Lesson 16 — Activity 2: The Influence of Canada's Geography
Completion requirements
Lesson 16 — Activity 2: The Influence of Canada's Geography on Our National Identity
Warm Up
Canada's founding cultures were European-based, but our geographical location also influences our national identity. Climate, the landscape, and our North American neighbours all impact the way we feel about ourselves. In this activity, you will examine the influence of Canada's geography on our national identity.
Climate and weather are a very important part of the daily lives of Canadians. The sports we play, the designs of our homes, the winter getaways, the summer camping trips, and winter driving are all part of who we are. Canadians have a reputation for helping people in need. Some suggest that this aspect of our national identity emerged from necessity because the earlier settlers had to practise these qualities to survive.
The Rocky Mountains
Canada is viewed by many as one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Canada has an estimated two million lakes, more than any other country. From the Rocky Mountains in the west to Niagara Falls in the east, Canada has several world-famous, natural tourist sites of which we are proud.
Although Canada had three founding nations (Indigenous, French, and British), we share the world's longest unprotected international border with the most powerful nation in the world: the United States of America. It is difficult to ignore the huge impact this has on our culture.
Any Canadian realizes that we share much with our American neighbours, yet we also realize that we are different and have our own national identity.
The past 25 years have seen a change in this attitude. For various reasons, immigration has brought people from Central and South America to Canada. More Canadians travel to the nations of Central America, including the Caribbean to seek an escape from winter. As these nations have developed, Canada's trade with them has grown considerably.
Today, Canadian
culture is a mixture of British, French, and American influences, all
of which blend and sometimes compete in every aspect of cultural life.
Other peoples have added different elements to this mixture: for
example, Canada’s large foreign-born population is evident in the varied
restaurants that line Victoria, BC. Vancouver’s Chinese
population has given that city a tradition of folk opera and puppetry
that rival those found in China.
Today, Canadian culture is a mixture of British, French, and American influences, all of which blend and sometimes compete in every aspect of cultural life. Other peoples have added different elements to this mixture: for example, Canada’s large foreign-born population is evident in the varied restaurants that line Victoria, BC. Vancouver’s Chinese population has given that city a tradition of folk opera and puppetry that rival those found in China.
Italian is
widely spoken in the coffeehouses of Montreal, and Canada’s Indigenous peoples are finding a growing voice through a broad range of fine and
folk arts.
In 1971, Canada adopted multiculturalism as our official national
policy, and the federal government now gives support to various ethnic
groups and assistance to help individuals participate fully in Canadian
society.
In Theme 2, you studied
many of the events that led to the sense of a Canadian identity. The
continued development of this identity is a combination of many factors,
including culture and geography.
"Bears in Life Cycle 2" by Norval Morriseau
Italian is widely spoken in the coffeehouses of Montreal, and Canada’s Indigenous peoples are finding a growing voice through a broad range of fine and folk arts.
In 1971, Canada adopted multiculturalism as our official national policy, and the federal government now gives support to various ethnic groups and assistance to help individuals participate fully in Canadian society.
In Theme 2, you studied many of the events that led to the sense of a Canadian identity. The continued development of this identity is a combination of many factors, including culture and geography.