-TSS- Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) As I understand Canada has gone metric some time ago in its system of weights and measurements. I wonder how the changeover has been carried out as one of Canada's neighbours is not really keen on the metric system at all. I understand that Quebec has always been metric, obvious reasons really, but how has the rest of Canada coped? Surely, if someone asks you how tall you are you don't say 180 cms or so but feet and inches. Surely, if someone asks how much you weigh, you don't think in kg's, or do you, but in pounds. What about temperatures? Canada of all countries is a perfect example how the fahrenheit-degree is just rubbish. For the very practical reasons when it is cold it is cleverer to say the temperature is minus something than some 10-15 degrees according to the F-scale. Edited February 25, 2012 by -TSS- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest American Woman Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 As I understand Canada has gone metric some time ago in its system of weights and measurements. I wonder how the changeover has been carried out as one of Canada's neighbours is not really keen on the metric system at all. I'm curious. What does the U.S.'s system of measurement have to do with Canada? In other words, how do you think what we do would have an effect on what happens in Canada? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hardner Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I'm curious. What does the U.S.'s system of measurement have to do with Canada? In other words, how do you think what we do would have an effect on what happens in Canada? A lot - as two major trading partners it causes difficulties if the systems of measurement aren't compatible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olpfan1 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) As I understand Canada has gone metric some time ago in its system of weights and measurements. I wonder how the changeover has been carried out as one of Canada's neighbours is not really keen on the metric system at all. I understand that Quebec has always been metric, obvious reasons really, but how has the rest of Canada coped? Surely, if someone asks you how tall you are you don't say 180 cms or so but feet and inches. Surely, if someone asks how much you weigh, you don't think in kg's, or do you, but in pounds. What about temperatures? Canada of all countries is a perfect example how the fahrenheit-degree is just rubbish. For the very practical reasons when it is cold it is cleverer to say the temperature is minus something than some 10-15 degrees according to the F-scale. As someone who lives close to the U.S and gets a lot of American channels I have learned to be as efficient in F as I am in C, as well as Inches and CM & KG and Lbs But ..you would be hard pressed to find Americans who know Metric That's just how it goes around here Edited February 25, 2012 by olpfan1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TSS- Posted February 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I'm curious. What does the U.S.'s system of measurement have to do with Canada? In other words, how do you think what we do would have an effect on what happens in Canada? How do you know I was not referring to Greenland? Ok, joking aside, Canada has a vast proportion of both its imports and exports from the neighbour and the neighbour always uses the old measurements, therefore what are the chances the metric system would ever catch on in Canada if the neighbour doesn't even consider adopting the same system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest American Woman Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 A lot - as two major trading partners it causes difficulties if the systems of measurement aren't compatible. To the best of my knowledge, all of our trading partners use the metric system - and we've managed just fine. Did Canada's going metric create problems within the U.S.? I highly doubt it. At any rate, maybe I've misread it, but I really don't understand why what we think would create problems within Canada ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olpfan1 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 I'm curious. What does the U.S.'s system of measurement have to do with Canada? In other words, how do you think what we do would have an effect on what happens in Canada? It seemed to me he was pointing our how ordinary Canadians use Imperial more than Metric even though officially we are Metric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest American Woman Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 How do you know I was not referring to Greenland? Cuz I be smart. Ok, joking aside, Canada has a vast proportion of both its imports and exports from the neighbour and the neighbour always uses the old measurements, therefore what are the chances the metric system would ever catch on in Canada if the neighbour doesn't even consider adopting the same system? Again, I fail to understand why it would matter ... as Canada's going metric certainly didn't affect anything within the U.S. and the vast proportion of imports and exports works both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Weber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 How do you know I was not referring to Greenland? Ok, joking aside, Canada has a vast proportion of both its imports and exports from the neighbour and the neighbour always uses the old measurements, therefore what are the chances the metric system would ever catch on in Canada if the neighbour doesn't even consider adopting the same system? They measure kayak length in Imperial??? The fact of the matter is much of the world uses the Metric system because it's a simpler system of measurement...Everything is based on the number 10 and the movement of a decimal point. For whatever reason,the US cannot/would not grasp this simple concept... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TSS- Posted February 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 As someone who lives close to the U.S and gets a lot of American channels I have learned to be as efficient in F as I am in C, as well as Inches and CM & KG and Lbs But ..you would be hard pressed to find Americans who know Metric That's just how it goes around here But if someone asks you how tall you are or how much you weigh which system is the one you think in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olpfan1 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) But if someone asks you how tall you are or how much you weigh which system is the one you think in? Feet and Pounds.. I've never heard any Canadian say they are 220 CM or measure their weight by KG it just doesn't happen only if they are filling out paper work for hospitals and stuff do you get KG or CM Edited February 25, 2012 by olpfan1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercoma Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 As I understand Canada has gone metric some time ago in its system of weights and measurements. I wonder how the changeover has been carried out as one of Canada's neighbours is not really keen on the metric system at all. I understand that Quebec has always been metric, obvious reasons really, but how has the rest of Canada coped? Surely, if someone asks you how tall you are you don't say 180 cms or so but feet and inches. Surely, if someone asks how much you weigh, you don't think in kg's, or do you, but in pounds. What about temperatures? Canada of all countries is a perfect example how the fahrenheit-degree is just rubbish. For the very practical reasons when it is cold it is cleverer to say the temperature is minus something than some 10-15 degrees according to the F-scale. Construction measurements are still in feet and inches, although distance between cities and speed limits are almost always referred to in metric. Persons weights I've only ever heard expressed in pounds, but when buying things from the grocery store it's usually expressed in grams or kgs. However, people still refer to some things in pounds like the size of a turkey, the amount of ground beef needed in a recipe, or the weight of a roast. In any case, they're still printed in g/kg on the packaging. Weather is expressed in C in most places in Canada, but when I lived on the border a lot of people would use F in conversation. Anywhere else I've been in the country, though, people will express temperature in C. Liquid measurements in cooking are usually expressed in mL or L, but bottles of alcohol are 24oz or 40oz. Wine on the otherhand is expressed as 750mL rather than 28oz. People also use pint for ordering draught at a bar and the menus will typically have oz. as the measurements for their drinks. Long story short, from what I can tell we tend to use both here depending on the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TSS- Posted February 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) Feet and Pounds.. I've never heard any Canadian say they are 220 CM or measure their weight by KG it just doesn't happen Speaks volumes really, I must say. How about temperatures? As I mentoined earlier in a country like Canada Celsius makes much more sense than Fahrenheit because it really gets freezing. Edited February 25, 2012 by -TSS- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olpfan1 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Yes, what Cybercoma said, we do half and half here ..same for French, Canadian French is not France French Canadian French is a mixture of English and French while France French is just pure French Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 The US has gone metric to some degree when it has had to. The US auto industry has been using metric hardware for years. Tires are the most interesting. Wheel diameters and widths are given in inches while tire widths are in millimeters. Some things will never be metric like units used for navigation. Meters and KPH are only used in the east block and China. The "West" including the rest of Europe and the Asia, use feet and Knots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olpfan1 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Speaks volumes really, I must say. How about temperatures? As I mentoined earlier in a country like Canada Celsius makes much more sense than Fahrenheit because it really gets freezing. I don't often hear people talking Celsius..It's mostly Farenheit here but I am near the border The further north you go I am sure the more you will hear Celsius Almost 90 % of Canadians live within a few hours of the U.S so I'm sure the majority knows both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olpfan1 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) Some things will never be metric like units used for navigation. Meters and KPH are only used in the east block and China. The "West" including the rest of Europe and the Asia, use feet and Knots. What about metres to measure waves and miles per hour to describe wind speed here just like they use knots and feet I think we use all of those and in no order Edited February 25, 2012 by olpfan1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 What about metres to measure waves and miles per hour to describe wind speed here just like they use knots and feet I think we use all of those and in no order Not in marine or aviation weather reports. Wind speeds are quoted in knots because that is the unit used by ships and aircraft to measure their speed and distances travelled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TSS- Posted February 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 So it is it right to say that despite all the orders from above to not to use certain measurements and convert to newer ones, as long as people disagree it will never happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest American Woman Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) olpfan1, on 25 February 2012 - 01:21 PM, said: Feet and Pounds.. I've never heard any Canadian say they are 220 CM or measure their weight by KGit just doesn't happen Speaks volumes really, I must say. How so? I believe the same is true in Britain. Edited February 25, 2012 by American Woman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 So it is it right to say that despite all the orders from above to not to use certain measurements and convert to newer ones, as long as people disagree it will never happen? I think it is a generational thing. It comes down to what you can visualize when a unit is quoted. The metric system started to come in when I was in my late twenties so I will probably never convert totaly. I grew up thinking in Fahrenheit but now think in Celsius. Other things I will probably always convert back to Imperial or US measures. MPG will probably always make more sense to me than liters per 100 km. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybercoma Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Barometric pressure is another one that is strictly metric here. No one refers to atmospheric pressure here in inches as they do in the US. It's measured in kilopascals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-TSS- Posted February 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 (edited) How so? I believe the same is true in Britain. Indeed, when I have been to Britain I have never met a person who would talk about his/her weight in cm's. It's always feet and inches. Edited February 25, 2012 by -TSS- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 How so? I believe the same is true in Britain. When describing their weight, many Brits still use the Stone as a unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Barometric pressure is another one that is strictly metric here. No one refers to atmospheric pressure here in inches as they do in the US. It's measured in kilopascals. Something else designed to confuse us. It used to be inches or millibars and still is for altimeter settings on aircraft. So what did the weather guys do? Took millibars, moved the decimal point and called it kilopascals. Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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