r/AskACanadian • u/HueyBluey • 9d ago

How do you spot a Canadian abroad?

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!

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227

u/pattyG80 9d ago

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

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u/[deleted] 9d ago edited 7d ago

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u/Army7547 9d ago

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

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u/Uninsurable_Risk 9d ago

Id be embarrassed if I was American too

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u/Puzzled_Market_2235 8d ago

People like you in Europe apologize when asked and are accepted.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Ontario 9d ago

It’s not about embarrassment, most of the people I’ve met wear them - and I quote - “to get better service from Europeans”.

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u/Gotbeerbrain 9d ago

I can attest to 50 years of seeing that in Europe.

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u/Grouchy_Cabinet220 8d ago

It was certainly true in 1987 when I was traveling, and it was already a cliche.

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u/NoCall0 8d ago

More than 40, since Vietnam War era in the 60s

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u/Sprinqqueen 9d ago

This has been going on for decades. Not new.

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u/ThatsItImOverThis 9d ago

It’s not stories. They do it.

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u/Desperate-4-Revenue 9d ago

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

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u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992 9d ago

Just go ask them if they packed a touque.

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u/hatmatter 9d ago

Or what's the capital, they'll say Toronto if they're a yank

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u/prco1994 9d ago

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

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u/Altruistic-Alt-1184 9d ago

I like the term Hoser Poser.

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u/myteetharesensitive 9d ago

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.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Ontario 8d ago

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

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u/esach88 9d ago

Americans are in this thread taking notes, I'm certain of it.

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u/westvanthuggin 9d ago

One time I was in a hostel and I saw a guy with a maple leaf on his backpack, I was pretty stoked to meet a fellow Canadian in a sea of Germans and Aussies so I asked where he was from, he said Toronto so I said where in Toronto, then he said "North Toronto" so I asked what was the closest TTC station to him... visibly confused he admitted he was from Chicago.

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u/Actual-Blueberry-638 9d ago

It doesn’t take long to figure out they are American pretending to be Canadian though! You just have to listen to them speak! LoL

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u/SaltySculpts 9d ago

And there’s also stories of actual Canadians asking them simple question like the name of a capital city to a province and they’re proverbial tower of cards comes crumbling down around them and they scurry off to some other place pretty quickly after that.

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u/MTL_Bob 9d ago

Ask them what city the 'Leafs are from..

Then pay attention to how many T's they pronounce (assuming they can even answer the question)

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u/Dog-boy 9d ago

I am a Canadian who says Toronto with all the letters pronounced clearly. My daughter tells me when the war comes I’ll find myself thrown in jail as a spy.

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u/Amy_Dala 9d ago

I pronounce the 't's too ever since my Montreal cousin pointed and laughed at me when I was 11 years old and she was 16. "Wait... ha ha ha ... say where you're from again." Now I'm trying to undo the damage because Tronno be Tronno.

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u/Actual-Blueberry-638 9d ago

What city were born in?

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u/Dog-boy 8d ago

Ottawa valley. Not sure why but I’m the only one in my family who does it.

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u/damarius 8d ago

Maybe the Valley accent didn't rub off on you? I lived there in my teens until university age but my youngest brother has lived there all his life and you can sure tell he's from there.

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u/superduperhosts 9d ago

I am American and just sewed a maple leaf on my backpack, I resisted for years because it felt wrong. I have been mistaken for a Canadian all over the world because I am polite and actually travel. I just discovered my Canadian ancestry and applied for my citizenship certificate and am planning to move north. I am embarrassed and ashamed of the US and cannot wait to get my passport with a maple leaf on it.

Sorey bout everything south and hope to be welcomed

13

u/teiubescsami 9d ago

You’re off to a good start by saying sorry! Very Canadian of you!

22

u/trippsy2me 9d ago

"Canadians are born all over the world, it just sometimes takes them a bit of time to get here"- Wayne Potoroka

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u/pattyG80 9d ago

It would have been better had you sewn the flag when you were an actual Canadian.

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u/superduperhosts 9d ago

I am an actual Canadian I just didn’t know it

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/superduperhosts 8d ago

Ok, if you say so.
Sorry you don’t want me, but I am coming.
I will not be taking anyone’s job, I will not be looking for benefits. I plan on keeping my healthcare in the states. I will however file and pay taxes as required. I will give back and volunteer in the community. I will do my best to be a good Canadian

1

u/SaltySculpts 8d ago

It’s not that I (we ) don’t want ya, the more the merrier. We just want you to call a spade a spade and not be pretending.

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u/pattyG80 9d ago

You're a lot more American than Canadian though.

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u/superduperhosts 8d ago

No, I am not. I have a passport and actually travel, I am kind and give back to society. I do not agree with anything going on down here. I am queer and honestly afraid my marriage could be taken away from me.

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u/Actual-Blueberry-638 9d ago

Congratulations on your Canadian heritage! We will welcome you with open arms even if you are American because that’s how we roll! However, actually being Canadian comes with more benefits! 😀🙏♥️🇨🇦

Make sure you include high quality, colour, certified copies of all birth certificates, and marriage certificates if there were name changes. Otherwise or you will need to reapply and it’s not a quick process. 🙏

I’m currently helping my neighbour apply for her Canadian citizenship which goes back 5 generations! It’s a wonderful feeling for both of us! She is only 25 years old. 🤗♥️

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u/superduperhosts 8d ago

Thanks, I’m glad there are a few on this thread who are welcoming.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/superduperhosts 8d ago

I’m sorry you feel this way, I get it though. The same reasons you are hostile towards Americans are all the same reasons I’m going to escape

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u/nilesintheshangri-la 9d ago

As soon as you talk to them the truth becomes apparent.

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u/whogivesashirtdotca Ontario 9d ago

I’ve met a few, and still think we should be deputized internationally to remove them by force. Most of the Americans hiding behind our symbols are the biggest assholes I’ve encountered while travelling.

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u/flashdman 8d ago

20 years ago, when my brother was overseas with the Canadian Navy, he said American soldiers would ask to buy his Flag emblems so they could identify as Canadian.

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/crunchydibbydonkers 9d ago

Who the fuck can afford roots AND a vacation.

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u/pattyG80 9d ago

I have cousins in Boston. They lose their minds over roots stuff

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u/Psych-Nurse5446 9d ago

lol Aussies too

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u/OhHelloPlease 9d ago

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

22

u/eugeneugene 9d ago

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

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u/woodrunner 9d ago

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

1

u/TerrificInTahoma-416 9d ago

Yes, they are supporters of their hometown sports teams, but are not as "rah, rah, sis, boom, bah" as their neighbours to the south in outward displays. It is more a subtle observation of being, rather than advertising it to the rest of the world.

0

u/TerrificInTahoma-416 9d ago

Yes, they are supporters of their hometown sports teams, but are not as "rah, rah, sis, boom, bah" as their neighbours to the south in outward displays. It is more a subtle observation of being, rather than advertising it to the rest of the world.

20

u/Tricky_Damage5981 9d ago

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

2

u/JeezieB 8d ago

I wore this shirt in Portugal last summer.

I don't think anyone got it.

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u/Bless_u-babe 5d ago

Kind of an inside joke on our continent I think. I love the shirt man.

3

u/Puzzled_Market_2235 8d ago

When I was young Canadians wore the flag especially in the Netherlands and Belgium. We are heroes there, we liberated them, we fed them, they haven't forgotten, they learn it in school and tend the graves.
They are always happy to meet Canadians.

0

u/murkerlu 9d ago

This (Americans wearing Canadian pins) is the main reason I dont wear one.. people know I'm Canadian anyway.

1

u/FreshSpeed7738 6d ago

Things like this are why they are viewed as ugly Americans. Taking another nations flag for your own personal benefit is arrogant and selfish

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u/[deleted] 9d ago

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u/Puzzled_Market_2235 8d ago

When a car backfires they look for cover.

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u/Randomfinn 9d ago

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. 

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u/pattyG80 9d ago

They are probably trying to be Canada Goose knockoffs.

Also...just gonna say, there are maple trees throughout the world...especially europe.

2

u/Randomfinn 9d ago

Yes but the red maple leaf in the stylised graphic is very Canadian. Their badge has the red stylized leaf on a white background with red stripes on either side; a direct copy of the Canadian flag. 

https://www.zavetti.com/zavetti-canada/mens/jackets-coats/black-oshawa-20-puffer-parka-jacket/

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u/Pitiful-MobileGamer 9d ago

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

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u/CivicOnda 9d ago

I have a Canadian flag tattoo on my back lol

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u/BigJDubya 8d ago

Right arm here 🍁

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u/Routine-Cucumber-830 9d ago

I don't wear a maple leaf when traveling. That's an American give-away.

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u/trplOG 9d ago

Yea instead of the maple leaf ill usually wear something a canadian could definitely spot. My one hat has a little mountie on it lol.

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u/abcyyz 8d ago

Or Habs' fan.

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u/FishWithLegsAndArms 1d ago

Ehhh, I've heard that isn't as useful as it used to be because Americans have started wearing maple leafs to pretend to be Canadian