Most Canadian / Least Canadian

[Bcasey25raptor]

Calgary and St John's are the 2 cities in Canada i've been to that feel the least Canadian to me.

St John's feels like it's in ireland, Calgary culturally felt very American to me, Very individualist, and in your face political, people there are less conformist that the rest of Canada, didn't like it much.

Vancouver and Victoria also don't feel very Canadian, but in a different way, it's hard to pinpoint it, politically and culturally it feels more like what I expect from canada, very progressive areas. BUT, the dmeographics of both and landscape/climate make them feel very distinct.

Montreal is the most Canadian feeling city i've ever been to, Toronto also felt quite canadian but the demographics make it kinda feel like a Larger Vancouver without mountains.

I'd imagine somewhere like Halifax and PEI would be the most canadian places, generally I'd think that the more western you go in Canada, the less "Canadian" it feels as it's more disconnected from the original provinces of confederation.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Oh yeah. You often see Indians queuing by pressing up against the person ahead of them - it’s to leave no space that would allow someone to butt in!

Living with a billion and a half people in your midst will do that to you.

[Bcasey25raptor]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

ANd honestly limiting your travel to places with the same "Alphabet" can be misleading.

Consider happening upon this sign in Turkey, a country that uses a Romanized script.


vs. Japan, which LOVES to use pictograms and cute illustrations everywhere


I don't know about you, but I have no idea how to read Turkish or Japanese, but I can clearly understand the latter sign better.

I feel smug knowing I can read the bottom sign

[giallo]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

The overseas drunken Canadian is only very slightly less obnoxious than the drunken overseas American. The reason being is that the obnoxious drunk American is more likely to start yelling about how the "United States is the greatest country in the WORLD!!" because of its military might and "freedumb", whereas the obnoxious drunk Canadian will nauseatingly argue that Canada is better than the United States simply because it is not the United States. Both are awful, but the latter lacks the "WootWoot USA! USA!" factor.

Haha. Truth.

Overseas drunk Canadians* can be unbelievably obnoxious and embarrassing to be around. In Shanghai, a large part of my social circle were Americans, and every now and then, we'd meet a new FOB Canadian that thought he was so original and wise to point out why Canada is better than America. Our collective eyes would be rolling in to the back of our skulls.

*They don't necessarily need to be drunk to be annoying and obnoxious, but it helps.

[wave46]

Originally Posted by giallo

Haha. Truth.

Overseas drunk Canadians* can be unbelievably obnoxious and embarrassing to be around. In Shanghai, a large part of my social circle were Americans, and every now and then, we'd meet a new FOB Canadian that thought he was so original and wise to point out why Canada is better than America. Our collective eyes would be rolling in to the back of our skulls.

*They don't necessarily need to be drunk to be annoying and obnoxious, but it helps.

Oh, the holier-than-thou Canadian. Such a staple of our country.

Just as ignorant as others, but because 'we're not America', somehow better. Or whatever delusion they have. Often with no perspective on their own country, much less the country to the south or any other direction for that matter.

Bonus points if intoxicated, yes.

[Loco101]

Originally Posted by Bcasey25raptor

Calgary and St John's are the 2 cities in Canada i've been to that feel the least Canadian to me.

St John's feels like it's in ireland, Calgary culturally felt very American to me, Very individualist, and in your face political, people there are less conformist that the rest of Canada, didn't like it much.

Vancouver and Victoria also don't feel very Canadian, but in a different way, it's hard to pinpoint it, politically and culturally it feels more like what I expect from canada, very progressive areas. BUT, the dmeographics of both and landscape/climate make them feel very distinct.

Montreal is the most Canadian feeling city i've ever been to, Toronto also felt quite canadian but the demographics make it kinda feel like a Larger Vancouver without mountains.

I'd imagine somewhere like Halifax and PEI would be the most canadian places, generally I'd think that the more western you go in Canada, the less "Canadian" it feels as it's more disconnected from the original provinces of confederation.

I was recently in Calgary and mentioned on here that it felt quite a bit like Mississauga but with less traffic. A lot of suburbia, immigration from the same countries, similar commercial areas. Not the most exciting places for overall culture but not very dense living space-wise. Not typically "Canadian" in many ways but definitely Canadian as both cities don't really have uniqueness so they just go along with whatever the Canadian thing to do it at the time.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by SaskScraper

You're a Champion! you got the best score out of everyone!
4 out of 6 correct! certain things in the pics are a direct give away, single mailbox on the street is dead give away it's American, blue box recycle less likely in America etc.

Middle left is actually Great Falls,
Bottom left is Scottsdale...

I think I actually know a family who lives in one of the houses in that top left Saskatoon picture.

I was actually flipping back and forth between the two that I got wrong and I should have gone with my gut feeling with the types of trees in the rear of the Great Falls house.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by wave46

Oh, the holier-than-thou Canadian. Such a staple of our country.

Just as ignorant as others, but because 'we're not America', somehow better. Or whatever delusion they have. Often with no perspective on their own country, much less the country to the south or any other direction for that matter.

Bonus points if intoxicated, yes.

One thing about Canadians is the strong myth that everyone around the world likes (or even loooooooooves) Canadians.

This is often accompanied by the belief that the good reputation makes certain behaviours on the part of Canadians more easily forgiven.

Of course, like most stereotypes there is probably at least a tiny kernel of truth to all of the above.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Acajack

One thing about Canadians is the strong myth that everyone around the world likes (or even loooooooooves) Canadians.

I don't think it's so much that most people automatically love Canadians (aside from the Dutch), as it is relief that the tourist that they have come in contact with, who sounds so American, is actually not an American, and therefore not as likely to be loud, boorish and obnoxious.

Canadians are not saints, but I do believe we are more relaxed and less self entitled than Americans, and thus most people overseas are happier dealing with us than with them.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I don't think it's so much that most people automatically love Canadians (aside from the Dutch), as it is relief that the tourist that they have come in contact with, who sounds so American, is actually not an American, and therefore not as likely to be loud, boorish and obnoxious.

Canadians are not saints, but I do believe we are more relaxed and less self entitled than Americans, and thus most people overseas are happier dealing with us than with them.

The Dutch and the Scots. To my mind it's more that few peoples around the world actively dislike Canadians. When it happens, it's usually attached to something quite specific and of the moment (Mexicans/visas; Brazilians/jets; Chinese/Huawei).

[MonctonRad]

Yes, indeed, and the Scots.

To them we are long lost cousins. At least that seemed to be the case when I visited Scotland.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by Bcasey25raptor

Calgary and St John's are the 2 cities in Canada i've been to that feel the least Canadian to me.

St John's feels like it's in ireland, Calgary culturally felt very American to me, Very individualist, and in your face political, people there are less conformist that the rest of Canada, didn't like it much.

Vancouver and Victoria also don't feel very Canadian, but in a different way, it's hard to pinpoint it, politically and culturally it feels more like what I expect from canada, very progressive areas. BUT, the dmeographics of both and landscape/climate make them feel very distinct.

Montreal is the most Canadian feeling city i've ever been to, Toronto also felt quite canadian but the demographics make it kinda feel like a Larger Vancouver without mountains.

I'd imagine somewhere like Halifax and PEI would be the most canadian places, generally I'd think that the more western you go in Canada, the less "Canadian" it feels as it's more disconnected from the original provinces of confederation.

This makes me happy, obviously But I do think we’re similar enough that it would be hard for St. John’s to be least and Halifax most. Don’t get me wrong, I could write a thesis on my perceived differences but for an outsider coming to both they’d surely have to be pretty similar hehe.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

This makes me happy, obviously But I do think we’re similar enough that it would be hard for St. John’s to be least and Halifax most. Don’t get me wrong, I could write a thesis on my perceived differences but for an outsider coming to both they’d surely have to be pretty similar hehe.

Definitely similar, but to the reasonably observant person, St. John's still feels a few steps more removed from the "mainstream Canada" than Halifax does, and consequently a few steps closer to Ireland and the UK.

[VANRIDERFAN]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I don't think it's so much that most people automatically love Canadians (aside from the Dutch), as it is relief that the tourist that they have come in contact with, who sounds so American, is actually not an American, and therefore not as likely to be loud, boorish and obnoxious.

Canadians are not saints, but I do believe we are more relaxed and less self entitled than Americans, and thus most people overseas are happier dealing with us than with them.

I'm deployed in to a middle east country with an international cabal of Naval Officers. We all work together and socialize quite a bit together as well.
In our offices we have:

Brits
Americans
Aussies
Kiwis
Italians
Norwegians
Dutch
Danes
French
Japanese
S Koreans
Singapore
Pakistanis
Egyptians
Turks
All the Gulf States (except Iran of course)

The poking at National stereotypes here has been in a word "viscous but with a smile". Everyone gives as good as they get. The Americans kinda get extra mustard but they retort "Yea, but our Coast Guard can kick all your asses!"

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by VANRIDERFAN

Everyone gives as good as they get. The Americans kinda get extra mustard but they retort "Yea, but our Coast Guard can kick all your asses!"

I'm pretty sure that isn't even hyperbole, at least from a raw hardware standpoint.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Definitely similar, but to the reasonably observant person, St. John's still feels a few steps more removed from the "mainstream Canada" than Halifax does, and consequently a few steps closer to Ireland and the UK.

I think there is a lot of confusion about what is going on and why though.

Halifax is the closest thing Atlantic Canada has to a major city and it has a higher proportion of people who have moved these from around the region, country, or the world. This is particularly true of the central and more expensive parts that visitors see (and I have seen that expand even over the past couple decades, with quirky stuff getting displaced by bigger developments and chain stores, and property buyers coming from other regions more and more). It is much less true as you move out into the more working class suburbs. This is a pattern that is common around the world (an urban area interfaces with faraway places, and more cosmopolitan people live there who seem less tied to a specific local culture). There's something similar in Montreal for example which is more cosmopolitan and even more "generic" in a number of ways (with more features you find all around Canada or in major cities in many countries) while Quebec culture is more apparent in smaller towns and cities. It's a bit odd to consider that "more Canadian". In that sense central London and Paris are more Canadian than small British and French towns too.

The accents in Newfoundland mostly have to do with Gaelic or formerly Gaelic speaking settlers moving there directly from the British Isles during the 18th and 19th centuries. This pattern was exactly the same in most of the Maritimes. I think PEI today actually has a higher percentage who declare that they are Irish/Scottish than NL does.

The date that different provinces joined Canada is interesting but I don't think it matters much. The earliest settlers in Atlantic Canada moved in around 1605. They joined around 1870 while NL joined in 1949. But you could already easily move around between the Atlantic provinces prior to 1949, there were already lots of businesses operating across the whole region, etc. All of the Atlantic provinces joined Canada as fully-formed societies with a significant degree of independence, which is different from the west or north of Canada. The whole timeline in Atlantic Canada is pushed back from the norm in most of Canada, particularly in the Maritimes. Nova Scotia had already been electing governments for over a century before it joined Canada, back in an era when Canada was considered a separate region that was days to weeks away by sailing ship or steamship.

[SignalHillHiker]

The biggest difference to me between St. John’s and Halifax is the isolation. Halifax still feels like a smaller part of a bigger whole. You can feel the rest of Atlantic Canada around you, all of which have sizeable communities in the city. For Newfoundlanders, at least (not sure about NB/PEI), we’re even a visible presence in Halifax with our own shops and grocery store sections and flags in businesses and outside homes etc. In Halifax, you can sense Canada and New England are just over the horizon. You can take easy day trips to other cities. It’s just connected.

St. John’s doesn’t have any of that, which has positive and negative consequences. When you’re here, it might as well be the only city on the earth. There’s no visible community of Nova Scotians or anyone else for that matter, except small but (by definition) visible minority communities. You need a weekend and a grand to visit even the nearest larger city. There’s no easy day trip anywhere. There’s no daily interaction with the Maritimes or Canada. It’s why the accents are surviving so long here, why we have to be culturally and artistically self-sufficient.

If the exact people who settled St. John’s has instead settled Moncton, pretty sure the end result would still be more or less the existing Moncton. It’s the isolation that’s key for our identity. Just as an old street grid is the foundation of why Boston feels so old, even where its buildings are generic modern ones.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

The biggest difference to me between St. John’s and Halifax is the isolation. Halifax still feels like a smaller part of a bigger whole. You can feel the rest of Atlantic Canada around you, all of which have sizeable communities in the city. For Newfoundlanders, at least (not sure about NB/PEI), we’re even a visible presence in Halifax with our own shops and grocery store sections and flags in businesses and outside homes etc. In Halifax, you can sense Canada and New England are just over the horizon. You can take easy day trips to other cities. It’s just connected.

I'd say that Halifax is connected to the rest of the Maritimes in a convenient way that St. John's does not have with any other cities but that's much less true of Quebec or New England, which for the most part are a flight away just like Toronto is (with Toronto being more important as a neighbour).

I think the "NL community in Halifax but no NS community in St. John's" is a classic larger vs. smaller city relationship thing. Although had the St. John's oil boom continued those communities might have developed more. For example you could have easily ended up with Acadians in St. John's that would have created their own Francophone high school and so on (which I don't think exists there or wouldn't expect; but there is a Francophone school system in Halifax even though historically the local French speaking population was ~0).

One strange aspect of this most vs. least Canadian stuff is that it seems to be based on a kind of average assessment of different places. But what about a city that has a mix of different minority demographics, in some cases even the most vibrant example of a unique minority culture you can find?

[Acajack]

I would agree with you guys that distance and isolation are what make St. John's what it is.

The 82 years after 1867 when NL was not part of Canada likely don't play into it as much as one might think.

Had NL joined Confederation in 1895 or 1907, it probably wouldn't be that different a place from what it is today.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I would agree with you guys that distance and isolation are what make St. John's what it is.

I agree (with the caveat that the Maritimes are not exactly close to anything else) although I also think this perspective has some "Canadian bias", and it's something you will find Atlantic Canadian historians dispute.

Canadians outside of the region tend to view Atlantic Canada as being on the margins and being isolated. But they are also connected to the rest of the world, not just other parts of Canada. For most of their history, the connection to the Atlantic world was more important than connection to Canada. In particular the focus was on a great circle route connecting the Caribbean with the US Eastern Seaboard, the Maritimes and Newfoundland, then Western Europe and Africa.

The continues on today with the cruise industry (which may be dead now, who knows), shipping, and international navies. Some of the most interesting times in Halifax were when an aircraft carrier would dump 2,000 sailors form the UK or France on the waterfront.

There is also that time period bias I alluded to earlier with Canadians acting like 1850 was practically prehistoric. It is not so in the East Coast historical consciousness.