Funny Things that Cdns say/do at Disney that make Americans go 'huh?'

FYI This hasn't been the case since the 1997 (20 years ago). You used to designate which board your "education taxes" went to but that's long since changed. Schools are now funded on a "bums in seats" model. The province has a funding model where they set aside a per student amount of money. School boards are then funded based on how many students they actually have enrolled.

The only difference it makes these days on which board you support is which school board trustee you vote for during elections.
I'm not sure if we are talking about the same thing or not but yes the schools get money based on how many bums in seats, but you still direct your school taxes to either the public or catholic. I just switched where my school taxes are going since my niece is going to catholic and I have no children in public. At municipal voting time based on where your school taxes are going is which board trustee you are able to vote for.
 
FYI This hasn't been the case since the 1997 (20 years ago). You used to designate which board your "education taxes" went to but that's long since changed. Schools are now funded on a "bums in seats" model. The province has a funding model where they set aside a per student amount of money. School boards are then funded based on how many students they actually have enrolled.

The only difference it makes these days on which board you support is which school board trustee you vote for during elections.
Again we are way OT here, but you are half right. It is bums in seats for each school system. The minister makes the allocation separately for each board and publishes in the Ontario Gazette. Here is the exact wording in the Education Act, currency date on e-laws Ontario is today:
Residential property, distribution of amounts levied
257.9 (1) Amounts levied for school purposes on residential property under this Division by a municipality or board shall be distributed by the municipality or the Minister of Finance, as the case may be, in accordance with the following requirements:

1. An amount levied on property taxable for English-language public board purposes shall be distributed to the English-language public district school board or public school authority in the area of jurisdiction of which the property is located.

2. An amount levied on property taxable for English-language Roman Catholic board purposes shall be distributed to the English-language separate district school board or Roman Catholic school authority in the area of jurisdiction of which the property is located.

3. An amount levied on property taxable for French-language public district school board purposes shall be distributed to the French-language public district school board in the area of jurisdiction of which the property is located.

4. An amount levied on property taxable for French-language separate district school board purposes shall be distributed to the French-language separate district school board in the area of jurisdiction of which the property is located.

5. An amount levied on property taxable for Protestant separate school board purposes shall be distributed to the Protestant separate school board in the area of jurisdiction of which the property is located.

And I just learned that the Town of Penetanguishene is the only district in the province with a Protestant separate school board. Who knew that?

I am sure that most American's reading this part of the thread are certainly saying "Huh?"
 
My American born wife doesn't like tea at restaurants in Canada. She grew up drinking brewed tea. She cold brews her own at home. She always tries to ask at Canadian restaurants if they have tea, they always say yes. She asked "does it come out of the same fountain as the Coke/Pepsi", when they say yes, she always declines and goes for Coke or Pepsi, though in most cases in Canada is is almost always Coke. Not many Canadian restaurants carry Pepsi products.

The largest restaurant group in Canada is a Pepsi contract holder. So is the single largest restaurant chain, as is any and all Yum Brands and Restaurant Group places. So you are much more likely to be served Pepsi at a restaurant in this country unless all you go to is McDonald's or Wendy's.
 


when we are asked how we want our hamburgers cooked. and the thought of someone eating a medium rare hamburger :( (we are from Ontario)
We have a D-I-L who just got her Masters in Public Health -- ask her how she wants her burger cooked and she turns her nose up and then says "To at least 160" When they were in Disney with us in January our son & his wife wanted to go to Cape May I thought she might blow a gasket ... AKK a buffet is bad enough, but add seafood to the mix and she just about fainted :lmao:
 
My American born wife doesn't like tea at restaurants in Canada. She grew up drinking brewed tea. She cold brews her own at home. She always tries to ask at Canadian restaurants if they have tea, they always say yes. She asked "does it come out of the same fountain as the Coke/Pepsi", when they say yes, she always declines

i am surprised that is how a server replied. anywhere i go in canada if i ask for tea i am brought hot tea, usually without any question. if i ask for iced tea i may be told "it's pre-sweetened..." (i.e. from a fountain) almost like "is that what you really want?".

i did get caught on this point in arizona. i asked for tea with my breakfast and was brought unsweetened iced tea. not what i was expecting!
 


I was at cracker barrel and asked for tea biscuits it to the server a second to figure out I meant buttermilk biscuits.
 
Popping in to thank you all for this enjoyable thread. :) I had to go on a business trip to Grand Forks, North Dakota, and took advantage to visit Winnipeg after the work week. Two of my coworkers joined me, and the bonus was that we were able to be in Canada to help celebrate Canada Day for your 150th celebration!! We first went to the Royal Canadian Mint and bought some commemorative coins, including your Loonie that debuted on Saturday and also including your glow in the dark Toonie! There were so many people there to get the coins. We also went to the Grand Forks area, and spent a good part of the day there. On Sunday, we went to Assiniboine Park and Zoo. I loved the polar bear exhibit, and learned a bit about Churchill, so had to Google it when I got home. I learned something about Canada, and now I want to learn more about your beautiful country. I've been to Victoria & Steveston, BC, and now Winnipeg, Manitoba. There is so much more to see, and it's not so far out of my realm of possibility that I had thought before.

Thanks to this thread I knew what a Caesar was, and drank one. It was good! I already knew about washroom, because we use it here, but also say bathroom and restroom, lol, depending on our mood I guess. We also had poutine a couple of times, but by the end of Saturday were looking for salads, lol. We also didn't realize how late it was because it gets dark by 8pm in Los Angeles, and around 10:30 or so in Grand Forks & Winnipeg.

So, here are some of my own responses to your posts. ;)



Loved your city. We stayed at a Best Western Plus off of Pembina Hwy (near Pony Corral), and our last breakfast was at Stellas on the rooftop - really enjoyed it.


We had fish & chips, and my coworker had never had vinegar on her fries before. She loved them and after that had to have vinegar on her fries. ha ha Every time someone asked where we were from one of my coworkers said she was from Texas, but lived in Grand Forks, ND. Everytime she said that I thought of this thread.


I had one at a restaurant at The Forks in Winnipeg because of your post. It was so good! We have had shrimp cocktails using Clamato sauce, but never in a Bloody Mary. I really liked it.


I saw a Sobeys store and was so excited to see what you were talking about :lmao:


We got such a kick out of "aboot" and "eh" and "soooorrreee." It was so darned cute! My coworker kept telling people she liked their accents, and I was thinking that to them WE were the ones with the accents. They have that Norwegian accent in Grand Forks, too. It was hard not to smile when people were talking to me just because I liked it so much.


In Los Angeles we almost always say utensils. I only say silverware when the utensils are made out of silver. (um, never in my house, lol)


Standing "on line" drives me crazy, too.


Person must have been dense not to understand 'washroom' - that is so odd to me. And I do occasionally say 'on accident' instead of 'by accident.' I use them both interchangeable, and never thought about it until now. Also, we say backyard, too. What do they call the fenced in area behind their houses?


I'm bummed that I didn't get any ketchup chips to bring home. I saw them in the zoo cafe, but didn't think to stop at Sobeys to get some Canadian goodies.


Some of us are ignorant, sad to say. (Not all are, though.)


Yeah, milk in bags is pretty foreign to Americans. Now I really wish I had gone in to Sobeys to show that to my coworkers.


We say decks in California, too. Lanai to me is tropical, so maybe Hawaii, and Florida, if they call them that there... maybe because they're screened in?


Yup, so true. I can spot the Canadians in February because they are the ones frolicking in the ocean when I have warm clothes on. ha ha


We have three days to honor our military. We have Armed Forces day, celebrated the third Saturday of May, for those currently serving in the military, and I think the least known of these holidays (I would say most Americans don't even know) - formed to inform the American public about the different branches of the military; Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, for those who died in service. It began after the civil war for Union soldiers, and after WWI was extended to encompass all men and women who died in service. Veteran's Day is celebrated on 11 November for all those who have served. "On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time." Even though this day is for those who previously served, Americans tend to thank all veterans and currently enlisted men and women on this day. Side note ~ I often go to Disneyland on Veterans Day to honor them during Flag Retreat. If you ever get the option to go I recommend it.

Thanks again for an entertaining, enlightening, and enjoyable thread. :)
 
I'm not sure this applies to Canadians in the US - I'm guessing perhaps Americans are likely to be much like us on this regard....

But my friend from the UK living here mentioned to me that the thing he finds weird is that when he asks how far away some place is, Canadians always respond by the time that it will take to drive there, whereas he would expect to be provided the distance. In the Uk, its 200 miles, whilst in Canada its 3.5 hours away
 
Sask. here....grew up calling it a bunnyhug but now call it a hoodie. Son calls it a hoodie. May be an older term that's getting replaced?

ETA: I also just remembered that we used to call them 'Kangaroos' too, but I haven't heard that in a few years!
Yes! That's right, I'd forgotten about that. Kangaroo jackets! Thanks for the memories.
 
Last edited:
I was bundling some items at work the other day, and asked my coworkers if they had any elastics in their desk that I could use. They both looked at me, silently.....I'm wondering, was that a bad question to ask? Finally one of them says.....Do you mean, "rubber bands"? Uh, okay. Sure!

Elastics are the things for your hair. Of course. :)
 
American " where are y'all from?"
Canadian " Newfoundland"
American "where"
Canadian " eastern Canada"
American " Oh"

Husband " why don't you just say Canada".
 
I'm not sure this applies to Canadians in the US - I'm guessing perhaps Americans are likely to be much like us on this regard....

But my friend from the UK living here mentioned to me that the thing he finds weird is that when he asks how far away some place is, Canadians always respond by the time that it will take to drive there, whereas he would expect to be provided the distance. In the Uk, its 200 miles, whilst in Canada its 3.5 hours away

I'm pretty sure they would have said "it's 200 kilometers" in UK. ;)
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top