For a technological generation with unlimited access to information, we are very ignorant about our history. If you were to stop people on the street and ask them regarding the forefathers of Canada, most would draw a blank. You would face the same results if attempted to ask, what year was the Charter of Rights and Freedoms created. In addition, if people were asked to name our type of government, they would claim we are a Democracy. In actuality, we are a Constitutional Monarchy. Officially Queen Elizabeth II is Canada’s head of state. One would more likely be able to get answers on things that appear in the media, than on facts covered by history books.
Canada became the first self-declared multicultural nation in 1972. Policy reforms occurred at the turn of the century, promoting an accepting society for all, and the diminishment of racism. Unfortunately, many forms of prejudice and discrimination have remained in our society. It may not always be apparent nonetheless, racism, discrimination and prejudice have not ended. The most rudimentary fact is that many Canadians forget, disregard, or are unaware of the
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If one is curious, they can research, study,or question our political leaders. However, most of us would claim that we have no time. Many of us may simply be indifferent, to the reforms and historical events that have taken place throughout Canada’s history. The problem is that colonial legacy has produced events in recent history. For example, the last residential school did not close until 1996.This date is within the lifetime of most university students today; a frightening reality for most. This raises questions in regards to the integration of policies concerning minority groups and the first generation Canadians who might not necessarily be of European descent. Assimilation can have devastating effects; especially if it is applied upon a society that claims to be
Canada is internationally renowned for its commitment to multiculturalism. In fact, Canada was the first nation to officially adopt a multicultural policy. However, while the Canadian government has developed a broad-based multicultural mandate that includes a national human rights code and increased penalties for hate-motivated crimes, and most Canadians oppose overt forms of discrimination and hate, racism continues to exist in Canadian society, albeit in a subtle fashion.
Do you know that despite Canada being called multicultural and accepting, Canada’s history reveals many secrets that contradicts this statement? Such an example are Canadian aboriginals, who have faced many struggles by Canadian society; losing their rights, freedoms and almost, their culture. However, Native people still made many contributions to Canadian society. Despite the efforts being made to recognize aboriginals in the present day; the attitudes of European Canadians, acts of discrimination from the government, and the effects caused by the past still seen today have proven that Canadians should not be proud of Canada’s history with respect to human rights since 1914.
Hyman, Ilene, Agnes, Meinhard, and John, Sheilds. "The Role of Multiculturalism Policy in Addressing Social Inclusion Processes in Canada" Ryerson University. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. .
Multiculturalism in Canada is actually a beautiful element. Through different texts such as “I am not racist” and “I’m a Banana and proud of it” multiculturalism may not be a beautiful thing after all. The stereotyping, that is describing people shape, colour and language they speak. In Canada, stereotyping and racism occurs even if we think it’s not as we are multicultural country.
The Indian Residential schools and the assimilating of First Nations people are more than a dark spot in Canada’s history. It was a time of racist leaders, bigoted white men who saw no point in working towards a lasting relationship with ingenious people. Recognition of these past mistakes, denunciation, and prevention steps must be taking intensively. They must be held to the same standard that we hold our current government to today. Without that standard, there is no moving forward. There is no bright future for Canada if we allow these injustices to be swept aside, leaving room for similar mistakes to be made again. We must apply our standards whatever century it was, is, or will be to rebuild trust between peoples, to never allow the abuse to be repeated, and to become the great nation we dream ourselves to be,
Systemic discrimination has been a part of Canada’s past. Women, racial and ethnic minorities as well as First Nations people have all faced discrimination in Canada. Policies such as, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, provincial and federal Human Rights Codes, as well has various employment equity programs have been placed in Canada’s constitution to fight and address discrimination issues. Despite these key documents placed for universal rights and freedoms Aboriginal and other minority populations in Canada continue to be discriminated against. Many believe there is no discrimination in Canada, and suggest any lack of success of these groups is a result of personal decisions and not systemic discrimination. While others feel that the legislation and equality policies have yet resulted in an equal society for all minorities. Racism is immersed in Canadian society; this is clearly shown by stories of racial profiling in law enforcement.
“Multiculturalism” entered public speech in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Canada that focused on unique cultural diversity, nationalities, and ethnicity across the nation. Multiculturalism and Immigration are important factors in the development of Canada to attain a strong multicultural example of economic stability, social and political growth which leads to the emergence of Canada’s identity and culture.
Multiculturalism policy was first adopted in Canada in 1971, which reaffirms the dignity and value of all its citizens regardless of ethnic origins, race, religious affiliations, or language. Part of this policy, Canada confirms the rights of all the aboriginals along with the recognition of two official languages. Indeed, multiculturalism has great importance since its main purpose is to give equal treatment to all the citizens (Daniel, 2010). It ensures that all individual citizens could still maintain their identities, and have pride with their ancestry. Through this initiative, the Canadian government was able to give their citizens a feeling of self-confidence, making them more open to their diverse cultures. The multiculturalism policy
In the 1970s, Pierre Elliott Trudeau decided to use multiculturalism as a “way of dealing with discontent over the report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism1.”. According to some groups, this report dealt primarily with French and English linguistic issues and did not pay enough attention to issues referring to other groups within the Canadian population. In a more general extent, “multiculturalism policies in Canada have attempted to assist cultural group in overcoming barriers so as to allow them to integrate more fully in society.2”. However, the notion of multiculturalism itself was criticized by the Spicer Commission on National Unity. This commission was put forward by the Mulroney government, as a response to the popular perception that the country's unity was vuln...
It can be said that Canada has a reputation as a culturally accepting nation. Unfortunately, in it’s past there were many mistakes made. For instance, in the 1920’s not all Canadians were free from discrimination. Although most people were embracing this time of prosperity with new inventions and exciting lifestyles, others were struggling to avoid the the overbearing push of cultural genocide. These were the Indigenous peoples of Canada. The government of Canada has made great mistakes forcing the policy of assimilation upon the indigenous communities and now want to be reconciled with those who were affected. For instance, the policy of assimilation was put into place beginning in 1878 to humanize all young Native Canadian children. However
Canada has long been called "The Mosaic", due to the fact that it is made up of a varied mix of races, cultures and ethnicities. As more and more immigrants come to Canada searching for a better life, the population naturally becomes more diverse. This has, in turn, spun a great debate over multiculturalism. Some of the issues under fire are the political state's policies concerning multiculturalism, the attitudes of Canadians around these policies, immigration, the global market, and a central point is the education and how to present the material in a way so as to offend the least amount of people. There are many variations on these themes as will be discussed in this paper.
“What reason have we, except our own desperate wishes, to believe that God is, by any standard we can conceive, 'good'?Doesn't all the prima facie evidence suggest exactly the opposite? What have we to set against it?” (3). Clive Staples Lewis asserts and implores this question upon grieving the death of his beloved wife and friend, Helen Joy Davidman. Although CS Lewis is considered to be the greatest Christian theologian of the twentieth century, if not one of the most widely recognized of all time, Lewis inquires the validity of the faith he so desperately desires to believe when his wife’s parting appears counterintuitive to God’s presence, goodness, faithfulness, and love. In A Grief Observed, CS Lewis candidly describes his musings, longings, struggles, inquiries, anger, hope, confusion, and peace throughout his journey through grief after the loss of
Multiculturalism is a significant fabric of Canadian society that defines its unique identity among the rest of the world. Enactment of the Canadian multicultural policy (1971) affirmed government position and recognition of multiculturalism as a vital element of Canada. It is imperative to understand that multiculturalism is a static concept that keeps changing overtime and has a multidimensional entity. Canadians have always and will continue to revise the concept of multiculturalism to suit the ever expanding needs of Canadian society. In this paper, I will evaluate the reasons behind Canada’s adoption of multicultural policy and assess whether the policy should be maintained or not. I will defend the thesis that Canada’s multiculturalism
Growing up with a diverse community makes you realize that Canada is growing and slowly becoming a Multicultural society. Multiculturalism as stated in the textbook, is defined as allowing and accepting different cultures and providing them encouragement and support to keep their culture and diverse traditions (Mintz et al. 2015, 34). In 1971, Canada became the first country in the world to adapt the official policy of multiculturalism. (Government of Canada. “Canadian Multiculturalism: An Inclusive Citizenship” 2012). Canada grants all residents of Canadian citizens regardless of their “racial or ethnic origins, their language, or their religious affiliation”. (Government of Canada. “Canadian Multiculturalism: An Inclusive Citizenship”
For immigrants who are visible minorities in Canada, the experiences of their children may be more indicative of the long-term potential for economic and social integration of the minority group into Canadian civilization. Although, research on attitudes reveals that Canadians have somewhat favorable attitudes towards immigration, racial minorities experience significant discrimination compared to Caucasians in Canada: “35.9 percent [of visible minorities] reported experiences of discrimination, compared with 10.6 percent of whites” (496). In spite of development in the economic conditions of immigrants as they adapt to Canada’s society and labor markets – with overall improvement in employment experiences among the second generation -- a