Canadian Culture Guide for Immigrants

Tipping (Always Optional)

• • Tipping in Canada is never required and never enforced. The amount, including zero, is up to you.
• • Restaurants (sit-down): around 15-20% of the pre-tax bill is a common amount if you choose to tip
• • Coffee shops and takeout: tipping is uncommon, most people skip the prompt
• • Taxis and rideshare: a few dollars or rounding up the fare is common but optional
• • Hair salons and barbers: any amount you are comfortable with is fine, including none
• • Hotel housekeeping and food delivery: a few dollars is common but never expected

Payment terminals always include 'no tip' and 'custom' options. Use them freely.

Punctuality Expectations

• • Work meetings: arrive on time or a few minutes early
• • Medical and government appointments: 5-10 minutes early
• • Job interviews: 10-15 minutes early
• • Social events and parties: 10-15 minutes late is acceptable
• • Dinner invitations: arrive within 5-10 minutes of the stated time

Example: if a meeting starts at 10:00 AM, be seated and ready by 9:55 AM.

How Canadians Communicate at Work

• • Emails start with 'Hi [Name]' not 'Dear Sir/Madam'
• • Criticism is delivered gently: 'Have we considered...' not 'You are wrong'
• • 'That is interesting' often means 'I disagree'
• • Small talk before meetings (weather, weekend plans) is expected
• • Silence after a proposal usually signals skepticism, not agreement

Example: 'I see it differently because...' is how you disagree in a Canadian meeting.

Public Holidays: Provincial Differences

• • Family Day (Feb): not observed in QC, NL, or NS (NS calls it Heritage Day)
• • Victoria Day (May): not observed in NS or QC (QC has National Patriots' Day)
• • Civic Holiday (Aug): different names per province (BC Day, Heritage Day, Terry Fox Day)
• • Thanksgiving (Oct): not a statutory holiday in NS (statutory in all other provinces)
• • Remembrance Day (Nov 11): not a statutory holiday in ON or QC (observed federally and in most other provinces)

Example: an Ontario worker gets Boxing Day off (statutory), but a BC worker does not.

Overtime Rules by Province

• • BC: 1.5x after 8h/day, 2x after 12h/day, 1.5x after 40h/week
• • Ontario: 1.5x after 44h/week (no daily threshold)
• • Quebec: 1.5x after 40h/week (no daily threshold)
• • Alberta: 1.5x after 8h/day or 44h/week (whichever is greater)
• • Manitoba and Saskatchewan: 1.5x after 8h/day or 40h/week

Example: in BC, working a 10-hour day means 2 hours at 1.5x overtime pay.

First Names vs. Titles at Work

• • First-name basis is standard, even with managers and senior executives
• • 'Sir' and 'Madam' are rarely used and can feel overly formal
• • Use the person's first name unless they specifically ask otherwise
• • In Quebec, 'tu' (informal) is common among colleagues, 'vous' for new contacts
• • Email sign-offs: 'Thanks,' 'Best,' or 'Cheers' are all standard

Example: emailing your CEO as 'Hi Sarah' is completely normal in most Canadian offices.