Canadians pride themselves on being polite, but there are some myths about Canada that are so widely repeated that many of us are running out of polite ways to say “that’s not true.”
Easy immigration
Many people throw around the idea of moving to Canada as if it were a decision that can be made in a day. It’s not as easy as it sounds; there is paperwork, eligibility, waiting time, and government acceptance involved with immigration. We do welcome new citizens to our country, but it can take time and is often a very competitive process.
Snow lovers
People often believe Canadians love snow because we are forced to deal with it every year. In reality, most Canadians are sick of winter way before it’s over. Digging driveways, scraping windshields, slippery roads and months of freezing cold can dampen anyone’s spirits. We are usually daydreaming about spring by the end of winter.
Cabin owners
Movies make it seem like every Canadian family owns a cottage on a lake. Cottage culture is an important part of Canadian life for some, but most Canadians do not own vacation homes. Cottages are only growing more expensive with inflation in real estate prices. Many of us only see them when staying with family friends or on vacation.
Endless space
Since Canada is a large country, many people believe Canadians have big houses with acres of land. In fact, affordable housing has become a problem throughout most of Canada. Many Canadians who live in cities like Toronto or Vancouver live in apartments or condos and pay some of the highest housing prices in North America.
Quiet politics
Canada has developed an international reputation as a nation with polite politics, tame, predictable, and uncontroversial. But we Canadians see things differently. We argue fiercely about housing affordability, immigration policy, health care, taxes and the environment. We also have elections that can produce fireworks of public sentiment and bitter division.
Royal obsession
Visitors to Canada often mistakenly believe Canadians are obsessed with the British Royal Family because Canada’s coinage features the King and Canada is a constitutional monarchy. But it’s not so simple. Yes, royal visits get attention, but monarchy isn’t something we think about on a daily basis.
Even polls regularly show that many Canadians don’t care about the monarchy or would consider altering the relationship someday.
Capital confusion
Lots of visitors think Toronto is the capital of Canada. It is our largest city and most internationally known. Toronto is our financial and cultural epicenter, but Ottawa has been Canada’s capital since 1857 and is where our federal government is.
Most Canadians have even grown accustomed to foreigners making this mistake that they can predict you’ll make it before you even ask.
No famous Canadians
Few people realize how many household names Canada has produced. Canadian musicians, actors, television personalities, athletes, and entrepreneurs have all achieved international success. From Ryan Reynolds to Celine Dion to The Weeknd to Drake To Jim Carrey to Keanu Reeves, Canada has created stars that people from all over the world know.
Outdoorsy people
Canada’s stunning landscapes have left people with the false impression that all Canadians go hiking, canoeing, and camping every weekend. Although Canadians enjoy the outdoors, many prefer shopping centres, restaurants, video games or staying home.
Moose in streets
Thanks to Hollywood films and documentaries, some people envision moose wandering through downtown Canadian metropolises. Moose are sometimes spotted near towns and rural areas but a moose in the heart of a big city is rare enough to become front-page news.
Residents of Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal are about as likely to see a moose as your average tourist.
Free services
Canada’s healthcare system has led many outsiders to assume that everything that is public in Canada is free.
Medical reasons to visit hospitals and doctors are usually covered by our care. However, dentist appointments, prescription medicines, physiotherapy treatments, eye tests, glasses and many specialty services usually come at a cost.
But many of us take advantage of our employers’ health benefits to help pay for these services.
French speakers
One popular myth about Canada is that every Canadian speaks both English and French. Canada does have two official languages. But most Canadians are only fluent in one language. French is commonly spoken in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick and Ontario. However, many Canadians outside those provinces speak very little French on a daily basis.
Kinder eggs
Because of some extremely viral news stories years ago, some international travelers actually think that if they bring a Kinder Surprise egg into Canada, border patrol will take it away.
This is actually the case in the United States, where the FDA prohibits them due to the “non-nutritive object” inside. Kinder Eggs have never been illegal in Canada. You can buy them at any grocery store and we have no worries about getting arrested over chocolate toys.