Practice Business Etiquette in Canada

Americans and Canadians may share the same continent, but they have differences (as well as similarities) in behavior and etiquette. Here we take a look at the how to deal business in Canada.They value individualism - Just like any English-speaking citizen, including American, Canadians value individualism highly. For them, success is measured by personal achievement.They are open about everything except themselves - Canadians are open to discussions about anything. However, they tend to hold their personal privacy off limits to all except for relatives and close friends.Ethnocentrism is high - A lot of Canadians think highly of their own culture, and every other culture-including that of Americans-are judged according to their perspective.
This belief of considering their owns culture as superior to other cultures reflects best in the French province of Quebec.Plan for a very cold climate - Stuff your travel bags with a lot of fall and winter clothing especially during wintertime when the country is at its coldest. Remember, even its summers are cold.Dress conservatively - Men should wear a dark conservative business suit with tie, especially if you are dealing business in an urban setting. Your business wardrobe should be based on classic likes such as suits with a traditional lapel width, in colors of either navy, gray, or black, and shirts in white and light blue. Meanwhile, women should wear a conservative business suit or dress, using classic lines and colors in mind. Avoid wearing anything "trendy" on a business meeting.
 If you are dealing business in a rural area, be a little less formal yet sticking to the conservative side.Dress casually outside the boardroom - If you are not working, or still dealing business during an outdoor activity like playing golf, casual wear works best. The weather and activity will dictate what you would be wearing.Be careful when doing the "V" sign - A "V for Victory" hand signal is considered an insult in Canada if your palm is facing yourself. Do this sign with your palm facing away.Dates are written differently - Americans are used to writing dates in a "month-day-year" format, while Canadians write their dates in a "day-month-year" manner. For instance, today is 25 August 2007 (spoken as either "twenty-five August" or "twenty-fifth of August").Do not eat while walking in public - As much as some of us may be used to the concept of "street food," Canadians prefer taking their snacks in a cafe or a restaurant.