CULTURAL CUES

Manners and Etiquette

Welcome To Canada!

Canadians are known for their strong conventions of etiquette, and for obeying the rules fairly strictly. In general, Canadian people are very friendly, and sensitive and they are known for their humility with strangers.

Time

Canadians are very punctual. Unexplained lateness is considered rude, and earliness is considered presumptuous and can put you in an awkward situation. A full-time job in Canada is roughly from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Hence, 12 noon is when the typical Canadian has lunch, and 6 PM is when they eat dinner. This implies that early visits and calls, as well as late ones, are considered rude and disruptive.

Greetings

Canadians usually prefer shaking hands to introduce themselves when meeting someone for the first time, and they shake hands when departing as well. Short hugs are common between friends but not with strangers, and kissing is mostly reserved for families and lovers.

Refusing to shake someone’s hand after they extend their hands to you is considered extremely rude and can be understood as an overt gesture of animosity. On the other hand, shaking hands with a controversial person is taken as a gesture of making peace.

Gifts

Giving gifts is mostly common between families and friends, and can be considered as a way to thank someone or return their favor. Gifts given without an occasion can create feelings of awkwardness for the recipient. And it is preferred not to give someone money as a gift if they did not ask for it. Such a move can be misunderstood.

Treating friends by paying for their meals on a social outing is also common practice in Canada. When someone tries to treat you to a drink or a meal, it is considered good manners to put up some polite dishonest resistance to the offer.