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What is canadas identity
Canadian identity
Effects of canadian immigration on canada society essay
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Canadian identity indicates distinctive ethnicity, individualities and condition of being Canadians, including the diverse symbols and expressions that divide Canada and Canadians apart from other nations and cultures of the world (The Canadian Encyclopedia). It is difficult to identify the real Canadian identity due to differentiated opinions from the beginning of the Canadian settlement. Canada is a multicultural country, which welcomes all individuals and cultures, celebrating diversity rather than assimilation. As a result, the way person perceives his or her own Canadian identity differ from one person to the next. Different settlers have varied customs and traditions assimilated into Canadian identity, which is I believe that there is …show more content…
Thus, it is difficult to identify its identity like in other country's identity; such as, German in Germany, or French in France (The Canadian Encyclopedia). Whilst, individually it is challenging to identify what nation a Canadian belongs. Additionally, Canada had numerous first nations, as well as, multiple ethnic settler groups from the start (Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada). As a result, Canadian identity is harder to pin down because of the different immigrants that have introduced various customs and traditions in Canada. There are other compelling reasons why Canadians cannot arrive at its national identity such as: the aborigines and settlers, French and British settlers. Although Canada's 90 % population believed that the Canadian charter of Rights and Freedoms and the national flag were the top symbols of Canadian identity, this still generally speaking is just right to represent a country. Therefore, the customs and top symbols of Canada have been influenced by different other nations who comes in Canada. The contribution of people from different countries makes Canada, a country with multicultural …show more content…
Although it is not always snowing in Canada, Canadians do frequently experience low temperatures because of the fact that Canada is located in the northern hemisphere and are therefore closer to the Arctic Circle. This generalization once again does not cover the identity of all Canadians. The reason for this is that not all Canadians are simply used to the cold. There are many immigrants that came from tropical countries who are only used to wet and dry weather. In addition, Inukshuks were traditionally used in cold temperatures, Canada for example. Since many years ago, Inukshuks have become a national symbol of hope and friendship for all the citizens of Canada, perhaps because they were used as guides or markers before (Inukshuk Gallery). Another interpretation of Inukshuks would be the constant change of the definition of Canadian identity. History still generally speaks about Canada, and represents change in the future. The significance of Canada’s climate is that it leads how Canadians live and play in their daily life. Just like how seasons change annually, the definition of the Canadian identity varies every time Canada welcomes immigrants every year. The climate of Canada defines the variety of environment and the need for adaptable citizens. Majority of Canadians values the
Although Quebec is in Canada, a majority of Quebecers do not identify with the national identity of Canada. Both societies create a sense of identity as well as nationalism (Hiller, 295). Hiller mentions two approaches to assessing Canadian identity; the unitary approach and the segmentalist approach (Hiller, 277). The unitary approach suggests that society consists of people who regardless of their ethnic back ground, identify as belonging to the national society, while the segmentalist approach concentrates on groups and communities that share racial, linguistic, occupational, or cultural similarities (Hiller, 28). While most Anglophones are more unitary or pan-Canadian, Quebec heavily identifies with the segmentalist approach. This dissimilarity of identity perspective may be problematic for the country, at the same time however, it can also be viewed as a struggle where contradictory parties find a way to compromise and reshape Canadian society together (Hiller, 277). Canada’s former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau made it his objective to unite Quebec with the rest of Canada. In 1969 Trudeau’s government implemented Bill C-120, otherwise known as the Official Language act, which made French an...
When asking some of my friends why they would often say that their families all still spoke their native language or that they lived in a community which a lot of people still spoke the language as well. This is why it’s hard to describe a Canadian identity. We are a very diverse country that celebrates differences. I don’t think there is one Canadian Identity, I think everyone has their own that is influenced by the many different cultural identities that we celebrate in
Is Canada a nation or has its control just switched empirical hands? As Professor Hutcheson asked, did Canada go from "Colony to Nation or Empire to Empire?" This question has greatly influenced Canada's changing identity since her birth as a British colony with Confederation in 1867 to the present day. The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the shifting Canadian identities between the years 1890 to 1960. The objective is to illustrate Canada's transforming identity by using the novels The Imperialist by Sara Jeanette Duncan, Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan, and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies and to connect the stories of each of these works of fiction to the varying political, economic, and social issues of their times. Each book is written by a prominent author, and portrays an accurate reflection of the demanding political, economic, and social concerns throughout the late nineteen and first half of the twentieth century of Canadian history. All of the novels reflect Canada's peripheral view of the world, as opposed to a central point of view, because throughout its history Canada has always been perceived as a secondary player. As George Grant says in his literary piece Lament for a Nation, Canada is "a branch plant society" , meaning Canada is controlled by another power. The essential question is where has Canada's loyalties traditionally lay and how has this shaped the Canadian identity. The Imperialist by Sara Jeanette Duncan, written in 1904 reflects a very British influenced Canada. At this time, Canada is still a British colony under British rule, and the people of Canada are very content to consider themselves British. The novel predominately ill...
Lister Sinclair’s pamphlet Change Comes to Canada was distributed at the Canadian Government Pavilion during Expo 67. Sinclair looks at the meaning of the name Canada. She analyses common points in people’s daily lives such as the meaning of ‘our home and native land,’ Canadian history, Canadian resources, transportation, climate and culture that tie each Canadian together. She claims that “every Canadian who thinks about Canada has his own idea about the meaning of that dream.” She argues that there is no actual national identity but individual identities that made up our national identity. She challenges the questions related to a national identity. It is interesting that something that questions the national identity would be distributed at Expo 67; but, it provides in...
The culture of Canada refers to the shared values, attitudes, standards, and beliefs that are a representative of Canada and Canadians. Throughout Canada's history, its culture has been influenced by American culture because of a shared language, proximity, television and migration between the two countries. Over time, Canadian-American relations have helped develop Canada’s identity during the years 1945-1982; thus introducing changing social norms, media and entertainment. In support of this, due to the United States being approximately 9.25 times larger in population and having the dominant cultural and economic influence, it played a vital role in establishing Canada’s identity. With Canada being its neighbour, naturally, the United States would influence their way of life upon Canada.
Canadians have come along way in their culture and identity. Canadians have participated in multiple wars and battles that have shaped our country and the people that live in this country. But it’s not just the violence what shaped our country but the people and traditions that originated outside of Canada and was brought here. European, British and French cultures and tradition have all influenced Canada’s culture and identity. (Blattberg, C. 13, January 02). Immigrants from all over the world have in the passed contributed to the way we view Canada and because of that we live in a safe, mosaic, multicultural country. (Blattberg, C. 13, January 02).There have also been the First Nations people who started Canada’s good reputation and because of them we have accomplished everything that we have done today. (Blattberg, C. 13, January 02).
Canada holds a very unique place around the world with exclusive characteristics, symbols and signs that sets Canada apart from other cultures and countries. In this Mr. Sub advertisement, Canadianness is produced in various ways throughout. Moreover, Mounties, lumberjacks, dog sleds, the color red,
Much has been written about the ways in which Canada's state as a nation is, as Peter Harcourt writes, "described" and hence, "imagined" (Harcourt, "The Canadian Nation -- An Unfinished Text", 6) through the cultural products that it produces. Harcourt's terms are justifiably elusive. The familiar concept of "Canadian culture", and hence Canadian cinema, within critical terminology is essentially based on the principle that the ideology of a national identity, supposedly limited by such tangible parameters as lines on a map, emerges from a common geographical and mythological experience among its people. The concept that cultural products produced in Canada will be somehow innately "Canadian" in form and content first presupposes the existence of such things as inherently Canadian qualities that can be observed. Second, it presupposes a certain commonality to all Canadian artists and posits them as vessels through which these said "inherently Canadian qualities" can naturally flow. Third, it also assumes the loosely Lacanian principle that Canadian consumers of culture are predisposed to identify and enjoy the semiotic and mythological systems of their nation, and further connotes that Canadians have fair access to their own cultural products. Since these assumptions are indeed flawed but not altogether false, this paper will deal with the general relationship between the concept of Canada, its cultural texts, and its mythological and critical discourse as an unresolved problematic that should be left "open" in order to maximize the "meaning potential" of films as cultural texts within the context of "national identity," an ideological construct that remains constantly in flux.
payment for our country, free trade. All in all we have our own government, our
...ans and the British settlers. So, why are we forcing ourselves to define what a “Canadian” truly is, when Canada has never been a country with one prevalent cultural group? But this is not to say that Canada will never be a unified country. South Africa is an example of the unification of a country that has torn itself apart by apartheid policies. Nelson Mandela dedicated his life to this struggle, seeking equality for all races, finally achieving his goal in 1995. If Mandela unified a country that was deeply racist and apartheid for such a long time, who are we to say that we cannot someday unify a country simply divided because of deferential to authority and differing arrangements of party systems? Canada and its citizens will one day realize the many deeper things they hold in common that unify them, which will help us in making strides towards true unification.
Since the British Empire conquered North America, Canada has been a tightly connected colony of Britain. Canada has always under British rule and their cultures and national identity copied each other. However, after the Second Cold War Canada became culturally different in comparison to Britain and was lacking their own individual national identity. Joining NORAD, introducing a new Canadian flag, and fact that Canada’s Constitution was patriated helped ameliorate an identity for Canada. These advances of becoming an autonomous country after the Second World War helped Canada where it is today.
“ Canada 's national obsession seems to be its own identity.” For many years Canada has feared the increasing influence of its North American neighbors on its culture - the United States . It has become a matter of growing concern for the people of power and influence in Canada to maintain their separate cultural identity and to promote their own cultural norms. Gaetan Tremblay presents his views on this topic and does this from the perspective of a person living and working in Quebec.
Throughout Canada’s relatively short existence we have created quite a reputation for ourselves. Our great nation is known for many things , and I am proud to say that most are positive. Does Canada have a strong national identity? Anyone can see the answer is yes. Just take a look at the facts. For example, we are renowned for our peacekeepers and no other country is considered more peaceful. Without a doubt this is the type of identity we should work to keep.
Zora Neal Hurston’s book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, reveals one of life’s most relevant purposes that stretches across cultures and relates to every aspect of enlightenment. The novel examines the life of the strong-willed Janie Crawford, as she goes down the path of self-discovery by way of her past relationships. Ideas regarding the path of liberation date all the way back to the teachings of Siddhartha. Yet, its concept is still recycled in the twenty-first century, as it inspires all humanity to look beyond the “horizon,” as Janie explains. Self-identification, or self-fulfillment, is a theme that persists throughout the book, remaining a quest for Janie Crawford to discover, from the time she begins to tell the story to her best friend, Pheoby Watson. Hurston makes a point at the beginning of the novel to separate the male and female identities from one another. This is important for the reader to note. The theme for identity, as it relates to Janie, carefully unfolds as the story goes on to expand the depths of the female interior.
The 1971 Multicultural Policy, the by-product of recommendations seen in Book IV of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism report, gave Canadian society a new image. The policy sets out to assist cultural groups to retain and foster their own identity, overcome barriers to participate in society, promote creative exchanges among Canadian cultural groups, and assist immigrants in acquiring at least one of the official languages. The Environics Institute for Survey Research conducted a survey that found 56% of Canadians saw multiculturalism as one of the core symbols of Canadian identity, up nearly 15% from 10 years prior however, there is still high skepticism for the Multicultural Policy. As a result of Canada’s Multicultural