Q&A: Excuse Me, the Universal Canadian Phrase

Tanya asked a great question: How should someone get my attention in public if they don’t know my name?

I love this because I’ve never been one to use sir or ma’am. Maybe it’s because I wasn’t raised in a place where those were everyday words, or maybe it’s because I don’t want to assume someone’s identity before they tell me. For some, those terms are a sign of respect. For me, they feel like a shot in the dark—one that can miss wildly.

So, what do I do? I rely on volume and tone. A friendly, well-placed, “excuse me,” is usually all it takes. Whether I’m getting someone’s attention from behind a counter, flagging down a stranger, or calling out a questionable parking job, “excuse me,” is my go-to.

Honestly, in Canada, Excuse me works for almost everything. It’s a greeting, a way to squeeze past someone in the grocery store, an apology when we’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. I say it so much that my parrot, Carpenter, now says it constantly around the house. I’ve basically trained a bird to be peak Canadian!

Thanks for the question, Tanya!