Hi jm51,
Thanks for your question! While there are indeed rumors out there that Canadian admissions officers prefer "less personal" personal statements, I think part of the problem is the widespread assumption that, when applying to American schools, you need to bare your soul. This is hardly the case, and I'd certainly take this sort of advice with a grain of salt. If you write a well thought-out personal statement that shows important personal qualities relevant to your pursuit of a legal career, avoid the use of cliches, and tell a good story - you've done 99% of your job. It doesn't matter whether the school is American or Canadian. The objective is the same
Bad writing is all the same, regardless of whether the reader is American, Canadian, or French.
That said, Canadian law schools do follow the European tradition of staying "on point" a bit more closely than their American counterparts. No, they don't care about your dog dying and what you learned from it (neither do most US law schools for that matter). My advice would be to focus on your academic strengths and discuss how they would be relevant to the study of law. Cite specific examples from your undergraduate years, and stay on point. You can discuss extracurricular activities and other significant experiences in your life, as long as they inform your perspective and choice of profession. That doesn't mean you should recite your resume or your transcript. Remember: admissions officers are humans too (I know, right?) and we all love to read a good story... as long as it's not too drawn-out. You may also want to highlight any specific ties to the schools you're applying to: it adds a personal touch without being disingenuous.
Check out these resources:
https://www.law.utoronto.ca/sites/defau ... amples.pdf
https://www.powerscore.com/lsat/law-sch ... amples.pdf
http://blog.powerscore.com/lsat/bid/153 ... -Your-Time
http://www.powerscore.com/lsat/law-scho ... ions/help/
I'd also suggest contacting the schools directly and just asking for their input. You'd be surprised to find how helpful such conversations can be!
Good luck!