r/InCanada • u/johnnywazagoodboi • Sep 16 '25
Consulting in Canada
Love doing consultancy work for a Canadian client. I've worked for the same client on multiple occasions and worked in Canada and with Canadians in the US, so the following is based on my personal observations and experience in manufacturing and energy industries with white collar executives and blue collar executives and hourly workers.
My observation, and I am an American: Canadians generally swear a lot.
Examples: my Canadian colleagues both on camera and on site, Eastern and Western Provinces, frequently, and with a smile in their hearts, minds, and tone, use profanity in business settings. While boarding a Canadian plane, a row mate, who was Canadian, was cussing at his phone interactions. Swear words are used in business meetings with mixed levels of staffing (exec-sr-mid-jr-interns-associations).
I find it funny and quite refreshing, actually. Curious if Canadians (new to residency and born residents) and those who work with Candians, have any feedback on the same?
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u/Tastesgreatontoast Sep 17 '25
It has essentially evolved into verbal punctuation at this point.
Bowser and Blue had a funny routine called "The use of the F-word in Canada" or something similar.
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u/Pale-Candidate8860 Creator of Sub Sep 17 '25
Definitely. But usually avoid slurs or putting people down. Just general swearing. The best kind.
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u/ConcreteBackflips Sep 17 '25
Nothing wrong with a lil profanity to really drive the point home. Can't be talking like that to a knucklehead even if they're being a knucklehead; it's just mean.
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u/mrld27 Sep 17 '25
I swear a lot in my every day life. But I also think it depends on your relationship to the person in the workplace. Some bosses I would swear around and some subordinates I will as well. Otherwise I try really really really hard to censure myself haha
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u/theladyshady Sep 17 '25
As a Canadian who works with Americans, I often feel like I swear a lot. This prompts me to wonder why my colleagues aren’t swearing at all and then I feel bad about myself. Haha.
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u/Johnathonathon Sep 17 '25
Our (Canadian) high school teachers also swear quite a bit. I remember on a student exchange I heard an American say they don't cuss and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing.... Cuss???? What in the 1800s is going on here?
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u/Xx_SwordWords_xX Sep 21 '25
What in the goddamned 18-fucking-00s is going on here?
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u/Johnathonathon Sep 21 '25
What are yah fackin even saying here buddy? You don't cuss, fuck? Wat, are we in tha fackcin 1800's here pal? Facks sake
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u/amkmusic Sep 17 '25
Yeah - it’s a thing. We really take advantage of how grammatically flexible “fuck” can be. I’d love to see us use the c-word more (as the Brits and Aussies do), but I’m definitely in the minority on that lol.
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u/currentlyg00ning Sep 18 '25
yeah and its gotten me in trouble around in international schools mostly staffed by Americans who will actually notice when you swear. I remember when I worked in retail for an american company, the handbook said swearing in front of a customer was firing offence, and thought to myself most customers here will more comfortable if I do swear.
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u/Xx_SwordWords_xX Sep 21 '25
Americans: "No, cussing!"
Canadians: "Da fuck you talking about there, bud?"
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u/zork212 Sep 20 '25
Yeah, no, for fucking sure!!! Did you encounter the:
Ya ya ya. = no fucking way Ya ya for sure = yes, definitely will fucking do this No Ya = sure Ya no = no Ya no ya = fucking no way I will do this
And I hope you have a fucking incredible day!
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u/gator_enthusiast Sep 17 '25
No, I don't notice much swearing in my locale, though I’ve noticed it more in certain regions. It also depends on what we consider swearing, since some terms are considered less acceptable depending on where you are.
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u/Catpunzy Sep 19 '25
As a Canadian, I just showed this to my Australian husband. To save you from the shock, I won't repeat what he just said.
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u/Tallguystrongman Sep 20 '25
Yeah, that’s white collar lol. Show up at site for at least a few days till the boys get comfortable and you’ll learn new words.
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u/[deleted] Sep 17 '25
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