8 Canadian Stereotypes That Americans Need To Be Informed On ASAP

Setting the record straight once and for all.

1. Stereotype: Canadians pronounce "about" like "a-boot"

Comedy Central

True or false: False

This stereotype is an exaggeration of the Canadian accent that perplexes most. We do pronounce "about" a little differently than our neighbors to the south, but it sounds more like "a-boat". You also won't find this pronunciation everywhere. Canada is an enormous country and regional accents vary significantly.

2. Stereotype: Canada is cold AF

Warner Bros.

True or False: Partially true

Canada and Russia share the title of "Coldest Nation in the World," but what do you expect for two nations whose northern borders stretch along the Arctic Ocean? Winters can get bitterly cold, especially the further north you go. While temperature differences and snow accumulations vary from province-to-province, most Canadians would agree that enduring cold winters is part of the pride.

Cold is just one of many features of the Canadian climate. We experience some of the most diverse weather systems in the world. This is largely due to its immense geographical size and varying topography. Frigid winters are often followed by rainy springs and scorching summers, a reality that many non-Canadians may not know or fail to mention.

3. Stereotype: Canadians are obsessed with maple syrup

New Line Cinema

True or false: True

As a country, we are pretty obsessed with maple syrup, and that's because we are fortunate enough to produce between 70-80% of the worlds' supply. Credit must be given to Canada's indigenous population who first identified and used maple sap to flavor, cure, and preserve food. For these reasons, maple syrup is a big part of the Canadian economy and, indeed, Canadian national identity.

With so much maple syrup at our disposal, Canadians have made it their business to capitalize on our nation's sweet and delicious resource. Maple-flavored products are virtually everywhere with new inventions and infusions cropping up every day. Maple bacon is a delicacy here.

4. Stereotype: Canadians say "sorry" a lot

igor kisselev, close-up.biz / Via Getty Images

True or false: True

Nobody really knows why Canadians apologize so much, but there are a LOT of theories. Some believe it is a byproduct of British settlement, while others think it's simply a pre-emptive courtesy to avoid conflict and express good will. Whatever the case may be, it is so common for Canadians to say "sorry" that most provinces and territories have "apology legislation," which essentially states that apologizing is not an admission of guilt or liability.

5. Stereotype: Canadian police wear red uniforms and ride horses

CBS

True or false: False

Canada has a Federal police force called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and separate provincial/territorial police forces. The RCMP (aka "The Mounties") provide law enforcement at the federal level however, many provinces also contract their provincial and municipal policing to the RCMP. Ontario, for example, has its own police force called the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), whereas Nova Scotia contracts its provincial policing to the RCMP.

Mounties are often pictured wearing the stereotypical red jacket, black pant with yellow stripe, and brown hat. However, this is a ceremonial uniform and is not worn by officers while performing regular policing duties. Horses are also used for ceremonial purposes and not in the execution of normal business operations.

6. Stereotype: Canadian milk comes in bags

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True or false: Partially true 

Bagged milk was first used around the '60s, when Canada converted to the metric system. It was easier and more affordable for dairy producers to adjust to metric measurements by keeping their equipment and simply putting milk in bags. Over time, plastic jugs and containers began to replace bags in many parts of the country, but some provinces continue to offer Canadians milk in bags along with the modern containers. Bagged milk can still be found in Central and Eastern Canada. 

7. Stereotype: Canadians say "eh" a lot

SCTV

True or false: Partially true 

As with most slang, whether 'eh' is a common interjection depends on the Canadian. Some Canadians don't say it and haven't heard it much while others pepper it in conversation like tasty linguistic seasoning. 'Eh' is often tagged onto the end of a sentence to convey a common understanding, politeness and reassurance between communicators.

Interestingly, while Canadians use 'eh' more often than any other country, they are not the only country to have this interjection as part of their language. 'Eh' is derived from Middle English and while the current spelling and usage of 'eh' is specific to Canada, it exists in its own variations in different countries throughout the world.

8. Stereotype: Canadians are obsessed with hockey

Disney

True or false: True 

Hockey is big deal in Canada. While not every Canadian is desperate for the Leafs to finally win the Stanley Cup again or building skating rinks in their backyards, hockey remains the countries most popular pastime. Hockey is also a big part of the Canadian economy, with billions of dollars in revenue generated each year from the sport. Hockey is also a major part of Canadian identity. It's very common to find hockey-related imagery on food and beverage products.