Canada has its unique charms, but, as the world just witnessed with their upset loss at the Winter Olympics to the US Hockey Team, there are some uniquely Canadian things that Americans just do better! Here are just a few.
Hockey
Hockey may be Canada’s pride and joy, but the United States just gave them a polite (but firm) shove off the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In a game that had more tension than a family road trip, Team USA skated away with a victory, leaving Canada to wonder if they should’ve spent less time perfecting their maple syrup and more time practicing slap shots.
Canadian team member Nathan MacKinnon inexplicably said, "You be the judge of who was the better team today," after their embarrassing loss to the United States. While many would be thrilled to nab a silver medal at the Olympics, it's clear from their faces at the medal ceremony that Team Canada was none too pleased the United States managed to be the better team.
Maple Syrup
When it comes to maple syrup, Canada may dominate the global market, but Vermont is the scrappy underdog that punches above its weight. Canada produces a staggering 85% of the world’s maple syrup, with Quebec alone churning out 14.3 million gallons annually.
But here’s the twist: Vermont’s smaller-scale, independent producers have turned maple syrup into an artisanal craft. While Canada’s syrup is often regulated by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (a.k.a. the “maple syrup cartel”), Vermont producers are free to experiment with unique flavors like bourbon barrel-aged or wood-fired syrups.
So, while Canada may win on volume, Vermont’s syrup is all about quality, variety, and, most importantly...freedom.
Poutine
Poutine, the beloved Canadian comfort food, has found its way across the border, but Americans have taken this "hot mess" of fries, cheese curds, and gravy to a whole new level. While Quebecois poutine is all about sticking to traditions, American versions are a playground of creativity.
In the U.S., chefs have embraced poutine as a canvas for culinary experimentation. From fried oyster poutine in Los Angeles to ramen fries poutine in Brooklyn, the dish has been reimagined in ways that would make traditionalists clutch their pearls. Even fast food chains and burger joints have jumped on the trend, with creations like poutine burgers and Thanksgiving-themed poutines.
If there’s one thing Americans excel at, it’s taking food and making it bigger, bolder, and cheesier.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving may be a shared tradition between the U.S. and Canada, but the two countries celebrate it in ways as different as pumpkin pie recipes. For starters, Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday of October, which means that it interrupts your Halloween season vibes. Meanwhile, Americans wait until the fourth Thursday of November, meaning the holidays don't stop rolling until the new year for us.
Plus, Thanksgiving in Canada is a more low-key affair, meaning you might not even get a day off work or a warm slice of pie! In the US, a Thanksgiving day food coma is all but mandatory!
