Racism in Canada

[jman25]

Agree. And you don't know that they are staring at you unless you are staring back!
Most people here are friendly.

Yes, I find that they are really friendly here too...

 

[torontosm]

In my experience, there is a minimal amount of racism in Canada. There are definitely a few people who are still ignorant enough to judge people based on skin color, religion, etc. However, in the vast majority of cases, I have found Canadians to be friendly and open minded.

I faced my first instance of racism in the 15+ years I have lived in Toronto a few weeks ago when some drunk guy on the subway made a comment to me about going back to where I came from. Before I could even respond, two strangers from different parts of the train got up and confronted the man, abused him and then came and apologized to me on his behalf. That, to me, demonstrated the true culture of Canada where people look out for one another, and made me especially proud to live here and be a Canadian.

 

[Caribou]

Well, when I was walking down in downtown Vancouver, some guy yelled "Go back to your country!", so I turned around and shouted "f*** u!" and resumed my walking. He looked mentally ill.

I spent most of my life in US, and I look pretty Asian.
I'd say Canada is way better at treating people who are minority than in the US... I didn't have people spitting on me, but had fare share of unfair experience growing up in Midwest.

But then you go Toronto or Vancouver and thinking... wait.. I'm not a minority here, huh? So, I think it's relative to where you live.
Also, inter-racial couple thing is so much more common here in West Coast Canada compared to US.

My spouse is working at ethnic restaurant, and even has Caucasian girls applying for server job...which does not happen in the US.

 

[thegentleman]

In my experience, there is a minimal amount of racism in Canada. There are definitely a few people who are still ignorant enough to judge people based on skin color, religion, etc. However, in the vast majority of cases, I have found Canadians to be friendly and open minded.

I think that's fair. Something I've always been curious about though, especially living on the East Coast, is when my wife and I go out to eat at a restaurant (I've tested this is many restaurants out here), and we have a female greeter and waiter, she never addresses me first... if at all. Minimal eye contact or anything. Sometimes my wife just orders for me. Since I'm always paying the bill, I've always found this quite strange. My wife always says don't worry about it. I just don't know if this is a cultural thing or what. Over the four years I've been here, same thing happens every time we go out and we do that at least one to two times a month. Since it is a customer service driven environment, you would think that they would know protocol. I asked my co-worker about this who sometimes is a waiter at a restaurant and she couldn't understand why someone would do this, quite reasonably so. I don't know, might be they are scared of my wife lol. I'm not saying this is racism by the way, just strange to me.

 

[spth38]

I have lived in Metro Vancouver for six years. From my experience, racism is almost like a crime and so people are very careful about what they do and say. Canadians, in general, do know how to respect each other really well. However, some individuals with issues (mentally ill, drug addict or alcoholic etc) do say things they don't mean. I would choose to forgive and forget (unless it gets too serious).

 

[jman25]

I have lived in Metro Vancouver for six years. From my experience, racism is almost like a crime and so people are very careful about what they do and say. Canadians, in general, do know how to respect each other really well. However, some individuals with issues (mentally ill, drug addict or alcoholic etc) do say things they don't mean. I would choose to forgive and forget (unless it gets too serious).

Totally agree, they are terrified of being labelled a racist because they'll be ostracized basically.

 

[Milsrome]

I have never experienced a case of racism here In Canada. The people are very welcoming In fact majority are Immigrants themselves (Asians, Blacks etc). I would advice anyone coming here not to pay attention to that. I believe Racism is only in the mind here in Canada and you can be whatever it is you want to be. The bigger the city the better.
As Immigrants it is our responsibility to blend Into the society
Dress Like a Canadian ( Do go about looking like you are still back home)
Make some efforts to talk like them
Interact with people and not only people from your ethnicity

Agree with this...we are immigrant and we have to integrate in Canadian soil, learn the Canadian culture but not forgetting our own. Sometimes we miss-interpret as racism because of our culture. I've encountered an immigrant saying that her co-worker who is a white corrected her pronunciation. We should accept feedback/s and analyze it unless a Canadian born or the co-worker is mocking the pronunciation and that is a different story and if people say go back to your country - this I may say is a racism. I live in Winnipeg for years now and I never encounter such... they are friendly and helpful

 

[NetMecca]

I have unfortunately experienced racism in Canada, and so have some of my Canadian born friends. (I am not overly sensitive about such things) These things are often obscured in what seems like innocent comments. Sometimes they are, sometimes they are just ignorance. Though as I mentioned before, I have had much more trouble with "foreignerism" than racism. In either case I agree that the best way to overcome this is to integrate in society. I also believe that Canada is one of the most tolerant places I have ever been (and I am fairly well travelled) Join, participate, share is my motto. Doing these things will not only benefit you personally but help societies understand and accept unfamiliar better.

 

[thegentleman]

Article from yesterday's Metro.
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2017/12/06/black-in-halifax-the-challenges-of-racism-transphobia-and-homophobia.html

 

[rish888]

Well, when I was walking down in downtown Vancouver, some guy yelled "Go back to your country!", so I turned around and shouted "f*** u!" and resumed my walking. He looked mentally ill.

I spent most of my life in US, and I look pretty Asian.
I'd say Canada is way better at treating people who are minority than in the US... I didn't have people spitting on me, but had fare share of unfair experience growing up in Midwest.

But then you go Toronto or Vancouver and thinking... wait.. I'm not a minority here, huh? So, I think it's relative to where you live.
Also, inter-racial couple thing is so much more common here in West Coast Canada compared to US.

My spouse is working at ethnic restaurant, and even has Caucasian girls applying for server job...which does not happen in the US.

If a white dude ever told me to "go back to my country" I would stare him right in the eye and remind him that he too is an immigrant and say "that's a funny thing coming from a foreigner."

The only person I would accept a "go back to your country" statement from would be an aboriginal.

 

[thegentleman]

The only person I would accept a "go back to your country" statement from would be an aboriginal.

That's fair. And whats funny is that the aboriginal's are the ones that are being discriminated against the most. I think its all about skin color. Once, you are the right skin color, you're considered "all good" in my opinion.

 

[deadbird]

I am a brown skinned who moved to Montreal a few months ago. I've had a very positive experience so far. People are friendly if you make an effort to assimilate. Things like cracking jokes, making an effort to learn the language and local customs can go a long way. Doesn't mean you have to be inauthentic to your own roots; just making an effort makes you not be an outsider.

That said, I'm sure there is deep rooted racism in every culture. I won't be surprised if a white girl's conservative parents would disapprove if I were dating her. Just like my own brown parents would disapprove of the same.

 

[Buletruck]

That said, I'm sure there is deep rooted racism in every culture. I won't be surprised if a white girl's conservative parents would disapprove if I were dating her. Just like my own brown parents would disapprove of the same

Agreed. Having lived overseas for many years, as a Caucasian, I've experienced racism at some level(from minor to genuine hate filled rage) in every country I have lived in for being nothing other than caucasian. It's not an exclusive "whites only" club! It all depends on where you are at the time and how you adapt to the environment.
50 years ago when I was a kid, the first non-white family moved into the neighbourhood. At that time, racism was rampant. Today, those families are now 3 generations in, their kids have integrated into society and their children's children are no different from any other Canadian kid in school. My cul De sac is a microcosm of Canada today....2 Caucasian couples, 1 Philippino family, a Pakistani family, a Mexican family, an Afghan family and my self (Caucasian) and my Indonesian wife. We all mix and mingle, the kids play and went to school together, help each other out and shoot the s*$t every day. There's no reference to colour, race or religion. It's just people. And this is redneck Alberta.......

 

[canuck78]

I am a brown skinned who moved to Montreal a few months ago. I've had a very positive experience so far. People are friendly if you make an effort to assimilate. Things like cracking jokes, making an effort to learn the language and local customs can go a long way. Doesn't mean you have to be inauthentic to your own roots; just making an effort makes you not be an outsider.

That said, I'm sure there is deep rooted racism in every culture. I won't be surprised if a white girl's conservative parents would disapprove if I were dating her. Just like my own brown parents would disapprove of the same.

Actually I think many cultural groups that have very traditional views on marriage would be more upset if their child brought home a caucasian girlfriend or boyfriend than the other way around.

 

[rish888]

Actually I think many cultural groups that have very traditional views on marriage would be more upset if their child brought home a caucasian girlfriend or boyfriend than the other way around.

Couldn't agree more. I'm in an international high school and most couples are mixed race. The parents of my French girlfriend have never had an issue with me because of my skin color. (Though they never pass up the chance to mock my awful French.)

Asian parents definitely have more of an issued with mixed-race couples, and the children of Asian folks are more likely to listen to their parents instead of standing up for their partner.

That being said I think assimilation has a lot to do with it. I am the fourth generation in my family born abroad and have lived in Europe and the US most my life (and have never had race related issues in either), and have "melted in" to the point where folks won't know my origin unless I tell them. I understand from my Canadian friends that Canada's approach to integration is a "mosaic" over the American/European "melting pot." I for one prefer the melting pot approach, as I think it definitely reduces the tensions/issues a mosaic approach may bring.

That being said, Canada if definitely ahead of the U.S. in race relations, so maybe y'all are doing it right.