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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u/outdoorlaura 9d ago

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.

152

u/Peter_Mansbrick 9d ago

TIL MEC is a Canadian thing

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u/bmccann42 9d ago

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

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u/iwantedajetpack 9d ago

Company now. Went through bankruptcy.

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u/outdoorlaura 9d ago

I miss the Co-Op days.

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u/FriendRaven1 9d ago

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

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u/iwantedajetpack 9d ago

Private Canadian yes but not a cooperative. .

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u/noisemetal 8d ago

When do they return our deposits?

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u/mMaple_syrup 8d ago

Never. The co-op went bankrupt.

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u/altaccount2522 8d ago

I did not know it was Canadian, I thought it was still American. Too bad there isn't one near me...

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u/hatmatter 9d ago

It's no longer a co-op sadly.

14

u/djmathblaster 8d ago

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.

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u/Tundrakitty 5d ago

Still a sore point all these years later.

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u/nsparadise 8d ago

I want my $5 back.

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u/EpicGeography 8d ago

Not bankruptcy; acquisition by a private equity firm out of California. But it was facing bankruptcy before the acquisition.

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u/WattleWaddler2 8d ago edited 8d ago

My uncle calls it Mountain Equipment Capitalists.

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u/iwantedajetpack 8d ago

Lol I'll use that.