Density (13,051 people/sq mi), its main of energy source (90 percent hydro electricity), and recycling (55 percent of its waste is retained)...

That said, I want to turn to something that happened to me a few days ago while visiting this green city. I was in a bar. The bar was in a hotel. I ordered a shot of whiskey. I received exactly a shot of whisky (not a drop more or less—Canadians are very scientific when it comes to their pours). It cost $7 before tax; $8 after. When it came time to pay, the machine the waiter used to charge my card insisted on using Blink (contactless-payment). This function withdrew money from my account without a thought. The waiter, a rather old man, was, however, not happy with Blink. "It wont let you tip me," he said with some gravity. I had no cash, so I couldn't solve this problem. But here is the truth of the matter: If I were in the same situation in the US, I would have gone out of my way to find a way to tip the waiter. Why? Because our waiters have none of the social benefits that Canadians enjoy. Indeed, a US citizen is always left to wonder about tipping in Canada. The practice makes perfect sense back home; tips really mean something there, tips are vital, tips fill some of the hole left by the absent government. But in Canada, the tips seem less crucial and much more about generosity.