Why Canada?
Some time ago, before the disruption in scheduling made normal programmes unavailable, (one can only hope that the words disruption and unavailability will be permanently stricken from the lexicon of CBC on-air staff), I listened to Anthony Germaine (or was it Allen Neal) questioning a hypothetical group of recent immigrants about why they had chosen Canada as their new home. I pondered both the question and possible answers.
Why Canada?
Could it be... the brightly painted houses on the Newfoundland rockscape; or, the world-respected hospitality of all Maritimers in all of the Maritime provinces; or, the Fundy tide-carved rocks of Hopewell Cape, Albert County, New Brunswick.
Might it be... the happy stories of WWII’s displaced persons and war brides whose initial introduction to Canada was the heartfelt welcomes received at immigration’s fabled Pier 21 in Halifax; or, the aura of confederation history in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; or, the fantasy world of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables so loved by new Canadians (especially those from Japan).
Perhaps it is... the old-world charm of Quebec City and Montreal; or, the charming villages on St. Laurent’s north shore, each centred with the spire of a living church; or, perhaps the formidable architecture of Ottawa’s parliament buildings and the Peace Tower sometimes blending with the natural ‘V’ formation of Canada Geese leaving on the long journey to warmer climes flying high overhead of nature’s glorious panoply of autumn colours in the Gatineau Hills of western Quebec.
The reason may be... the melting pot ethnicity of Toronto; or, from nature again, the vast northern expanses of ice and snow crowned with the functional Arctic seaport of Fort Churchill, Manitoba (natural attributes do seem to be the dominant answer to 'Why Canada?’). Certainly the imposing Rocky Mountains with some of the world’s best ski runs would appeal to many immigrants and wannabe Canadians!
Then again, maybe it's... the unique setting of Vancouver nestled between the Rockies and the Pacific Ocean making it the obvious gateway to East Asian immigration and investments of time, money and ideas; or, the magical allure of Niagara Falls and the delicious fruits of the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Penninsula.
Is the canny immigrant looking at Canada’s universal social programmes as sound factors in choosing Canada? Perhaps the ultimate attraction for immigrants is our venerable institutions such as: the CBC, the RCMP and the NHL. Yes! Even our national heroes: Tommy Douglas, Terry Fox, Maurice The Rocket Richard, and Number 99 The Great One Wayne Gretsky; and, Rich Little, Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Oscar Peterson, KD Lang, Glen Gould, and countless other talents.
Remember the kind gentle people that have melded together to make up the diverse population of Canada from sea to sea to sea. Certainly today’s immigrants are looking at the successful integration of hundreds of earlier immigrants from the breadbasket of Europe - Poland and the Ukraine - to the breadbasket of Canada - the Prairie Provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Then again, maybe today’s new Canadian regards the oil wealth of Alberta and the offshore giant oil developments in the Maritime Provinces and British Columbia and the attendant employment possibilities.
Whatever the reason, the gifts of diversity brought each day by the arrival of new citizens has enriched and heartened the cultural landscape known as our Canada.
Why Canada?
Could it be... the brightly painted houses on the Newfoundland rockscape; or, the world-respected hospitality of all Maritimers in all of the Maritime provinces; or, the Fundy tide-carved rocks of Hopewell Cape, Albert County, New Brunswick.
Might it be... the happy stories of WWII’s displaced persons and war brides whose initial introduction to Canada was the heartfelt welcomes received at immigration’s fabled Pier 21 in Halifax; or, the aura of confederation history in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; or, the fantasy world of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables so loved by new Canadians (especially those from Japan).
Perhaps it is... the old-world charm of Quebec City and Montreal; or, the charming villages on St. Laurent’s north shore, each centred with the spire of a living church; or, perhaps the formidable architecture of Ottawa’s parliament buildings and the Peace Tower sometimes blending with the natural ‘V’ formation of Canada Geese leaving on the long journey to warmer climes flying high overhead of nature’s glorious panoply of autumn colours in the Gatineau Hills of western Quebec.
The reason may be... the melting pot ethnicity of Toronto; or, from nature again, the vast northern expanses of ice and snow crowned with the functional Arctic seaport of Fort Churchill, Manitoba (natural attributes do seem to be the dominant answer to 'Why Canada?’). Certainly the imposing Rocky Mountains with some of the world’s best ski runs would appeal to many immigrants and wannabe Canadians!
Then again, maybe it's... the unique setting of Vancouver nestled between the Rockies and the Pacific Ocean making it the obvious gateway to East Asian immigration and investments of time, money and ideas; or, the magical allure of Niagara Falls and the delicious fruits of the orchards and vineyards of the Niagara Penninsula.
Is the canny immigrant looking at Canada’s universal social programmes as sound factors in choosing Canada? Perhaps the ultimate attraction for immigrants is our venerable institutions such as: the CBC, the RCMP and the NHL. Yes! Even our national heroes: Tommy Douglas, Terry Fox, Maurice The Rocket Richard, and Number 99 The Great One Wayne Gretsky; and, Rich Little, Paul Anka, Celine Dion, Oscar Peterson, KD Lang, Glen Gould, and countless other talents.
Remember the kind gentle people that have melded together to make up the diverse population of Canada from sea to sea to sea. Certainly today’s immigrants are looking at the successful integration of hundreds of earlier immigrants from the breadbasket of Europe - Poland and the Ukraine - to the breadbasket of Canada - the Prairie Provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Then again, maybe today’s new Canadian regards the oil wealth of Alberta and the offshore giant oil developments in the Maritime Provinces and British Columbia and the attendant employment possibilities.
Whatever the reason, the gifts of diversity brought each day by the arrival of new citizens has enriched and heartened the cultural landscape known as our Canada.
posted by .Keith @ 1:08 p.m.
1 Comments:
Mr.K:
Thanks for new insights into the Canada I love.
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