Life in Canada
Here is some helpful information about Canadian culture.
Indigenous Peoples and Territories
Canada is located on the traditional territories of many Indigenous Nations. You may notice Indigenous names throughout the community such as Kwantlen. Our university is named after Kwantlen First Nation. Our campuses are in a region south of the Fraser River which overlaps with the unceded (meaning un-surrendered) traditional and ancestral lands of the Kwantlen, Musqueam, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt and Kwikwetlem peoples.
Canadian Politeness
Canadians have a reputation for being very polite, but at the same time they are very reserved. This is a duality that is difficult to understand at first. Generally, Canadians will be very polite in their mannerisms, language, and behavior but they may take longer to develop a sense of personal connection with a new person.
Metric System
Canada uses the metric system for the most part, although Canadians refer to their height in feet and inches and their weight in pounds. This is because Canada's conversion to the metric system began in the 1970s, and as such there are still some generations that are more used to the imperial system of measurement.
Official Languages
The official languages of Canada are English and French. You may come across the French language on food labels, government offices, post offices etc.
Local Essentials
Mall Suggestions
- Metropolis at Metrotown
One of the largest shopping malls in Greater Vancouver! Located in Burnaby, B.C. - Richmond Center
Close to the KPU Richmond Campus, perfect for an after-class get-together! - Aberdeen Center
Asian-themed shopping center also close to KPU Richmond Campus – Food court also has many tasty restaurants! - Lansdowne Center
Across the street from the KPU Campus – Great if you want to go shopping during lunch break!
Tipping
Tipping is customary in Canadian culture.
Where to Tip:
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Bars
When leaving a tip, the amount will be added to the bill. Common tipping percentages are 15%, 20%, etc.
For a full guide, please see this page: Tipping in Canada
Recreation in Vancouver
Vancouver is home to many great entertainment and sports venues. Many sports games are inexpensive to watch and can be a great way to make memories! You can find a detailed guide below.
Vancouver Tourist Attractions
Vancouver has many great tourist attractions to visit during your stay.
Vancouver Weather
Depending on the season, the weather will vary, but we can say that… it often rains in Vancouver!
For Summer months it does get quite hot, so we recommend that you wear short sleeved shirts, have plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of water!
For Winter months we recommend warm clothing and long-sleeved shirts and an umbrella!
It gets dark early during the winter months, so we recommend wearing reflective clothing in the evening if possible.
Download the Canadian Government Environment Canada app to check the weather.
Image
If you are not able to access the Environment Canada app you can view their website for weather updates.
Language Tips
Certain words have Canadian spellings that are different from those found in the United States. Some examples of United States vs. Canadian spellings include: color and colour, favor and favour, check and cheque, center and centre. You may want to familiarize yourself with the following Canadian slang terms:
Nanaimo Bars: A chocolate and coconut dessert with butter icing, named after the city of Nanaimo, BC.
Loonie: A term for the Canadian one-dollar coin, which is gold-coloured and has a bird known as a loon on one side.
Toonie: The Canadian two-dollar coin. It is gold coloured and silver-coloured ring around the outside. It gets its name from the one-dollar coin, the loonie, and adds its value, two, to form "two-nie" or, more easily read, "toonie". A polar bear is on one side of this coin.
Keener: Someone who is enthusiastic or eager to please. "John is such a keener when it comes to school."
Pop: A general term for soft drinks (eg. Coca-Cola).
Poutine: A specialty food of the province of Quebec, it is french fries covered in cheese curds and gravy.
Kraft Dinner/KD: A brand of macaroni and cheese that is popular among Canadian students.
Lineup: A line of people. "There was a really long lineup for tickets to last night's hockey game."
Toque: A kind of knitted wintertime hat.
"The States": A phrase referring to The United States of America. Canadians dislike referring to the United States as "America" because Canadians are just as much (North) American as citizens of the United States are.
Zed: Canadians pronounce "z", the last letter of the alphabet, this way and not "zee" as people in the United States do.
Eh: Canadians often end sentences with "eh" and many studies have looked into this phenomenon. It is generally agreed that Canadians do it because they are polite. The "eh" is an invitation for the listener to participate in the conversation as opposed to the speaker simply stating fact after fact.
Weather Conversations: Virtually all conversation will include a brief discussion of the weather because it is such a dominant force in the lives of Canadians.