Politeness is practically part of every Canadian’s DNA. It all comes from the way that we follow specific rules & shared habits, rather than vague friendliness, which teaches us how to be polite. Some of these involve the ways that we behave on public transport. Others are part of provincial laws.
Either way, these rules affect how we stand & speak, as well as how we move, in public. Here are ten Canadian public etiquette norms that everyone should know about. Which of these do you think is the most important one to follow?
Line/queue order
We take waiting your turn quite seriously in Canada, and that’s especially true in areas that are public-facing. The rule for queuing follows a strict “first arrived, first served” policy. Anyone who cuts in line is “budging,” and it’s something that many people openly discourage.
You’ll find that transit systems actually tell riders to line up & keep order at the doors. It’s how we make sure that everything stays moving as it should.
Apology culture
Canadians are well-known for apologizing, although it’s actually more than a mere personality trait over here. Provinces like Ontario & British Columbia have Apology Acts that have the act of apologizing written into law.
The Act states that simply saying sorry doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re admitting fault for a problem. It’s more of an act of politeness that’s meant to keep things positive, rather than a way of claiming responsibility.
Volume expectations on public transport
The majority of Canadians expect you to be quiet on buses & subways. In fact, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) actually asks riders to keep their conversations as quiet as possible, and it encourages them to use headphones when listening to music.
Montréal’s Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has similar guidance that reminds passengers to avoid using their phones at a loud volume. That’s not to say you’ll be fined for being loud. It’s merely that you’re expected to follow these etiquette rules when you’re on board.
Polite refusal of social invitations
You can’t simply give a flat “no” when you’re turning down plans with a Canadian. Linguistic research from Canadian universities has found that many Canadians tend to give their refusals with thanks or a brief explanation. They might also say something like, “maybe next time.”
The purpose of doing so is less about negotiation and more about trying to close the invitation politely. It’s important for Canadians to refuse an invitation without making the other person feel like they’re being rejected.
Hands-off personal space
Lots of Canadians take their personal space seriously, and it’s a matter of politeness in terms of how close you get. The general recommendation is that you should leave about an arm’s length of distance during casual conversations.
The personal space distance applies in almost every situation in Canada, especially when you’re in line or at a transit station. Standing too close to a Canadian is almost guaranteed to make them feel uncomfortable. It doesn’t matter that you might be trying to be friendly or do it unintentionally.
Shovelling sidewalks
You might think that shovelling snow off the sidewalk near your house is polite. And sure, it is. But quite a few cities actually require people to do so by law, such as in Toronto, where homeowners need to clear the sidewalks within 12 hours after snowfall ends.
The rule applies only when the amount of snow is under two centimeters, and it’s a rule that reappears every winter. Canadians tend to see sidewalk access as a shared responsibility.
Smoking & vaping in public spaces
The rules around smoking & vaping in public areas change in each province, but generally, Canadians believe it’s a matter of etiquette. Some provinces ban smoking and vaping entirely in enclosed public places & workplaces.
Others have distance rules on how far you need to be, like in British Columbia, where there’s a six-metre buffer from doors and places that take in air. It’s a common idea that you should try to smoke & vape away from non-smokers.
Tipping norms
Tipping in Canada is nowhere near as extreme as it is in the United States. The general rule is that you should tip around 15 to 20% when you’re at a sit-down restaurant, but it’s a bit more flexible when you’re in other places.
Quite a few payment terminals have preset options like 15, 18, and 20%. But these are entirely optional. Tipping is more of a social norm there than an obligation, and it’s polite to tip a worker when they give you good service.
Boarding & exiting public transport
It’s certainly polite to let people exit first when you’re getting onto a bus or train. However, it’s also a written rule, according to TransLink & the TTC, as well as Montréal’s STM. They all tell boarding passengers to wait for exiting passengers to leave before getting on.
Doing so is a matter of good manners. These companies actively discourage people from blocking the doors when getting on public transportation because it slows down the service for everyone.
Bilingual signage
You’ll find that the language on signs in certain areas, especially federal ones, follows particular rules. All federal services have to follow “active offer” guidelines that involve using bilingual greetings & signage.
The Charter of the French Language in Quebec actually requires public signs to have French as the dominant language, and staff members are expected to greet customers bilingually at federal service counters. It’s a sign of respect & inclusion, two very important aspects of Canadian etiquette.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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