Xenophobia
About racism, intolerance and the fear of everything that is different
Racism, unfortunately, still exists everywhere. There are people who believe they should have more rights and fewer obligations because they are of a certain race.
That's not something you'd expect in Canada, a country almost by definition multicultural. And yet, you'll encounter it in one form or another.
When you first encountered Canada, you were told you were a recent immigrant. You should be grateful to have been admitted to the land of milk and honey—the best country in the world. You should be especially grateful for this, as many never even get in.
As a recently arrived immigrant, you're not automatically treated with the utmost respect. On the contrary, you're somewhat ignorant and uninformed because you still have to learn how to do things best in Canada. Some people feel, more or less, like second-class citizens.
Canadians also often treat each other with contempt, based on someone's ethnicity.
A textbook example of contemptuous racism in Canada is the situation with the indigenous people. People often find it very difficult to show any respect for each other.
If that does happen, for example in public, it is sometimes so exaggerated that you find it strange.
The idea that people can just get along well and learn from each other's customs and cultures is nonsense to most Canadians.
There are two official languages in Canada: French and English. These two groups are constantly at odds with each other.
People don't want to know about that strange other group, and many refuse to learn that language as well. There are cities where there are neighborhoods for people with one native language and neighborhoods for the other.
Time and again there is talk of dividing the country to further shape the language problem.
Dealing with xenophobia
You may not be used to people treating each other in such a dismissive, racist or even hateful way.
This black-and-white thinking (you're either right or wrong) is paralyzing for some. It can make you feel like you don't belong in Canada.
Racism and xenophobia are ingrained in everyday life—they're constantly being fueled by politicians and even by recent legislation. Anyone who disagrees is simply out of luck.
This is how Canadians treat the original inhabitants of the country (link).