Social Customs of Canada

Canada's climate, people, land, and lifestyle are varied. In spite of these differences, Canada is a country based on the values of diversity, equality, and respect for all persons in society. Men, women, children, and senior citizens are all equally respected under the law in Canada. These values make the country a safe society in which to live.
Canadian Ways of living

Many social practices preside over behavior in Canada. These are not laws, but they are deep-rooted traditions that Canadians be expecting to one another. Here are some examples of Canadian ways of living:

1. Queuing or Lining up:
· People generally form a line when waiting.
· The individual who arrives first takes the first position in the line.
· Other arrivals gather together in a line behind this person in the order they arrive.
· Others may be annoyed if you move ahead of somebody who was there before you.

2. Not smoking in private homes:
· You should always ask consent if you want to smoke in someone's home.
· Do not be surprised if they request you to smoke outside.

3. Being on time:
· You should always turn up for appointments at the scheduled time, or a little early.
· You could lose your employment or be suspended from school if you are frequently late.
· For social events, people expect that you will reach your destination within half an hour of the scheduled time.
· You are not likely to wait more than 10 to 15 minutes for somebody with whom you have a business meeting.

4. Bargaining:
· Bargaining or haggling is not frequent in Canada. When you purchase in stores, the visible price on the item is the cost for that item.
· There are a small number of places where Canadians do bargain. Such as, almost everyone bargains for a healthier price when buying a house or a car or other costly items such as furniture.
· People who buy or sell things in private, may also bargain.

Source: goingtocanada.gc.ca