Metric system
Posts speeds in kilometres per hour (USA: mile per hour - imperial system)
Speed boards that say “MAXIMUM”
Regulatory plates read “MAXIMUM 90” (km/h), not “SPEED LIMIT 55” (mph) as in the US
British spelling
English-speaking Canada writes centre/colour (in American: center/color)
Post mailboxes with red logo
Clustered curbside boxes sporting the red Canada Post emblem appear nationwide
Québec red-and-white chevron
Background: Red
Arrows: Bold white
Additional details: Invert Canada’s usual yellow-and-black chevron style
Yield sign
Shape: Inverted triangle
Color: Thick red border, white background
Rural Manitoba bollard
Shape: Cylinder
Material: Plastic
Color: White with black-banded top
Reflector: Orange rounded stripe in the center
French dominates Québec and bilingual pockets elsewhere
Road signs turn fully French in Québec and parts of New Brunswick, while the rest of Canada mixes English with occasional federal French.
British Columbia’s bollard
Shape: Rectangle cylinder with small holes
Material: Metall
Reflector: White square on the top
Alberta’s bollard
Shape: Cylinder
Material: Plastic
Color: White with two narrow black-bands
Reflector: Rectangle yellow or white between black-bands
Canada-only brands
Some popular brands, like:
- Scotiabank, Canadian Tire, Esso, Shoppers Drug Mart
can be found in Canada, but not in the US
Diamond-shaped yellow T-intersection signs
Shape: Diamond
Color: Yellow
US uses a rectangular board
Ontario’s bollard
Shape: Stick with diamond on the top
Material: Metall
Color: White-green or any
Reflector: Diamond on the top
Quebec Road Shields
Québec road shields are distinctive. Two types are common:
-
Vertical rectangle with a pointed top, resembling a medieval shield, with three "fleur-de-lys" French lily symbols.
-
Blue rectangle with a rounded arch bottom (resembling U.S. Interstate signs).
Related guides
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