And sure, Canada isn't all poutine and politeness, but every now and then, I come across a Canadian quirk that’s so stereotypical it almost feels staged. And honestly, I love it.
Canadians really are that friendly
Canadians are known for their friendliness, with the country consistently ranking among the friendliest in the world across various studies.
And from my experience, that stereotype is 100% true.
Since moving to Toronto, I rarely find myself being shoved aside by strangers on the subway or served by a barista who communicates exclusively in single syllables — both of which were daily occurrences back in London.
Instead, everywhere I go, I’m greeted with a "how's it going?" and waved off with "have a good one’. Honestly, it feels great.
That extends to customer service, too. I once tried to return a broken Brita filter despite having discarded the packaging and receipt, expecting the cashier to laugh me out of the store. To my surprise, I was quickly given a replacement with no questions asked.
In the UK, I'm not sure I would've been given the same benefit of the doubt.
Ice hockey really is huge here
A Toronto Marlies ice hockey match.
I arrived in Canada in the peak of the Heated Rivalry hype, so I was ready to embrace my new life as an ice hockey fan.
But, just like the winter weather, I had underestimated just how popular the sport is over here.
The Winter Olympics, which are only half acknowledged in the UK, took over the city for two weeks, with the sporting event culminating in one completely unmissable match: the ice hockey final.
It was like Toronto had turned into one giant watch party, and every bar was packed with fans in jerseys, all glued to the TV screens.
I felt the devastation of Canada’s loss to the USA keenly among my new neighbours.
Meanwhile, seeing the Maple Leafs was right at the top of my bucket list, but after discovering the price of the tickets, that trip's firmly on ice (no pun intended).
I've since seen a Marlies game, however, and it was every bit as electric as I’d hoped.
Maple syrup is basically a personality trait
Along with poutine, bagels and ketchup chips, maple syrup was one of the many foods I was excited to indulge in before moving to Canada.
Of course, we have maple syrup in the UK, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the Canadian stuff (plus, if you don’t pay attention to what you're buying, you might end up with 'maple flavoured syrup' — it's really not the same).
But unlike in the UK, there are endless maple-flavoured treats to indulge in over here, too. Maple cream cookies are one of my favourite Canadian treats, along with maple donuts and maple lattes.
I’m on a mission to try them all — and I probably can, at one of the many maple syrup festivals going on at the moment.
You can visit maple farms, sample artisanal candies, watch syrup being boiled, and pick up a whole load of unique maple-inspired products.
I get it, maple syrup is delicious. But that's some serious devotion to the sweet and sticky treat.
Winters in Canada are no joke
Ellie during the polar vortex.
I was prepared for Toronto winter to be a shock to the system, but I couldn't have picked a worse time to move.
Remember the polar vortex? The one that dumped 40cm of snow on the city? That hit less than a week after I arrived.
The weeks that followed saw temperatures drop to an unbearable -20 C. It was so cold, in fact, that our windows and back doors literally froze shut.
And I don’t even live in the coldest part of the country. If anyone from Winnipeg is reading this, how do you guys do it? Because I’m barely surviving in Toronto.
Tim Hortons is a source of national pride
Ellie is a fan of Tim Hortons.
We have Tim Hortons in the UK, but I always lumped it in the same category as other budget coffee chains: functional, efficient, and slightly soulless.
But knowing that the beloved coffee chain is a Canadian institution, I figured I’d have to try it once I moved across the pond to Toronto.
And there was no shortage of stores to choose from — Toronto alone has 176 Tim Hortons branches.
On my first visit, it was surprisingly busy for midday on a Tuesday. Almost every table was occupied, the screen for mobile orders was full, and the counter was running low on donuts.
But I have to say, I understand the hype.
The hot chocolate was rich and creamy, and the donuts were chewy and satisfyingly sticky.
So I understand why every other person I see downtown is clutching a Tim Hortons takeaway cup.
So yes, certain Canadian stereotypes really are true, and honestly, I’m more than happy to lean into them.
At this point, I’ve even caught myself saying "have a good one" — and actually meaning it.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Toronto's skylineseen from the Islands.
Cheering on the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.
The Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square.
Ellie braves Toronto's winter weather.
