Greeting

People usually greet each other with a handshake, which shouldn’t be too firm. Men may offer a handshake first without waiting for the woman to initiate it.

Canadians generally prefer polite communication. They might shake hands and say hello ("Hello" in English or "Bonjour" in French) more than once during the day.

Compared to Americans, Canadians tend to be a bit more reserved and take manners more seriously.

Whether you're meeting someone for the first time or talking later on, try to keep a comfortable distance—about an arm’s length is usually good.

It’s best to avoid physical contact, such as pats on the back or hugs.

Making eye contact during a greeting is important.

Greetings, and the way people interact can vary a bit between English-speaking and French-speaking parts of Canada. For example, French-speaking Canadians often stand a little closer when talking than English speakers.

In Quebec, where French is spoken, people who know each other well might greet with hugs or cheek kisses.

Introduction

When starting a business relationship, Canadians usually prefer a fairly formal communication style. They often address each other by last name and include a title if there is one. When introducing themselves, they typically say their first name followed by their last name—for example, John Smith.

That said, in many business settings, Canadians do call each other by their first names. However, it’s best to wait until your Canadian colleague invites you to do so.

In certain fields—like education, science, the military, or religious communities—it's common to use a title before the person’s last name when speaking to them.

Academic degrees and titles are generally more important to French-speaking Canadians, so it’s a good idea to use them correctly and respectfully.

Exchange of Business Cards

It's common to exchange business cards during the first meeting. This can happen at the start, at the end, or anytime during the conversation when a Canadian participant feels it might be useful to stay in touch with someone.

Exchanging cards isn’t considered a big deal or a formal ritual. It’s usually done for practical reasons, like keeping in touch later.

Typically, if one person offers their card, others will follow.

There’s no special way of exchanging cards in Canadian business culture. When someone gets a card, they might take a quick look at it or just put it on the table or into a card holder right away.

Business cards should be printed in both English and French.

Small Talk: Overview

In business meetings, Canadians usually like to keep small talk to a minimum, just sticking to a quick exchange of pleasantries.

In Quebec, though, people might spend a bit more time on small talk and getting to know each other.

Preferred Topics

Current events or news, as long as the topics aren’t political.

Sports and sporting events.

Tourist attractions (for example, Niagara Falls).

Taboo Topics

Political and religious topics are considered taboo. Another sensitive subject is Quebec separatism.

It’s best to avoid comparing or lumping Canada and the U.S. together in conversation, or making generalizations about either country.

Canadian businesspeople generally don’t discuss their private lives with business partners.

Family matters and personal issues in general.

Income level, sources of income, and salary.

Personal Space

Canadians usually like to keep a bit of personal space when talking—about a meter or more is considered comfortable. In Quebec, though, people tend to stand a little closer when they chat.

When talking with a Canadian colleague, it’s best to avoid touching, like pats on the shoulder or back. Other than a handshake, physical contact isn’t really part of everyday conversation and could even be seen as inappropriate.

Quebec is a bit different in this regard—people there often use more expressive gestures and are generally more comfortable with casual physical contact.

Communication Specifics

Canadian businesspeople often start off business relationships in a somewhat reserved and conservative way. That said, their overall communication style tends to be polite, easygoing, and slightly informal.

Gestures, body language, and facial expressions aren't commonly used as primary ways of communicating. They're usually just used to add a bit of extra meaning to what’s being said, but they can easily be misinterpreted by the other side.