# Non-Canadians who have visited Canada - what surprised you about the country? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364 "2015-03-06T15:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/121 "2015-03-08T03:28:34Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/122 "2015-03-08T12:23:16Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > The general modernity and North American-ness of Montreal surprised me a bit. The French language is in my mind so inextricably linked to the Old World that it was weird to be looking at American-style skyscrapers and know that they were full of busy little francophone worker bees. I don’t mean this in a condescending way, but it actually struck me as kind of poignant: it was like looking at an alternate history of North America, if the French had predominated on the continent instead of the English. I usually read Canada- and Québec-related threads so I can correct errors and misconceptions. But I had never really given much thought to this particular aspect of the society I live in. Thank you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/123 "2015-03-08T12:28:17Z")
The bugs in the Chinese take-out food. This was in Vancouver BC maybe 25 years ago. Haven’t been back since. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/124 "2015-03-08T14:32:25Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > But you’re in Ontario, where November 11 isn’t a holiday. It is a holiday in most if the country and I think federal offices are closed in the other provinces on those days? November 11 was never a holiday in school when I went to grade school/high school in Quebec. I think some Quebec businesses have the day off and some don’t, but I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/125 "2015-03-08T15:08:15Z")
One of the things we found perplexing while visiting BC many decades ago was flashing green traffic lights. I may have heard once that this was a signal that oncoming traffic had a red light, so a left turn would be clear. Not sure if they still have those. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/126 "2015-03-08T18:15:49Z")
Many years ago we were very happy that the drinking age in Ontario was 19. Here in NY it was 21. Even better that the young ladies in certain said drinking establishments were fully nude. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/127 "2015-03-08T18:55:18Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > One of the things we found perplexing while visiting BC many decades ago was flashing green traffic lights. I may have heard once that this was a signal that oncoming traffic had a red light, so a left turn would be clear. Not sure if they still have those. Well you could try reading this very thread, specifically posts 100-112. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/128 "2015-03-08T19:55:05Z")
> [@Mr.Goob](#): > > Many years ago we were very happy that the drinking age in Ontario was 19. Here in NY it was 21. Even better that the young ladies in certain said drinking establishments were fully nude. The drinking age in Quebec is 18. (Though I didn’t start drinking seriously until 20.) ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/129 "2015-03-08T20:02:47Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Anyone know anything surprising or interesting about Calgary? I’ll be spending a week there at the end of April. Most of the truly interesting things about Calgary are outside of the city. The Rockies are an hour away to the west with skiing, hiking and lots of amazing vistas; cool badlands and dinosaur stuff to the east and some interesting archaeological sites to the south. Calgary itself is has all that you would expect of large prairie city; some good food, music venues, art galleries, theatre, but not much that you would come all the way here just to see. In late April the weather should be sunny and can be really nice but there is still the chance of spring snow storms Drumheller with the Tyrell museum is about two hours NE, and Dinosaur Provincial park is about 3 hrs east. Both offer some really cool badlands (google it), dinosaur exhibits and make for good day trips. Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump is a couple hours south and is a very interesting native historical site. A trip to Lake Louise will treat you to some really beautiful mountain landscapes. There will still be some good spring skiing at the resorts, and amazing ski touring if you know what you are doing. Expect stunning vistas and bring lots of sunscreen. Some of the front country hiking trails should be open by that point, and there is some great scrambling in the Kananaskis area. One of the best things is a drive up the Icefields Parkway to visit the Columbia Icefields. Cant recommend it enough, huge mountains, big glaciers, but I do not think the icefields center opens until May, so best left for the adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/130 "2015-03-08T20:14:04Z")
I’ve also been to Drumheller and Lake Louise, and I recommend them too. I rented a canoe on Lake Louise one summer with friends - don’t know how early in the year you can do that, though. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/131 "2015-03-08T20:16:01Z")
The thing that mildly surprised me was that not a single restroom we visited had any toilet seat liners. And the thing was, we didn’t need them there. The restrooms (and toilets) were always incredibly clean. Always! Even at a busy roadside museum where they were remodeling, so they had trailers in the parking lot with restrooms inside. I suspect Canadian women aren’t hoverers like so many of their neighbors to the South. Get a clue, American hoverers, if you find spray on the seat when you’re done, then you’ve probably sprayed your legs and clothing, as well. If you just sat on the seat like God intended, 99% of the reason for hovering would be eliminated. OK, rant done. I will add that I, too, was disappointed in Tim Horton’s. When we first pulled up to one, I was thinking, “Oh boy! Tim Horton’s!” The second time it was, “Oh boy. Tim Horton’s.” Canadians are a great bunch of folks, though. Next time I go, I’d love to take in a game of curling. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/132 "2015-03-08T20:57:40Z")
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen toilet seat liners anywhere in Canada either. And we do still get “hoverers” (like a lot of people in my old adult-ed school.) ---
**Author:** ![Jaguars](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaguars/32/5879_2.png) [@Jaguars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaguars)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/133 "2015-03-08T21:01:28Z")
I come from NZ and stayed in BC for a year in 1999. I was surprised at how hot it got during summer, I thought it was all snow all the time! Other than that the surprises were mostly in the home: central heating and much better weatherproofing are more common over there. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/134 "2015-03-09T13:17:18Z")
Yes, it can get very hot in the summer. There is snow all year round on top of some of our higher mountains, though. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/135 "2015-03-09T13:53:30Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > **Non-Canadians who have visited Canada - what surprised you about the country?** > > Flashing green traffic lights. We have flashing green traffic lights in Boston, too, but there’s a crucial difference – here, _nobody_ knows what they mean. It’s not an advance green though. I swear this is true. I have an editorial cartoon commenting on the fact, and I’ve seen it myself. Don’t believe me? Here’s a page discussing it: [http://talk.nycsubway.org/perl/read?subtalk=81899](http://talk.nycsubway.org/perl/read?subtalk=81899) Even the Boston **Globe** , asked about it, was baffled. They turned to the Massachusetts Driver’s Guide: > [@](#): > > **Flashing green** > > “What does a blinking green traffic light mean?” writes reader Meredith Dill of Somerville. “I saw one last night in Wakefield, but I don’t recall learning about that in driver’s ed.” > > The driver’s manual put out by the Registry has a section on traffic signals. A flashing red light has the same meaning as a stop sign; a flashing yellow means that you should proceed with caution; a flashing green . . . > > Alas, the manual doesn’t say anything about that. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/03/lines\_lights\_and\_rule\_breakers/](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/03/lines_lights_and_rule_breakers/) They had to track down someone in Traffic to answer: > [@](#): > > Fortunately, Officer Carlos Figueroa of the Cambridge Police Department’s traffic division had an answer. > > “Flashing green is the same as a solid green. It means at that intersection, you have the right of way,” he said. “I see them where there’s a park, or where there’s a school district. Where there may be heavy pedestrian traffic as opposed to vehicle traffic. It’s a way to get people to slow down.” > > Drivers on the cross street, Figueroa added, see a flashing red. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/03/lines\_lights\_and\_rule\_breakers/](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/02/03/lines_lights_and_rule_breakers/) Got that? In Boston, a flashing green means the same thing as a non-flashing green. They just want to mess with your head. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/136 "2015-03-09T14:32:42Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Come to think of it, I’ve never seen toilet seat liners anywhere in Canada either. I’m Canadian and the first time I saw a public toilet seat liner was at a restaurant in Quebec City in 1987. Another thing about Quebec vs. the rest of Canada: when we went to Montreal in 2001 we went to Burger King and they automatically gave us mayonnaise for our french fries. I’ve never seen that anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/137 "2015-03-09T15:02:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > You can always tell the Canadians here, because they’re the ones with a dozen or two gallons of milk in their shopping carts. 😛 I see you shop at the B’ham Costco. That single store must be the greatest daily transfer of wealth from Canada to the USA. Like someone else mentioned: No beer in grocery or convenience stores (I know in BC and I think in Alberta too). Also, how expensive beer and liquor is. If I lived in Canada I’d have to sober up! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/138 "2015-03-09T23:53:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 3.) There was a certain indefinable something about the highways that indicated that you weren’t in the US. I don’t know what it was – and I don’t mean the metric signs or anything like that. Well “Queen Elizabeth Way” is not a road name you’re likely to find in the US… ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/139 "2015-03-10T00:12:21Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Well “Queen Elizabeth Way” is not a road name you’re likely to find in the US… There are at least four: Quinby, SC; Morrow, GA; Naples, FL; San Jose, CA. I didn’t look to see whether these occurred in tract-housing developments, but I’ve certainly seen plenty of such neighborhoods with absurd street names referencing British royalty. Too many “Buckingham Courts” to count, for example. Developers often like to pick ‘themes’ to fancify their dead little cul-de-sacs and access roads. More likely than not, “Buckingham Court” attaches to “Windsor Lane,” and so on. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364/140 "2015-03-10T00:22:40Z")
“If I lived in Canada I’d have to sober up!” Imagine how much politer you’d be! (That’s how they get ya!:D) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-canadians-who-have-visited-canada-what-surprised-you-about-the-country/714364.md?page=8)