I thought that the people would be super nice, in my experience they don’t.
People working in tourism are super friendly but we felt that the people are super harsh with tourists.
We even had a group of kids saying out loud “I don’t like people with big backpacks” (And no my backpack was not touching them or on a seat) or a security officer saying that he does not work on the information department so he was not helping us.
I have family there and I got to meet some incredible people but I felt that they were super hash sometimes.
If you’re a white dude in a white country, you don’t have any idea what it’s like. My incident was super minor (being denied access to a restaurant) but it gave me a teeny peek into what life must be like for some people.
I’m from Calgary, and many of us who have been here for a long time love nature and go almost everywhere but Banff for our dose of the wild. Banff is considered a sacrificial anode that attracts all the traffic so everything else can stay peaceful. Banff is so incredibly busy and populated that its tiny infrastructure struggles to process tourists and send them on their way. The locals that lived there ages ago might remember a time when the world was less populous, and the town was quant and are very sour about the tourists, despite needing and depending on them. Unsurprisingly, you encountered some poor attitudes; other tourists might also be grumpy from feeling like cattle.
Based on your post, my first guess was Toronto and Montreal. They are two of the least welcoming places in Canada.
The most significant social difference between these big old cities and small new cities I find is that people tend to inherit their friends, family and connections. In Calgary, everyone is from everywhere else, and people remember what it’s like to be new and enjoy meeting and welcoming new people. It’s pretty easy to break into a social circle here. In Toronto, you must be someone special or know someone to get in, and newcomers will always be considered outsiders. It’s so strange because the “outsider” attitude is usually associated with rural areas, but it also seems strong in bigger old cities.
I don’t expect tourists to know where to go to find the cultural experiences they are looking for.
I also agree with the other comment that the east coast is still quaint and welcoming!
Just got back from Canada and I had the same experience. The workers were really friendly, but everyone else was kind of assholes. Felt like I was back in LA with everyone having their head up their own asses. Shocked me cause I always hear how friendly Canadians are.
And the food is super bland, but the country is gorgeous and the weather was great
Visited canada a few days ago.
I thought that the people would be super nice, in my experience they don’t. People working in tourism are super friendly but we felt that the people are super harsh with tourists.
We even had a group of kids saying out loud “I don’t like people with big backpacks” (And no my backpack was not touching them or on a seat) or a security officer saying that he does not work on the information department so he was not helping us.
I have family there and I got to meet some incredible people but I felt that they were super hash sometimes.
Also Canada is beautiful!
Actually experiencing racism in Japan.
If you’re a white dude in a white country, you don’t have any idea what it’s like. My incident was super minor (being denied access to a restaurant) but it gave me a teeny peek into what life must be like for some people.
It was the first time that I’ve experience this kind of comments. I’m a tallish white male and I was confused as Canadian sometimes during this trip
Canada is very big. Come to the east coast! Not that we don’t have assholes.
Where in Canada did you visit?
Banff -> Montereal -> Toronto
This makes sense.
I’m from Calgary, and many of us who have been here for a long time love nature and go almost everywhere but Banff for our dose of the wild. Banff is considered a sacrificial anode that attracts all the traffic so everything else can stay peaceful. Banff is so incredibly busy and populated that its tiny infrastructure struggles to process tourists and send them on their way. The locals that lived there ages ago might remember a time when the world was less populous, and the town was quant and are very sour about the tourists, despite needing and depending on them. Unsurprisingly, you encountered some poor attitudes; other tourists might also be grumpy from feeling like cattle.
Based on your post, my first guess was Toronto and Montreal. They are two of the least welcoming places in Canada.
The most significant social difference between these big old cities and small new cities I find is that people tend to inherit their friends, family and connections. In Calgary, everyone is from everywhere else, and people remember what it’s like to be new and enjoy meeting and welcoming new people. It’s pretty easy to break into a social circle here. In Toronto, you must be someone special or know someone to get in, and newcomers will always be considered outsiders. It’s so strange because the “outsider” attitude is usually associated with rural areas, but it also seems strong in bigger old cities.
I don’t expect tourists to know where to go to find the cultural experiences they are looking for.
I also agree with the other comment that the east coast is still quaint and welcoming!
Just got back from Canada and I had the same experience. The workers were really friendly, but everyone else was kind of assholes. Felt like I was back in LA with everyone having their head up their own asses. Shocked me cause I always hear how friendly Canadians are.
And the food is super bland, but the country is gorgeous and the weather was great