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Canadians may define themselves by where they got their morning coffee or how often they say “eh,” but the federal government has its own definitions of what it means to be Canadian — and advice on how to interact with us.

For starters, if you want to have a pleasant chat with a Canadian friend, you can use the weather as a “good opener” to break the ice or try sports, “especially hockey,” advises a Global Affairs webpage.

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You may even want to bring up some of the country’s top music acts, like Neil Young and The Tragically Hip.

“Generally, it is good to keep conversation light and, if possible, funny,” reads a portion of Global Affairs’ “country insights” on Canada.

Photo by Justin Tang / The Canadian Press

The Centre for Intercultural Learning manages the tucked-away section on the government-run website, where tourists and nomads can learn about how to interact in countries (and in this case, even their own country) from every continent except Antarctica.