Some things just feel ever so Canadian. Yes, people in other places might do them as well, but it’s hard to deny that there’s something so utterly Canadian about a few of our habits.
We asked our readers about which everyday moments feel uniquely Canadian. Here are 10 of the most popular ones they told us about. Which one do you think is the most Canadian of all?
Snipping the corner of bagged milk
You can’t get more Canadian than bagged milk. That involves snipping the corner of a bag, too. Our readers in Ontario & Quebec kept mentioning bagged milk, and one of them even said they have a pair of kitchen scissors specifically for milk only. They said discussions about which angle pours more easily are a normal part of the morning.
Calling electricity “hydro” in everyday conversations
So many readers told us that they don’t even think about using the word electricity. They just say “hydro.” It may be just a word, but it’s not something that many people outside of Canada would really understand.
They’d only associate “hydro” with water. It’s just so Canadian to call electricity “hydro,” and that’s because hydroelectric dams are quite common over here.
Picking up fresh cheese curds for snacking
A few readers in Ottawa & Gatineau admitted that they buy cheese curds as a snack in grocery stores. They don’t usually think anything of it.
It’s a rather Canadian habit to get them, and especially as a regular food, not a mere treat. We snack on them cold or not, without even realizing how unique it is to our country.
Checking maple syrup grades at normal grocery stores
Yes, we Canadians will stand in front of the maple syrup shelves in grocery stores longer than we’d like to admit. One reader told us that they compare Amber & Dark every time they shop. Another said they only get the Quebec tins.
Why? Because they pour better. Real Canadians never touch fake syrup because the real kind is the default condiment here. It’s so Canadian.
Ordering double double without explaining anything
A double double? It’s completely Canadian. We’ll order it at Timmy’s without giving ratios or needing to answer questions about our choices. The cashier just knows what we want.
In fact, a few readers said they forgot how Canadian a double double was until they went abroad & realized nobody knew what they were talking about.
Talking about prairie hail storms like it’s normal summer
Several readers in Alberta & Saskatchewan mentioned the damage from hail as though it were a normal part of their day. They don’t think anything of it.
That’s quite a Canadian way to be. Summer plans in some cities involve having barbecues and keeping an eye on storm alerts. It’s just completely normal.
Using the provincial snow day map before morning plans
A few parents in Ontario told us that it’s normal for them to load the school bus map in the morning. One of them said they do it before they’ve even started brewing coffee.
Snow is such a regular part of Canadian life that preparing to deal with it is completely normal. It’s almost like a national winter ritual. You’re unlikely to find people in other countries doing the same.
Avoiding outdoor fall raking until after the maple leaf dump
That’s not all for Ontario. An Ontario reader told us that they refuse to even touch a rake until the big leaf drop.
They’ll check the trees every few days while waiting for the week when everything hits the ground. That’s when it’s time to clean up. Sure, it might be a long & exhausting cleanup, but it’s better than three wasted weekends.
Keeping a stack of spare mitts in the entry basket
According to our readers, many people living in the Prairies keep a literal mitt pile near their door. No, it’s not folded or organized. It’s often a mere heap of extras.
Our readers said they’ve never owned a full pair past February because new ones always disappear & kids often come home with singles. Essentially, losing mitts has become a seasonal law exclusive to Canada.
Keeping de-icer spray bottles beside the apartment door
Our readers in Edmonton & Regina told us that they have to keep de-icer by the door. Why? Because they have to use it before stepping out when the parkade freezes.
It happens quite often. One reader said everyone in their building shares the same brand because it actually melts ice at -30. Even in May, they don’t put the bottle away.
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