Canada Emigrants Encounter Cultural Chasm, Demonstrating Russia's Planetary Difference
In the vast landscape of global cultures, two nations stand out for their unique identities: Russia and Canada. While personal experiences can offer valuable insights, a comprehensive understanding of the differences between these two countries requires sociological research and statistical data.
One of the key distinctions lies in their approaches to multiculturalism and societal values. Canada, with its official policy of multiculturalism, aims to turn its cultural diversity into an asset, promoting cultural pluralism and inclusion of ethnic minorities such as Jewish and Indigenous communities. This policy, emerging in the 1970s, was a progressive response to diverse immigrant communities and distinct societies within Canada, notably Quebec’s bi-culturalism[1]. In contrast, Russia historically has a strong Russian ethnic majority and does not promote multiculturalism as a policy in the same way. Instead, it has diverse indigenous and ethnic minorities but with a different cultural integration approach and a more centralized cultural identity focus[3][4].
Indigenous cultures in both countries share some similarities, such as Inuit communities in Canada and Siberia. However, terminology and recognition differ, with Canada using “Inuit” and Russia often still using “Eskimo,” reflecting different colonial and cultural attitudes towards indigenous identities[2].
When it comes to societal norms, Russian culture tends to exhibit lower uncertainty avoidance and less rule-oriented behavior, meaning there is generally more flexibility with rules and formal procedures. Canadian culture, on the other hand, tends to be more rule-oriented and values harmonious social order, reflective of Western societal norms[4].
The political and social frameworks of the two countries also differ significantly. Canada’s culture has been shaped by progressive politics, fostering policies like Indigenous reconciliation and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Russia’s cultural fabric is influenced by historical waves of emigration and centralized governance impacting cultural expression[1][3].
Cultural expression and diaspora influence also differ. Canada’s cultural mosaic encourages distinct community identities to flourish while being part of a unified whole. Russia’s culture has experienced several emigration waves that have created a global Russian diaspora, which influences cultural identity abroad but differs from Canada’s pluralist approach[3].
In everyday life, several differences stand out. For instance, in Russia, men show more courtesy towards women, helping with heavy bags, giving up their seats, and paying compliments, a behavior that may be considered inappropriate in Canada where feminism is actively promoted. In contrast, Canada is reducing plastic use by phasing out plastic straws and bags, aligning with the global trend of reducing environmental impact.
When it comes to transportation, the intervals between train departures in Moscow are minimal, with 10 seconds on weekdays and 3 minutes on weekends, compared to Montreal's potential waits of 5 minutes on weekdays and 10 minutes on weekends. However, delays in Montreal's metro system are often attributed to technical issues or suicides on the tracks.
The cleanliness in the Moscow metro is maintained at a high level, with seats and handrails being wiped several times a day. In contrast, cleanliness in Canadian public places is also a priority, but schools teach children about waste sorting, and public places have special containers for different types of waste, demonstrating a high level of environmental awareness and recycling.
In terms of leisure activities, children's playgrounds in parks and stations are common in Moscow, unlike in Canada. Families with children find it easier in Moscow due to the rich infrastructure, including numerous free clubs and sections. In Canada, children's leisure activities are more expensive and often limited to school sports sections.
In Moscow, there is a unique program called "Moscow Longevity" for pensioners, offering a wide range of free activities. In contrast, elderly people in Canada typically live in nursing homes where their leisure time is organized.
Lastly, both Moscow and Montreal share cars as the primary mode of transport, despite frequent traffic jams in large cities. The Moscow metro, including the MCD, MCC, and the recently opened Big Circle Line (the longest metro ring in the world), is impressively well-planned.
Young people in Russia prefer unofficial relationships, and the birth rate in Russia is expected to depend mainly on immigration by 2030. In Canada, immigrants from countries with strong traditional values adapt to Canadian society over time and change their behavior, such as demonstrating general rules of politeness without emphasizing gender, as seen in Montreal.
In summary, Canada’s culture centers on multiculturalism, pluralism, and progressive inclusion policies, while Russia’s culture is more centralized around a dominant ethnic identity with lower emphasis on multicultural policy and more historical continuity in ethnic Russian traditions. Indigenous cultural recognition and social rule orientation also differ significantly between the two nations[1][2][3][4].
- In environmental science, Canada is focusing on reducing plastic usage, aligning with a global trend to decrease environmental impact, while the Moscow metro maintains a high level of cleanliness due to frequent cleanings.
- The food-and-drink sector reveals differences as well; in Russia, men show courteous behaviors towards women, whereas Canada actively promotes feminism and is reducing plastic use.
- Home-and-garden infrastructure in Moscow provides families with children a rich infrastructure, including free clubs and sections, while in Canada, children's leisure activities are more expensive and often limited to school sports sections.
- In personal-growth and education-and-self-development, the Russian city of Moscow offers a unique program for pensioners called "Moscow Longevity," offering free activities, contrasting with elderly people in Canada typically living in nursing homes where leisure time is organized.
- Canada's cultural approach centers on multiculturalism, pluralism, and progressive inclusion policies, as evidenced by its diverse immigrant communities adapting to Canadian society over time and changing their behavior.
- The transportation industry demonstrates variations, with train departures in Moscow having minimal intervals compared to Montreal, and cleanliness being prioritized differently in public places between the two nations.
