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Communication Profile

Canadians use different languages when communicating and are expected to act in certain ways
while meeting with others. They have expectations to meet when communicating verbally and
nonverbally. These include tone of voice, haptics, proximity, eye contact, and more. This
section will explain how Canadians are supposed to act when communicating with others,
especially in the business industry.

A. Verbal Communication in the Workplace

Canada has many different provinces and sections of the country with different cultures.
Because of this, having one universal language is difficult. However, the primary languages
spoken in Canada are English and French. When it comes to conducting meetings in business
Canadians use language that is polite and easygoing. Compared to the English speakers in the
United States, they usually speak in more reserved and softer tones and do not use as many
gestures. However, the French speakers are more animated and stand closer in proximity. When
conducting these business meetings, Canadians are usually more formal than those in America.
There is little small talk, and they are concise and straight to the point. Public displays of
emotion, especially that which is negative, are also frowned upon in business. It is expected
that you are able to speak both English and French in Canada comfortably, and if you cannot do
so, an interpreter should accompany you. Finally, it is very important not to confuse Canadians
with Americans when speaking, as this is a sign of disrespect.

B. Nonverbal communication in the Workplace

Nonverbal Cues and Credibility Etiquette in Business

Making eye contact helps with credibility in Canada as long as it is not for long durations. If it is
for long durations, it can be seen as scrutinizing. If you fail to make eye contact it tells the person
or people you’re talking to that you’re bored or disinterested in what they have to say. It is
important to remember not to invade personal space. Canadians prefer an arms-length distance at
all times; if you impede this space, you will lose credibility and will be considered rude for not
understanding their culture’s business etiquette. Using hand gestures or gestures period is seen as
weird and not normal. Only use gestures if the other person is using them.

Proxemics
When it comes to distance, it is best to keep 2-3 feet distance during conversation. Canadians do
not like it when people impede their personal space. French speakers in Canada are known to
stand closer than English speakers. They are usually more animated and are more in your
personal space, using touch more in conversation. However, overall, Canadians try to remain at
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least an arm’s length distance from each other especially in public situations and in lines.

Haptics
When it comes to greeting others, it is important to have a nice, firm handshake and to keep eye
contact while giving a handshake. It is good to note that Canadians do not respond well to
conversational gestures like others do in the US. So try to remember not to empathetically touch
their shoulder when talking or tap their hand as a sign of reassurance or understanding.

Monochronic Society
Canada is a very monochronic society when it comes to business. Mornings are the preferred
time for appointments. Canadians keep a tight schedule and don't appreciate it when people are
late to the meetings. They like to have all the facts before making a decision, so be prepared to
answer questions. It is okay to arrive 15 minutes late but no later than that, or it is considered
rude. When giving out a business card, make sure to have both French and English on it
considering both languages are used in Canada. Business lunches are short and contain light food
and no alcohol. It is common to give business gifts after a deal is settled.

Common Faux Pas

Do not touch the other person casually in Canada. They like to keep their distance unless they’re
in a relationship with you or have some sort of connection with you. Just like in America, if you
do not shake someone's hand after they extend it, it is considered extremely rude. Making strong
eye contact when talking shows interest. If you get an angry look from someone when you’re
standing close, it means you have invaded their personal space. Do not cry at work; it is seen
as weak and unacceptable.

C. Visual Communication in the Workplace

In Canada’s work industries, there is a common look and feel for the way they present things.
They tend to stick to the color palette of white, red, black, and gray when creating a look for their
workplace. In the workplace, the preference for communicating is through advertising. Since the
generation is so tech- savvy, mobile ads have been recently used to communicate with
external audiences. Within these advertisements, there is often something called a
Faux pas. A common faux pas in the business industry is to point your finger but make sure to
not do it closely. They try to avoid using the “V” sign. They encourage you to express your joy
otherwise.

D. Rhetorical Style in the Workplace

Most Canadians have experience doing business with other cultures. Business people in Canada
are often open-minded rather than forceful when constructing arguments and persuading the
public. There is an emphasis on building strong relationships before engaging in business
interactions. Canadians prefer to be cooperative in the workplace when it comes to persuading.
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They are systematic with their actions and goals and willing to bargain if arguments are
conditional and respected. Keeping a positive attitude in business relationships and reciprocating
respect and trust is considered credible because it minimizes arguments and also resolves them
quickly. Some persuasion techniques used in Canadian business include starting with their best
offer, showing intransigence, and making final or offers that will expire. These techniques are
used by being clear and avoiding aggressiveness. Although aggressive tactics are avoided,
Canadians are not scared of open confrontation if challenged, and arguments can escalate if a
bargain gets too intense.

E. Business Industry Communication Matrix

Canada is an active partner in the sector of exporting and importing goods/services with multiple
different nations. Canada manages diplomatic relations, promotes international trade and
provides consular assistance. They also lead international development, humanitarian, and peace
and security assistance efforts. Interpersonal communication and mass media are directly
intertwined in Canada's government, considering Canada is a democracy. However there are
some limitations on messages and thoughts people can express to each other. It is better to
express thoughts one on one rather than in large audiences and major communication channels.
Main news channels are the main sources where people receive their information. From. Social
media also plays a major role in news spread, especially with younger audiences, through apps
such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Examples of some Communication Networks in Canada
are most popular: The Global Affairs Sector, Tik tok, Instagram, Twitter, and CT
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Media Directory

Industry Contacts
Contact Relationship/Role Web Info Social Media Notes

Royal Bank of Local Bank Linkedin, Multinational financial

Canada https://www.r Instagram, services company. Largest
bcroyalbank.c twitter, bank in Canada by market
om/personal.h facebook capitalization.
tml

Brookfield Asset Investment https://www.b Linkedin, Multinational company. One

Management management rookfield.com twitter, of the world's largest
company / https://twitter.c alternative investment
om/Brookfield management companies.
, youtube

Canadian Transport company cn.ca LinkedIn, Railway headquartered in

National https://www.li Montreal. Through Canada
Railway nkedin.com/co and Midwestern and Southern
mpany/cn/ United states
Twitter,
Facebook

Magna Manufacturing magna.com Facebook, Manufacturer for automakers.

International company twitter
https://twitter.c
om/magnaint

Enbridge Natural gas enbridge.com LinkedIn Multinational pipeline

distribution https://www.li company, transports oil to
company nkedin.com/co refineries
mpany/enbridg
e/ , instagram,
twitter,
facebook

Canadian Pacific Railway company cpr.ca Twitter A Canadian Class l railway.

Railway https://mobile.t
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witter.com/can
adianpacific

Relevant Government Contacts

Contact Relationship/Role Web Info Social Media Notes

U.S. Embassy Local embassy https://ca.use https://twitter.c Serves as a connection between the
in Ottawa mbassy.gov/e om/usembassy US and Canada
mbassy-consu ottawa?ref_src
lates/ottawa/ =twsrc%5Ego
ogle%7Ctwca
mp%5Eserp%
7Ctwgr%5Eau
thor

U.S. Consulate Works to promote https://ca.use https://www.in Provides Consular services for
General in economic, cultural, mbassy.gov/e stagram.com/u American Citizens, and issues
Calgary educational, and mbassy-consu sconscalgary/? certain classes of non-immigrant
political cooperation lates/halifax/ hl=en visas.
between the United
States and Atlantic
Canada

Immigration, Process applications https://www.c Varies by Place for documentation and

Refugees, and for visas, anada.ca/en/i Province applications when visiting the
Citizenship citizenships, work mmigration-re country or looking to move here
Canada permits, travel fugees-citizen part time or full time for
Processing documents, etc. ship/corporate citizenship
Centre /contact-ircc/o
ffices/canada-
appointment-
only.html

Global Affairs Manages Canada's https://www.i Varies by Helps keep relationships with other
Office diplomatic relations, nternational.g Province countries and provides assistance
provides consular c.ca/global-aff to those outside of Canada in
services to airs-affaires- times of need.
Canadians, mondiales/ho
promotes the
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country's me-accueil.as
international trade, px?lang=eng
and leads Canada's
international
development and
humanitarian
assistance.

U.S. Consulate Works to promote https://ca.use https://twitter.c The Québec City Consular District
General in economic, cultural, mbassy.gov/e om/usconsque consists of the counties of
Quebec educational, and mbassy-consu bec Abitibi-West, Abitibi-East, St.
political cooperation lates/quebec/ Maurice, Trois-Rivières, Nicolet,
between the United Wolfe, Frontenac, and all other
States and Canada counties to the north or east within
the province

U.S. Consulate Works to promote https://ca.use https://www.in

General in economic, cultural, mbassy.gov/e stagram.com/u
Toronto educational, and mbassy-consu sconstoronto/?
political cooperation lates/toronto/ hl=en
between the United
States and Canada

U.S. Consulate Works to promote https://ca.use https://mobile.t The United States Consulate
General in economic, cultural, mbassy.gov/e witter.com/usc General in Halifax serves the four
Halifax educational, and mbassy-consu onshalifax/wit Atlantic Canadian Provinces: Nova
political cooperation lates/halifax/ h_replies Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince
between the United Edward Island, and Newfoundland
States and Atlantic and Labrador as well as the two
Canada, provides small French islands of St. Pierre
Consular services and Miquelon.
for American
Citizens, and issues
certain classes of
non-immigrant
visas.
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U.S. Consulate Works to promote https://ca.use https://twitter.c

General in economic, cultural, mbassy.gov/e om/usconsmon
Montreal educational, and mbassy-consu trea
political cooperation lates/montreal
between the United /
States and Canada

U.S. Consulate Works to promote https://ca.use https://twitter.c

General in economic, cultural, mbassy.gov/e om/usconsvan
Vancouver educational, and mbassy-consu couver/status/1
political cooperation lates/vancouv 348663481097
between the United er/ 211906?lang=
States and Canada en

U.S. Consulate Our primary https://ca.use https://twitter.c The U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg
General in functions are to mbassy.gov/e om/usconswin represents the U.S. Government in
Winnipeg promote business mbassy-consu nipeg the Province of Manitoba. The
and trade lates/winnipe mission is headed by the Consul,
relationships g/ who is the senior accredited
between the United representative of the U.S.
States and Canada Government in Manitoba.
that will facilitate
bilateral economic
growth, and to work
with Manitobans on
political and
economic issues of
mutual interest.

Canada Border The Canada Border https://www.c https://twitter.c Works on Covid-19 policies, travel
Services Services Agency bsa-asfc.gc.ca om/canborder documents, importing goods, etc
Agency (CBSA) facilitates /menu-eng.ht
the flow of ml
legitimate travelers
and trade.
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Public Relations Discipline Contacts-

Contact Relationship/Role Web Info Social Media Notes

Allison PR Firm Linked in: Allison+Partners’ culture truly defines

Partners https://www.a https://www.li the agency. In this highly
llisonpr.com/ nkedin.com/co entrepreneurial environment,
what/ mpany/allison- employees are encouraged to pursue
partners/ their individual passions and are
empowered to do things differently.

Jelly Digital PR Firm https://jellyma Linked in: The Jelly team consists of master
Marketing & rketing.ca/ https://www.li organizers and communicators
PR nkedin.com/co purposed in achieving the best results
mpany/jelly-m for your business while creatively
arketing/ pushing the boundaries of what’s
possible.

APEX Public PR Group https://www.a Linked in: Exceptional communication is our goal
Relations pexpr.com/ https://www.li everyday
nkedin.com/co
mpany/apex-p
ublic-relations/

Harbinger PR Agency Facebook, Being in service for 30 years, it has

Communicatio twitter, linked provided clients with many strong
https://www.h
in, results that transformed their
ns arbingerideas.
https://www.li businesses.
com/
nkedin.com/co
mpany/281651
/
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Pointman News Media training and https://pointm Linked in: innovating with media-dominating
Creation PR group annc.com/ https://www.li pitches and creating some of the most
nkedin.com/in/ widely seen and discussed media
pointmanpr/ stories of the past two decades for our
varied clients.

Big fish PR PR Tech https://bigfish Instagram, The BIGfish PR team understands

pr.com/tech-p twitter, linked technology news cycles and how to get
r/ in your story told.
https://www.li
nkedin.com/co
mpany/bigfish-
communicatio
ns/

Believe PR focused with https://www.b Facebook, Getting all of the international media
Advertising & Advertising firm elieveadvertis youtube, coverage
PR ing.com snapchat,
linked in
https://www.li
nkedin.com/in/
adrianfalk/%2
0/

Idea Grove Marketing & PR https://www.i Blog, Phone

Agency deagrove.com number: (972) Idea Grove’s unified PR and marketing
/clutch 235-3439 service offering has been built from the
ground up with the specific challenges
of B2B tech in mind, including
grasping complex technologies,
maintaining momentum through long
sales cycles, and influencing the
decision-making of both business and
IT buyers

Sky Rocket PR and Marketing https://skyroc Facebook,

Agency Brand Agency ket.is/services Instagram, The center of your marketing strategy.
linked in We consider who you are as an
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/brand-strateg https://www.li organization, who you want to be, and

y nkedin.com/co the space you operate in.
mpany/skyroc
ket/

Edelman Global https://www.e Twitter

Canada Communications delman.ca/ Facebook Earring trust through communications
form linked in
https://www.li
nkedin.com/sh
owcase/edelma
n-canada/

Charming Our Passions For Pr https://charmi Instagram,

Media firms ngmedia.ca/ facebook, Charming Media acts as the Canadian
twitter Agency of Record for global brands
Instagram looking for a strong PR partner in
@CharmingM Canada, as well as provides an arm for
edia existing brands seeking exposure,
enhanced awareness, reputation
management and traditional public
relations. We are a passion and value
driven agency.

We Feature PR Media Insider https://wefeat Phone &

You Group ureyou.com/? Email Always improving industries with PR
utm_medium
213-454-7200
=referral&ut
m_source=clu hello@wefeatu
tch.co reyou.co
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