Nm
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! 
The bugs in the Chinese take-out food. This was in Vancouver BC maybe 25 years ago. Haven’t been back since.
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.
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.
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.
Well you could try reading this very thread, specifically posts 100-112.
The drinking age in Quebec is 18. (Though I didn’t start drinking seriously until 20.)
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
Yes, it can get very hot in the summer. There is snow all year round on top of some of our higher mountains, though.
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
Even the Boston Globe, asked about it, was baffled. They turned to the Massachusetts Driver’s Guide:
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
“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)