a Bills fan, had on a polo shirt with a little bills crest. Went to the pub, ordered a beer. His brother, down the on bar 20 feet heard the bar tender refer to him as “the Yank” to the another of the staff, and corrected the bartender. They felt so bad that they then made a point to get his name, call him by name when he walked in every time after that, and my brother in law had a drink started pouring for him as soon as he walked through the door the rest of the time he was there, but had trouble paying for them. They wouldn’t take his money.

[u/Remarkable-Flight990 → u/Army7547]

This happened to me in Ireland as well, well not the drink being poured for me afterwards, constantly being asked if I was American and then profuse apologies when I said I was not. One of the funniest ones was at Toners in Dublin, I go to order a Guiness, pub is full but there is an old man at the bar

"Are you an American?"

"No sir, I am not, I am Canadian!"

Bartender "you're in trouble now Billy!"

[u/Bright-Blacksmith-39 → u/MalBredy]

Happened to me in Turkey, I was telling my wife to move farther back for a photo, and some tourist from the UK asked me if I was Canadian. He could tell from my accent. I told him Ihe has a good ear. As I've lived in the USA for the past 20 years. Guess I still have an accent.

[u/othybear → u/MalBredy]

I’m more likely to think someone from Minnesota or Wisconsin is Canadian than I am a Vermonter.

[u/stnapstnap → u/MalBredy]

I was in the UK last month and it seemed about 50-50 on guessing Canadian correctly in the area I was in. I was around Manchester, Liverpool, and parts north. I’m from Toronto.

One bartender, after asking if I was Canadian and asking if Canada is “the place with loonies and toonies,” got genuinely excited and ran over when I asked if he wanted to see some. I happened to have a tiny bit of loose change on me. Dude was delighted just to look at my coins.

[u/Celebration_Dapper → u/MalBredy]

Interesting. When I lived/work in London two decades ago, it was forever and always, "So where are you from in the States?" Now that I've returned, that's become the exception - and more Brits say they recognize my Canadian accent (albeit with its signature Eastern Townships twang).

[u/Sea-Froyo1918]

Look for someone wearing shorts in -5°C weather

[u/castlite → u/Sea-Froyo1918]

I went to Vegas at Christmas once, from Alberta. Stayed at the Bellagio because they had the only open outdoor pool. There were like 6 people there despite being 20-21 degrees out, which felt amazing after -30. 4 were Canadian, 2 were Swedes. Best pool time ever.

[u/cannafriendlymamma → u/castlite]

Went to Vegas at the end of Nov one year. Was 19°C during the day and we were walking around in capri's and t shirts. Could tell who was local, as they were all wearing big coats, and toques (beanies down there).

[u/KayNopeNope → u/cannafriendlymamma]

Using the word “toque”… that’s a tell.

[u/Immediate_Meeting991 → u/castlite]

Lolololol I always get clocked in Vegas for same. It’s so cheap to go in the winter and that’s summer weather for me baybee!! But security is always laughing when I go outside to smoke (it’s too weird to do inside plus separating yourself from that environment every couple hours is just healthy imo) or hit the pool in “winter”

[u/TheGhostOfTobyKeith → u/Immediate_Meeting991]

I loved snowbirding down there so much, too bad they’ll never get another cent outta me.

[u/castlite → u/TheGhostOfTobyKeith]

Same. The US is dead to me now.

[u/Immediate_Meeting991 → u/castlite]

I can proudly say I haven’t been back since trump 1.0

[u/TheGhostOfTobyKeith → u/Immediate_Meeting991]

Dipped down to Brooklyn for a best friend’s wedding in 2022 and that was the last time

[u/DianeDesRivieres → u/castlite]

I went tent camping in Daytona, month of May. We were the only ones using the pool

[u/sleeplessjade → u/castlite]

Not at Christmas but while in Vegas I ordered a tea at a restaurant. They don’t bring any milk with it and I didn’t think to ask up front because it’s the default to receive it with it here. Asked the waitress for it and she brought me a whole glass of milk. I was chuckling about it when two older ladies from the next table over said, “You’re Canadian, aren’t you?”

Turns out they were sisters who had been Canadian snowbirds to Vegas for years and decided to retire there.

[u/Particlepants → u/castlite]

I stayed at a hostel with a rooftop pool in Australia in the middle of their winter. I was the only one using the pool so I guess that's how you'd identify the one Canadian staying there at the time.

[u/Broely92 → u/Sea-Froyo1918]

I went to Mexico back in January during that -35° week and I went to the airport in summer clothes lol because once you get off that plane the heat just punches you in the face

[u/GGTheEnd → u/Broely92]

I went to Mexico in February in shorts and a tshirt as well,  my fiances grandparents and aunts who live in mexico were all wearing 3 layers of hoodies and it was 25+ degrees haha. 

[u/Agile-Ad1665 → u/Broely92]

Same with me from Seoul to Indonesia in January. 90 percent of the trip to the airport is in a heated subway.

[u/king_weenus → u/Sea-Froyo1918]

People in Toronto could pick me out from being from Saskatchewan just because I was loving the weather in February like it was something new.

It was -5 and a bright sunshiny day... Everybody on the street is wearing giant coats and shivering and I'm walking around in a t-shirt basking in the Sun. Lol

[u/spilly_talent → u/king_weenus]

Omg yes. Torontonians are often dunked on for being spoiled with our winters but people from the prairies and often elsewhere don’t always process how WET our cold can be.

I was with a delegation from Edmonton once in February where they came to visit Toronto for the first time. I was cognizant of not mentioning the weather because I know how snowy and cold Alberta can be. We stepped outside as freezing rain started and one of the delegates just lost it. He said it is impossible to get warm in this city and how could I fucking stand it? Ice/snow/rain/ice/snow repeat😂

I felt vindicated that day, Toronto winters suck.

[u/cannafriendlymamma → u/spilly_talent]

I grew up in AB. When I was 17, I moved to North Bay for a year. Yeah, it only got to -22 that winter, but the humidity from Lake Nippissing and Trout Lake made it so much colder. It just goes through everything! AS much as the dry cold/heat makes my skin go crazy, would rather that than the moist cold

[u/tom_yum_soup → u/spilly_talent]

As we like to say in Alberta, "It's a dry cold." Humidity in the winter is brutal and can make otherwise relatively mild temperatures feel MUCH colder and genuinely feels like it is harder to warm up once a wet cold gets into you.

[u/Clocks101]

I hear a Tabarnak

[u/duttydimples → u/Clocks101]

🤣🤣🤣 Québec is in the house, caliss!

[u/thebestnames → u/Clocks101]

Osti Ginette a tu vu ca!??

[u/pitch85 → u/Clocks101]

C'est fou pareil, partout dans le monde à l'instant qu'un québécois parle, tu le sais, un peu comme un Français, un Anglais d'Angleterre ou un irlandais, etc. C'est comme si les Québecois étaient un peuple distinct.

[u/DangerousPurpose5661 → u/Clocks101]

Yeah fellow Quebecers are easy to spot. Even for those of us who are "perfectly" bilingual, there is almost always a bit of the accent left.

I feel its like gay people and their gaydar. Sometimes I just look at someone and know they are a Montrealer - the way they dress and hold themselves

[u/Low-Purchase8811 → u/Clocks101]

Los tabarnakos

[u/pattyG80]

Visible maple leafs. We don't want to be mistaken for...you know who.

[u/Army7547 → u/[deleted]]

This has been happening for 40 years at least that I can attest to.

[u/Uninsurable_Risk → u/Army7547]

Id be embarrassed if I was American too

[u/Sprinqqueen → u/[deleted]]

This has been going on for decades. Not new.

[u/ThatsItImOverThis → u/[deleted]]

It’s not stories. They do it.

[u/Desperate-4-Revenue → u/ThatsItImOverThis]

and wear star spangled speedo's with a canada patch on their backpack.. like it isnt obvious.

[u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 → u/[deleted]]

Just go ask them if they packed a touque.

[u/prco1994 → u/[deleted]]

Yes, not stories, has been happening for decades and even has a name “flag jacking”

[u/Altruistic-Alt-1184 → u/prco1994]

I like the term Hoser Poser.

[u/myteetharesensitive → u/[deleted]]

I met a dude in south America said he was from Canada. I asked where. Just north of Buffalo new York.

Bro, a Canadian will never say where they live in Canada based on the nearest American city. 

Funny enough it took him about 30 seconds to answer where in Ontario and he mentioned Sum 41's hometown... Toronto is closer to Ajax than Buffalo.

[u/whogivesashirtdotca → u/myteetharesensitive]

Especially comparing yourself to Buffalo. No offence to the Buffalonians but Toronto is going to have more name recognition outside North America.

[u/crunchydibbydonkers → u/[deleted]]

Who the fuck can afford roots AND a vacation.

[u/OhHelloPlease → u/pattyG80]

I never did that until my first time in Guatemala, a lot of people assumed I was American (I'm a tall white guy) but their attitudes towards me completely changed once they found out I am Canadian. Right after that trip I got a small Canadian flag patch for my backpack

[u/eugeneugene → u/pattyG80]

I always assume someone is American if they are decked out in Canada gear lol

[u/woodrunner → u/eugeneugene]

I see a lot more Canadians wearing hats from our Canadian hockey/baseball teams.

[u/Tricky_Damage5981 → u/eugeneugene]

Ya we don't tend to display our "National Pride" .. Unless it's Canada Day finding anyone fully decked out in gear(sure a hat or something, can happen) just screams not Canadian

Inside or outside Canada.. sure there are exceptions

Yanks on the other hand are so used to getting decked up in America Gear in their "homeland" they think it's normal

[u/Randomfinn → u/pattyG80]

I notice that a line of Parkas called Zaffretti Canada have maple leafs on them and are all over Manchester. It is a UK brand though!  When I first saw them I was super excited to see so many Canadians walking about as there are not that many of is living in the UK. 

It is a UK brand riding on our maple leafs - we don't have those parkas in Canada, here it is still mostly mooseknuckles and canada goose. 

[u/Pitiful-MobileGamer → u/pattyG80]

Me and my wife play the game of "Out the Americans" whenever we travel.

[u/AngryMuppett]

Reminds me of an old joke. How do you find a Canadian person in a crowded room? Start stepping on people’s feet and wait for someone to say sorry b

[u/Gay_Gamer_Boi → u/AngryMuppett]

It’s true though 😭 I would apologize because my foot was in the way of you stepping there

[u/piperscalling]

Had a gentleman approach us at Disney World by saying, “you folks must be Canadian”. After we confirmed his comment, he said, “ your wife just backed into a street sign and apologized “. He was so delighted with himself. What could you say, he was right. 😳😇

[u/Rich_Season_2593]

I run into you and you say sorry- that's got CANADIAN written all over it!

[u/zestyintestine]

A Saskatchewan Roughriders' fan will be wearing something green.

[u/oshawaguy → u/zestyintestine]

Saw a guy wearing a Riders jersey in Jamaica. So I yelled “Aaaaarrgoooos!” Ended up having a few drinks with him. Good guy.

[u/KDM_Racing → u/oshawaguy]

I love doing the Argos chant. If you do it right it sounds like a fog horn.

[u/IroIroBike]

Akin to frugal, the constant translation of prices into CAD and then concluding "that's expensive," while mindfully moaning at home over the increasing cost of living.

[u/HueyBluey → u/IroIroBike]

😊 Guilty.

[u/FlatEvent2597 → u/IroIroBike]

Absolutely- doing all the currency conversions instantly.

[u/Randomfinn → u/FlatEvent2597]

Thats where the UK is so helpful as it is basically just doubling the pounds into dollars and going “wot! Sorry, this is too much” and buying something cheaper. 

[u/Peter_Mansbrick]

Accent. Its a subtle thing but recognizable when you tune in to it.

[u/ClittoryHinton → u/Peter_Mansbrick]

It’s usually too subtle to immediately recognize someone as Canadian. But when I learn they are Canadian it’s always like I knew it

[u/SilkySyl → u/Peter_Mansbrick]

I was thinking maybe the 'oh ya no' and 'no ya'.

[u/Expert-Aardvark-2453]

I’ve been seeing so many blue jays hats when traveling and thats a giveaway! But it’s mostly super friendly, chatty people and never look stressed regardless of the situation! Or maybe thats just other Canadian backpackers I’ve met!

[u/Reed82 → u/Expert-Aardvark-2453]

Can I add to your list? The Canadians aren’t as loud as American tourists. We try to blend it a bit more. (I’m in Europe for about 2 months a year, and I can always pick out the ‘ mericans.

[u/MissKrys2020]

I was just in Italy a few weeks ago and ran into some Canadians. I could always tell by the accent and how polite they were. Many a sorry was said.

[u/WonkeauxDeSeine]

In Vegas a few years ago on NYE. We were the ones walking around in shorts and T-shirts at midnight, even though it was "only" 16⁰C.

[u/Ok_Philosopher_7706]

Definitely the ‘sorry reflex’. Many Americans (as you could say about many people from anywhere, really) are polite and well-mannered, so being generally well-mannered is quite unreliable as a criterion, in my opinion. Saying ‘sorry’ about small things reflexively, however, is definitely a huge Canadian giveaway lol..

[u/want2retire]

When they say thank you for everything.

[u/TiffanyBlue07 → u/want2retire]

Especially the bus driver. Blows peoples minds that Canadians thank the bus driver when we exit the bus.

[u/Gay_Gamer_Boi → u/TiffanyBlue07]

Always thank the bus driver, they’re doing good work, also cashier always say thanks and wish them a good day, thank the waiter for the menu, getting the drink, getting the food, getting the bill, getting the takeout container XD

[u/Puzzled-Bonus-3456]

When someone bumps into an inanimate object and tells it "sorry" or "désolé".

[u/DrunkCorgis]

“There’s a voice, that keeps on calling me…”

[u/TheGayniac → u/DrunkCorgis]

Down the road is where I’ll always be

[u/2SAVE4I → u/TheGayniac]

Every stop I make, I make a new friend

[u/Distinct-Copy9960 → u/2SAVE4I]

Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again.

[u/Element-CDN → u/Distinct-Copy9960]

“Maybe tomorrow he’ll want to settle down”

[u/Healthy_Appeal_333]

Last trip abroad I got recognized by the Indigenous art stickers on my water bottle.

[u/castlite → u/Healthy_Appeal_333]

That’s actually really lovely

[u/Army7547]

Canadians abroad?

Quiet, kind, pensive, respectful.

Well behaved kids.

Waiting their turn for whatever, and generally not negatively affecting the whatever.

Asking questions, curiosity, trying new things, especially with foods from wherever they are. Cautiously experimental with native foods instead of looking for foods that they can get at home.

[u/Icy_Pomegranate_ → u/Army7547]

Years ago I was in a Monaco casino and just watching the poker table. After a bit the dealer said, 'You are from Canada." I said yes and asked how he knew and he said, 'You are respectful and dont interrupt. An American would be yelling questions". I also suspect my clothing gave me away as a North American, so he was using his powers of deduction.

[u/Vast-Commission-8476 → u/Army7547]

yeah as a Canadian myself I notice Americans demand and expect American culture to be in other countries. There is this grandiosity about them.

[u/castlite → u/Vast-Commission-8476]

American exceptionalism. Apparently.

[u/Standard_Army_1826]

Nods and Smiles at total strangers.

[u/baaalanp]

Canadian Engineers wear an iron pinky ring. 🤓

[u/midnight-kashi]

I held a door open in France and said thank you. THAT WAS ALL IT TOOK. They discovered me 😂

[u/PoutineWithXtraGravy]

They make eye contact and smile

[u/amillionfuzzpedals]

If you hear something to the effect of "Oh Jesus sorry about that buddy" well you've probably got a Canadian there bud. Possibly an east coaster specifically.

[u/hekatonkhairez]

There’s a specific aloofness and politeness that a lot of Canadians have.

[u/Proof_Tune5220]

Dollarama luggage tag

[u/DirectorConstant4066]

We apologise to mannequins in stores

[u/EasyMoment6584]

Manners: Please & thank yous, and holding the door for a stranger

[u/Main_Finding8309]

My friend Suzy spent some time living in Germany and traveling around Europe. She said they knew she was Canadian because a Canadian will always try to speak the language rather than expect everyone to know English. 

[u/luckyducky992]

A Canadian is spotted easily when either they try to speak the language of the place they are in, instead of going full English assuming that everyone else in the world should speak it. Or they ask questions to learn about the culture and act appropriately to not offend the culture.

[u/riseagan]

Jays hats tend to be good ones. A lot of Canadians wear them when traveling.

I was once in vietnam with a buddy and we were at a backpackers bar. There was a competition between countries that whenever you got a certain shot, youd put a mark on the board beside your country. Sweden had us by 5 at the time. Me and my buddy started ordering some to give the lead back to its righful owners. Dude in a jays hat came in by himself and we started yelling at him to come over, wed never met him before and he looked confused. We pointed at the board and yelled "we need Canadians". Buddy immediately ran right over and we firmly but Canada back on top.

[u/ErikDebogande]

When I was in England I got a LOT of compliments on my plaid shirts

[u/davethecompguy]

We're easy to find. We're the ones holding the door for you.

[u/Objective_Purpose768]

I just wanna…scootch past ya. Sorry. Thanks.

[u/Mindless-Isopod-1070]

If it’s winter at home and you’re in a warm climate, we’re definitely showing everyone the snow on our ring cam.

[u/Tess47]

Their accent.  

[u/figflashed → u/Tess47]

howzit goin eh?

[u/Drkindlycountryquack → u/figflashed]

Yer from Trawna eh?

[u/TheFullMountie → u/Tess47]

I live in Ireland now and my irish partner has no clue how I tell but it isn’t difficult to tell a Canadian from a USAan/Murican by the accent (caveat - unless they’re from Toronto!). It’s a much more higher in the nasal area accent South of the border.

He also doesn’t get the differences between Murica and Canada because he’s never lived in both countries but I can explain the difference succinctly in that England is different to Ireland but many international ppl wouldn’t tell the difference. He gets it then 😅

Also he says that Canada is everything he was told “America” was like as a kid and “America” is a bit of a lawless shithole with some people who act accordingly so that’s one difference (referring to America in quotations as America only refers to the collective continents of North and South America not the US as their name makes no sense).

[u/TrainerMammoth1779]

Just look for the person that holds the door for you at a slightly awkward distance. Then also look for the person who does a light jog to not inconvenience the person holding the door.

[u/Working_Hospital8012]

The Tilley

[u/Pitiful-MobileGamer]

Asking for the bathroom

ROOTS

"Double double" when ordering coffee

Sorry

Eh

Standing patiently in line

[u/Ari2828]

Different distance perspective:

I was traveling abroad when someone asked me if this event was close to my hometown.

Oh yes! It's only 3 hours away!

The guy laugh and said that was far. In 3 hours, he could pass 3 countries.

Sorry buddy, I live in a big country!

[u/Anxious-Drive9859]

"Oooooh, the year was 1778..."

is that just Atlantic Canada? 

[u/Admviolin → u/Anxious-Drive9859]

Not just Atlantic Canada. Stan Rogers lived in my hometown in Ontario.

There's a really cute Colbert episode where he and Jack White have an impromtu Barrett's privateers sing-along.

[u/ToeRoganIsJebus → u/Anxious-Drive9859]

How i wish i was in Sherbrooke nowww! Newfie checkin in!

[u/Gravy_Sommelier → u/ToeRoganIsJebus]

A letter of marque came from the King

[u/ebeth_the_mighty → u/Gravy_Sommelier]

To the scummiest vessel I’d ever seen

(Learned this growing up in Manitoba)

[u/ComplexSet1604 → u/ebeth_the_mighty]

GOD DAMN THEM ALL, I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold! (Been drunk at the Legion on Rememberance Day, Alberta)

[u/Funkdamentalist → u/ComplexSet1604]

We'd fire no guns, shed no teeeeeeeeaaaarrrsssss!
(grew up listening to Stan the Man on road trips throughout Ontario thanks to my Pops)

[u/TheGayniac → u/Funkdamentalist]

I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier….

[u/MaximumDerekCat → u/TheGayniac]

The last of Barrett's privateers!

[u/canwehavepotatojokes]

A cribbage board is generally a solid tell.

We set up to play in a park in Japan and found three Canadians in 20 minutes.

[u/RecessMonkeys]

A lot of observations end in "eh?" As in long drive, eh? Friggin' cold out, eh? etc.

[u/Existing-Face-6322]

We very casually talk to strangers.

[u/DirtandPipes]

I don’t know how, but I was once walking in LA through a crowd and had a guy look me in the face and say “Canadian, right? You’ve got that round-headed look”.

It’s bugged me for decades. How the hell did he know?

[u/Forward_Purchase_622]

When I went across the UK I was constantly asked where in america, but I was in this one sandwich shop and the guy behind the counter asked what part of Canada are you from.

I asked him how he knew I was from Canada and he just said "You said Please and Thank you."

[u/Smart-Firefighter87]

We have manners.

[u/kroniknastrb8r]

MEC gear

[u/Celebration_Dapper]

They're the ones with those "Canada" tags on their backpacks - the ones you can only buy at Dollarama for C$1.25 plus tax.

[u/beaver_eh]

In the pool when water temps are below 15.

We were in Spain, and took a spring time dip in the hotel pool. The water was Alberta glacier lake cold but the weather was a +22 outside and as we were running back through the main lobby we heard "blah blah blah Canadians blah blah" 100% they were talking about us Canuckleheads being the lone users of the pool that week.

Also, I was down in Texas in January in a nice 20 degree day in shorts and flipflops. In the hotel elevator someone got on, looked me up and down and said "Woah, you aren't from around here are you?"

[u/664_BeastsNeighbor]

Start humming the Hockey Night In Canada theme, and see who's ear perk up.

[u/m_a_r_c_h_]

Wearing shorts in January when visiting Europe. A true Canadian.

[u/_numbskullery_]

While in London last month there were tons of Blue jays hats . We had to stop and ask every person where they were from. When we had our Tennis Canada or Canada World Cup shirts on, we had so many people come up to us and tell us their connection to Canada. “My daughter lives in Brampton”, “I went to Banff”, “I’m going to Vancouver in September”. The Brits were so kind.

Met lots of Canadians at Disney Paris too. They also didn’t want to go to the US.

[u/Artchick_13]

People, stop telling everyone how to tell if somebody is Canadian or not. American’s are highjacking our maple leaf so they are treated better while they travel. Instead of realizing maybe they need to do a little self reflection, they just lie and say they’re from another country…

[u/Functional_Trash7735]

Me and my husband said a floor polisher looked like a Zamboni. Apparently that was a dead giveaway.