If you’re planning to move to Canada and are worried about the festivities in the country, then you must read this out to know what all festivals and cultural attractions you would find here.
Religious Rights
Are you worried whether you would have the freedom and right to your religion in Canada? Read in this article, what are the religious rights you can claim in the country.
Multiculturalism
Canada is a multicultural land. Has your culture developed any roots in this country yet or not? Read this piece of information to find out more on Canada’s multiculturalism.
Associations
Do you know that there are several groups and associations in Canada which could help you settle down in the country with ease. Read further to learn more about these social groups and associations.
Volunteer Work
Are you afraid how would you find a job in Canada when you don’t have the basic requirement of Canadian work experience fulfilled? Don’t worry, that could be covered by volunteer work experience. Read on to know more.
If you’re looking forward to moving to Canada or you’ve already relocated and are new to Canada, you would be really keen to know about culture in this sovereign state. The more prominent question would be to understand whether it’s feasible for you to adapt in this country or not! Let us make it easier for you.
We are presenting you with different aspects which make up the culture of a place.
Religion
The first aspect of a country which impacts an individual is the religion. Whether you are a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Protestant, Sikh, or you follow any doctrine, It’s important to understand whether your freedom of religion is legally protected by the nation’s constitution or not.
Canada is a country which has no official religion of its own and is a house to diverse religions. Hence, several religions are being practised in the nation as this nation is known as “Defender of Faith”. And this fact is supported by data. As per population census 2011, Christianity is the most prevalent among all the religions with 67.3% of the population while other faiths include Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism. You can find several religious groups of Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddists, Sikhs, and other religions.
However, as per studies, the biggest faith which has united the new people of Canada is “Immigrant Faith”. With Canada’s Immigration Policies, we can extrapolate this faith becoming more prominent in the near future.
Language
Though the English language is the basic requirement of Govt. while immigrating to Canada, yet another language requirement for some provinces is French, especially the European dominant provinces. So, English and French are the two majorly spoken languages which have official federal status under the Official Language Act (1969) throughout Canada.
However, there is linguistic diversity in Canada as well. As per statistics, around 1.9 million people have been reported speaking their mother tongue as a second language at several places on a daily basis while as per reports, more than 4.5 million people speak their mother tongue at home. All in all, it counts to around 20% of the population.
Again, the contribution of immigrants to Canada’s diverse linguistic culture is quite high which is expected to grow even higher in the near future. Anyhow, if you’re moving to Canada or staying over there, you would be proficient in one of the official languages as this accounts to the basic requirement in order to move to the nation.
Clothing
As much as Canada is a welcoming place to immigrants, it’s also an embracing place to various fashion trends. If you think that bell bottoms are out of fashion at your current place or nation, move to Canada and you would see ample amounts of people carrying that fashion well.
In the Colonial Period, the clothing of Canadian people was highly influenced by French culture. However, over the passage of time, Canada has started following United States trends more and hence you can notice the diversified fashion culture with multiple influences over time. A part of Canada such as Quebec is still under the influence of French culture, thus, you would find French dominant fashion trends there.
The climate and weather of different provinces also impact clothing styles. For provinces where you would find the temperature below freezing point, warm winter fabrics are predominantly used. Whereas for provinces with moderate climate, all-season medium weight fabrics to heavyweight winter fabrics are in demand.
Etiquettes and Customs
Each country has predominant etiquettes which contribute to the culture and traditions of the nation. Similarly, in general, Canadian people are more polite and reserved in nature in comparison to US citizens. They also take their manners and etiquettes a little more religiously. Their list of basic customary etiquettes include the following:
Punctuality: Punctuality is the virtue of Canadians. They understand the value of time, so they take punctuality as a revered value. You may find this value being faltered in the French dominant areas of the nation where people are relatively more relaxed.
Greeting: The normal mode of greeting is predominantly handshake in the country. However, in French dominant areas, closely related friends or acquaintances may exchange kisses on the cheeks.
After a few formal greetings, it totally depends on the comfort level of both the people. Also, it is advisable not to have too much body contact while meeting and greeting. This might be taken as an offence by most people. Try not to be overly familiar with them. Give them their space.
Informal Meets: For informal meets, Canadian practice sending informal invitations to the invited guests. The dress codes are generally mentioned on the invites. Black tie is a very common part of clothing for informal occasions.
While visiting homes, the invited guests follow the same practices as other Western countries. The guests are expected to bring some flowers, chocolates, or a bottle of wine as a goodwill gesture for the host.
Eating habits: It’s profane to eat in public places while walking anywhere. Canadian people prefer to sit and eat. It’s advisable to plan your time so that you can have ample time to stop in a restaurant or cafe to enjoy the meal or snack.
Smoking in public places is banned. For places such as restaurants, cinemas, cafes etc. you can find separate smoking zones if it’s permitted there.
Local Culture: No matter, the language, religion, etiquettes, customs, clothing or traditions of a nation are diversified due to immigrants, It’s highly important to understand the local culture which is generally influenced by the history and/or the neighbouring countries.
As discussed in several points, the Canadian people are attuned to diversity among various aspects yet the local culture in French dominant regions is highly influenced by French and British culture. Also, the provinces which are near to the border of the United States are highly influenced by the culture of United States of America.
Despite all the influences, Canadian core values are found to be politeness, fairness, and inclusiveness. Each of these can be found predominantly in different aspects of their culture and their social justice system which treats individuals with fairness and equality.
As promised for your ease, we have explained the basic aspects of the culture of a country. If you understand the above basic points about Canadians, then we are sure that it won’t be difficult for you to adapt in the country. This country would welcome you wholeheartedly.