This is not a criticism of Canada, from where I am, Canada is very much the country that has done everything right, it has an impressive GDP per Capita, and yet still manages to maintain public services, second largest geographical nation in the world, is generally held very highly by most countries, a welcoming attitude to foreigners, a lack of arrogance, and it seems to regularly top the UN Development Chart as one of the most desirable places to live. You have to work incredibly hard to find Anti-Canadian Sentiment, with a single exception, in Canada.

Canada itself seems at best to be uneasy with itself, and at worst despise itself. Quebec as a seperatist movement is probably the best known anywhere in the Western World, yet what surprised me was learning how fast the movement expanded, from the space of just a few years you had a fringe movement go into provincial government, while there may be language issues Canada seems to have dealt with this admirably, yet this is probably one of the few differences between Quebec and ROC, ethnically you are both diverse, and neither Quebecois nor English Canadians, can claim that a vast majority of their number comes from the original forgers of the tongues of the languages.

I have also been reading about the Seperation Party of Alberta, and their plans to field a whole line up of candidates in the provincial election, for seemingly no other reason than the rest of Canada does not vote the way they like. Now Albertans feel free to correct me but I am under the impression that the culture here whilst slightly more conservative politically differs little from the cultural practices in other parts of Canada. I realise Alberta is no Quebec, yet, but it does seem that these movements take only a relatively short time to grow, yet in many European Countries where there are far older divides and greater variety in the internal culture, you don't see the level of seperatism in Quebec, or if you do it has grown far more slowly, under far worse conditions than those in Canada.

Is this rapid spread of disunity largely because there is not a Canadian Identity? Looking at just the West. European Countries have distinct and often ancient cultures - and it is the ones that don't like Belguim, a relatively recent construct which have the hardest problems - based on language and ethnicity, but also on circumstances that forged a loose connection of tribes into a people and then on to a nation. America has its revolution and its myths, which regardless of the questionable truth are undoubtedly an important part of a very strong identity. Australia has its isolation. What does Canada have that makes it uniquely Canadian?

Canadian identity is very strong. Its all about mounted police and snow!

Things were good, things used to be pretty good indeed. Times unfortunately change. I'm glad I'm not in Canada at the moment, because it's on a rollercoaster to disaster as far as the perspective from my hometown is concerned.

Canada itself seems at best to be uneasy with itself, and at worst despise itself. Quebec as a seperatist movement is probably the best known anywhere in the Western World, yet what surprised me was learning how fast the movement expanded, from the space of just a few years you had a fringe movement go into provincial government, while there may be language issues Canada seems to have dealt with this admirably, yet this is probably one of the few differences between Quebec and ROC, ethnically you are both diverse, and neither Quebecois nor English Canadians, can claim that a vast majority of their number comes from the original forgers of the tongues of the languages.

Quebec is a complex issue, one which is impossible to explain in a few (or even many) lines in a forum. As for others, however...


I have also been reading about the Seperation Party of Alberta, and their plans to field a whole line up of candidates in the provincial election, for seemingly no other reason than the rest of Canada does not vote the way they like. Now Albertans feel free to correct me but I am under the impression that the culture here whilst slightly more conservative politically differs little from the cultural practices in other parts of Canada. I realise Alberta is no Quebec, yet, but it does seem that these movements take only a relatively short time to grow, yet in many European Countries where there are far older divides and greater variety in the internal culture, you don't see the level of seperatism in Quebec, or if you do it has grown far more slowly, under far worse conditions than those in Canada.

While Europe indeed has far older grievances, it doesn't have the problem of vast geography. Furthermore, there are very few European countries that are as decentralized as Canada, and those that are (or are even more so) are generally very small countries with strong communities. So, it's a problem.

On the other hand, Alberta's separation is nowhere near the crisis stage as of yet. In fact, the idea was never seriously toyed with, although a possible provincial firewall from the rest of Canada was seriously considered at one point (and by the people that are now leading the federal opposition no less!).

Just like anywhere else, the people can be worked into frenzy levels from time to time. As a whole, the country, outside of Quebec, is relatively stable:

http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/pdf/social/perceptions.pdf


Is this rapid spread of disunity largely because there is not a Canadian Identity? Looking at just the West. European Countries have distinct and often ancient cultures - and it is the ones that don't like Belguim, a relatively recent construct which have the hardest problems - based on language and ethnicity, but also on circumstances that forged a loose connection of tribes into a people and then on to a nation. America has its revolution and its myths, which regardless of the questionable truth are undoubtedly an important part of a very strong identity. Australia has its isolation. What does Canada have that makes it uniquely Canadian?

It's a question journalists love to waste their time over. There is little doubt that there is a Canadian identity, but it is much more subdued. There's no chest thumping, in general. You won't find every second car with a Canadian flag, and everyone wearing a Canadian flag T-shirt. I mean, it's not like you don't see that from time to time, but it's rare. In general, our patriotism stems from less specific feelings, which are largely based on what you outlined in the beginning:


This is not a criticism of Canada, from where I am, Canada is very much the country that has done everything right, it has an impressive GDP per Capita, and yet still manages to maintain public services, second largest geographical nation in the world, is generally held very highly by most countries, a welcoming attitude to foreigners, a lack of arrogance, and it seems to regularly top the UN Development Chart as one of the most desirable places to live.

This is what we take pride in, but we're not quite as vocal about it -- usually, that is: nothing like watching Canadians abroad--suddenly, they're much more vocal about their patriotism than they are back at home.

No, here in London, I can't miss a Canadian without a big Maple Leaf flag sewn to their backpack. Maybe it's so they don't mistak them for Americans? But for a country of its size, it's a pretty strong identity (or anti-identity of non-Americanism?).

I thought being Canadian meant being anti American?

I would like to think our identity is complex, not weak. Geography has really played a part in splitting us up though. It is difficult to point to one thing and say that is our identity.

Add in multiculturalism and bilangualism into this.

I thought being Canadian meant being anti American?

I hear this often, but considering the fact that almost twice the number of Canadians (%-wise) see Americans as their #1 friends than the other way around, we should let this one rest... A completely different political system, with very different political (and thus cultural) values should be another clue. We do have a similar identity, though, in the sense that we accept someone as 'Canadian' regardless of whether they were born here or call Canada their home by choice. Try that in much of Europe... Even if you have their citizenship, you won't often be considered one of them.

I would like to think our identity is complex, not weak. Geography has really played a part in splitting us up though. It is difficult to point to one thing and say that is our identity.

:cheers:

I thought being Canadian meant being anti American?

Nope you're wrong.

I was being sarcastic.

i think people think to much, need to shut up support there country, instead all they think only of them selves and what they think is best, i cant stand anybody who thinks canada doesnt have an identity and thinks the up tons of bullshit like seperation because its "how they feel" rather then what makes more logical sence. I think one of the biggest problems is that Canadians dont know what a fucking amazing country we live in, i can say we live in the best country in the world i truley believe it, sure if i wanted to be richer id move to Luxemburg (but that would suck..no offence luxemburg i just like big cities and vast areas) or the U.S..but then there is the crime and the dirty cities and arogent people and there is something that i dotn like like in just abotu every country. To me Canada is the perfect balance of everything, it may not have the best of everything but it has a good balance that no county can match IMO.

I know allot of Canadians who should be forced to live in a thirld world country for a couple months maybe even a year, they would be crying and begging to have Canada back, people need to stop fucking taking this country for granted and realise how lucky they are to live here, i mean less then 1% of everbody in the world is a Canadian, that means anybody who is a canadian is one of a few (32,500,000 <--a few lol) lucky persons that actually get to live in this huge amazing rich ass beautifull country. It makes me sick to think there are idiots out there actually complaining about this country and wanting to seperate and case more tension.

I dont think so, on the contrary, I think that canadian people hava an strong identity that make them act very polite in any moment with anyone. What I mean is that many times people believe that those countries that have a bunch of arrogant jackass have a strong identity and those who act vey polite are weak, however, that is what makes canadian people unique and special.

Dialogue and comprimise has always been the Canadian way. I'm sure we'll be able to mend fences peacefully in the end.

I dont think so, on the contrary, I think that canadian people hava an strong identity that make them act very polite in any moment with anyone. What I mean is that many times people believe that those countries that have a bunch of arrogant jackass have a strong identity and those who act vey polite are weak, however, that is what makes canadian people unique and special.

I see what you mean by people thinking people who arent incredibly patriotic or have a really strong sense of identity are weak, its almost like the saying "nice guys always finish last" but i know from experience that in the short term most of the time they do yes, but in the long run they come out on top.

The only time Canadians make a point of telling the world where they are from is when they want to be distinguished from Americans. Otherwise, I don't know that the Canadian identity is weak or strong...I have seen little evidence to believe that outside of geography the people give their identity much thought around here. I've never been able to put my finger on what it supposedly is to be Canadian in the first place. I think our identity needs some serious development personally.

Canada has a strong identity not only culturaly but also ethnically and linguistically.
Canadians pride themselves on being amongst the most tolerant and liberal socitites on the planet.
Yes, Canadians bitch about the Americans but not because we don't like Americans individually but their socities values in general.
A great many Canadian doctors and nurses go to the states to make more money and less taxes but 83% come back within 5 years due to disliking the US values and lifestlyes. 92% arrive back within 10 years.
Canadians also greatly find the idea of "might is right" that the US uses as repugnant.
Canadaians are consensus builders..as the old joke goes, why did the Canadian cross the road......to get to the middle.
Canadians do three thing better than any country on the planet,...........talk about hockey, complain about the weather, and bitch about the Americans, and NOT in that order.

IMHO Canadian Identity is quite sad nowadays. It is simply built around distinguishing ourselves from Americans. Isn't it a bad day when you have to rely on your neighbour to be able to tell who you are?!?

Much of Canada's so-called identity is based on myth and the extent to which we care about particular issues/values only goes so far as to be able to juxtapose ourselves to Americans--however often wrong we are about Americans and ourselves.

If it's crime/poverty, humanitarianism/foreign aid, peacekeeping, charity/volunteerism/philanthropy at home, healthcare and even including environmental practices, Canadians in general often way-way-way over estimate their country and its status in the world when they have nothing particularly worthwhile being very proud about vis-a-vis European nations and even the United States.

We sure shouldn't be staking Canadian "values" on our decrepit public healthcare system for example, which we share with only the likes of Cuba and North Korea in the world, which pretty much means we're indifferent to peoples' suffering, but so long as we suffer "equally" ... when in fact Canadians often resort to the U.S. and when Canada's healthcare results falls way down the rank when compared to "socialist" European nations which allow for a parallel private system.

Canada's got a good quality of life, a good place to live in general, like so many other countries, but it's hardly worth a maple leaf tattoo or a flag on my backpack because precisely who and why should anyone be impressed by that?

If it's crime/poverty, humanitarianism/foreign aid, peacekeeping, charity/volunteerism/philanthropy at home, healthcare and even including environmental practices, Canadians in general often way-way-way over estimate their country and its status in the world when they have nothing particularly worthwhile being very proud about vis-a-vis European nations and even the United States.

Cool, that actually means there is a Canadian identity. To underestimate would spell trouble, or termination of Canada.


We sure shouldn't be staking Canadian "values" on our decrepit public healthcare system for example, which we share with only the likes of Cuba and North Korea in the world, which pretty much means we're indifferent to peoples' suffering, but so long as we suffer "equally" ... when in fact Canadians often resort to the U.S. and when Canada's healthcare results falls way down the rank when compared to "socialist" European nations which allow for a parallel private system.

In terms of cost effectiveness, or how much bang for the buck, it doesn't get much better than Cuba... I only wish Canada was as innovative, and would treat preventative medicine with seriousness it deserves. Canada's healthcare does not fall way down the rank when compared to European nations -- it does for some, not for others.

And I'm all for a parallel system, as long as the doctors are salaried, or hard capped like they are in those European socialist nations. Since the medical lobby is obviously too strong, and we live next to a country that can pay doctors more, this won't happen.

@Brian_In_London : That's pretty much bang on as far as I can tell.

About the only time I ever hear about what makes us so ostensibly proud to be Canadian is when the government is going about how supposedly tolerant and equal Canada is. Is this the best we can do?
This stuff may well be true from a relative perspective globally but it sure isn't the kind of thing that makes me want to dance in the streets at the mere mention of the name Canada. Mediocrity has never inspired pride in anyone, why would it work for us?

All of the government's ideas concerning our supposed identity sound like they were cooked up by some political think-tank and adjudged politically correct by the right people holding the purse strings. This sort of thing makes Bono do cartwheels in the street no doubt, but I for one find it wholly uninspiring.

About the only time I ever hear about what makes us so ostensibly proud to be Canadian is when the government is going about how supposedly tolerant and equal Canada is.

Yep, no other country has these myths. I've never heard 'home of the brave, land of the free' as a feel-good identity myth, for example. No sireee.

Yep, no other country has these myths. I've never heard 'home of the brave, land of the free' as a feel-good identity myth, for example. No sireee.
My point isn't about 'myths' it's about our supposed identity. Most of Europe is just as tolerant and equal as Canada will ever be. In other words, there's hardly anything unique about it not to mention that they are arguably better at it.

When somebody asks me what makes me a proud Canadian I can cite off this sort of thing. But if they were to ask me what constitutes my Canadian identity I think of the cold of winter, the Native culture, the pioneers that came and developed the land and other symbolic things. Our government doesn't seem to see it that way. They would rather we thought of ourselves in very humble terms. That's the government, not me. I'm not going to go out and wave our flag and thump my chest about it. I'm just saying that the government's line is about as exciting as watching maple syrup drip out of the bottle. If I'm going to relate to my country and the things about it that make me feel unique as a Canadian in the pantheon of nations, I'm not going to dwell on such common ideas as tolerance and diversity. Incidentally, why would I feel "proud" to be tolerant? That's like saying the average Joe deserves a reward for NOT robbing a bank. It's the way it should be to begin with and it's not something that is too tough to be either.

To know if our identity is weak, we have to figure out what our identity is..

How many of you posters are immigrants? I think that if you want to uncover Canadian identity you need the perspectives of people who have actually experienced how much worse (yes, worse) things are in other countries, and I don't mean having visited them as tourists or having "experienced" them via media and hearsay and other unreliable sources.

Speaking for myself as an American who emigrated to Canada in 1997 at the age of 33, I am recurrently shocked at how different (from the US, as that is my home and basis of comparison) and distinctive Canada is (again, distinctive from the US, but others might have experiences in China, India, the Phillippines, and so forth). I lived from 1997 until 2000 in Toronto and have lived in Calgary since then- two cities that are maligned, for different reasons and by different audiences, for being "American." There are never Americans making these accusations, except for Americans (as with many of those resident in Calgary) who traded a monocultural suburb in the States for one in Calgary and who consequently cannot get over how "American" the city feels. My take on Canadian identity is first and foremost that this is, on just about any measure, a small-l liberal, tolerant and accepting nation. I live in what is stereotypically considered the most conservative city in Canada- this is the most unkindest cut of all, but is has been instructive for me to live in such a place, because it demomstrates for me that even the "most conservative city in Canada" can at turns be shockingly progressive. Calgary would be impossible in an American context; it would never have its city council, its wind-powered C-Train, its amazing ethnic diversity, its lack of racial segregation, its refreshingly secular nature (even Ralph Klein never mentions the bible; I don't even know what religion he is- that would be a shocking, unthinkable thing in conservative US states) its acceptance, in every instance I have had to test it, of gay couples (as I am part of one and have encountered nothing but this). Calgarians are resolutely Canadian- they celebrated in the streets when Canada won its gold hockey medals in the last winter olympics, they protested in the thousands against the war in Iraq, they can see past the relatively minor political party battles and construe themselves as Canadian. In fact Albertans are the most patriotic Canadians, and I am heppy to join them.

My point isn't about 'myths' it's about our supposed identity. Most of Europe is just as tolerant and equal as Canada will ever be. In other words, there's hardly anything unique about it not to mention that they are arguably better at it.

Well, that's just silly. There are, of course, other things such as our geography that makes us very unique. Running a democracy is such a large, spread out, and depopulated country is certainly unique. And EU is more tolerant and equal in some things, not in others. We're certainly one of the leaders in gay marriage, for example, and it heartens me to see majority support for it in our country. Or let us talk about immigration vis-a-vis the ever-so tolerant Europe--if you immigrate to pretty much any country in Europe (save maybe parts of England), the wait for citizenship is incredibly long, and it is well known you will NEVER be treated as a 'real,' equal citizen of that country. No such problem in our mediocre Canada.

But this is irrelevant, actually... Let me reiterate that every country better feel itself superior in some regard to others. If it doesn't, it can't exist, it's as simple as that. We NEED this regardless of its truth. If we thought ourselves as an average nation that's not much good--well, that's a recipe for annexation or, in the case of Quebec, which has a strong provincial nationalism, separation...


When somebody asks me what makes me a proud Canadian I can cite off this sort of thing. But if they were to ask me what constitutes my Canadian identity I think of the cold of winter, the Native culture, the pioneers that came and developed the land and other symbolic things. Our government doesn't seem to see it that way. They would rather we thought of ourselves in very humble terms. That's the government, not me. I'm not going to go out and wave our flag and thump my chest about it. I'm just saying that the government's line is about as exciting as watching maple syrup drip out of the bottle. If I'm going to relate to my country and the things about it that make me feel unique as a Canadian in the pantheon of nations, I'm not going to dwell on such common ideas as tolerance and diversity. Incidentally, why would I feel "proud" to be tolerant?

All that other stuff you've listed is cool, but hardly 'exciting' either. I'll elaborate on the tolerance part below:


That's like saying the average Joe deserves a reward for NOT robbing a bank. It's the way it should be to begin with and it's not something that is too tough to be either.

Well, I have to vehemently disagree with that. It's pretty hard to be tolerant or have a fair and stable country. The systemic violence/corruption/intolerance in many coutnries of the world, from South America to Africa prevents any deep reform. It's not that people don't want it, it's that it is VERY HARD to achieve it. Take the sponsorship scandal; in many places, this would be politics du-jour, and hardly worth a mention compared to more 'serious' crimes the governments would do. And it's not all the third-world either, just look at Italy.

How many of you posters are immigrants? I think that if you want to uncover Canadian identity you need the perspectives of people who have actually experienced how much worse (yes, worse) things are in other countries, and I don't mean having visited them as tourists or having "experienced" them via media and hearsay and other unreliable sources.

I think you're right. I am an immigrant, although I came not from the so-called global South, but Eastern Europe (and have spent a fair bit of time in the Western Europe, as well). And indeed, EE is still somewhat unstable, and WE isn't nearly as tolerant and liberal as we constantly hear. It is for its own people who have lived there for centuries, certainly not for immigrants. Not much equality there...

I think Canada has to be one of those anomalous countries where immigrants feel themselves more patriotic (in general), than the homegrown Canadians:

http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/pdf/social/perceptions.pdf

Well, that's just silly. There are, of course, other things such as our geography that makes us very unique. Running a democracy is such a large, spread out, and depopulated country is certainly unique. And EU is more tolerant and equal in some things, not in others. We're certainly one of the leaders in gay marriage, for example, and it heartens me to see majority support for it in our country. Or let us talk about immigration vis-a-vis the ever-so tolerant Europe--if you immigrate to pretty much any country in Europe (save maybe parts of England), the wait for citizenship is incredibly long, and it is well known you will NEVER be treated as a 'real,' equal citizen of that country. No such problem in our mediocre Canada.

But this is irrelevant, actually... Let me reiterate that every country better feel itself superior in some regard to others. If it doesn't, it can't exist, it's as simple as that. We NEED this regardless of its truth. If we thought ourselves as an average nation that's not much good--well, that's a recipe for annexation or, in the case of Quebec, which has a strong provincial nationalism, separation...




All that other stuff you've listed is cool, but hardly 'exciting' either. I'll elaborate on the tolerance part below:




Well, I have to vehemently disagree with that. It's pretty hard to be tolerant or have a fair and stable country. The systemic violence/corruption/intolerance in many coutnries of the world, from South America to Africa prevents any deep reform. It's not that people don't want it, it's that it is VERY HARD to achieve it. Take the sponsorship scandal; in many places, this would be politics du-jour, and hardly worth a mention compared to more 'serious' crimes the governments would do. And it's not all the third-world either, just look at Italy.

http://www.statcan.ca/english/kits/pdf/social/perceptions.pdf
Look, we're talking apples and oranges here.
It's one thing to talk about the good things about Canada. But I'm talking about our supposed identity. When it comes to our Canadian identity, tolerance and diversity are not the first things that spring to mind. Those would be the 'apples' I'm referring to. Yeah, they're nice and all that but they don't define us IMO. As I said before, there are plenty of countries where these are considered national traits. Hardly unique. Would you agree that an identity should consist of things that are unique ? I should think that by definition they have to.
When it comes to our identity, we should be focusing on our history and the people who made it in Canada. Throw in some of our vast geography and a touch of frostbite and you've got Canada. Not to mention that I refuse to define my country by it's differences with its neighbour to the south as seems to be part and parcel of today's "Canadian identity".

Look, we're talking apples and oranges here.
It's one thing to talk about the good things about Canada. But I'm talking about our supposed identity. When it comes to our Canadian identity, tolerance and diversity are not the first things that spring to mind. Those would be the 'apples' I'm referring to. Yeah, they're nice and all that but they don't define us IMO. As I said before, there are plenty of countries where these are considered national traits. Hardly unique. Would you agree that an identity should consist of things that are unique ? I should think that by definition they have to.

I see no reason why a national identity is supposed to be unique. In fact, I don't really think it's possible.

Well sure it's possible. Happens all the time. From the national costumes and dances of countries to the architecture of others. The cultures and religions, the histories, the national myths and legends. These things are all unique. Just think of say Japan or Italy or India. Mostly though I think that it's history that sets nations apart. A legacy to hold proud if you will. Even Mexico has it's lore and characters....but when do we ever hear about that sort of thing for Canada? Where is our Pancho Villa or distinctive food? (mmmmmm....Mexican food.....) But anyway, these things exist in Canada of course but we don't focus on them at all. The question is why not? Sure, we're made up of people from all around the world and that's great...in fact we need more of those people. But so is the US and Australia and New Zealand and Europe to name the major countries that also are multicultural. Tolerance? The Benelux countries are well known for their historical tolerance, moreso than Canada.

I just find it to be such a bland and grey picture to portray to the world that Canada is boring and polite and ordered. That's so unimaginative considering the history from which we have to draw on to build our identity.

Nationalism is a dangerous tool, so having too strong of an identity could be dangerous, this is just the calm before the storm. If there is a federal election soon, the Candian identity will be put to the test. At least according to this man.
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=32fc3b06-af79-4f15-9ebe-42de76bafe23

Quite frankly I think we have quite a unique culture and a damn resilient one. No other country gets so bombarded with US culture and can hold their own.
I think the people who are always trying to find Canadian culute are the ones in the ivory towers. Canadians , in general, feel quite secure in who they are and what they represent.

Cool, that actually means there is a Canadian identity. To underestimate would spell trouble, or termination of Canada.




In terms of cost effectiveness, or how much bang for the buck, it doesn't get much better than Cuba... I only wish Canada was as innovative, and would treat preventative medicine with seriousness it deserves. Canada's healthcare does not fall way down the rank when compared to European nations -- it does for some, not for others.

And I'm all for a parallel system, as long as the doctors are salaried, or hard capped like they are in those European socialist nations. Since the medical lobby is obviously too strong, and we live next to a country that can pay doctors more, this won't happen.

Doctors in Cuba earn a sustanence living. We'd be so lucky as to pay our doctors with cigars. A report by the World Health Organization ranked Canada poorly among industrialized nations, much closer to the healthcare system Canadians love to bash (in the U.S.) than the top-ranked system in France. And the French don't go defining their indentity around healthcare for obvious reasons. Canada does, because it is reaching, and that is how Canadian identity in part is predicated upon something as baseless as the belief we have the best healthcare system which supposedly reflects our values. But then, Canadians are self-satisfied to only be better than Americans because as usual we define ourselves in opposition to them and are clueless about the rest of the world.

Well sure it's possible. Happens all the time. From the national costumes and dances of countries to the architecture of others. The cultures and religions, the histories, the national myths and legends. These things are all unique. Just think of say Japan or Italy or India. Mostly though I think that it's history that sets nations apart. A legacy to hold proud if you will. Even Mexico has it's lore and characters....but when do we ever hear about that sort of thing for Canada? Where is our Pancho Villa or distinctive food? (mmmmmm....Mexican food.....) But anyway, these things exist in Canada of course but we don't focus on them at all. The question is why not? Sure, we're made up of people from all around the world and that's great...in fact we need more of those people. But so is the US and Australia and New Zealand and Europe to name the major countries that also are multicultural. Tolerance? The Benelux countries are well known for their historical tolerance, moreso than Canada.

I just find it to be such a bland and grey picture to portray to the world that Canada is boring and polite and ordered. That's so unimaginative considering the history from which we have to draw on to build our identity.
I agree, strongly. However, the system does an extremely poor job of teaching Canadian History. The only mandatory component are the world wars and the last 50-75 years of politics. Boooring, which turns people off to finding out about Canadian History, which I haven't actually studied myself but have heard some snippets about that have me actually interested.

I agree, strongly. However, the system does an extremely poor job of teaching Canadian History. The only mandatory component are the world wars and the last 50-75 years of politics. Boooring, which turns people off to finding out about Canadian History, which I haven't actually studied myself but have heard some snippets about that have me actually interested.

I don't know what happened in your classes, but here it was MANDATORY to learn Canadian history, and 3/4 of all social studes classes from Grades 1-9 were about Canadian History/First Nations. Other than a few wars (Seven Years War/1812) it is QUITE boring. Still slightly interesting, if you paid attention to all the war and territorial expansion stuff like I did, but otherwise nothing exactly attention-grabbing...

Nowadays, there isn't a whole lot of cultural factors that distinguish us from Americans. For the most part, we eat the same food, drive the same cars, work on the same 9-5 schedule,watch the same shows on TV, get a lot of American news, are obsessed with US elections (as far as I've seen we pay more attention to their elections than to our own), etc. Throw in the fact that the monarchy is practically more popular in the States (at least in a media sense) than in Canada and we are more or less the exact same. Sure you can throw in our voting habits and quality of life, but that doesn't make a strong argument for why Canadian identity is so unique.

EDIT: Perhaps I should explain my last paragraph in context of my original comments in this thread. I WANT Canadians to have a distinct identity that the world instantly recognizes. Problem is, every time that we are asked what our identity is, we need the States to compare ourselves to, in order to pick out political differences and such. Similarly to what Looselog said, where is our wine and cheese? Where are Canada's kimonos? We can do better than this (what we currently have).

Boris: move to another country, spend a few years, not days or weeks there, and then move back to canada. you cannot grasp Canadian identity because you are living it.

Furry: Does that not make it a case of us having a weak identity? For us to have a strong, distinct identity from our neighbours (note: not the world, there are some huge geographical barriers that instantly make our identity unique from European or Asian countries, but not so on this continent) should I not be able to see some real differences in a short matter of time? I understand that there are fundamental differences in attitudes and ways of thinking, but there are also those within our own nation.