Canada, eh?
What’s it really like to grow up Canadian? It’s a mix of quirky habits, iconic snacks, and moments that just make sense if you know, you know. Whether you were raised in the land of double-doubles and snow days or you’re just curious about the vibe, this list captures the uniquely Canadian experience—past and present.
Ordering a "double-double"
Ordering a "double-double" in Canada means asking for a coffee with two creams and two sugars. Pretty much every coffee shop in the country understands this order.
Coastal Elite, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The joy of ketchup chips
Ketchup chips are a unique potato chip flavor that is exclusive to Canada. They are loved nationwide and beyond. Sometimes, Americans will even cross the border to get their hands on some.
Coloring in a map of Canada
Some kids love to do it, some kids don't. Those of the latter group may complain about having to fill in all the islands of Nunavut or squeezing "Saskatchewan" into its tiny designated region on the map.
The agony of being a Leafs fan
Being a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs is both a blessing and a curse. While it's incredible to be part of such a close-knit community, it's hard to see the Leafs lose it all in the playoffs (and to the Bruins, no less).
Jenn G from Seattle, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Any positive Celsius is shorts weather
Some Canadians break out the summer wardrobe the second CP24 announces temps above zero. Shorts and T-shirts at 10°C? Totally normal up here.
Sergei Bachlakov, Shutterstock
Our milk comes in bags
Bagged milk may be a provincial thing, but Canadians who have experienced this will know the struggle of cutting the hole too big or too small. As with anything, practice makes perfect.
The constant urge to say sorry
There's a stereotype that Canadians are some of the nicest people around. Perhaps part of the reason why that stereotype exists is because we have a tendency to say sorry—for everything and anything.
ESB Professional, Shutterstock
Ending our sentences with "Eh"
It's very common to hear Canadians end their sentences with "Eh." In Canada, "Eh" is used a linguistic tool to elicit agreement or understanding. It just rolls off the tongue so naturally.
The original "Roll up the Rim"
Back in the day, "rolling up the rim" meant physically unfolding the lip of a Tim Horton's cup. The company switched to an app version in 2021, and honestly, it's just not as satisfying.
Feeling rich with Canadian Tire money
One of the underrated joys of growing up Canadian? Collecting Canadian Tire money. It made us feel like millionaires—even if it barely bought a pack of gum.
The learning curve with drinking Caesars
The Caesar is a Canadian drink that includes vodka, Clamato juice, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. It is typically garnished with celery and served with a salted rim. It's a drink that takes some getting used to for sure.
Beavertails on a chilly day
Beavertails are a popular Canadian treat made of fried dough shaped like a beaver's tail and served with sweet toppings. There's nothing like a good Beavertail after a long day of hitting the slopes.
Those iconic public service announcements
Canadian PSAs use danimated characters like "House Hippo" or "Talking Trash" to educate about safety, health, environment. They must have worked, considering that many Canadians today can still remember them in detail.
MediaSmarts, House hippo (2019)
Celebrating Bonhomme in the winter
Every February, schools across Canada would put on a winter carnival in honor of the Quebec City tradition. Bonhomme, the jolly snowman of Quebec's Winter Carnival, embodies the festive spirit of Canadian winters.
The desire to visit West Edmonton Mall
For Canadian kids who didn’t grow up in Edmonton, West Edmonton Mall was the stuff of legend. The biggest mall in North America? With a waterpark and a Hasbro-themed amusement park? It sounded like Disneyland with a food court.
GoToVan, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Making sugar shack candy
Sugar shack candy is essentially maple taffy and maple sugar candy made from pure Canadian maple syrup. Pouring the hot maple syrup onto freshly-fallen snow is a true Canadian experience.
Jaime Walker, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The struggle of drawing a maple leaf
Drawing a maple leaf from scratch is not easy. Many of us butchered our drawings of Canadian flags in art class because we just could not get the maple leaf to look right.
Loonies and toonies
Before the days of contactless payments and e-transfer, we had cash and coins. Those who had loonies and toonies at school were the lucky ones because they could buy drinks at the vending machines.
The "Win/Gagnon" of the lotto scanners
Lotto scanners in Canada display a "Win/Gagnon" message to indicate a winning ticket in both English and French. You'll hear this sound anywhere where there's an OLG booth—at gas stations, corner stores, and supermarkets.
When -40°C meant indoor recess
When the temperature dipped to -40°C or below, recess moved indoors—and honestly, it wasn’t the worst trade-off. Trading the playground for board games with friends? Not a bad way to warm up the day.
The pain of Rogers outages
Given that a large proportion of Canada's population relies on Rogers for internet connectivity, there's nothing more frustrating than a Rogers outage. During the last one that occured in July 2022, it was a good day to be a Bell user.
Learning French from a talking pineapple
Telefrancais! was a Canadian French children's TV series created by TVOntario from 1984 to 1986. The show follows the adventures of two kids named Jacques, Sophie, and a talkative pineapple named Ananas.
TVO, Téléfrançais! (1984-1986)
Knowing Kim Campbell was our first female PM
There used to be a time when we were kids and we knew all of the former Canadian PMs by heart. We may have forgotten most of their names now, but we'll always remember Kim Campbell.
Simon Fraser University, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Timbits for your whole class
It was always a great day when someone would bring Timbits for the class, usually to celebrate their birthday. It made your classmates' birthdays something to look forward to.
Poutine counts as a full meal
Maybe not the healthiest, but sometimes a hearty bowl of poutine—crispy fries smothered in gravy and squeaky cheese curds—is exactly what you need to power through the day. Believe it or not, some school cafeterias even had it on the menu!
Wishing for a visit from the "House Hippo"
The "House Hippo" is a Canadian legend. Even though the PSA was meant to warn us about the dangers of misinformation and to not believe everything we saw on TV, we secretly hoped the "House Hippo" was real.
MediaSmarts, House hippo (2019)
MuchMusic shaping our music tastes
MuchMusic was basically MTV for Canadians. It covered every era of our adolescence, from our Avril Lavigne phase to "Bieber Fever," and we're eternally grateful for it.
Vervegirl Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Living through "Bieber Fever"
Speaking of "Bieber Fever," the world has Canada to thank for introducing one of the greatest generational talents of our time. He may have had his rough moments, but there's no denying his impact on pop culture history.
Daniel Ogren, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Thanksgiving in October
Unlike our American neighbors, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October, on the second Monday of the month. Like our American neighbors, its a time when we share a hearty meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pumpkin pie with loved ones.
Universal healthcare being a two-edged sword
Universal healthcare means we can see a doctor whenever we need—but let’s be real, the wait times can be painfully long, sometimes stretching for hours.
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