1. Unit 4 Canadian National Identity
To what extent should individuals and groups in Canada embrace a national identity?

2. Exploring Perspectives on Canadian Identity
Chapter 16
Exploring Perspectives on Canadian Identity

3. Activity Read pages 347- 348 and complete the following :
Paraphrase what each of the following has to say about Canada
Explain if the perspective is based on political, geographic or cultural elements
Explain any evident similarities or differences John Diefenbaker ( Former Canadian Prime Minister )
Bill Clinton ( Former US president )
Sophie Milman ( Soviet immigrant –turned Canadian singer )
Tommy Douglas ( Former Saskatchewan premier/ Father of Canadian Medicare)
Edward Grabb ( Sociology Professor )

4. Views on Canada’s Identity
Perspectives are essentially points of view and points of view can be different. Think about the following questions as examples:
How do Canadians view themselves?
How do Americans view Canadians?
How do Europeans view Canadians?
What impact does a country close to us, such as the United States, have on Canada’s national identity?

5. The Official Languages Act of 1969, based on the findings of the Royal Commission of Bilingualism and Biculturalism, recommended that English and French be official languages in Canada.
It went further stating that other heritage languages (other than English and French) should be promoted through “the encouragement of cultural diversification within a bilingual framework.”

6. The Multiculturalism Act of 1988, legislated by the Government of Canada, was aimed at developing a country that includes everyone regardless of cultural or racial differences based on individual rights.
Canada was to
become an
experiment in
multiculturalism.

7. The Evolution of Canadian National Identity
Going back to perspectives on what it means to be Canadian, review some of the popular perspectives on page 352.

8. Nationalism in Upper and Lower Canada
The 1839 Durham Report recommended that:
Upper and Lower Canada be united into one colony
French Canadians be assimilated
Municipal institutions be established in Canada
As a result of Lord Durham’s report, Upper and Lower Canada were merged into a single colony- the province of Canada-and use of French in the legislature was banned.

9. In response to the report, two reformers took stage – Robert Baldwin and Louis La Fontaine.
They pressured the governor to establish responsible government (an government accountable to the citizens) and restore French
language to the
legislature.
By 1849, French
was allowed to be
spoken in the
Assembly.
Lower
Canada
Upper Canada

10. Canada’s Fathers of Confederation
Pre- and Post-Confederation
Confederation came into being in 1867 with the union of the British colonies (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec).
36 participants at the 3 conferences are known as the Fathers of Confederation

11. Louis Riel: Another Canadian Founding Father?
In retrospect can Louis Riel be considered a Founding Father of Confederation?

12. Homework Investigate two individual’s perspectives from either:
The voices section on pages
The Investigation section on pages
The perspectives listed on pages
Create a short summary highlighting how each of the two people you chose have influenced OR perceive Canada’s national identity.