Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Why I will never return, spend money in Canada

I'll bet I've been across the border well in excess of a 100 times....

Canada or the USA, people are people. I've had tons of experience, both good and potentially bad on the other end.
Being just plain human, and decent to someone goes a long way. I worked for a Canadian company 3 years from 2000 to 2003. I covered the western USA as a Regional Manager and Western Canada ( BC, AB, Sask, Yukon, NW territoies). This was in the medical world.

You just have to know how to read people and learn not to be an A Hole, to border guards anywhere. Guess I picked that up in my youth, when our family lived in Europe for 3 years, when my dad was stationed in England with the USAF. We travel much of non communist Europe in those days, minus I've been to, and interned in Yugoslavia for 4 days..

I've been embarrassed to be an American in Canada, when I've seen others act like they are in some third world country, while in Canada. I've been asked by Americans in Canada if I spoke English, a lot more than once. Met Americans dumb enough to not know they speak English in Canada ( even most of Quebecker can speak English, I've spent a lot of time in Quebec, as I love the province)

At the border crossings, Yes Sir and No Sir or Ma'am go a long way of not getting hassled, in either direction.

The " biggest" potential I ever had, was in the Truck Entrance that a lot of people don't know exist at the Peace Arch on I 5 by White Rock. The Truck Entrance is over on what use to be the US Rte 99, a mile east or so of the one on I 5, in White Rock BC. I pulled up to the booth and there was a black guy, who really had a bad attitude right off the bat... " Are you American or Canadian?" American... "HOw long have you been in Canada?"... I didn't answer him.... He asked once again,
my response was " Is this the American Border Crossing?" Yeah it is.... My response " Thank God, I've been in Canada for two weeks now, and these damn Canucks are driving me crazy as hell. I am so happy to finally be home, to Normal People!" He started laughing, and that whole attitude wall came down. He said, welcome home. Asked me how long I was in Canada, told him two weeks... asked if I had anything I was bringing home from Canada.. NOpe nothing that I am not going to put in the first trash can I can find... He pointed out a trash can and told me to have a nice trip home to Oregon.

One the Canadian side, I flew into Edmonton one Sunday night, as I had an appointment with a facility, we were doing a major project on, at 9 the next morning. On the flight, the plane was full of college kids and coaches, and ME. There were some basketball games going on in Edmonton for the week... think March Madness sort of stuff... I wait to be the last one off the plane, with all of this college guys and their coaches.

Each one in front of me, was going thru customs, and telling them they were there to compete in the Basketball tourney...
and each person, got a Welcome to Canada, and Good Luck in the tournament! The older guys just said they were the coaches of the guys for the tourney. Welcome to Canada and Good Luck in the tournament.

I'm the last guy, and there are 5 border guards standing there... Last plane in for the night.. its midnight. Here for the Basketball tournament sir? Nope, I'm here on business. WELL that got their attention, ALL 5 of them. So what kind of business sir? Medical here in Edmonton.... Where are you from? Oregon. Four of them are already diving into my two carry on bags, that are not that big. What is the name of your company? March Networks... Never heard of them! Where are they headquartered out of? Ottawa.

Ottawa Where? Ontario.... Wait a minute.. you're an American, and your employed by a Canadian Company? Yes Sir...
That immediately got their attention.. The other 4 quit looking thru my carry on luggage. So you are an American, working for a Canadian Company in Canada? yes Sir... Well hell, that's a big switch.. I don't think I've ever seen that scenario in all my years on this job. Do you work just in Canada? No sir, I am regional Manager for Western Canada and the western US, minus California, Arizona and New Mexico.

Well Hey, that's One for Canada! We apologize sir.... Welcome to Canada and have a good business trip while you're here!
They each shook my hand with a big smile on their face, put my luggage back together, and told me to have a great evening.

Got to the car rental place to pick up the car, inside the terminal and the lady wanted to know was I late due to my flight.
Nope, got held up by the border guard guys, for being an American. The lady says " those guys can be such A Holes... I've been here for 12 hours today.. I want to get home and they have to hassle ONE American, to justify their existence!"

Those two are probably the biggest 'hassle' I've experienced on crossing the border into Canada... or the USA...
They are looking for worried behavior, don't show it and the crossing isn't a hassle at all...

Heck in retrospect, I know I've crossed the border well over a 100 times, in the 3 years I was employed by a Canadian Company...it was knowing so much about Canadian Geography, that landed me the job. I was told that I was the first American they had ever employed that could take a blank map of Canada and fill in all the provinces and territories and knew where their major cities were.. Asked how I knew all of that.. told them I've been to all of those places. That kind of blew their mind....I also became their top producing employee within the first 6 months.

hell they were impressed when I asked them were the water closet was, when I was first in the home office in Ottawa, and were blown away I knew my way around Ottawa.