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What Does The Beaver Mean To Be Canadian?

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Though Parliament officially made it the national animal of Canada in 1975, the beaver has long been seen as an emblem of Canada, and its rich history. Despite all of this, there are still people who want to see our national animal changed. I believe the beaver exemplifies what it means to be Canadian, and that without it, Canada would not be the same country we know today. From the fur trade to being present on Canadas’ first postage stamp, the beaver has many ties to Canadian heritage. The beaver also displays numerous characteristics that mirror the values many Canadians take pride in. Finally, the beaver lives natively in every province and is featured proudly on the crests of many Canadian establishments. The fur trade, an event that …show more content…

Because the beaver lives in every province it is not unusual to spot one on a hike through the woods. Furthermore, both in the past and present the beaver has found itself represented on many Canadian emblems, past examples include the Hudson’s Bay Company coat of arms, and Canadas first postage stamp. For a more modern example Robert Kozinets points out that, “Roots, the Canadian clothing brand, has really leveraged the beaver logo very successfully. It says outdoors, it says woods, it says camps, it says nature, and they've done it well.”(2011, Para.7). The beaver has also found its’ way onto our five cent coin, the nickel, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company continues to use it on its logo to this day.
To conclude, the beaver is the perfect choice as a symbol of Canada, not only for the critical role it played in the fur trade, which helped form Canada as we know it today, But for its’ behaviours that reflect Canadian values, and the fact that it actually commonplace in Canada . Though it may not be the most up-to-date image for Canada, I believe that a countries national animal should reflect its heritage, and not just be a cool animal, which the beaver does flawlessly for

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