Your biggest threats in Canada are actually the cold (threat #1), shit drivers (threat #2) Methanys and the crack heads (I would argue threat #4). Racism is like threat #612,987 on a list that includes everything from death from diabetes by maple syrup (threat #34 on the list), to getting eaten by a grizzly bear (threat #3 to #490 depending on where you are). Or stomped by a moose (a threat that can run a range of #1 to #7 both depending where you are or if you are trying to pet it).

Canada is very welcoming and people are friendly. After living abroad for a decade I can say it pretty confidently. Nowhere is perfect but the level of racism in Canada is very low compared to the things I’ve seen in Europe and Asia.

Not sure how it is where you’re from but don’t get caught thinking because Canada is safe that you can be careless with your stuff, don’t let your guard down with personal belongings. Don’t leave your things unattended in cafes or shops, don’t leave your mobile phone on the table, and especially don’t leave anything in your car if rent a car. Canada is safe but there is still a lot of petty theft… you won’t get mugged but someone might try to swipe your backpack at a cafe when you aren’t looking.

I’ll add that over the past few years the homeless situation has gotten out of hand. For my small town (pop 46k) this is the source of our rise in crime. Garbage, abandoned tent encampments, vandalism, B&E, etc.

We get tourists to the beach near us but very few international tourists.

I hear this all the time. What does friendly mean in this context? When you’re meeting complete strangers for a very brief time (like in an elevator or a coffee shop) do you want them to be close and intimate like a friend? I would think the best you can and should be is polite.

Moose are no joke… and they are a serious threat even when driving. OP, if you plan to drive through remote areas, drive carefully. If you hit a moose with your car it will seriously fuck your shit up and likely walk away from it. I’m being serious.

As for maple syrup, it’s worth the risk. Every time.

Edit - Also moose cam be territorial, ornery and unpredictable assholes. DO NOT APPROACH. In fact don’t approach or feed any of the wildlife, but I’m sure that’s a fairly common sense rule.

My friends who live in Alberta get racially profiled all the time, they are natives. Alberta is the most conservative province, still happens outside that province but not as extreme. You will have to learn Québécois(French Canadian) if you move to Quebec.

My parents will say it behind your back, and be very racist/transphobic, if you are not white and straight. But not everyone is like that. It saddens me, but they are in their 60’s. But usually no one will be racist to your face, from my experience living in Ontario.

it’s fine. The only difference I’ve seen is how some other Canadians are treating Americans now. just a bit more cold towards them. Other than that specific thing it’s not an issue.

Racism seems to be getting worse in Canada, but right now it’s mostly directed at Indians (or south Asians in general).

To be exact, the geometry of a moose makes it so that a lower-built vehicle will hit it in the legs, knock it over, and cause it to land on the hood, and quite possibly on the people in the front seat. This is in addition to the deceleration from hitting a critter that can weigh more than 500kg. Best result, if you managed to brake before hitting it, is a completely shattered windshield and deformed vehicle hood before the moose gets up and flees back into the bush. Worst result . . . well, I grew up in moose country, and the uncle of one of my elementary school classmates died in a moose collision.

why are you taking it personally that were talking about you specifically?

I know many great Albertians. But they’re a slim minority. The people, as a whole, are not as good to interact with if your a person if color. this is coming from friends who are.

we’re not saying you specifically are an ass, but that a lot more people are asses in Alberta than most other places in Canada.

I gave you a few light hearted examples.

how about the person who crashed into my friends cart for wearing a mask in a store and said “don’t rob me”.

how about all the terrible things said about natives out there?

how about the police running moonlight walks?

or the anti abortion ads that used to be on trucks and on the university campus showing graphic photos?

there’s more than you there.

Don’t be American or Indian and you’re fine.

I’m brazillian, so…

Thanks, friend. Noted that down.

People shouldn’t give you problems.

Nobody will know you’re a traveller unless you tell them. And most likely they will welcome you if you do tell them.

I was debating on calling it 5.5 but just because Newfoundland.

Well, they do.

I would say that Canadians are friendly especially from other countries. But it depends, and it’s a massive asterisks on It Depends*.

In general Canadians keep to themselves and don’t like starting things. So we are either very friendly or at a bare minimum indifferent. Depending on the individual they may say things behind your back. (I’ve found some people here to be passive aggressive).

However the further away from cities you get, the more people who you’ll find that are not so friendly. They won’t be actively hostile towards you but you may feel unwelcomed. The company I work with has a multinational workforce that assist older people in rural communities. And while most will not say it to their face (I hope). The racist/sexists/homophobic phrases I’ve heard come out from their mouths was surprising to me and is disgusting. This is sadly true for both rural Southern Ontario and the Maritime Provence’s.

I can’t say much about the larger urban areas. From what I’ve heard, and seen blasted on social media, some people bring their baggage with them when they come to Canada. But outside of the rare aggressive/dangerous drivers in the cities, I haven’t witnessed it myself.

In general be respectful, be kind, and don’t go too far off the beaten tourist trail and you’ll be fine.

Thanks, buddy.

I’m not gonna pretend everything is fine and dandy here. Not an Alberta native, and a lot of things still shock me even after 3 years here (how dominant religion is in some segments of the population, all the fucking trucks everywhere all the time, people keep on voting conservative despite, well, everything they’re actually doing…). But I don’t think it’s as big of a majority as one would think. FPTP politics will distort reality and make the place look more conservative than it really is. All that to say - I get the negative image, and the reality on the ground will vary based on where you are and who you meet. Hopefully we can get the place into a state where people feel safe coming here.