The Pond Hop

So, I’m a Brit who now lives in Canada. As many of you will soon experience, and some of you already have, you will come to summer camp for the first time and never want to leave. I went to camp in Algonquin Park which is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Waking up to a sunrise on the lake, being immersed in an endless forest and knowing you could see a moose or bear at any point is truly a magical experience. The aura of being in such a unique country like Canada won’t fade away and… you’ll decide to stay here. Maybe it’s for two years where you see-saw between ski seasons and summer camps, maybe it’ll be for longer. I can without a doubt say you won’t regret staying in this country for an extended period of time. But there are a few… differences, compared to home that took some getting used to and still seem weird to me to this day. Again, like many of you will soon experience, you’ll fall in love with the place. You’ll fall in love with the people you meet. You’ll fall in love with the places you see. You’ll (eventually) fall in love with all of the Canadianisms that come with being here. And that’s what this thought leadership piece is about - a light-hearted insight into some of the differences I have experienced. That’s not to say that all these differences are bad! I love $1 Timmies coffee (for the price, not the taste) and the fact that portion sizes are as big as you see on TikTok. Sports are huge and the extensive wilderness you find here looks like what you see on social media. However, I want to talk about, as a Brit living in Toronto, the less spoken-about differences that I’ve experienced. Everything from the weird and wonderful to the stuff that you’ll probably read and think “Ben, NO ONE else spends three hours of a road trip through the beautiful wilderness thinking about cats eyes”. Without further ado, here’s what I think since crossing the pond!

Gas Prices

Now, if you’re a Canadian reading this, you’re probably sitting there waiting for me to complain, with your fists raised in agreement, about how expensive gas prices are. I’m sorry but you’re wrong! It’s so, so, so cheap over here compared to England. I think the last time I drove in England, it was ￡1.55 per liter which is the equivalent of $2.65. Right now, in Canada? You could get a liter of gas for the price of a Freddo (wait, is that good for gas or bad for Freddo’s? I’m unsure but let’s not get into that debate…). Gas in Canada today would be the equivalent of ￡0.92 in England. It hasn’t been that inexpensive in England since I was boogying on the dance floor at my year six disco. To walk around hearing Canadians complain about gas prices baffles me. I mean, I know you drive A LOT further than we do, but I’d be driving up and down the country all the time at these prices. Appreciate how cheap it is to fill up your trucks here. Anyway, on to the next one…

Loonies & Toonies

I find it hilarious that people here legitimately call money by these names. For non-Canadians who have no idea what I am talking about, a Loonie is a $1 coin and a Toonie is a $2 coin. Now, I am jealous and I low-key wish we had this much fun in the UK when it comes to our money. “Fiver” and “Tenner” vs “Loonie” and “Toonie” is a no-brainer to me. It did take me a while to realize that this was genuinely what they were called and that people weren’t just trying to play a prank on me so this is my warning; when you hear a Canadian ask you for a “Loonie”, they are being serious. I could go on about Canadian slang all day - “Give’r”, “Rink Rat” and “Trash Panda” are personal favourites - but let’s move on to the next one.

Holidays in Canada

Canadians embrace the holidays. Christmas, Halloween, St Paddy’s Day. No matter what the occasion, I always feel so festive in this country. From walking down the street and seeing a 7ft Easter Bunny handing out free Easter eggs to feeling so Christmasy in the snow-lined streets with houses caked in decorations that I started to believe in Santa Claus again, I am fully here for how much Canadians dive head first into holidays. (Also, a side note: holidays in Canada mean these festivities I have mentioned. If you’re going on a holiday? That’s called a vacation over here).?

There’s a lack of Cats Eyes

Now this one is for the driver’s out there. Definition: “A cat’s eye or road stud is a retro-reflective safety device used in road marking and was the first of a range of raised pavement markers”. Those little things in the middle of the road that help you see when you’re driving. I bet no Canadian reading this knows what I am talking about and that right there is the problem! How on earth do you see when you’re driving in the snow or rain? These little guys are lifesavers when it comes to driving in bad conditions and it baffles me that they haven’t been adopted in North America. I first noticed this on a 4-hour drive from Ottawa to Algonquin Park. I couldn’t believe it, and I proceeded to think about this for the rest of the journey. To this day, every time I step in a car here, I think about how crazy this is. If I was the prime minister for the day, this would be my first act of service.?

Grocery Prices

I once paid $16 (￡9.33) for three leeks. THREE. That is all. There are so many differences that I could be writing an article every week. I know the above points seem like I’m picking up on all the negative differences between the two countries but I promise you there are so many good things too that Canada has and home doesn’t. All Dressed chips (crisps), an actual summer and winter season, yellow school buses, poutine, wildlife and beautiful landscapes, the obsession with sports, the people, dogs wearing boots in the winter because it’s so cold, a Timmies on every corner. I could go on and on about how wonderful this country is. Although I’m sure you will experience some of the differences I have mentioned above and still be left scratching your head years later, I can confidently say that you will not for one-second regret taking the leap and you will begin to embrace the differences between your home country and this beautiful country called Canada that I now get to call home.

Do you fancy a Canadian adventure like our very own Ben? Apply here to kick-start it today!