THE CLIFFORD SIFTON LECTURE SERIES

he third annual Clifford Sifton Lecture, sponsored by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, was deliv- Tered to a group of new on February 12, 1997, at the London Regional Art and Historical Museums by Rosey Edeh, a prominent Canadian athlete who has proudly represented Canada in many international compe- titions, including three Olympic Games. Ms. Edeh, herself an immigrant to Canada as a young child, personifies the best that new Canadians can offer their adopted country. She joins other distinguished Canadians – author and economist Denise Chong and astronaut Chris Hadfield – as a Sifton lecturer.

This lecture series is named in honour of Clifford Sifton (1861-1929), lawyer, publisher, politician and businessman, who played a major role in shaping Canada’s immigration policies. As Minister of the Interior from 1896 to 1905, he actively promoted the immigration of farmers and labourers from Eastern to the Canadian prairies. The immense success of this group of immigrants is testimony to his foresight. Clifford Sifton was knighted in 1915.

The theme of the Clifford Sifton Lecture Series is Perspectives on Canadian Citizenship. At a critical time in our history, and with matters of citizenship being discussed around the world, it is appropriate to consider and debate this subject. Optimum hopes to contribute to this debate by presenting the Clifford Sifton Lecture Series.

32 Optimum, The Journal of Public Sector Management • Vol. 28, No. 1 (32-37) On Being Canadian

Rosey Edeh The 1997 Clifford Sifton Lecture

t is a pleasure to be here this afternoon. I was surprised up our common home. I am very pleased and proud to when Minister [Lucienne] Robillard asked me to be the share my thoughts and recollections with you. I hope that keynote speaker at the third annual Clifford Sifton they give you something to think about this afternoon and I in the days to come. Lecture, a distinction I had not expected. I am honoured to have this opportunity to share my thoughts with you. I joined the Canadian family when I was three years The topic of this lecture is Being Canadian. When I old. My parents and I emigrated from England and settled first sat down to write my talk, I spent a great deal of time in Montreal, where I reside to this day. I lived what I would trying to come up with a simple definition of what this characterize as a very “normal” childhood. I did all the means. It was not easy. No simple definition could ever things that children do in Montreal. I remember spending adequately capture the essence of our country and our citi- time in the local park in LaSalle with other children and zenship. That should not be surprising. How can you sum up the heart and soul of a country like this one in some Rosey Edeh was born in London, England, in 1966, and emigrated to Canada with her parents at a young age. Through her mother’s clever phrase or slick slogan? You cannot, and it is proba- influence, she became involved in extra-curricular activities at bly silly to even try. Instead of giving you generalizations school when she was 13. She chose track and field, and soon won about what I think Canadians believe or what I think numerous high school athletic awards. Ms. Edeh was awarded a scholarship to Rice University in makes a “good” Canadian, I would like to share with you Houston, where she pursued a degree in Art History. She remained some of my personal experiences as a citizen of this coun- passionately committed to track, choosing to specialize in the hur- dles. Over the next few years she competed at the National try. Collegiate Athletic Association level and at many international competitions, including the 1989 World University Games, where As an athlete, I have had the honour of representing she won a silver medal, and the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Canada all over the world. This has provided me with a Auckland. Ms. Edeh is currently recognized as one of the world’s best special perspective on how we are perceived in other 400-metre hurdlers. She has had the rare honour of representing countries. Athletics has also given me the opportunity to Canada at three Summer Olympics; Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 see this country from coast to coast. Over the years, I have and Atlanta 1996. During the 1996 Olympic finals, she set a new Canadian record of 54.39 seconds. She is very proud to have had had a chance to see the Prairies in the winter, Vancouver in the opportunity to be an ambassador for Canadian athletics in the summer and New Brunswick in the fall. I have seen venues around the world. She continues to train vigorously and looks forward optimistically to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. the kaleidoscope of images, people and places that make

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learning to skate at the local rink. I was always very active the country. I guess I had always expected that most and running around. I fell in love with classical ballet when Canadians lived more or less the way I did in Montreal. That I was five and studied it until I went to high school. is a common assumption that young people make. I was Though I do not dance anymore, I will always love the art surprised to find out that this simply is not the case. Life in form. When I got into high school my mother insisted that I an Atlantic fishing community or on a farm is very channel some of my energy into an after-school activity. different from what I was used to. At the same time, how- She firmly believes that a busy child is a productive child. ever, despite the different situations, I was struck by how Personally, I saw this mainly as an opportunity to meet new friendly people were everywhere we went. Without fail, friends. I had no idea then that I would be starting an activ- people opened their homes to us. ity that would profoundly shape the rest of my life. I was also struck by how curious other young people are I had always known that I was athletic and fairly to learn more about other parts of the country. When I was in quick, so I decided to join the school track and field team. Saskatoon, for instance, I remember assuming the unofficial The practices were long – every Even at an early age I was role of team translator. That way I day after school from 3:30 p.m. to got to meet a lot of athletes from 5:00 p.m. They were also quite very competitive and not one the other teams. Children from challenging. I remember there to pass up a challenge. Manitoba and was one drill where we had to do wanted to learn more about a continuous relay. Three or four teams would keep run- Quebec and what Montreal was like. We tried to teach each ning this relay around and around the track, passing the other French and English words and phrases. It was a lot of baton as we went. It was for conditioning, but also to fun. When I hear people talking about the “two solitudes” foster team spirit and cooperation. Even at an early age I and the so-called French-English problems in Canada, I think was very competitive and not one to pass up a challenge, back to those afternoons and how naturally we all started so I trained. The first few years were hard and I rarely talking and trying to communicate with one another. Once won. Despite this, I really grew to love the sport and even- we all made the effort to get to know each other, it became tually joined a track club in Montreal, the Vikings. It was very clear how little our differences really meant. It was from with the Vikings that I received my first opportunity to see all this travelling that I began to develop a real pride in this the country. country and a true sense that I was a Canadian – and that The Royal Canadian Legion was also responsible for being a Canadian was something special. As the years went many of my travels throughout Canada. The Legion was a by and I began competing internationally, this sense of very generous sponsor of youth athletics. Thanks to its sup- belonging to a special family would only grow. port, I was allowed to compete in various interprovincial I have always been grateful for the opportunities given competitions. As a 13-year-old who had lived in Montreal to me when I was younger. As Canadians we tend to put most of my life, I did not really know what to expect when I our children first. For me, as a young mother, this is the was told I was going to attend meets across the country. I mark of a compassionate and intelligent society. We have was stunned when I began to realize just how big Canada always made the development of young people a priority. truly is. Previously, I had been on the occasional family trip This continues to be crucial. We need to encourage more to places like Niagara Falls, but never outside Central organizations to take the time, as the Legion does, to get Canada. We crisscrossed the country, visiting such places as involved with children’s programs. We need to allow chil- Saskatoon, Calgary, Victoria and Moncton. I got a chance to dren the opportunity to find their strengths and develop see the Prairies from the sky and the Rockies from the seat them. And we need to let young people know that they of a school bus. I remember taking the 15-hour train ride to are special and that they can accomplish anything they put Moncton from Montreal. These experiences opened my their minds to. eyes. I had never seen such beautiful and diverse country- side. And I had never realized just how different the At the age of 17, I made my first Canadian Junior Canadian experience is for people living in different parts of team and travelled to the Bahamas to compete in the

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Junior Pan-American Games. This was my first opportu- for some. I was proud that there was not very much of that nity to represent Canada internationally. I had always in our part of the Village. wondered what it would be like to compete against The Seoul Olympics will always have a special place people from other countries. I increasingly saw interna- in my heart since it was my first Olympics. But I am very tional competition as a way to challenge myself person- glad that I got to attend two more, because the Games get ally. I wanted to compete against the world’s best so I much more enjoyable as you get used to them. In 1992, could improve. I also viewed this as an opportunity to through hard work and determination, I made my second show my pride in Canada. I won a silver medal in the 200 Olympic team. In Barcelona, I competed in the 4x400- metre and another silver medal in the 4x400-metre relay. metre relay team. What a thrill that was. I have found that From that moment on, track and field became my raison team sports help foster a real sense of closeness and inti- d’être. macy among the participants. This is true of track events In 1988, I made my first Olympic team. People always like the relay. It is also true of sports like soccer or rowing. ask me what it was like to go to Seoul and compete for There is a precise science to relaying. Each member of the Canada. It is not an easy question to answer. In fact, that team has to work in perfect sync – you have to get to whole period of my life is something of a blur. I remember know and trust each other. To calm my nerves, I remi- getting to the Olympic Village in South Korea and being nisced about my high school days running relays in the struck by how different everything was and how far away hallways. It was actually quite helpful. In the relay in from home I was. I was only 19 and very shy. At times, the Barcelona, we placed fourth. We were all very proud of whole experience was almost overwhelming. I remember this accomplishment. parading in with the other Canadian athletes. That was an incredibly emotional moment. Even the most seasoned ath- During my travels I am often asked what country I am lete gets a little choked up when they see the big Canadian from. When you walk through the Olympic Village or at flag flying in front of them as international competitions there are they march into the stadium. As People smile when they see the always friendly people who want to we were getting ready to go in, Maple Leaf on my track suit talk. I get a real pleasure out of it was clear that everyone there answering “I’m Canadian.” That’s had one thing in mind: we because they recognize what it because the reaction I get is almost wanted the world to know that stands for: a country that has always the same. First of all you get Team Canada was there and a comment like “Oh great, we love that we were ready. The roar strived to deal compassionately Canadians.” This is always followed of the crowd and the Maple and fairly with others. by some comment about how nice Leaf waving back and forth in and polite we are. The conversation front of you is not something that you can ever forget. It is usually turns to the countryside or, depending on where a memory I will have with me forever. we are, to topics like hockey.

Being at the Olympics is a very empowering experi- I think we have earned this reaction. Our international ence. You realize that all the cold mornings training in the reputation certainly did not evolve by accident. People rain and late nights in the gym pay off. You realize that the smile when they see the Maple Leaf on my track suit sore feet and bruised shins are worth it. It was particularly because they recognize what it stands for: a country that special to share that moment with the other competitors has strived to deal compassionately and fairly with others. marching all around me. We all shared a common bond as Canada has taken its responsibilities to other countries very athletes and as Canadians. It was nice to have them there. seriously. We have offered a helping hand to those in need There was an almost tangible sense that we were all in it during some of the darkest times in this century. We con- together and that we would pitch in and help support each tinue to open our doors to refugees and to promote devel- other. Trust me, you did not see that in all the other camps! opment and human rights around the world. As I found out The Olympics can be a very selfish and individualistic time from my early travels across the country, Canadians have

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big hearts. People know this. They know that our society is I did not participate in the opening ceremonies. This based on a keen sense of collective responsibility. was the only disappointment for me in Atlanta. From our Canadians tend to recognize that it is not everyone for him- training camp outside Atlanta we all crowded in front of self and that we all have a responsibility to look out for the TV to watch our comrades parade in. It was nice to each other, particularly for those who may not be able to see some old friends and some of the younger athletes. I look out for themselves. These are the kinds of traits that looked for the expression on the faces of some of the make a Canadian passport welcome around the world. “kids” on the team. I remember how scared I had been parading in Seoul eight years earlier. As I watched them The highlight of my athletic career to date came in all waving furiously to the crowds, I could see some of 1996, when I got to compete at the Atlanta Games. This par- them were almost having to fight back tears. That kind of ticular Olympics was the centennial of the modern-day pride in your country is part of what the Olympic spirit is Olympics. Compared to Barcelona or Seoul, these Games all about. It was fortunate for us that the countries were right in our own backyard, which made a difference paraded in alphabetically. Rest was important, so as soon for me. It was nice to be closer to home. I began my mental as the Canadians marched off the screen we were sent to countdown to my race in Atlanta about two months before. bed. But more than a year prior to the Games, I had my calendar marked and my heart set on this incredible event. It was about a week before my race that I entered the Olympic Village. Now I was with the entire Canadian team. I trained twice a day. I had always maintained that if I For the next two weeks this place was home. Being sur- practised, anything was possible. In spite of my hard work, rounded by so many athletes from so many different coun- however, one month before the Olympics I found myself tries was inspiring. At the same time, however, it was nice in an awkward and uncertain position. For some reason that escapes me today, I was not performing well. My to have our safe little corner of the Village. It was a sanctu- results were not nearly what they should have been and ary. There were always friendly faces and smiles. It was time was slipping away. really nice to keep tabs on what was taking place at home. We heard about the floods in the Saguenay and I am Two weeks prior to the Games I participated in a train- happy to say, even though we were all very focused on ing camp held by Athletics Canada. It was just what the our individual events, the team captains took the time to doctor ordered. I spent time away take up a collection for the flood from it all, training with the I gained a great deal of strength victims. I think that says a lot National Team. This helped boost from my friends and colleagues about the Canadian spirit. We my confidence. We stayed in a tend to pull together during times small town about a half-hour out- and I feel that I owe a little of of adversity. People in this coun- side Atlanta. We were treated with my success to each of them. try have their differences of opin- such kindness and hospitality it ion and share different perspec- made each of us feel at home. Although the Olympic tives. But when it counts – when the chips are down – Games loomed only a few days away, we were able to people care about each other. It’s that simple. relax, which, believe me, is no easy feat when you are preparing for a race for which you have trained for years. One of the nicest things about staying in the Village Our hosts were so kind and very interested to learn every- was that the CBC was available. It was really nice seeing thing they could about Canada. Most said they were going balanced coverage. Patriotic, but balanced. I found that to come and visit soon. I hope they do and I hope that they there was an openness on the part of Canadian journalists get the same treatment that we did. It was a special time for to celebrate the triumphs of athletes, regardless of where me. I was able to enjoy the proximity of my teammates. We they were from. Certainly there was a focus on the talked to each other about our hopes and fears and tried to Canadians, but when someone else did something inspir- support each other. We empowered each other. I gained a ing or extraordinary, the Canadian press corps was quick great deal of strength from my friends and colleagues and I to take notice. I think this openness comes from having feel that I owe a little of my success to each of them. such a multicultural country. In Canada we value diversity.

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We encourage people to preserve and promote their been cheering on showed up to give me hugs and hand- unique heritage and traditions. In doing so, we tend to shakes. Each time a journalist asked me to describe the have a greater acceptance and tolerance of the views and race, all I could say was “magic.” That was the only word achievements of others. We do not seem to feel threatened that seemed to fit. When I looked around the room I was or somehow diminished when someone else does a good struck by something I had first realized when running for job. This is a very mature attitude and something of which the Legion as a teenager. Here we had a room full of we should be very proud. Canadians – a sampling of people from across the country. In many respects, they could not have been more different I was one of only two Canadian women in a final event from each other. Some were recent immigrants and rela- on the track. I felt an obligation to my country, my family tively new members of the Canadian family. Others could and friends to give it my all. I knew Canadian athletes had trace their family tree back generations in Canada. Some been performing well all week. I could hardly wait to get athletes had grown up on the Prairies, others had grown out on the track and give my best for Canada. It was now up in cities like Halifax or Vancouver. Some were doctors my chance to contribute. I have heard people say that there or engineers, others were students. But we were all in is no lonelier place in the world than standing on a track Atlanta united in a common purpose: to do our individual getting your blocks ready. You do not really notice the other best and to support each other. Each of us wanted to give athletes getting ready beside you. You do not even notice it our all and to help each other to do the same. In many the tens of thousands of people screaming and yelling in the respects, that is what I think citizenship should be all stadium. You tend to “zone out“ – the concentration needed about: taking responsibility for yourself and for others. This to compete is just that great. You focus on the blocks, on is the Canadian way. your spikes and on the gun. But no matter how hard you try, in the back of your mind you always know that you are When we boarded Air Canada for home there was a not alone. I have competed at three Olympics and all three sense of relief. The Games had been a thrill, but it was times I have the same feeling before running my heats. I nice to go home. For me, there is no more reassuring sight knew that my family was praying for me. I knew that my in the world than the Air Canada logo. I spend about three friends and coaches were praying for me. And I knew that months a year overseas competing, and there is nothing so no matter how I finished, I had the support of 30 million nice as going to an airport and heading home. I can physi- “Canucks” at home. It really is an incredible feeling to know cally feel the tension slipping away as I near Montreal. I that your fellow citizens are watching and that you have a know that this is something most of you can identify with chance to do something to make them proud. and appreciate.

The afternoon of my final in the 400-metre hurdles I In closing, I would like to congratulate all of the new citizens here today who have just acquired Canadian citi- put on my Canadian uniform, looked at myself in the zenship. I know that this is a special day for you, and I am mirror, took a deep breath and said: “Now is the time for glad that I was allowed to share it with you and your fami- greatness.” I went down to the track, got into my blocks, lies. I hope that this account of my journeys and accom- and as the gun went off I knew that this would be the race plishments will give you something to think about and will of my life – and it was. I was in the record books 54.39 inspire you to explore Canada. In fact, I encourage every- seconds later. I set one, then another, Canadian record. one here today to take every opportunity to get out and The post-race reception was a blur for me. All my see our country. Travelling from province to province had friends kept commenting on how I just stood there smiling. a powerful influence on me when I was young. Try to By the end of the evening my face actually hurt. I never explore Canada, love it and be proud of it. See what the expected such a grand and positive response to my sixth- country can offer you and at the same time, make every place finish. The media were scrambling for interviews. effort to offer your expertise, knowledge and life experi- People were taking pictures. All the athletes whom I had ence to your new homeland.

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