Foracountryonly150yearsold,Canadahassuremadeanameforitselfontheworldstage.
From our humble roots as the ancestral lands of many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
peoplestoourenduringtiestotheCommonwealth,Canadawasnotbornoutofviolenceand
strife, but peace and mutual understanding that we are better off together. This philosophy
continuestoguideustoday,aswewelcomethousandsofimmigrantsandrefugeeseachyearto
joinourCanadianfamily.Weunderstandthatdiversitybringsusstrength,addingvibrancyand
vitalitytoourculturalmosaic.However,inanincreasinglyisolationistworldinwhichthesevalues
arethreatened,Canadahastheopportunitytoclearlydefinewhoweareasanation.
It is hard to pinpoint what exactly defines Canada as a nation. From arctic tundra to prairie
grasslandstooceancoastlines,ourpopulationisspreadfromseatoseatosea,inbothquiet
hamletsoffiftypeopleandbustlingmetropolisesofmillions.WhileEnglishandFrenchmaybe
theofficiallanguages,theyarejusttwoofmany,asisthesamewiththenumerousethnicities
andreligionspracticedwithinourborders.ItisforthisreasonthatCanadalacksasingle,shared
nationalidentity.Sure,wemaybethe‘GreatWhiteNorth’,anationofTimHortons-drinking,
hockey-loving,moose-ridingigloo-dwellers,butnoneofthosestereotypestrulydefinewhowe
areasCanadians.OurindividualityaugmentsourCanadianexperience,andultimately,theideas
holdaboutwhatitmeanstoliveinthisgreatcountry.Infact,wearejustasmuchanationof
powwowdancers,dimsumdiners,Bollywoodfanatics,andperogymakers.But,despiteallthose
differences,weallcallourselvesCanadian.
Ournationalidentityisnotbuiltoncommonpractices,butrather,sharedvaluesthatbindus
togetherasanation.Wearenotoriouslykind,empathetic,andhumble,evenifwedoendup
braggingaboutthosequalitiesfromtimetotime.Wearecommunity-orientated,andarealways
willingtolendahelpinghandtoafriendinatimeofneed.Butaboveallelse,weareproudof
ourmulticulturalism.Canadaisanationofimmigrants,andwhileweareallproudtocallthis
country our home, we have not forgotten where our roots are. In fact, we encourage new
Canadians to keep their culture close and share it with us. We understand that our strength
comesfromthisdiversity,andweworkhardtoprotectit.
However, our national identity built on the foundation of multiculturalism and acceptance of
othersisincreasinglythreatenedbythespreadofisolationismaroundtheworld.Countriesare
backing out of intergovernmental organizations, closing their borders to those in need, and
activelypursuingtheirnationalagendasofforemostimportance.Whileitisacoincidencethat
thisalignswithCanada’ssesquicentennialcelebrations,thereisnobettertimeforustoreflect
onourpast,anddefineourfutureasanation.
Challengedbygrowinginternationalsentimentthatdiversityisasourceofweakness,Canadais
presented with an opportunity to stand tall for what is at the core of our national identity.
Throughourwordsandactionsbothnationallyandontheinternationalstage,Canadamustresist
foreign pressures and make it clear that we value diversity, because our diversity brings us
strength.Wearethecountrywearetodaybecauseweareempathetic,welcoming,andaccepting
ofothersfromallaroundtheworld.WedonotforceoursharedidentityontonewCanadians,
butrather,encouragethemtoaddtoitandmakeittheirown.Thisiswhatmakesitsodifficult
topinpointwhatdefinesCanadaasanation,butitiswhatmakesusgreat.
Now, as we celebrate Canada 150, it is our time to stand up for diversity and inclusion as
fundamentalelementsofwhatitmeanstobeCanadian.Withourvoicesloudandouractions
clear,wewillproudlyshowtheworldthatweareCanada.