Queen's and McGill do not have a "very strong reputation abroad".

I'm sorry, they just don't. You can rationalize with yourself however you want to, but you're wrong.

Also, being actively approached from top schools/recruiting companies can have everything to do with where you went to school, or nothing.

Sure, McGill and Queen's are likely on lists for "places to recruit from in Canada". That doesn't mean they even come close to being on par with internationally renowned schools, or even good schools in bigger countries with a better education system.

You're also clearly personally biased, and not only that, but you have a forced confirmation biased. Don't you get that? If you went to school at Queen's and McGill, obviously you're going to hear from people who know what Queen's and McGill are. I'm going to assume that if you really do have a college education you can grasp that.

I've gone to school both in the US, and in Canada, I've talked to employers in both countries, as well as (of course) plenty of other random people.

There isn't a single school in Canada that your average American employer would respond to by saying "Oh, wow". Not one. Sure, you'll come across some who knows some schools, but your AVERAGE one won't give a single flying fuck.

On the flip side, there's schools in both America and the UK that almost any employer in the world would say "Oh, wow." to.

Even then, schools that employer's in Canada might not know are great are simply leagues above Canadian schools. The quality of education you get is fucking insane compared to schools in Canada. If you haven't attended classes at a half decent American school, you would have no idea, but it's true.

Of course YMMV, but that's not the point. Sure, you might do great, and you might have a great education, but it's not at all WAY ahead of others in Canada. Not even close.

Again, you're arguing that your turd is better than the next guy's turd.