This document provides an overview of Canadian culture, including its geography, government structure, economy, healthcare system, education, population, and social norms. Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories that vary greatly in climate and landscape. The country has a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy at the federal level, with provincial and municipal governments that each have defined responsibilities. Key symbols of Canadian identity include the maple leaf, beaver, and hockey. The economy relies heavily on natural resources and trade. Healthcare is publicly funded for all citizens.

1. A Glimpse
of
Canadian Culture
Amanda Smallwood
Intercultural
Communication

2. Land & Climate
Canada is the second largest country in the world, with over 3,851,877 square
miles of land2 varying in climate from permafrost in the north to four distinct seasons
of spring, summer, fall, and winter nearer the equator3.
Canada has 10 provinces; British
Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, and 3
territories; Yukon, Northwest territories, Nunavut6. The capital city is Ottawa, in
Ontario11.
The International Boundary, the longest border between two nations, is the official
name of the 5,525 mile border between Canada and the United States- with 1,538
miles of it lying between Canada and Alaska5.
7% of Canada’s land mass is covered with over 2 million lakes, the largest being the
Northwest Territories’ Great Bear Lake4.
An estimated 14% of the world’s fresh water supply is located in Canada4.
Some of Canada’s natural resources are; iron

3. Government Structure
Canada is a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a constitutional
monarchy8. The three levels of government are the federal government, the
provincial and territorial governments, and the municipal governments12.
The federal government is made up of: The Head of State; Queen Elizabeth II, and
The Governor General that represents her, The House of Commons; consisting of
Members of Parliament that make the laws, The head of government; The Prime
Minister that chooses Members of Parliament and the Senate, and The Senate; that
reviews laws proposed by The House of Commons.
The provincial government is made up of: The Lieutenant Governor that represents
the queen, and the Legislative Assembly that makes law. Members of Provincial
Parliament are the elected members of the Legislative Assembly. The largest
political party is the one that forms government, with the leader of the party being
the Premier that chooses who serves in the Cabinet.
At the municipal level, the local governments of cities, towns and villages have their
structure, finances and management defined by the province. The residents elect
the mayor and counsel members. Committee meetings are held for
citizens, business owners, and community groups to discuss the councillors.

4. Government
Responsibilities
The federal government is responsible for things effecting the entire country such as
citizenship, immigration, national defense, trade with other countries12, the banking
system, criminal code, and indigenous populations8. The federal government also
has some involvement in things like employment, insurance, and Medicare that
were once controlled by the provinces, because of the greater resources of the
federal government8.
The provinces or territories have responsibility for things like
education, highways, healthcare, and welfare8.
In areas with a municipal government, the municipal government is responsible for
local matters like firefighting and city streets12.
Queen Elizabeth Governor General: David

5. Economy
The economy in Canada is the 9th strongest17 in the world8.
The substantial growth of the manufacturing, mining, and
service sectors in Canada since World War II has revamped
the nation from a primarily rural economy into one
predominantly industrial and urban8.
Canada signed the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with
freer Mexico and the United States in 1989 and 1994, respectively. NAFTA provides for
market for manyof capital and goods, more cross-national investment, and a large
Movement
goods from each NAFTA country8,2.
Canada is the 10th largest exporter of oil and the 3rd largest exporter of natural gas
in the world17.
Canada is the largest foreign supplier of energy to the United States, including;
oil, gas, uranium, and also electric power8.

6. Economy
& the workforce
As of the year 2012 there are an estimated 18.85 million people in the Canadian
workforce8.
Percentages of occupations held in the labor force in 2006: agriculture:
2%, manufacturing: 13%, construction: 6%, services: 76%, other: 3%8
Although many people reap the benefits of a strong economy, 7.3% of the
population was unemployed in 2012 and more than 9% of the Canadian population
lives in poverty as of an estimate done in 20088.
14.8% of Canadians ages 15-24 are unemployed.
Canada is a leader in the production of gold, silver, copper, uranium, oil, natural
gas, agriculture, wood pulp, and timber-related products8.
Minimum hourly wage by province26: Alberta; $9.75, BC; $10.25, Manitoba;
$10.25, New Brunswick; $10.00, Newfoundland; $10.00, NWT; $10.00, Nova
Scotia; $10.15, Nunavut; $11.00, Ontario; $10.25, PEI; $10.00, Quebec;
$9.90, Saskatchewan; $9.50, Yukon; $10.30.

7. Currency
All of Canada uses the Canadian Dollar20.
There are no 1 or 2 dollar bills in Canada, they have been
replaced by the 1 and 2 dollar coins – the “loonie” and the
“toonie”20.
In history, the Canadian dollar has usually been at least a
bit weaker than the United States dollar, but recently the
trend has changed8.
 Canadian bills are brightly colored
and easy to distinguish- which also
happens to be a point of cultural
Canadian pride20.
 The newest Canadian bills, released
in 2011, are made of polymer instead
of paper21.

8. Just a
few
Symbols of
Canada
National Flag of The Maple The Great
Canada Leaf Seal
The Maple The Coat of
Tree Arms
The
National Horse of Beaver
Canada Hockey: Canada’s
national winter sport Lacrosse: Canada’s
national summer

9. The Healthcare
System
Often referred to as “Medicare”, Canada’s national health insurance program30
consists of a group of socialized health insurance plans that provide publicly funded
healthcare coverage to most all the citizens of Canada regardless of medical
history, personal income, or standard of living. Healthcare is administered on a
provincial or territorial basis, with guidelines that are set by the federal
government29.
Citizens are provided preventative care, medical treatments from primary care
physicians, access to hospitals, dental surgery and some additional medical
services29.
The average number of physicians
per 1,000 people in Canada is:
2.1.46
Canadians have a median wait time
of 19 weeks for surgical or other
therapeutic treatments.31

10. Health Statistics
Total Fertility rate; Average number of children per woman24: 1.61
Current smokers24: 19.9%
Infant mortality rate24; per 1,000 live births: 4.9
Percentage of Canadians with a doctor24: 84.7%
Percentage of Canadians that drink heavily24: 19%
Percentage of Canadians with high blood pressure24: 17.6%
Life expectancy for males24: 78.8 years
Life expectancy for females8: 84.2 years
Percentage of overweight or obese adults24: 52.1%
Percentage of overweight or obese youth (age 12-17)24: 20.4%
Percentage of leisure time dedicated to physical activity24: 53.8%

11. Education
- In Canada, the education system is made up of both
public and private schools, including; community
colleges, technical institutes, secondary schools, universities, university
colleges, career colleges, summer camps, and language schools34.
Under the Canadian constitution each province has responsibility for it’s educational
system2.
Canadian children generally voluntarily attend kindergarten for one or two years at
the age of four or five34.
All children begin Grade One at about six years of age34.
The school year lasts from September to the following June34.
Depending on what province you are in, secondary schools go
up to Grade 11 or 1234.
99% of the population of Canada over the age of 15 is literate8.

12. Populatio
n
Canada is the ninth-most sparsely populated nation in the world with a population
density of 8.6 people per square mile8.
Around 33.4 million people live in Canada, and the population is growing by 0.9 percent
annually2.
Canada’s per-capita immigration rate is one of the highest in the world with about
250,000 immigrants being admitted yearly since 20067.
Canada has a society that is open and relatively
free of social class distinctions50.
Ethnic groups of Canada include; 28% of British
Isles origin, 23% of French origin, 15% other
European, 2% Amerindian, 6% other, mostly
Asian, African, Arab, and 26% mixed background. 8
Religions in Canada; Roman Catholic 42.6%,
Protestant 23.3% (United Church
9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran
2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and
unspecified 11.8%, non-religious 16%

13. Family, Marriage & Relationships
The family structure in The dating process
Canada usually begins around
Has been changing and ages2 13-16 in Canada.
becoming more diverse Opposite-sex and same-
over the last 30+ years. sex marriage are both
legal throughout
In 2006, 69.6% of Canada83.
households were family
households, 26.8% were It’s common for both
one-person parents in the family to
households, and 3.7% of work outside of the
households consisted of home2.
unrelated persons81.
The average family size in
In 2006, 68.6% percent of 2006 was 3 members82.
families consisted of a
married couple with or 43.1% of marriages end
without children, 15.5% of in divorce before the 50th
families consisted of anniversary84 as of 2011.
common-law couples and

14. Communication, gestur
es
& body language
Shaking hands is customary when being introduced to someone new in Canada47.
Many Canadians expect a firm handshake when meeting or departing as well as
good eye contact52.
Saying “Hello”, nodding your head, or waving your hand are all acceptable ways to
say Hello2.
It is proper to remove any sunglasses or hat when speaking with someone52.
In Quebec it is considered bad form to speak when you have your hands in your
pockets52.
As far as personal space, body movement, and body gestures are concerned- the
norms are different between English and French provinces48.
One to two feet of space between two people is the usual personal boundary in
English areas along with a minimal amount of body movement, and little touching
other than handshakes48.

15. Communication, gestures
& body language
..continued
In Quebec, the "thumbs down” sign is considered offensive, as is slapping an open
palm over a closed fist52.
"The "okay" sign made with the index finger and thumb means "zero" in Quebec52.
The “thumbs up" sign is used to mean "okay” throughout Canada52.
Pointing at someone with your index finger is considered rude2.
Using a toothpick, brushing your hair, or clipping your
fingernails are all things not to do in public52.

16. Social norms
It’s not uncommon in Canada for people who don’t know you to greet you with “Hi!”
or “how are you?” when walking down the street69.
It’s considered rude to speak in a foreign language in the presence of others who do
not understand what is being said48.
Most Canadians only allow guests in rooms of their home that they have designated
as public or “guest” rooms50.
Many Canadians are non-smokers and they do not allow smoking in their homes or
vehicles79.
Recycling and not littering are valued behaviors79.
A line is usually formed when several people are waiting for something, like at a
coffee shop. Lines are first come first serve, and it is considered very rude to cut
in69.
Bargaining or haggling is not a common practice in Canada other than for things like
buying a house, a vehicle, or dealing with a private seller69.

17. Eating Habits
Punctuality is important, but arriving 15 minutes late for a dinner party is
acceptable50.
Canadians usually have the standard 3 meals a day and sometimes may have tea
coffee in the afternoon or a snack break at work2.
Politely refusing food in Canada is unlikely to cause offence48.
Elbows should never be on the table when eating50.
15% tips are expected at restaurants and often are not included in the tab unless
you have a large party2.
Eating while walking in public is not acceptable49.
In Canada, many people eat with the fork in the left
hand and the knife in the right hand for foods that
require cutting2.
After finishing a meal, eating utensils should be
placed on the plate2.

18. Common Foods
Canadians eat a lot of the same foods that people do in the
United States73; they have fast food, processed foods, milk, cheese,
eggs, breads, fruits, vegetables, pizza, meat, seafood, and so on.
Some common Canadian favorites are –
Poutine71: Fries layered with gravy and cheese curds ; Chicken wings71: Fried chicken
wings with a variety of different sauces ; Pierogies71: A dough dumpling70 stuffed with a
filling like cheese, meat, and/or potatoes ; Elk, moose, buffalo, and deer71 ; Tim
Hortons Donuts71 ; Beaver Tails71: A type of pastry ; Maple syrup71 ; East coast
seafood71 ; Kraft macaroni and cheese71 ; Beer71 from one of the many local
breweries ; Subway ; Raspberries ; Waffles ; Stews ; Flax ; Quinoa ; Muffins..
Pierogie Beaver
Poutine
s tails

19. This marks the end
of our exploration of…

20. Works Cited:
1: (Slide one picture); http://exclaim.ca/news/exclaims_20_most_anticipated_canadian_albums_of_2013
2: https://www.viu.ca/homestay/host/CultureGrams/Canada.pdf
3: http://www.yourcanada.ca/climate/
4: http://www.nriol.com/canada-visitors/geography-climate-in-canada.asp
5: http://facts.randomhistory.com/2009/01/15_canada.html
6: http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/tp/canada_provinces_territories.01.htm
7: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/department/media/releases/2012/2012-03-02a.asp
8: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html
9: (Slide 3 picture); http://www.themagazine.ca/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/canadian-population-2009-2036-660-buyric.jpg
10: (Slide 2 permafrost picture); www.sciencepoles.org , (Slide 2 sunny picture); www.everytrail.com
11: http://www.oocities.org/teacherkab/countries/canada.htm
12: http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000074
13:chatt.hdsb.ca
14: (Slide 3 picture); www.benefitscanada.com
15: (Governor General picture); http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=13874

21. Works Cited:
16: (Queen Elisabeth II picture); www.saskabush.com
17: http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/canada/?page=full
18: (Canadian coins); www.craigmarlatt.com
19: (Canadian bills); http://qajk.com/latest-news/greece-has-mixed-impact-on-canadas-currency/
20: http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/qt/Money.htm
21: http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/currency.html
22: blogs.wsj.com
23: en.wikipedia.org
24: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/health-sante/index-eng.htm
25: (stethoscope picture slide 9); canada.lilithezine.com
26: http://canadaonline.about.com/od/labourstandards/a/minimum-wage-in-canada.htm
27: (Doughnut picture on slide 9); creampuffsinvenice.ca
28: (Cigarette carton on slide 9); www.cbc.ca
29: http://www.canadian-healthcare.org/page9.html
30: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/medi-assur/index-eng.php

22. Works Cited:
31: http://www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/news/display.aspx?id=2147484002
32: (Table on slide 10); www.medibid.com
33: (Question mark picture on slide 11); www.carp.ca
34: http://www.studycanada.ca/english/education_system_canada.htm
35: (School bus picture on slide 11); www.ncee.org
36: (Picture of students on slide 11); belcanex.by
37: http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/tp/Symbols-Of-Canada.htm
38: (Canadian flag on slide 12); http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/101/103-eng.cfm
39: (Coat of arms on slide 12, Seal of Canada on slide 12); http://www.canada4life.ca/symbols.php
40: (Maple leaf picture on slide 12); www.isavo.com
41: (Beaver picture on slide 12); ieatbuttons.com
42: (Canadian horse on slide 12); www.stonefortconsulting.com
43: (Maple tree on slide 12); phovanblog.blogspot.com
44: (Hockey picture on slide 12); content.usatoday.com
45: (Lacrosse picture on slide 12); laxbuzz.com

23. Works Cited:
46: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_phy_per_1000_peo-physicians-per-1-000-people
47: http://www.vec.ca/english/2/culture.cfm
48: http://www.todaytranslations.com/doing-business-in/canada
49: http://www.cyborlink.com/besite/canada.htm
50: http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/07/20/doing-business-across-the-border-hsbc-has-some-hilarious-cultural-advice/
51: (Waving picture in slide 13); www.pc.gc.ca
52: http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_ca.htm
54: (Pointing picture); jesuslovesgays.blogspot.com
55: (Hairbrush picture); www.hercampus.com
56: (Thumbs up picture); www.centralnewyorkinjurylawyer.com
57: (Okay gesture); www.sodahead.com
68: (Thumbs down picture); www.livingdice.com
69: http://www.cruisingtips.info/canadiansocialcustoms.html
70: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pierogies
71: http://www.bakpakguide.com/canada/canada101/highlights/10-must-try-canadian-foods.shtml#.UVYR_RmRPoA

24. Works Cited:
72: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/06/05/most-popular-food-and-drinks-canada-_n_1562501.html
73: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_most_common_foods_in_Canada
74: (Picture of woman eating fruit salad); thehairpin.com
75: (Picture of poutine) ; www.labanquise.com
76: (Beaver tails picture) ; www.tumblr.com
77: (Pierogies picture) ; www.europeanfoodbayarea.com
78: (Family eating at the table picture) ; www.eatinghabits.org
79: http://www.kelseytrailhealth.ca/HumanResources/Careers/PhysicianOrientation/Pages/Canadian-Social-Standards.aspx
80: (Family picture-famil&marriage); powertochange.com
81: http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/.3ndic.1t.4r@-eng.jsp?iid=37
82: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/famil40-eng.htm
83: www.glad.org/uploads/docs/publications/canada-marriage-faq.pdf
84: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/statistics-canada-to-stop-tracking-marriage-and-divorce-rates/article4192704/
85: (Divorce picture); www.klugerkaplan.com
86: (CANADA picture); www.canadashippingrate.com