southtwelfth asked: Do Canadian art people also kiss each other on the cheeks as a greeting? Or, as in the U.S., are we looking at a Toronto / rest of the country sort of split?
I should probably preface this by mentioning that my maternal grandmother is French, that my whole mother’s side of the family is therefore very kisses on the cheeks-y, and that I grew up in Montréal, a city which, regardless of your thoughts - if any - on the whole Quebec issue, is not only undeniably different from all other Canadian cities, but also, especially - all cities are different, duh - stakes a big part of its cultural identity on this ‘being different’. My knowledge of social norms within English Canada isn’t totally accurate, then.
Also worth mentioning: the only time I ever spent in Toronto was a 4 hour layover on my way back home from Vancouver, I was 12 or 13 and it was my first time flying alone. I do though instinctively sort of dislike it.
So, then, cheek kissing: there’s a lot less of it here in Vancouver than in Montreal, where I’d say it’s pretty prevalent, and not entirely limited to art people. The people I’ve witnessed doing it here are definitely mainly art people, though, or more like Art People and of a like very specific type. Vancouver is a big city, with a moderate/big art scene and I suspect there’s more of it here than in like Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan though I have absolutely no proof of this.
——>My point: yes, art people cheek kiss in Canada. Also: French people.
