What does it mean to be Canadian?
It’s a question that some of the country’s greatest leaders, writers and thinkers have wrestled with since Confederation 150 years ago.
At the heart of the debate is a question about our identity.
Since that fateful day on July 1, 1867, Canadians have struggled to find a single narrative to define who we are as a nation, but within that struggle we have may have also found our answer.
As Canadians our identity is rooted in our diversity.
From coast to coast to coast there is no homogenous identity that is quintessentially Canadian, it is the sum of our parts that make us who we are.
If our diversity is our identity then consider Jasper the poster child of what it means to be Canadian.
With a resident population of approximately 5,000 people just about everyone in Jasper comes from somewhere else.
For most of us it’s often the very first question we ask when we meet someone new and it often leads to a colourful conversation and an exchange of ideas about a part of the country that we may never had heard of before.
It’s this exchange of experiences, opinions, culture and history that connects us as a community and binds us together as a nation.
Through our differences we have managed to build a successful and resilient community and one of the best countries in the world to live in.
With an average life expectancy of 82 years, a homicide rate of 1.4 per 100,000 people and a gross national income per capita of $42,500, Canada ranks as one of the best countries in the world, according to the United Nations Human Development Index.
In fact, in 2016 Canada was ranked as the 10th best country in the world to live in, ahead of the United States, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
While statistics are important, it’s the intangible aspects of our country that we draw our strength from, namely our commitment to fostering diversity, respect for the rule of law and our unwavering support for democracy.
By upholding these values we not only make our own country a better place to live, but we also send a message to the rest of the world that it’s possible to live in peace and harmony with one another so long as you celebrate your differences rather than let them divide you.
On July 1 as you celebrate Canada’s diversity, take a moment to stop and think about what it means to be Canadian because at the end of the day we’re all in this together.
Happy Canada Day!
