Greater Victoria bus passengers are living up to the Canadian stereotype of being polite, as shown in a viral TikTok video that’s quickly surpassed six million views.
Aboard a BC Transit bus, American TikToker Corrin Carlson’s video posted this week captured back-to-back customers thanking their bus driver as they head for the exit doors.
On TikTok, Carlson goes by @TheFatPassport and captioned the video with “Canada is too wholesome,” prompting a flood of online reactions, including over 745,000 “likes” and 26,000 comments by Tuesday morning.
“I’ve had some other popular ones, but not this big. It was very exciting to see,” Carlson told CHEK News in an interview.
“It’s always such a surprise when a video takes off. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction to the video at all, I just thought it was really cute and a couple of people would get a chuckle.”
@thefatpassport Canada is too wholesome #tiktoktravel #fypシ
BC Transit reposted the video on its social media.
According to spokesperson Jamie Weiss, the relationship between the company’s customers and its drivers is important — with a simple “thank you” going a long way.
“We realize this doesn’t necessarily happen everywhere, but BC Transit wants to say thank you to all of our customers who keep this important tradition going,” Weiss told CHEK News.
But around Victoria, buses can be polite, too.
Another viral TikTok posted by Carlson just the day prior shows a BC Transit bus parked on Fairfield Road with “Sorry…Not In Service” displayed across its front screen.
“Canada is the only country I have been to where buses apologize for not being in service,” said Carlson in the video, as O Canada plays in the background.
Some of the video’s nearly 500 commenters suggested that buses in countries like the United Kingdom, Japan and the Netherlands are following suit and display “Sorry” when passengers are turned away.
“My city in Canada doesn’t say sorry — it should!” said one commenter. “That’s very…Canada. Love it and miss it…” added another.
@thefatpassport SOrry 😅 #tiktoktravel #fypシ
After touring around Victoria, Carlson’s back in the U.S. now, but she’s already eager to return.
“It’s a beautiful place,” she added. “I’m happy to go back, certainly.”
Ethan Morneau
