How Canadian and American Cultures and Mentality Differ: Insights from Personal Experience

Throughout my brief year of living in the United States, I observed significant cultural and mentality differences between Canadians and Americans. One notable difference was the openness about religion in American society. In Dallas, a couple who lived in a neighboring neighborhood introduced themselves and asked about the church where my family practiced our faith. This level of public discourse about religion is distinctly different and less common in Canada.

Secularism and Religion

Over the past half-century, Canada has become more secular than the United States. Religion is seen as a personal matter here, whereas in the U.S., evangelical Protestant Christianity holds considerable cultural, political, and social influence. A study on the decline of religious observance in the U.S. showed that evangelical Protestantism has a strong grip on American society, encouraging a self-focused and individualistic view of freedom. Conversely, Canadians have a more utilitarian concept of liberty, emphasizing collective interests over individual rights.

Social and Political Dispositions

Canadians and Americans share many similarities, given the close cultural ties between the two nations. When it comes to social and political dispositions, however, there are notable distinctions. Americans tend to espouse a libertarian notion of freedom, prioritizing individual rights. In Canada, the emphasis is more on the public interest, with a greater appreciation for communal values. While both nations respect individual liberties, Canadians place more value on collective well-being.

Trust in Public Institutions

According to public opinion surveys and attitudinal studies, Canadians generally have more trust in their public institutions compared to Americans. However, this trust is not unchanging. Recent studies suggest that Canadians have become less trusting of their federal government, perhaps due to prolonged virtue-signalling by Mr. Trudeau and a lack of meaningful political choices. This decrease in trust may be temporary, reflecting voter fatigue, or it could be a broader sign of disillusionment with government effectiveness.

Communitarian Values vs. Individualism

Canadian values tend to be more 'communitarian' than those held by many Americans. We do not adhere as closely to the myth of 'rugged individualism.' As a result, we are more accepting of publicly funded programs, such as healthcare and firearm regulation. This mindset gives the perception of Canada being more 'left-wing' than it actually is. Although specific studies support this claim, the broader cultural context in Canada supports a community-centric approach to social and political life.

While these observations are based on personal experience and may not apply universally, they highlight significant differences between Canadian and American cultures. These differences are both quantitative and qualitative, influencing how we understand and interact within our societies.