Go, Canada!
Comparing American and Canadian cultures provides some laughs, and some serious lessons too
Canadian hockey players celebrate their overtime winning goal at the 4 Nations hockey tournament on February 20 as losing goalie Connor Hellebuyck—who plays for a Canadian team, the Winnipeg Jets, in the National Hockey League—leaves the ice.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. —Galatians 6:10a
The last month has been so intense that I haven’t had time to laugh. So here is a lighthearted post (but with serious application) in honor of the many Canadians who have joined this blog.
I knew my emotional allegiance didn’t match my citizenship when I felt happy about Canada beating the US in a hockey tournament last week. There are important differences between Canada and the US, and we can learn a lot from them.
Donald Trump thinks insult is a negotiating tactic, so he likes telling Canada to become the 51st US state. But Canadians would shift US politics to the left, away from Trump’s own views, and would probably provide the votes to give the US a Canadian-style healthcare system. (Currently, the US has the most advanced healthcare technology in the world if you have a way to pay for it; Canada has the fairest healthcare system in the world if you can wait for an appointment.)
Canada is a beautiful place to visit. Why travel in the US when you could go to Niagara Falls (where the best views are on the Canadian side), hike around Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies, or bike around Stanley Park in stunning downtown Vancouver? (For readers too far away from Canada, the links go to videos of each place.)
Canada’s money is worth less than US money, but it’s a lot more colorful.
Canada seems to care more about protecting people. In US national parks inhabited by grizzly bears, they tell you to buy bear spray and take care of yourself. (While trying to figure out how to operate the can, I sprayed myself in the face and couldn’t see for three hours.) In Canada, a park ranger showed me how to use bear spray properly.
Canada shows extra concern for the weak. In one national park, I saw a sign reminding groups of hikers to walk at the slowest person’s pace—something my wife has been trying to get me to do for decades.
Canada prides itself on welcoming and valuing everyone. In fact, it passed a multiculturalism law in 1988. And they want to make sure everyone knows that. I attended an event in the city of Calgary a few years ago and the mayor used “multicultural” in almost every sentence. (One culture Canadians struggle to tolerate is those Christians who respectfully maintain traditional views on sexuality.)
Canadians are humble and willing to apologize. And they do it a lot, especially to natives whom previous generations treated poorly. Just search “Canada First Nations apology” and see for yourself. Wherever you go, they will remind you that you are on land that formerly belonged to whatever tribe lived there.
Culturally, Canadians are at risk of feeling inferior, because many of their best entertainers and athletes go to the US to earn more money. Instead of complaining, they just rededicate themselves to their mission of developing the world’s best hockey players (male and female) starting at age 2.
Although 27 percent of Canadians now consider the US an “enemy country,” others are graciously urging Americans to visit and see for themselves how friendly Canada is. I hope you too will have that opportunity.
Okay, I promised a serious application. A thoughtful comparison of US and Canadian cultures reveals, I believe, that the US tends to exhibit a stronger emphasis on individual responsibility while Canada places greater weight on communal responsibility. Both emphases are legitimate and affirmed by Scripture (Galatians 6:1–10 intertwines them). How do you balance them? How would you describe your own country’s tendencies? I invite your responses.
Maybe Trump should give some US states to Canada
Here’s my satirical prediction of what will happen once Trump realizes he doesn’t want Canada in his country after all …
December 30, 2025 – President Trump today formally signed an agreement to transfer the six New England states and most of New York state from the US to Canada.
“These Marxist fiefdoms didn’t want to be part of us anyway,” Trump said, “and unloading seven liberal states will help us keep America great again for a long time.”
New York City and Long Island will remain part of the U.S.—“After all, I love New York even though Manhattan hates me,” Trump stated graciously—as part of the expanded state of New Jersey, which is appropriate because New York’s National Football League teams have been playing in a New Jersey stadium for decades.
“As a frustrated Jets fan,” Trump declared, “I consider it an important part of my legacy to have the Bills and Patriots permanently reassigned to the Canadian Football League.” (Trump is a personal friend of the owner of the New York Jets, whose NFL division has been won by the Buffalo Bills or New England Patriots for 21 of the last 22 years.)
Trump added that Elon Musk has been hired to design a new U.S. flag, which will fill the space previously occupied by seven stars with a replica of the new Trump likeness about to be carved into the Mount Rushmore monument.