If you’ve travelled across Canada, you may have noticed Albertans use different terms for some everyday items. Now, Google has the search data to back it up.
To mark National Dictionary Day on Oct. 16, Google is looking back at 25 years of search trends data to map the words, foods, and traditions that give different parts of the country their distinctive search identities.
As it turns out, Alberta has some pretty clear favourites, including a strong preference for Caesars over Bloody Marys (of course, it was invented here). The Canadian cocktail accounts for 75 per cent of comparative search interest versus 25 per cent for Bloody Mary. Alberta is tied with Saskatchewan for the strongest Caesar preference in Canada.
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When it comes to parking structures, Albertans are firmly in “parkade” territory, with 85 per cent of comparative search interest favouring the term over parking garage, recording the strongest preference for the term in the country.
Alberta also remains loyal to “pencil crayons,” with 59 per cent of comparative search interest favouring it over colored pencils (31 per cent) and 10 per cent for the Canadian spelling, coloured pencils. Saskatchewan recorded the highest search interest for “pencil crayons” at 63 per cent.
Footwear, however, is a little more complicated. Albertans are nearly evenly split between “sneakers” at 37 per cent and runners at 36 per cent, while “running shoes” trails at 27 per cent.
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Nationally, “sneakers” have steadily overtaken “runners” over the past 25 years, making Alberta one of the few provinces holding onto the traditional Canadian term.
As the weather cools down, Albertans are more likely to search for a “beanie” than a “toque,” with comparative search interest accounting for 59 per cent for beanie and 41 per cent, respectively.
And finally, when it comes to the exterior of our homes, “gutter” wins out over “eavestrough” in Alberta, with 60 per cent of comparative search interest going to the former. However, Alberta is much closer to an even split than neighbouring B.C., where gutter dominates at 91 per cent.
So, do you think Google got it right? Let us know in the comments below.