Greeting

The greeting usually begins with a handshake, which should not be too strong. In doing so, men can hold out their hand first to greet each other without waiting for a woman to do so.

Canadians generally prefer a polite style of communication. They can shake hands and say hello ('Hello' for English-speakers and 'Bonjour' for French-speakers) more than once during the day.

Canadians are less emotional and more reserved, and take etiquette a little more seriously, than Americans, their closest neighbors.

For both initial and follow-up contact, be sure to maintain a comfortable distance between you and your Canadian partner. It should be at least an arm's length apart.

Physical touching, especially a pat on the shoulder or a hug, should be avoided during greeting.

The greeting, and communication in general, may be slightly different in English-speaking and French-speaking Canadian provinces. For example, after shaking hands, French-speaking Canadians tend to stand closer to their conversation partner than English-speakers.

In Quebec (French-speaking), the rituals for greeting people who already know each other include hugs and kisses.

Introduction

In starting a business conversation with someone, Canadians prefer a rather formal style, addressing each other by their last name and title (if any). When introducing themselves, they often give their first and last names first, such as John Smith.

Many Canadians do, however, use their first names for each other in business situations. But wait until your partner tells you to call him or her by his or her first name.

In certain professions (such as education, academia, the military, religious circles, and so on), it is common to use your title before the person you are addressing.

Academic degrees and academic titles are more important for French Canadians. It is important to use them correctly.

Exchange of Business Cards

It is customary to exchange business cards during the first meeting. This can happen at the beginning or end of a meeting, or at any time during a meeting when the Canadian participant decides it is important for them to contact a specific person in the future.

It cannot be said that exchanging business cards in general is an important element of a meeting, or that there is a ritual behind it. It's more likely to be for purely pragmatic reasons, such as possibly staying in touch.

As a general rule, if someone offers their business card, everyone else joins in.

In Canadian business practice, there is no specific business card exchange process. When a Canadian business person receives a card, they can either take their time looking at it, put it on their desk, or put it in a business card holder.

Canadian business cards should be in English and French.

Small Talk: Overview

In a business meeting, Canadians prefer to devote minimal time to small talk, limiting themselves to exchanging pleasantries.

In the province of Quebec, small talk and relationship building in general may be given more time

Preferred Topics

Current events or news as long as the news is not political.

Sports and sporting events.

Tourist attractions (such as Niagara Falls).

Taboo Topics

Political and religious topics are taboo. Another such topic is Quebec separatism.

Canadian businesspeople generally do not discuss their private lives with their partners.

Families and their problems in general.

The level and sources of income, wages.

Canadian businesspeople generally do not discuss their private lives with their partners.

Families and their problems in general.

In the context of a conversation, it is not appropriate to compare and mix Canada and the United States in one topic or make any generalizations about these countries.

Personal Space

Canadians prefer not to get too close to each other when talking, with a comfortable distance of just over 1 meter. In Quebec, however, the communication style is slightly different, and the distance between people is slightly less than in other parts of the country.

When speaking with a Canadian colleague, avoid touching, patting the shoulder or back, etc. With the exception of a handshake, physical contact during a conversation is not accepted in Canadian society and may even be considered sexual harassment. The exception is the province of Quebec, where body language and gestures are more expressive and, accordingly, physical touching can be seen more often.

In this respect, it is important to note that physical touching is not accepted in Canadian society.

Communication Specifics

Canadian business people often begin their business relationships in a somewhat reserved and conservative manner. However, in general, their communication style can be described as polite, easygoing and somewhat informal.

Body language is not preferred, nor are nonverbal expressions or facial expressions. These are generally used to add meaning to what is being said, and can be misinterpreted by the other party.

In this way, we can use our body language to convey a message, and we can also use our body language to make our point.