Being Canadian isn’t just about where I was born—it’s part of who I am. It’s in the way I see the world, how I move through life, and the small things I don’t even think about until I travel somewhere else.
Because being Canadian isn’t just about where you live. It’s about how you see the world. And, more importantly, how you move through it.
Here’s why I wouldn’t trade my passport for anything.
1. We Apologize for Everything—And I Kind of Love It
Yes, we say sorry a lot. Sometimes for things that aren’t even remotely our fault. (The door I held open too early, forcing you into an awkward jog? My bad. The moose blocking the highway? Sorry, won’t happen again.)
But here’s the thing: that instinct to apologize isn’t about weakness. It’s about awareness. It’s about recognizing that you exist in a shared space with other people.
I’ve seen the alternative—the loud, entitled, “not my problem” attitude—and I’ll take the excessive politeness every time.
2. The Seasons Keep Us Honest
There’s nothing like a long winter to humble a person.
Other places have “chilly days” where people break out their wool coats for a brisk 12°C afternoon. We have real cold. The kind that makes you question your life choices.
When you’ve endured a Canadian winter, spring feels like a gift. The first warm day in April? It’s not just a day—it’s an event. Shorts come out. Patios fill up. People smile at strangers again.
And honestly, would hockey even feel right without a proper Canadian winter?
3. We Get to Call Some of the Most Beautiful Places on Earth Home
Canada is stunning. The mountains in BC, the lakes in Ontario, the coastlines of the Maritimes—there’s a kind of natural beauty here that stops you in your tracks.
I’m constantly reminded of how lucky we are to have so much space, so much nature, and so much air that smells like trees. There’s something special about knowing you can drive a few hours and find yourself in the middle of the wilderness, standing next to a glacier, a waterfall, or an endless sky of stars.
And the scale? You can drive for 10 hours and still be in Ontario.
4. There’s a Unique Kind of Canadian Humour
Canadians are funny. And it isn’t about big, dramatic punchlines. It’s subtle. It’s observational. It’s laughing at how we’ll go out in a blizzard wearing a hoodie but still complain if the A/C is too strong in July.
We laugh at ourselves, at our weather, and at our unshakable ability to be way too chill about politics, yet deeply offended when someone tries to tell us a Caesar and a Bloody Mary are the same thing—or when an American asks if we “still watch hockey” after we get eliminated from the playoffs. (Buddy, it’s not a phase. It’s a lifestyle.)
There’s something about growing up in this country that gives you a sharp but friendly sense of humour.
5. Healthcare That Won’t Bankrupt You
Do I love waiting in an ER for five hours? No. Do I love the fact that if I break my arm, I won’t have to choose between getting it fixed or paying rent? Yes.
For all its inefficiencies, universal healthcare is one of the greatest things about being Canadian. There’s a baseline security in knowing you can walk into a hospital, get treated, and walk out without a bill that looks like a phone number.
6. We Are Quietly Competitive
Canadians love to pretend we’re laid back (see above on polite manners), but put us on an international stage, and we are suddenly VERY INVESTED.
- The Olympics? You bet we’re watching every single event that involves ice or snow.
- Hockey? It’s in our blood.
- Anytime a Canadian becomes famous? We make sure the world knows (Ryan Gosling is from London, Ontario, by the way).
Canadians love to act like we don’t care. We’re relaxed. We’re unbothered.
Until there’s a hockey game. Or an Olympics. Or a “top 10 places to live” ranking where we somehow land behind Norway.
Then suddenly, we care deeply.
We just do it quietly.
7. An Ode to Stuart McLean
If there’s one person who captured the heart of what it means to be Canadian, it was Stuart McLean. His Vinyl Cafe stories weren’t just funny, they were deeply, unmistakably Canadian—full of warmth, humility, and the quiet charm of everyday life.
Listening to Stuart McLean feels like sitting in a cozy kitchen with an old friend. He told stories about small towns and big families, about minor disasters and unexpected kindness, about people who were flawed but good-hearted. From Dave’s ill-fated attempt at cooking a turkey or his disastrous garage sale, there was something about those stories that made us laugh, nod in recognition, and feel like we belonged.
His celebration of the small, ordinary moments that make up a life feels uniquely Canadian. Storytelling that's not flashy. Doesn’t demand attention. But stays with you
His stories weren’t just about Dave and Morley. They were about us.
And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
Every time I hear his voice, I feel a little more at home.
8. Tim Hortons is Both Overrated and Irreplaceable
Yes, Tim Hortons coffee is mediocre. Yes, we still drink it. Why? Because it’s not just about the coffee—it’s about the ritual. The double-double, the Timbits, the nostalgia of road trips and early-morning hockey practices. It’s a national institution, and even if we complain about it, we’re not giving it up anytime soon.
It’s home.
9. We Know How to Handle the Cold
We own winter. We know how to drive in a blizzard, we have emergency toques in our cars, and we can salt a driveway faster than you can say ‘polar vortex.’
And when it gets really cold? We don’t panic. We just say, “Well, at least it’s not as bad as Winnipeg.”
We might not be loud about it, but we have a quiet, underlying pride that comes out whenever Canada is on the map.
So here’s to being Canadian. To saying “sorry” when someone bumps into us. To watching hockey like it’s a religion. To embracing the cold, the kindness, and the quiet confidence that comes with it.
Because honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way. ❤️ 🍁
Want to Dive Deeper? Here Are Two of My Favourite (yes with a U) books that Make Me Feel Canadian.
📖 Books to Read:
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A History of Canada in Ten Maps – Adam Shoalts
- A fascinating look at how Canada was shaped through exploration.
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Welcome Home: Travels in Small Town Canada – Stuart McLean
- "Canada is not so much a nation as it is an archipelago—a scattered collection of small communities, each distinct, yet bound together by the waterways, highways, and rail lines that connect them."