They were supposed to be disengaged, screen-addicted, and financially reckless. The reality is more interesting than the stereotype.
They’re buying less and owning it
Not because they can’t afford more — because they’ve decided more isn’t the point. Canadian Gen Z is the most deliberate consumer generation in recent memory, actively choosing quality over quantity and second-hand over new without any embarrassment about it.
They’re more entrepreneurial than any generation before them
Side businesses, freelance income, digital products — Canadian Gen Z is not waiting for an employer to define their financial future. They started building alternative income streams before most of them had full-time jobs.
They’re deeply interested in trades
Applications to skilled trades programs in Canada have grown significantly among Gen Z — driven by a clear-eyed read of where stable, well-paying work actually exists and a healthy skepticism about the value of a four-year degree. The stigma that kept previous generations away from trades simply doesn’t register the same way.
They’re choosing to live closer to family
Not out of financial necessity alone — out of genuine preference. Canadian Gen Z is more likely than millennials to want to live near parents and extended family, valuing proximity and support networks in a way the previous generation actively resisted.
They’re politically engaged in ways that don’t look like traditional politics
Boycotts, local organizing, community building, direct action — Canadian Gen Z engages with civic life through channels that don’t involve voting alone. The engagement is real even when it’s invisible to older observers looking for familiar markers.
They’re prioritizing experiences specifically with people they love
Not just experiences in general — targeted, intentional time with specific people. Concerts with a parent, trips with a grandparent, dinners that are planned rather than spontaneous. The relationship intentionality of Canadian Gen Z is something older generations are quietly learning from.
Every generation surprises the one before it. This one is doing it in ways worth paying attention to. Which of these caught you off guard? Drop it in the comments, and follow for more.