Canada has a complex history with multiple cultures that contributed to feelings that it lacked a distinct culture. Reasons for this included that other colonized places had clear differences from Britain, Canada was formed gradually through the joining of separate settlements, and it had both French and English languages. This caused tensions, seen in Quebec separatist referendums. However, Canadians have found common pride in things like maple syrup, hockey, and popular culture. While managing both French and English has been challenging, Canada celebrates its bilingual identity and diversity.

2. Does Canada Have a
Culture?
History and Conflict:
Canada is a ‘new world’ country. It’s landmass was first inhabited by
the First Nations People. Then, it was “discovered” and colonised
by French, English, Dutch, Irish, and United States’ “Americans”.
Because of this history of many cultures, Canadians sometimes felt
like they did not have a distinct culture.
There’s a few other reasons Canadians felt they did not have their
own culture.

3. Those “other” reasons:
• Other landmasses “re-discovered” by Britain had unique
differences: America was founded by a war with Britain;
India had it’s own language and religion before Europeans
arrived; Australia was separated by distance and a large
population of like-minded people.

4. 2. Canada was not formed all at once. Certain areas did not
decide to become a part of the 1867 Confederation of the
Dominion of Canada until they were ‘good and ready’. This
meant that there were settlements which had established
their own communities and identities. Because of the joining
of Canada was essentially an act of parliament (and not an
act of war, or a joining of culture) Canada never really created
a culture that suited everyone’s culture.

5. We didn’t even all have the same language to
share. That’s actually why Canada is
bilingual:
French and English are our main
languages because we had a
large populace of both (and no
one wanted to give up their
language!)

6. SO Canadians often felt like they didn’t have a
“Canadian” Culture .
There were a number of
intellectuals discussing this;
many people said our history I once took a
was uninspiring and because we university course
didn’t have a united culture, we that debated this
topic all year.
didn’t have a culture!
Many people said, “NO!”, we do
have a culture. And they tried to
articulate it. Poets Margaret It was so
Atwood and Robert Frost wrote boring.
about ‘snow’ and the Group of
Seven painted our landscapes.
But, it didn’t unite us all…

7. In 1980 and 1997, Quebec held a Referendum, to vote on whether or not
Quebec should be a part of Canada anymore. Many of the French speakers
in Quebec felt their French culture would do better outside of Canada. It was
a very sad weekend for many Canadians.
The votes were tallied. It was decided!
Quebec would stay a part of Canada!

8. But this decision only came through in a marginal percentage.
Because the votes were so even (50.58% "No" to 49.42% "Yes“)
there was still a strong sentiment of dislike for English-Canada
from French Canada. English Canada was mostly glad that they
were staying (there are many natural resources in Quebec!)
Overall, the Referendums left a “bad taste” in the mouths of many
Canadians.
Managing to promote French and English culture in Canada at the
same time, has been a source of great tension ever since both
cultures immigrated in the late 1700s.

9. To Ease the tensions:
•We do things like have instructions on all products in
French AND English!
•And, all of the signs in Quebec are in French ONLY. (This
really upsets many English speakers).
•All Canadians learn French and English in school (but mostly
English). I was taught 20 minutes of French a day from Grade 2
– Grade 8. And I had to take French in Grade 9. I stopped after
Grade 10.
That was really
stupid.

10. But all of that Changed, when Canada found
something they had in Common!
Beer!
This is the Molson Canadian Beer Company Advertisement
that identified Canadians’ Culture in the most agreeable
way!

11. After “Joe’s Speech” Things Changed in
Canada:
•People started getting Canadian Maple Leaf Tattoos!
•Everyone began sewing Canadian Flags onto their
backpacks!
•And we all ran to the top of the obesity statistics
from drinking too much beer!
Just kidding. (Kind
of)

12. Things Canadians are Proud of:
•Our Maple Syrup is the best (taste some!)
•Our hockey players are the best (the best NHLers all come from
Canada) Eg. Wayne Gretzky, Sydney…
•We have the best skiing (Rocky Mountains in Calgary and British
Columbia)
•We can snow-shoe to neighbours’ dinner parties.
•We have ski-dooing highways.
•We have Neil Young, Sarah McLaghlin AND Anne Murray!
•Our National Anthem is one of the world’s most patriotic!
•Mr. Wilms told me we produced some of the best ’80s bands!

13. Canadian Phrases and Slang:
•“How’s it going?” or “How are you doing?” = “How are
you going?” (in Aussie…which doesn’t make a lot of sense…)
•“Garbage” = “bin” (A bin for Canadians is like a plastic bin,
not for garbage!)
•“Grades” = “Years” (eg. Grade 11 = Year 11)
•it’s McDonalds – not MacDonalds!