As with most countries there is many different stereotypes in the world. Canada is no exception. There are many stereotypes that people have aboot (Yes, I meant that) Canadians. Some of them may be kind of true where as some of them may not be true at all either. I think it really depends just like any country where you go, different towns or different people. If you go to Quebec you may find things to be totally different than if you were to go to the west or east coast too. Here are some of those stereotypes as we try to debunk or explain them away.

Everyone knows everyone and they all get along.
This is somewhat true however I think it honestly depends on where you are. I know from nova Scotia we always had jokes when my dad would go get gas for the car. He seemed to know everyone he seen, as if he personally knew them. This wasn’t the case, he just was friendly and would talk to the person beside him about the weather or the price of gas or whatever else there was too. However when you go to Quebec when we lived there people are seemingly cold and not as friendly as they would be from here. I think there is unspoken rules like opening the door for someone or trying to be polite however the fact that everyone knows everyone or they all get along couldn’t be furthest from the truth. Have you ever seen friends watch a hockey game together when they support different teams?

Tim Horton`s is everyone’s favorite.
This may have been true 15 years ago. However I think it is highly debatable now a days because of the fact that the company keeps changing anything and everything. Things that were once freshly made are simply frozen and baked now. Prices keep going up and up and up while competitors are remaining the same. The flavor or taste is not as high of a standard as it once was. Not to mention if you haven’t read it yet, you should check out my blog about Why Time Hortons sucks here, the company is not even Canadian owned anymore! So something that was once the heart of Canada is no longer that anymore. Is it still popular? Yes. I do enjoy an iced coffee from time to time and their croissants are also great, but overall there is a lot more options to be able to get your daily cup of Joe. There are still people who get Timmy’s every single day and probably will til they die but not everyone is into it like they once were a while ago though.

Polar bears are always around
Maybe if you live up north in the territories or in the top of Newfoundland and Labrador. However I can tell you I have been on this planet for 33 years and I have never seen a polar bear before. They just are not throughout Canada like some people seem to think they are. They like really cold weather and with the ice caps melting and things heating up, sure they are venturing a bit more south. However the majority of Canadians do not see polar bears. Maybe in some type of zoo or documentary but in person out in the wild, this is hardly true. Not to mention, even if you did see one, you probably are not going to rush up to it and try to pet it either.

Everybody Plays Hockey
I mean yes, a lot of us do play hockey or watch it. But I wouldn’t say that everyone does. If you are unaware or don’t have kids, Hockey is actually freaking expensive. Especially when you start at a young age you have to continue to buy gear as your child out grows it. Then you have tryouts for different levels as your child gets older and hopefully better. The commitment from parents to get their children into hockey at a young age with all the other ones is a tough feat. I would like my boys to be in hockey when the time comes but thankfully we will probably be using the same gear as one out grows it and another can fit into it. That still doesn’t change the fees that come along with it. A lot of people may choose however to play hockey on a lake or pond with friends because a hockey stick and skates are a lot cheaper than all the pads and helmets and jerseys and what not also. Another thing is not everyone watches hockey. I know my parents and my partners parents have no interest in watching hockey. For me I will watch hockey if I have time or think about it. I only just started watching the Canadians though a few years ago. I never watched it when I was a teenager unless it was the Olympics and at that point yes, most Canadians would watch those because after all, Hockey is our sport.

Winter lasts the longest
Sure, we do have some pretty wild winters. However I wouldn’t say winter last forever. In fact, winter can be one of the smallest portions of our seasons. It starts to snow sometimes after Christmas into January. Especially here in nova Scotia. We also don’t typically get the movie snow with fluff and delight. We have wet slush that covers and freezes the road. Then we also have the last snowfall sometimes beginning of April. Spring and Fall are typically chilly and wet because of the rain and mud that is everywhere. Does winter last forever, maybe again up north, but I don’t think we can say it lasts forever. It certainly is not a season people really like unless you are a bit nutty like myself. I do enjoy winter because any excuse not to go out of the house is a good thing for me!

What are some stereotypes in the country you live in?
Do you think any of them are true?

Let me know in the comments below, I would love to see if others have the same ideas too!