In many ways, America is Canada's future. Reasons:
America is typically seen as older than Canada
America is way bigger than Canada
America's culture is of a higher intensity than Canada's
Things that I've seen in American but don't really see in Canada (yet!):
at a food court restaurant in San Francisco, I ordered a burger and fries. Instead of a receipt with my number on it, they gave me essentially a beeper. But it had lights and it vibrated and had a speaker so it sort of talked to me. It "went off" when my meal was ready. It meant I could go somewhere away from the restaurant (more valuable minutes to consume in the mall?) and be summoned to pick up my meal
panhandlers are at least somewhat innovative
one came up to me with a soda cup, expecting money, and just said, confidently, "Thanks man!"
another, on Fisherman's Wharf, had part of a tree and pretended to scare the tourists from behind it. African-American, he said, to some laughter, "I'm your worst nightmare: a black man behind a bush!" Is this guy famous? He must do that every day, like the guy in Vancouver who says "can you buy a beer a bum?"
signs, everywhere, many there so as to disclaim legal responsibility. Signs are prevalent in Canada too, but nothing like Canada.
maximum occupancy on the front of businesses (California law?)
sign above the doors saying that they must be unlocked during business hours (also California law?)
Chinese along with Spanish and English on the automated "the front seats are for seniors" announcements
why Vancouver doesn't have Chinese on its official signs and in announcements I don't know. French is the law, so that won't change, but Chinese is practical for the region.