Commentary
My family and I had a wonderful time over the recent Canada Day long weekend. We spent one day exploring the northern woods and enjoying nature, followed by a day in the city for a Canada Day parade and festivities. After a community barbecue, I headed to the boardwalk with a friend to watch the fireworks over Toronto’s waterfront.
Flags waved, people of all backgrounds smiled and cheered, and there was a festive atmosphere with cold beers and grilled food. Everything seemed perfect.
However, recent public surveys have revealed a different story about our collective sense of Canadian culture and identity. Not everyone shares the same positive feelings about Canada Day, which is concerning. It’s important to address this issue, understand the reasons behind it, and work towards a solution.
This revelation is disheartening but not entirely unexpected.
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Many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, essential infrastructure is lacking, and access to services like having a family doctor has become challenging.
What’s even more alarming is the survey’s findings on Canadians’ attitudes towards celebrating Canada Day and national pride.
Participants were asked whether they feel more or less proud to be Canadian, attend Canada Day events, or display the Canadian flag compared to five years ago. Surprisingly, the majority stated that they are now less likely to partake in these patriotic activities.
The survey didn’t delve into the specific reasons behind these sentiments, which are likely varied.
Some individuals may have internalized negative narratives about Canada, while others might feel disillusioned by the current socio-economic challenges. Despite a general feeling of disillusionment, issues of national identity also contribute to this trend. It’s crucial to embrace and celebrate our Canadian identity with pride.
Another recent report from Statistics Canada highlighted the diversity of Canada’s population and the multitude of ethnic backgrounds represented.
“Canada is truly a quilt of many people with very diverse ethnocultural backgrounds,” the report states. “In fact, Canadians reported over 450 different ethnic or cultural origins during the 2021 Census of Population.”
While diversity is a strength, it’s essential for Canadians to identify primarily as Canadian. However, only a fraction of respondents identified themselves as Canadian in the census.
These findings underscore the need to rekindle a sense of Canadian identity and unity among the population. It’s imperative that we focus on our shared values and commonalities rather than our differences.
We must strive to revive a sense of national pride and belonging. With concerted effort and collective will, we can reignite a strong Canadian identity for generations to come.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The cat was napping on the windowsill in the warm sunlight.”
“The cat was peacefully sleeping on the windowsill, basking in the cozy sunlight.”
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