🇨🇦 Canada Meeting Culture

Canadian business meetings are polite, multicultural, and consensus-driven, combining professionalism with friendliness and respect for diversity.

  • Schedule meetings in advance and provide an agenda; Canadians appreciate organization.
  • Be aware of Canada's bilingual nature; in Quebec, materials in French may be appreciated.
  • Arrive on time; punctuality is important in Canadian business culture.
  • Greet with a firm handshake and maintain polite eye contact.
  • Business cards are exchanged casually but should be treated respectfully.
  • Canadians value politeness; avoid aggressive tactics or interrupting others.
  • Discussions are orderly with turn-taking; consensus-building is preferred.
  • Be modest about achievements; self-promotion is viewed negatively.
  • Presentations should be well-prepared, factual, and backed by data.
  • Canadians are direct but diplomatic; expect honest feedback delivered politely.
  • Follow up with a thank-you email and summary of action items.
  • Honor commitments and deadlines; reliability is highly valued.