Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[OnceUponATime15]

Montreal. My parents and grandparents have both vacationed there and I haven’t really. I want to experience the 18th century fair that they do there. I also want to go to an away game to see NYCFC play CF Montreal at the Saputo Stadium. Do Canadians have specific monikers for people from each province? Like is someone from Toronto called a Torontian?

Torontonian…

 

[ronandannette]

Mmmm, not that I would pick over going somewhere else in the world.

If you could live in Canada (if you are American) or in the States (if you are Canadian), what city or Province/State would you pick?

For me, it would probably be Seattle.

Easy one. In all our travels worldwide, the only place we've ever been that had me thinking "hmmm, I could see myself living here" is Monterey, CA. Beautiful surroundings and such a nice vibe.

 

[prairie_girl]

Honestly, I’d probably choose North Dakota or Minnesota because I’d still be close to my family, and it wouldn’t take too much adjustment.

 

[Aladora]

For the better sports teams right?

Lol, no.

It's the city that reminds me the most of where I live now for both climate and how the city "feels".

 

[Buzz Rules]

Lol, no.

It's the city that reminds me the most of where I live now for both climate and how the city "feels".

It’s an awesome place.

 

[declansdad]

And they work in the Province ?

Yes.

 

[kittercats85]

If you could live in Canada (if you are American) or in the States (if you are Canadian), what city or Province/State would you pick?

I feel like Ontario would feel the most comfortable and like home for me so probably somewhere there. I've been to QC, ON and BC.

 

[tvguy]

If you could live in Canada (if you are American) or in the States (if you are Canadian), what city or Province/State would you pick?

Tough to say. Most of my time has been spent in Saskatchewan in Villages with limited or no services. And while I have never been during the Winter, I would think I would want a city for the services like snow plowing and garbage pickup. I have the most first hand experience with Saskatoon among cities, followed by Calgary and Vancouver. I guess Saskatoon.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Canadians, is gumbo popular in your country? I ask because Americans have been eating it since the 18th century but it was influenced by Cajun culture.

 

[Aladora]

Canadians, is gumbo popular in your country? I ask because Americans have been eating it since the 18th century but it was influenced by Cajun culture.

Not really and iirc, gumbo was influenced by West African stews and not from Acadian cuisine.

 

[EACarlson]

If Quebec is anything like Alberta, there are many new Canadians, especially the older adults, that will never become particularly fluent in either official language. It's a rather different ethos than in the US where assimilation is expected and pursued with zeal.

I think that is entirely dependent on where in the US you are and what group it is. I'm from Minneapolis, in the 80's there were a large number of Hmong and Laotian that refused to learn English. In the 90's and 2000's a very large number of Somali immigrants that only would speak their native languages. The Hmong and Laotian kids all learned English and worked very hard to do so, the Somali demanded the schools change and they do everything in their languages. I've been told there are places in TX where only Spanish is spoken. One of the requirements to be a police officer in Oakland, CA is to be able to speak either Spanish or Mandarin.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Not really and iirc, gumbo was influenced by West African stews and not from Acadian cuisine.

Actually it’s a mix of African, Cajun, and Native American cuisine.

 

[adkkev]

If you could live in Canada (if you are American) or in the States (if you are Canadian), what city or Province/State would you pick?

That’s a tough one. We loved PEI. Nova Scotia was pretty nice but we were mostly on Cape Breton during our visit. The mountains in Alberta and BC were awesome (we loved Jasper NP). The Yukon was nice too and we want to explore more of it. Ontario was much like being in the States. (I grew up in Buffalo so I spent quite a bit of time in Ontario).

 

[Buzz Rules]

I think that is entirely dependent on where in the US you are and what group it is. I'm from Minneapolis, in the 80's there were a large number of Hmong and Laotian that refused to learn English. In the 90's and 2000's a very large number of Somali immigrants that only would speak their native languages. The Hmong and Laotian kids all learned English and worked very hard to do so, the Somali demanded the schools change and they do everything in their languages. I've been told there are places in TX where only Spanish is spoken. One of the requirements to be a police officer in Oakland, CA is to be able to speak either Spanish or Mandarin.

The language issue is the main reason for the assimilation component. There is a feeling in the US that if you are free willingly coming to the county, you should try to your best conform as quick as possible in order to participate as much as possible in this county. This is not meant to be seen as an abandonment of one’s heritage, it’s meant for practical purposes (learning English=max opportunities). This is common in Europe as well. In soccer/sports, it gets a little more complicated for national team games, when people of whatever heritage actively root for the away team (and are the majority of people in the stadium) over the USA, it rubs some fans the wrong way. This is not meant to be political, I’m just trying to give an example. I’m not a duel national and my family has been in the US since the 1700’s, so I can’t say I feel a connection to my heritage countries like some modern immigrants. It’s this disconnect that causes the majority of that zealous assimilation emotion among those that are the most vocal about it. It’s a portion of our society but not everyone feels that way. By the way, is knowing/learning English/French a requirement for immigration in Canada?

 

[declansdad]

The language issue is the main reason for the assimilation component. There is a feeling in the US that if you are free willingly coming to the county, you should try to your best conform as quick as possible in order to participate as much as possible in this county. This is not meant to be seen as an abandonment of one’s heritage, it’s meant for practical purposes (learning English=max opportunities). This is common in Europe as well. In soccer/sports, it gets a little more complicated for national team games, when people of whatever heritage actively root for the away team (and are the majority of people in the stadium) over the USA, it rubs some fans the wrong way. This is not meant to be political, I’m just trying to give an example. I’m not a duel national and my family has been in the US since the 1700’s, so I can’t say I feel a connection to my heritage countries like some modern immigrants. It’s this disconnect that causes the majority of that zealous assimilation emotion among those that are the most vocal about it. It’s a portion of our society but not everyone feels that way. By the way, is knowing/learning English/French a requirement for immigration in Canada?

To become a Canadian citizen you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French by providing, with your citizenship application, proof that you can speak and listen in English or French.

 

[Buzz Rules]

To become a Canadian citizen you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French by providing, with your citizenship application, proof that you can speak and listen in English or French.

Thanks.

 

[prairie_girl]

If nothing else, this thread has shown me that the inner part of Canada is being largely ignored by travellers, and at their loss.

 

[ronandannette]

To become a Canadian citizen you must show that you have an adequate knowledge of English or French by providing, with your citizenship application, proof that you can speak and listen in English or French.

That may be part of the citizenship test and perhaps even a requirement for a normal immigration application but many come as refugees or under family sponsorship programs, neither of which test language proficiency.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I guess Saskatoon.

That is where I am trying to get back to. Let me know when you arrive and we can go for a drink somewhere...ha! (I'm not permanently there yet, but I do drop by from time to time.)

If nothing else, this thread has shown me that the inner part of Canada is being largely ignored by travellers, and at their loss.

Yeah, but at least we don't have to push past the cameras to view our endless miles of amber waves of grain.

Do Canadians have specific monikers for people from each province? Like is someone from Toronto called a Torontian?

Of course! Granted, someone from Toronto is a Torontonian, not a Torontian. I would consider myself to be a Moose Javian or a Saskatchewanian.

 

[prairie_girl]

That is where I am trying to get back to. Let me know when you arrive and we can go for a drink somewhere...ha! (I'm not permanently there yet, but I do drop by from time to time.)


Yeah, but at least we don't have to push past the cameras to view our endless miles of amber waves of grain.



Of course! Granted, someone from Toronto is a Torontonian, not a Torontian. I would consider myself to be a Moose Javian or a Saskatchewanian.

I’m a Winnipegger, or Manitoban. I’m also half Aussie