08-04-2025
10 Extremely Canadian Habits That Confuse The Rest Of The World
Canadians are known for being polite, but our quirks go way beyond just saying sorry 500 times a day. From our deep love of bagged milk to our unshakable devotion to weather small talk, these are the habits that make us unmistakably Canadian—whether we realize it or not.
1. Holding the door open for an awkwardly long time
BBC Brit / Via
Canadians treat door etiquette like an Olympic sport. We will absolutely hold the door open for someone who's so far away they're basically a dot in the distance, forcing them into an awkward half-jog just to avoid the guilt of making us wait.
2. Treating Tim Hortons like a national landmark
Tim Hortons / Via
Tim Hortons is not just a coffee shop—it's part of our identity. Whether we're debating the best Timbits flavour (old-fashioned plain deserves more respect), making serious Roll Up the Rim strategies, or relying on a Double-Double to power us through winter, Tims is the unofficial fuel of Canada.
3. Apologizing when someone else bumps into us
CTV Comedy Channel / Via
It doesn't matter whose fault it is—our instinct is to apologize first and ask questions later. Did someone ram their shopping cart into you? Sorry! Did someone step on your foot? Oops, my bad! If 'sorry' had a loyalty program, Canadians would have lifetime memberships.
4. Complaining about winter, but also bragging about surviving it
National Canadian Film Day / Via
Every Canadian has a go-to winter horror story. We love to whine about the cold but will immediately one-up each other with, 'Oh, you think -20°C is bad? Try -40°C with wind chill!' Bonus points if you've ever said, 'Yeah, but at least it's a dry cold.'
5. Giving directions based on landmarks that no longer exist
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'Oh yeah, just turn left where the old Zellers used to be.' If you've ever navigated using stores that closed a decade ago or roads that technically don't exist anymore, congrats—you're peak Canadian.
6. Eating Kraft Dinner like it's a food group
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We don't just eat Kraft Dinner—we worship it. Some of us drown it in ketchup, some add hot dogs, and the true foodies might even sprinkle in some actual cheese. But one thing's for sure: KD is elite.
7. Having a 'winter' car and a 'summer' car
Nate Richardson / Via
Many Canadians have an official winter beater that looks like it barely survived a demolition derby—because why let salt and snow destroy a nice car when you have an old rust bucket that just gets the job done?
8. Patio season is every season
Viralhog / Via
It doesn't matter if it's barely above freezing —if the sun is out, we're on a patio in a parka, sipping an ice-cold drink like we're vacationing in the Caribbean. Outdoor heaters? That's just a bonus.
9. Having an emotional attachment to toques
Robert E Blackmon / Via
A beanie? No, no. It's a toque, and it's more than just headwear—it's a winter survival tool. Most Canadians have at least five lying around in random places, and we never leave the house without one from November to March.
10. Never turning down a butter tart
