1)
Anything With a Fake Canadian Accent
When was the fake Canadian accent invented? It must have been sometime shortly after the country's inception in 1867 because it's really starting to show its rust. As cute and quaint as it might sound, the fake "Canadian accent" sounds nothing at all like how actual Canadians speak. That's not to say we don't have our own unique way of speaking, it's just that we're a lot more Wayne Gretzky than Doug Mackenzie.
2)
Disparaging Comments About Hockey
You might think P.K. Subban is a showboat or that the Ottawa Senators will never win a Stanley Cup, and you might be right, but be careful before you utter a disparaging remark about a hockey player or team in Canada. As a general rule, Toronto Maple Leafs insults can fly pretty much anywhere across the country, even in Toronto where fans mostly have a sense of humour. Montreal Canadiens insults, on the other hand, can get you in trouble whether you're in Beaver Creek, Yukon or Blackhead, Newfoundland. Habs fans are everywhere and there's nothing funny about the most storied team in NHL history. So when it comes to insulting the sport of hockey, just don't do it, unless you really want to see the gloves come off.
3)
Cheese and Gravy? Ew.
No one can deny the magical relationship between french fries and ketchup. However, if you're ordering fries and you're asked if you'd like poutine instead, your answer should always be yes. For the uninitiated, poutine is a common Canadian dish that consists of french fries topped with squeaky cheese curds and gravy. If you're concerned about that expanding gut of yours, many restaurants offer a healthier, vegetarian gravy substitute. Some diehard poutine fans might call mushroom or vegetable gravy sacrilege, but the only real crime is opting for boring old french fries when you can indulge in a Canadian delicacy.
4)
Hey! I'm Walking Here!
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where do you think you are, New York City? In Canada, there's only one thing you say when someone bumps into you: sorry. The classic apology can mean anything from sincere acknowledgement of a mistake to passive aggressive annoyance. Just be sure you don't put any stink on the word; as annoyed as you might be, it's important to say sorry without sounding like you're trying to start something.
5)
The F-word (in Quebec)
The next time you stub your toe you might also want to bite your tongue before uttering a swear word if you happen to be in Quebec. It's not that Quebecers are prudes or dislike foul language, per se, it's just that they happen to have their own heavenly style of swearing, which involves cursing the sacred items of the Catholic Church. It might seem a bit weird until you let an angry tah-bar-nac (the box where the Eucharist is kept) roll off your tongue. It has to be one of the most satisfying words to utter in a fit of agitation. Other popular swear words include os-tee (the communion wafer) and ka-lees (the cup from which you drink the holy wine). For extra punch, try combining the words into super swears: os-ti tah-bar-nac or ka-lees tah-bar-nac. Whatever you do, keep those F-bombs to yourself.
6)
Canada is the 51st U.S. State
Canada is not the same country as the United States. Everyone in Canada knows this, which is why it's so frustrating when people around the world don't seem to realize that our home and native land isn't simply the 51st state of the U.S. Their confusion is somewhat understandable: Canada and the U.S. are such strong allies and many Canadian celebrities hop the border to find success in Hollywood. But if you ever want to get under the skin of a mild-mannered Canuck, ask them if they voted for Obama or Romney. You're bound to get some major eye rolls.
7)
Canadian Beer Sucks
It's not that we can't take the criticism or that our taste buds are numbed by years of drinking "moose urine," as the Americans like to call it, it's simply that we don't understand why a nation of light beer guzzlers think they have the right to insult beer, whether it be Canadian, German, Polish, English or Japanese. It's a bit like someone who grew up on cheese-in-a-can screwing up their nose at free-range, organic chèvre. If you don't know how beer is supposed to taste, please keep your comments to yourself
8)
A-boot
Let's face it: a-boot jokes have always confused Canadians. It's true what they say about accents: everyone has one and you can't always hear your own but this whole business about Canadians saying a-boot instead of about is just crazy. If anything, we say a-boat or, more accurately, a-beh-out. So, don't say a-boot unless you want to get kicked by one.
9)
I Disagree With Your Religious Beliefs
Argue over politics, expound your views on gay marriage, even publicly take a stance on abortion, but never talk about religion. Unless, of course, you're saying something to the effect of "I support your right to believe what you believe." Though the country is more than two-thirds Christian, religion remains an issue Canadians prefer to keep within the walls of their private homes and holy places. A lot of the world's conflicts are rooted in religion and Canadians are a peace-loving people. It all comes down to the fact that we want to like each other. Maybe the best way to do that is to ignore each other's differences.
10
Quebec Should Separate From Canada
The issue of Quebec sovereignty has been a controversial topic in Canada for the last 50 years or so. To put it simply, a good portion of the Quebec population wants the province to separate from Canada, 49.2 per cent voted in favour of separation in a 1995 referendum. As for the rest of the country? Well, they see this as a bit of a snub. Quebec sovereignty deals with a lot of touchy topics from cultural genocide to violent revolution. If you want to give the pot a good ol' stir, talk about why you think the province should become its own independent nation.
http://www.readersdigest.ca/travel/c...y-canada/?id=9
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Originally Posted by Dan Druff
