The myth of Canadian politeness – The Medium

February 23, 2026

I once apologized to someone and was surprised to be responded to with: don’t be so Canadian. But, then again, was I really that surprised?

The simplest—and most stereotypical—way to define Canadianess is politeness. “Sorry” is the most popular word in our vocabulary and we have a reputation for our goodness. Or so we like to tell ourselves.

The reality is that no nation is perfect, and Canada is no exception. The most recent controversy of the Canadian facade has been linked to direct ties made apparent with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), responsible for the deaths and kidnaps of many in the US. Notable Canadian companies that have come under fire for their connections to ICE have included Jim Pattison Group, Hootsuite, and Roshel.

Read More: https://themedium.ca/the-myth-of-canadian-politeness/