Although people like to think of the United States and Canada as polar opposites, the two countries share many similarities.
Thanksgiving
Many people only think of American pilgrims when Thanksgiving rolls around, but Canadians also have Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. It’s very similar, with an enormous turkey dinner of stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
The only difference is the time of year; since Canadian crops are harvested earlier due to the colder growing season, we celebrate the big feast early.
National parks
America is famous for its National Park Service, but Canada’s parks are equally historic and expansive.
Banff and Jasper are home to mountain vistas, turquoise lakes, and untamed wilderness just like Yellowstone or Glacier. Both cultures pride themselves on setting aside such large swaths of land for recreation and to protect natural wildlife.
Cowboy culture
The “Wild West” isn’t just a thing in Texas or Wyoming. It is a huge part of life on the Canadian Prairies. Places like Alberta boast their own cowboy culture, complete with internationally renowned rodeos such as the Calgary Stampede.
Wide-brim hats, ranching history, and country music are things both nations share due to the vast expanse of western America and Canada.
Major film industry
Canada is one of the largest industries in filmmaking, despite Hollywood being internationally recognized as American.
Canada has been nicknamed “Hollywood North” because so many American movies are filmed there in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto. Canada also has its own film industry and is host to the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.
Intense sports rivalries
Canadian sports fans can be just as passionate about sports as Americans. The difference usually comes in what sport they cheer on.
While Americans may argue over NFL or MLB rivalries, Canadians have epic cross-city rivalries in hockey that could split a whole province. School spirit and hometown fan intensity are also similar.
Small-town diners
It’s hard to imagine the Canadian landscape without run-down cafes sporting bottomless cups of coffee and vinyl seating. No matter if you’re travelling through rural Pennsylvania or Manitoba these are your gathering places and social hubs.
Breakfasts and pies are comfort food for a reason and while diners around North America may look different, diner culture feels pretty similar.
Multicultural big cities
Canada is a country where you’ll see evidence of the melting pot. Whether it’s Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary, you’ll find pockets of diversity.
Toronto, in particular, has been ranked one of the most multicultural cities in the world. In fact, more than 50 percent of Torontonians were born in another country. From cultural celebrations to endless options of ethnic food, Canada’s urban cities are full of diversity.
Coffee obsession
North Americans run on caffeine and Canada is no different. Though Starbucks may not be on every corner like in the US, Canada has a large coffee obsession made up of popular coffee chains and individual coffee shops.
Canadians rank among the world’s highest consumers of coffee per capita and the daily coffee run is a necessity for millions.
Regional food
Americans like to pretend they’re the only ones who argue over regional foods: New York pizza versus Chicago pizza, Kansas City barbecue versus Texas barbecue, Nathan’s versus Ripley’s.
Canadians do the same exact thing. From poutine in Quebec to butter tarts in Ontario to Nanaimo bars in Nanaimo, Canadians take great pride in their region’s cuisine.
Extreme weather
Complaining about the weather is practically a national sport in both nations. Whether talking about record-breaking heat down south or a nasty arctic vortex up north, Canadians and Americans love to discuss the weather.
Planning (and commiserating) for severe changes in season is deeply ingrained in the culture.
Huge trucks
Pickup trucks have a special place in both American and Canadian drivers’ hearts. Many times, these trucks are the bestselling vehicle in both countries, no matter if they’re hauling fence posts on a farm or driving to suburban school runs.
The stereotype of the tough truck owner exists north of the border just as strongly as it does in Middle America.
Fast Food
Fast food isn’t just popular in the United States, it’s extremely popular up north as well. Canada boasts our own local favourites but is flooded with the same restaurants Americans have.
Canadians love their drive-thru and depend heavily on quick, cheap eats just like Americans do.
Suburban sprawl
When it comes to the design of the modern suburb, spacious roads, single-family homes, sprawling shopping malls, Canada doesn’t deviate from America’s blueprint.
Canadian cities have sprawled outward in a similar fashion to those in the United States, creating car-dependent communities that look just as similar, complete with manicured lawns and peaceful cul-de-sacs.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.