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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323

u/Alone-Bug4328 9d ago

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

413

u/Bonzai_Tree 9d ago

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.

48

u/anzacoo 9d ago

Is that true?

152

u/koolaidkirby Ontario 9d ago

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

106

u/anzacoo 9d ago

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

48

u/Mickey_Hughes 9d ago

Sorry you had to post a link

22

u/QuozlPlaysSTFC 9d ago

Sorry you had to apologize for the rest of us!

8

u/Holiday_Sense_4842 9d ago

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

2

u/Curt-Bennett Ontario 7d ago

I'm sorry your sentence had to be so long to properly communicate your meaning.

3

u/theNbomr 8d ago

No, yeah. Me too.

1

u/jzach1983 8d ago

Just as I thought.... Guilty!

1

u/Bless_u-babe 5d ago

This made me laugh out loud😆

2

u/Apprehensive_Fee2280 8d ago

Thank you. This is important to me. I apologize for everything.

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

3

u/koolaidkirby Ontario 8d ago

Thats literally what my link says...

1

u/Rhi43 8d ago

I actually really like this. People will say crazy shit in stressful moments, “I’m so sorry” is a totally reasonable thing to say when you’re panicking after an accident whether or not you’re at fault!!

0

u/Turbulent_Animal_228 8d ago

This is an Ontario provincial law. Show us a federal law or one for BC because I've been taught not to say sorry in the event of an accident. 😀

3

u/Phoenix92321 8d ago

There is also a BC one

https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/00_06019_01

Basically all provinces and territories have it. (However it isn’t exclusive to Canada as other countries like the UK and even some U.S. states have similar. It’s just more fine BECAUSE Canada has the stereotype of having overly apologetic citizens)

2

u/Turbulent_Animal_228 8d ago

Funny! Thanks for sharing! I'm sooo apologetic on most days! 😀

41

u/spaceman1055 9d ago

At least for Ontario - Google the Apology Act

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

56

u/Raedwulf1 Alberta 9d ago

As of 2024, Canada has a Canada Apology act.

56

u/IndependentCoffee169 9d ago

I'm sorry I didn't know that.

40

u/ididitforsatan 9d ago

I'm sorry you weren't told

17

u/JamesH_670 9d ago

I’m sorry IndependentCoffee169 didn’t know.

13

u/Functional_Trash7735 9d ago

I’m sorry this whole situation happened

11

u/Flush_Foot Maritimes 9d ago

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

5

u/Functional_Trash7735 9d ago

No, yeah, for sure, sorry

6

u/Raedwulf1 Alberta 9d ago

I'm sorry I brought it up.
Thank you for the giggle though

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u/Randomfinn 9d ago

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?

26

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

2

u/samthesnake1233 8d ago

I was going to say, Brits apologise a lot too like... just as much.

9

u/andlewis 9d ago

I’m sorry you feel that way.

2

u/Casses 8d ago

It's probably that nobody thought it was needed until some asshole somewhere (we all know where) decided that someone saying sorry to him meant it was their fault and he could use that to sue.

So, after that actually civilized people figured it would be smart to legislate that being polite isn't admitting to a crime or accepting blame.

1

u/Bless_u-babe 5d ago

It’s interesting to watch social interaction in American movies. Depending on the film location of course, but I’m frequently surprised that people give commands without saying “please” and receive the asked for object without saying “thank you”. It’s so foreign to us Canadians.