1945-2000: Canada's National Identity

In the various literature studied this semester in ELA A30 there are numerous criteria for deciding Canadian identity. The poem “I am a Canadian” by Duke Redbird mentions many Canadian identities. The quote “I’m a lobster fisherman in Newfoundland. I’m a clambake in P.E.I.” describes the uniqueness of each province. The maritime provinces are involved in fishery while the prairie provinces are rich in resources such as wheat. Different regions have their own identity and their unique identity makes up Canada as a whole. There are things that Canadian enjoys “I’m a clown in Quebec during carnival. I’m a mass in the cathedral of St. Paul. I’m a hockey game in the forum”. These things that Canadian take part in make them distinct from other countries.

Canada is a nation made up of many people and events that help illustrate an image of what people think of us. Canada is a country with over 130 years of history so it can be difficult to choose which specific moments define it and a variety of different themes to choose from. I know that The Battle of Passchendaele was a very important occasion that helped establish Canadian Military Achievement. Women’s Rights have been fought for many years and are still being fought for in Canada I think Flappers helped boost this issue. English-French relations have been very tense in the past, the FLQ Crisis played a major role in this theme. With the Syrian Crisis happening many Syrians need to leave their country in order to be safe, Canada is one of the countries which are letting in refugees with 25,000 entering through 2015-16 this helps establish Canada’s Role on the International stage. I believe that these events are the most important ones that have occurred and I will be discussing them in further detail in this report.

Canada’s Identity is always changing. Canada is 148 years old, and those 148 years Canada has had many different identities. If you ask someone what is Canada’s identity was, when Canada first form is going to be different from someone in 2000. To me, when I think of Canada I think of the Diversity in Canada, Canadian flag, and how we always say sorry.

This course revolves around the local,national and global aspects that have shaped Canada's identity from as early as World War I to the present. The course is also taught in a Catholic School that encourages students to relate subjects to the Catholic religion. Students are to evaluate issues such as human rights, social and economic change and national and international relationships from a Catholic perspective. It aids students in achieving these goals by splitting the subject into five different strands.

When taking the time to review the early beginnings of Canadian history through the events that would go onto lead to confederation, it is possible to realize the intent that is found in regards to the founding of the country from being a collection of colonies for the British Empire. This all in all establishes and investigation to the economic, social, political, and environmental events/ideas to go on to understand the nature of the formation of Canada, as well as the influences that would go on to the development of the national identity.

Each nation-state controls its own governing policies; even so, nationalism is a concept that cannot be severed from politics. To be concise, nationalism is described as the feelings people have when identifying with their nation. It has the ability to impact a country's social, political, and economic conditions. Incidentally, nationalism should be perceived as a negative force due to the amount of tragedies it has generated throughout the course of history. It's remarkable influence has left many collective groups feeling isolated or mistreated.

Canada as nation failed to assimilate the immigrants, minorities and Aboriginal individuals into society. Legislations like the Indian Act, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, Immigration Act, and Multicultural Act were introduced to help reduce the more recognizable forms of racial discrimination. Canada may believe that they are a nation that is justice and diverse however it failed to fix the core issues that made Canada to what it is today. The laws and regulations are a temporary fix to the problem, and Canada national building was originated in a corrupt and immoral way. Each historical events in Canada are linked together that made up Canada`s identity. Though they seem to be unconnected it indicates the hidden agenda Canada

The Canadian government portrays the country as a land of new beginnings, where people go to start a better life for themselves and their families. With much to offer to newcomers, including the promises of safety, security and healthcare, the vast selection of jobs and education, and an overall high quality of living, many immigrants have chosen and will continue to choose Canada as their new home country. Canadian officials take pride in accepting and embracing multiculturalism - as Canada is often referred to as a country of cultural mosaic in contrast to the idea of the American ‘melting pot’. This image of Canada overlooks the ill-advised past actions that have taken place, much the same way as it disregards the subtle discrimination that

Overall the most integral part of Canadian identity is that we are guardians of human rights and promoters of world peace. William Lyon Mackenzie King has contributed to this identity through his efforts in World War 2. He was able to recognize there was a violation of human rights oversea,and took the necessary action to end these violations as shown through his leadership on D-day. A Prime Minister who also exemplified this was Lester B. Pearson. We owe Lester B. Pearson a great debt for cementing the pride filled place peacekeeping holds in any proud Canadian’s hearts through his actions. Our peaceful nation has become associated internationally with safety for those in place where place is sparse. Another major contribution to this identity

When looking at the role of regionalism in forming Canada’s national identity, it plays an important role in the formation of Canada’s architectural and written history. For example, from coast to coast, the architecture of each region varies widely from each other, which exhibits how each landscape has shaped the way that region was formed (Thorsteinson, 2016). Additionally, regionalism is seen as a strategy used to define being Canadian, and in the words of Northrop Frye, “the question of Canadian identity… is not a ‘Canadian’ question at all, but a regional question” (Thorsteinson, 2016). Another role of regional identity in the formation of Canada is the symbolism of the Canadian flag, which presents a leaf from a maple tree as the national symbol of Canada (Dirks, 2017). Also, companies such as roots uses parts of Canadas landscape to present their products, such as beavers and landmarks like the Hudson’s Bay. However, Canada is also seen as having an identity crisis, and the differences encompassed within each region in Canada makes it difficult to be wholly inclusive when it comes to presenting Canada’s national identity (Dirks, Class 10, 2017). And yet, there seems to be several solid statements when it comes to portraying Canada’s identity through regionalism, such as Canada’s symbiotic relationship with nature as a whole. Subsequently, regionalism has emphasized Canada’s national identity as a landscape and region oriented nation, in comparison to the modern

Two thing stood out to me in this week's readings, although they are closely intertwined: the concepts of Canadian nationalism and Canadian national identity. These concepts changed greatly between the three Canadian Prime Ministers tenures, St. Laurent, Diefenbaker, and Pearson, respectively and how these concepts have continued to change up to the present day.

During the twentieth century, Canada as a nation witnessed and endured several historical events that have had a deep and profound influence on Canadian politics. The most influential and constant force in twentieth century Canadian politics has been the increasing power and command of Quebec nationalism and the influence it has had on Canadian politics today. Quebec nationalism has shaped the structure and dynamics of Canadian federalism from a centralized to a decentralized form of federal government (Beland and Lecours 2010, 423). The decentralization of several sectors within the Canadian government has been a direct effect of Quebec nationalism. Decentralization has led to more autonomy among the provincial governments, especially in

Canadian politics has always been defined by the federal government’s interactions with the various regions and provinces within Canada. Over time, Canadian politics has evolved to be focused on three individual issues: the federal government’s attempt to keep Quebec within the federation, the economic, political, and cultural dominance of Ontario, and, from a Western Canadian point of view, the subordination of the West. The popularity of the latter notion has become increasingly prominent within the Western provinces over the previous decades, due to the government’s focus on the former two issues. And, for many Western Canadians, their relationship with the federal government has largely been defined around Ottawa’s refusal

Mackey, Eva. 1998. House of Difference : Cultural Politics and National Identity in Canada. Florence, KY, USA: Routledge. Accessed November 20, 2015. ProQuest ebrary.

Canada is really big, and this causes a unique problem. Canada has an identity crisis. The Spicer Commission (Spicer, 1991) showed us that by giving us the Canada Clause, essentially stating Canada is one nation and a dual nations, three nations and multicultural, centralized and decentralized. All of these identities are equally supported at different times in history. For example, directly following The Great Depression, public support for the Federal government was very high and Canada was described as obviously One Nation and very centralized (Canadiana, 2001-2005) . Alternatively, during the 1880's, the JCPC ruled in favour of the provinces in many major jurisdictional cases, giving the provinces more power and giving credit to Canada being a Compact Nation (Hodge v. the Queen, 1883). The question remains, however, what is Canada's identity now?