Reddit user, hakunamatata004, wanted to know where your mind goes when they asked:
"Non-Canadians, what comes to mind when you hear the word 'Canada?'"
Even if something doesn't feel Canadian, it might still be the first thing someone talks about when you ask them about it.
Sounds Like A Good Watch
"Primarily The Red Green Show. It screened in Australia years ago and was the first Canadian production I remember seeing. I still think about the episode where he made a moped from a chainsaw and a bicycle in handyman corner."
WartyWartyBottom
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."
North-Ticket4619
"You know, as you get older, having a piss is much like a fireworks show; You stand around waiting for it to start During the process there are a lot of "Ohhhhs" and "ahhhhs". And you're never quite sure when it is over"
"I'm 67, and I think about that every time I piss. :)"
ThatNewOldGuy
GiphyGoogle The Video And Be Enchanted
"As of this afternoon, house hippos"
nineJohnjohn
"Do you have any idea how many Canadian children that commercial hurt when we realized they weren’t real and couldn’t have as a pet??"
VisibleCoat995
"Cautionary tale about fake news, before fake news was a thing."
PKnecron
A Lot Of Thought For Just One Bird
"goose"
rabengeieradlerstein
"A Redditor called them 'cobra chickens' and I will never forget it"
rudebish
"As a Canadian, geese are pretty much cobra chickens. They’re just aggressive a-- holes."
richard-777
Giphy"Seriously though."
"Once I was doing a photo shoot for a family and the mom tried to get her kids to pet the cobra chickens. I was in such shock I didn't say anything. I'm surprised those children weren't attacked, especially since their babies were nearby"
ChamomileBrownies
"You got a problem with Canada gooses you got a problem with me, and I suggest you let that one marinate"
JoseefusBroseefus
An Outfit For Every Occasion
"Hockey, syrup, jean jackets, geese, and a surprising number of sexy celebrity men named 'Ryan'."
Darth_Destructus
"Jeans and denim jacket over flannel is the go to for Canadian men and women, from checking the syrup taps first thing in the morning, to carvery/karaoke night at the legion."
bombswell
Not Quite What You Think
"I grew up in Canada... Is there anybody here from Canada? You know, I used to get really upset when I told people where I came from down in Los Angeles because I always got the same response: 'Canada? Wow. Must have been cold.' Now I just go along with them...'"
"Yes. Ca-na-da. It was a frozen hostile wasteland. And there was much work to be done if we were to survive the elements. After boring a hole through the ice to find food, my good friend Nantuk and I would build an igloo to protect ourselves from polar bears and flying hockey pucks. Then we would drink a lot of beer and when Nantuk was ready, he would tell me the story of the great moose who said to the little squirrel: 'Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!'"
malinwa4ever
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"People saying "ey" after some of their sentences. Either that, or using maple syrup a bunch."
"Or I'm just thinking of stereotypes of Canadians that are shown on TV a lot."
"The real thing I think of when I hear the word "Canada" is that they probably have a lot more moose than we do. I haven't seen a single moose in my area, so maybe Canada has some."
Major-Eggplant-9045
A real Canadian would know where to go and what to do on any given day that would make you feel like a "real" Canadian.
Want A Donut? You Know Where To Go.
"Hockey team inside a Tim Hortons drinking coffee saying it's the best coffee shop ever over and over"
NQ241
GiphyLet's Get A Drink
"Driving over the border to go to the bar when you turn 19"
guilemer
"Windsor…I feel hungover and dirty just thinking about it."
"Not that anyone asked for a story, but when I was 19, some friends and I were invited to spend the weekend at one friend’s grandma’s apartment in Windsor while she was away. Before we even get to the apartment, we stop at the Beer Store for provisions."
"We arrive in the lobby of the building, arms full of 6-packs, only to be met by a room full of sour faced geriatrics in wheel chairs. This friend neglected to mention his grandma lives in a retirement community."
FKA-Scrambled-Leggs
A Snowy Treat
"I once heard they drop syrup on snow to make some kind of frozen popsicles. That’s what comes to mind."
elgonza712
"Tire d'érable. It's kind of like caramel on a stick made from boiling maple syrup (to remove water) and pouring it over a snowy table and attaching a tongue depressor to make a lollipop."
Queef_Quaff
alliusis
GiphySome things are so Canadian you can't help but ignore it when you hear it.
They are, at their core, Canadian.
A Canadian Staple
"Grizzly bears and poutine"
Cute-Chemistry-4766
"Canadian here and I’m appalled it took so much scrolling to find poutine lol"
_b1ack0ut
GiphyTheir Niceness Carries
"The flag, the first line of the anthem, and of course how nice they are. Everyone saying they're sick of hearing how nice they are and claiming they aren't nice...why?"
"Nearly everyone I've ever met who's been there has a story of someone being extremely nice, not just polite."
"I lived in Toronto for a few months as an 18 year old and it was the first time I'd ever seen a subway system. I loved it, but it was confusing at first. Early on, I got lost on my way to school and some guy in his 30's, clearly on his way somewhere important (dressed in a suit, had a briefcase) stopped and asked me if I needed help."
"I was meek and said no, but he insisted and took me to a nearby map. He asked where I was going and explained everything about the lines and times and just everything. I expected him to then hit on me or something inappropriate, but no."
"Once he was done he said good luck and continued on as though he hadn't just given up 10 minutes of his time. I'll never forget that experience."
InkMouseStone
Thanks For All The Help
"Liberators.... I am dutch and my town amongst large parts of the Netherlands were liberated by Canadians. On remembrance/liberation day we do not just have dutch flags flying but also Canadian flags."
Broes
"We still have tulips on remembrance day here in Ottawa, and I live near the school the Dutch Royal family attended."
TheChartreuseKnight
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Before my first visit there, Canada was synonymous with poutine and people using the phrase, "ay". I did see a lot of poutine, and the "ay" thing seemed mostly true. But now, when someone says "Canada", I think of the kindness of the people. As we attempted to navigate the street car and bus system, and father and son noticed our confused faces, and stopped to explain how it works and how to avoid paying extra for transfers. As New Yorkers, that was a culture shock. Also, "the machine" in restaurants is something I still think about, but that's another story.
What comes to your mind when someone mentions Canada? Redditor u/DShillington was curious, and so asked non-Canadians to answer... "What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think 'Canada'?"
20. Canada in the 80s
Back in the day (80s and stuff) we used to go across the St. Clair River/Lake St. Clair to go to Canada.
The thing that sticks out in my mind is the friendliest border guards/coast guard guys in the world. It was like 'hey, so why are you traveling to Canada today?' Oh, we're just gonna go pick some strawberries at that farm...you know the one. 'Oh, cool! Well have a nice time, and don't forget to bring some back for us!'
Once out on the lake, we got 'busted' by Canadians for having open alcohol on the boat. 'You guys know that's against the law over here, right?' (My brother puts his beer out of their line of sight) 'Okay, you guys have a nice day!'"
19. Canadian television
"The Red Green Show. I will always imagine that show portrays the ideal Canadian life."
17. Even Australians know all about Canada
I'm Australian, this is what I think of when I think Canada: Friendliness and politeness, the Canadian flag, maple trees/leaves/syrup, mountains, cold weather, poutine, speaking French, hockey.
16. WWII history
"To me probably heroism and loyalty Canada played a very major role in liberating my country from German occupation in WW2, and every year during the 5th and 6th of May we commemorate your bravery and sacrifice! So yeah, thank you Canada!"
15. Great comedians
"Phil Hartman, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Will Arnett, Tommy Chong, John Candy... So funny dudes. Yeah, I know, I'm old."
14. All of their Canadian friends
"I have a lot of friends in Canada, so I think of them. :)"
12. Some... darker facts
"The fact that my ancestors were ejected from Canada by the British!
I wish people who could prove Acadian ancestry (Cajuns) could get a track to citizenship there; I fantasized about moving to Montreal as a teen."
10. Taking advantage of the drinking age
"I live about 45 minutes from Canada in Michigan.
Hockey, poutine, and 19 year old drinking age for me."
9. Freaky geese
"the color green for some reason and the leaf thing. Also murderous geese who will someday develop teeth and destroy mankind"
7. Contrasting environments
"First I picture the beautiful flag. The simplicity and elegance which makes for a perfect flag.
Then I picture the map. A huge county covered in unique and interesting nature.
Then I picture the mounties. Dressed in their sophisticated red uniforms, gracefully riding their horses.
Then I picture downtown Vancouver where I saw a hobo taking a piss in his hat."
6. Sneaky shoppers
"I once saw something on Reddit, not sure if it was a post or a comment, but it was someone describing how a Canadian will reach past someone at a grocery store to grab something and they'll pretty much always say this when they do:
'Just gonna SNEAK right past ya there.'
This may not be exactly right but it's still what I think about everytime Canadians are mentioned in any medium."
3. Overwhelming politeness
"Idk why but I start imagining 2 people standing at the door telling each other, 'its okay, you go in first'."
2. Boreal Forests
"The woods! Even though they're not talked about much, Canada's extensive Boreal Forests are super cool to me"
1. The classics
"Maple syrup and the Canadian flag. Honestly that's what I just thought of. But also, I think of trees, airplanes, and Saskatchewan."
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