How to offend a Canadian

Unlike Americans (see previous post), Canadians can be offended. How? By confusing them with Americans!

So says the British national tourist agency, in guidelines published this week to help the hosts deal with visitors to the 2012 Olympics, which will be held in London.

According to the Associated Press report, the advice says Canadian tourists are likely to be quite annoyed about being mistaken for Americans. The guide urges workers to keep an eye out for maple leaf pins or badges on tourists' clothing.

Here's the rest of the British guide to getting along with Canadians. Walt publishes this as a service to all the American (and other) tourists who may be visiting Canada and find themselves a tad perplexed by the manners of those crazy Canucks.

Social practices – not laws – govern many types of behaviour in Canada. Some traditions are well established and are politely but firmly enforced.

For example:

• Lining up, or queuing: People normally line up or queue according to the principle of ‘first-come, first-served.’ They will be angry if you push ahead in a line-up instead of waiting your turn.

• Not smoking in private homes: Most Canadians do not smoke.

• When you are in people’s homes, you should always ask their permission to smoke. However this may be different in Quebec.

• Being on time: You should always arrive on time. People who are often late may be fired from their jobs or suspended from school. Many Canadians will not wait more than 10-15 minutes for someone at a business meeting. For social events, it is expected that you will arrive within half an hour of the stated time.

• Respect for the environment: Canadians respect the natural environment and expect people to avoid littering.

• Bargaining: Bargaining for a better price is not common in Canada, but there are some exceptions. People who sell things privately may also bargain.

• Smart shopping: Stores compete on price with one another to attract customers. Note: the price marked on goods in stores does not include taxes, which add from 7-15% to the cost of an item, depending on the province.

• Shaking hands: It is customary that you always shake hands at a first-time meeting and always in business situations.

• First names: Canadians are always on a first name basis; especially in social situations and informal business environments.

• Not Americans: The Canadian visitor to Britain is not an American... and don't you forget it!

Footnote: Canadians have their own money too. It's called "dollars" but it comes in different colours. Oh yeah, there's no dollar bill. You get coins with strange names -- loonies and toonies. The loonies look like gold, but they aren't.