We are always busy comparing stuff around us. We compare apples to oranges, Bollywood to Hollywood, old music to new music….It is human nature we compare our experiences with all sorts of things all the time.
If you live in USA or Canada, you most likely have heard this from your desi friends:
“Canadians are much friendlier!”
“Canada is a much better place to live”…
Or something similar…

I have heard the same so many times from many Indians who either travel through Canada or have lived in Canada. Many of them have lived in both Canada and USA at different times of their lives, so they speak from their experiences.

Recently, while traveling through Canada, I got the first hand opportunity to explore the local living and local cultures. There are some things that stand out in Canadian cities:

Canadian cities are much more multi-cultural and diverse:If you walk through the streets of Toronto or any other major Canadian city, you will notice one significant difference compared to major US cities – you are surrounded by a very ethnic and diverse crowd. The brown skin seems much more mingled and much more predominant.
Based on the brief experience, there were no signs of separation or discrimination that we could sense. Every major business, every major bank and big restaurant…anywhere you go, you are always welcome with a big smile, regardless of your color. It is a part of the local culture; you feel the friendliness all around, as a result.

Residential areas of big cities are equally diverse and friendly:In Canada, most of the residential areas are multicultural and diverse. For example, in major US suburbs and urban residence areas, you can probably find Indian residence every one out of 10 houses. In Canada, the ratio is much higher. In some areas outside Toronto and some other cities we visited, almost every second or third house was Indian.
Even more important, the neighborhoods are very mingled and quite integrated, as if multi-cultural living is expected. You can go to any park, any community in Toronto, Vancouver or Winnipeg, the you can easily spot white and brown kids playing together, you can easily see different social groups working together without any visible sign of cultural separation. It is a beautiful sign of mutual social acceptance, all this seems so natural and friction-free.

The multi-culture is expected and respected: Canada is one of the few countries that actually promote multi-culture society as a part of government policy. As noted by CBC Canada,
“In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to declare multiculturalism as official state policy. The bold step charted the path to a vibrant and evolving cultural mosaic premised on mutual respect for Canadians of all backgrounds and ancestry.”
The state and federal government have major funding to promote multi-cultural programs and projects. So, the multi-culture acceptance is not only a bottom-up or grass-root movement, it is also encouraged by the top-down campaigns supported by the government agencies.

It is worth noticing, however, that most of the immigrant communities have settled in the major cities, or the surrounding suburban area. The rural area is not much penetrated by the ethnically diverse groups, the way USA has.

In summary, Canada has a very mature multi-culture society in most of the major cities, where diversity is the norm. Different ethnic groups are well integrated over the decade of living together and it shows in every aspect of Canadian life.

It is always very pleasing to travel through a very friendly and very accepting society like Canada. As a friend pointed out, “Even the immigration officers are friendlier!” :)

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