Canada is *travel goals* for many international travellers. Canadians are known for being friendly and laid back but we’re so much more than the polite, bushwacking stereotype. Get to know us a little better and you’ll get to know a population of people who are endearingly quirky and hilariously enthusiastic.

Whether you’re visiting for the first time or a returning visitor, these are some oddly specific things you might notice about Canadian culture. Don’t ask why we’re like this, we just are.

Swimming in cold water

It’s not that we don’t *feel* super cold temperatures. It’s not even that we don’t like them. It’s just that we don’t care. Take a cold plunge in the off-season if you dare. For a less intimidating introduction to Canadian culture, take a quick dip in the lake towards the end of spring. Emphasis on the “quick!” Start training now.

Floating down rivers in tubes in summer

Hostel hopping in summer? June through mid-September are definitely the time to take advantage of our coasts, lakes, and rivers. If your travel plans include the latter, don’t think it’s just about kayaks, canoes, and fishing. Canadians love a lazy river float while socializing with friends and family and soaking up the sun’s rays.

If you want to really immerse yourself in the True North culture, get a brightly coloured inflatable tube, sunglasses, a summery beverage, tons of sunscreen, and a clear afternoon. This is the literal embodiment of go with the flow…

Seasonal depression

Other people: “You’re so funny!”

Canadians: “Thanks. We spend half the year in torturously cold, barely livable conditions.”

There’s not much seasonal depression is good for, but it does contribute to our wit and sense of humour.

Knowing exactly what bug spray tastes like

This isn’t at all something we’re proud of, but it happens to be true that you’re not Canadian until you know what bug spray tastes like. Come summertime, the mosquitos really bring their A-game and we respond by absolutely drenching ourselves in bug spray. It gets on your hands, lips, face, drink… it’s really only a matter of time before you *know* that chemical bitterness all too well.

Perogies

Perogies are by no means a Canadian cuisine: we know the Polish and Ukranians perfected these delicious dumplings and will never claim them as our own. But, Canadians really do love them and you’ll find them on the menus of restaurants, bars, and pubs everywhere.

In fact, one of Canada’s favourite poutine chains, Smoke’s Poutine, has a sour cream and bacon doused perogy poutine on their menu blending a Canadian classic with an adopted favourite. Do recommend.

Casual outfits

We could rock the little black dress, button-up, or heels… or… hear us out, we could do dry-fit pants, fleece, layers, and waterproof outer shells.

Option A: The squad looks great. Option B: The squad looks great *and* will be prepared for the snowstorm that probably will happen.

Taking your shoes off at the door

If you have a Canadian guest join your crew of travellers for the night, you’ll know because they’ll take their shoes off and leave them by the door. This subtle Canadian politeness is everywhere. If you’re invited to a local’s home, now you’ll know to do the same.

Being confusingly athletic

A product of being from a place where we’re always steps from a forest, snow drift, ocean, lake, or mountain is that we are athletic in a way that we will downplay. A lot of Canadians are really good at swimming, hiking, running, skiing, hockey, lifting… or you know, all of the above. Annoyingly, we also won’t think much of it and often shrug our shoulders and say something like, “It’s not that far,” or, “It’s easy,” as famous last words before you begin the most torturous trek of your life.

Having really niche skills

We can make a fire, pitch a tent, filter river water, make a cup of coffee from a miniscule camping stove, turn a snowbank into a beer fridge, and tell you which leaves to absolutely never use as toilet paper.

We may have forgotten elements of grade eight math or that one part of our national anthem we used to sing in French, but these skills are so ingrained.

Never being fooled by a raccoon’s real self

To an international traveller, a raccoon is an absolutely adorable Canadian animal! Those round, beady eyes? Paws like little mini human hands? That fluffy tail? Those adorable fuzzy stripes? So. Cute.

Until it breaks into your home, nests in your attic, hisses at you, and wakes you up at 3:00 a.m. by rummaging through all your trash. Canadians can’t be fooled by these menaces.

Having trauma from Fahrenheit conversions…

Part of Canadian culture is really hating (and we mean really hating!) Fahrenheit. Look, we love to talk about the weather. We love it so much. Was it a wet snow or a dry snow? Did it sprinkle or downpour? How unseasonably warm was it? (Let us dream!) Was it actually freezing?

These are the deets we must have but when our neighbours speak to us in Fahrenheit, that is a language we cannot understand. Drives us nuts.

Having pantries stocked with Kraft Dinner, Canada Dry, and Maple Leaf Foods

It’s not just about the poutine, Beaver Tails, butter tarts, cedar plank salmon, and Nanaimo bars. Canadians also need their cupboards to be stocked with the day-to-day essentials. It’s not that Kraft Dinner is the best macaroni per say, but it fills an emotional need. Same goes with all the other Canadian bites. We’re proud of ourselves, and we’re proud of our snacks.