By the numbers and more… Diversity One of Canada’s greatest virtues is its open - and one outstanding example of this is the P ness (and we’re not talking here about its vast wealth of attractively presented information that’s full S O T Prairies or Arctic wastes, although those that Statistics Canada provides through its O H physical attributes are certainly very appeal - Web site: www.statcan.ca. of promise P ing). No, what we’re talking about is the fact Canada Day is a wonderful opportunity to seen as an important world leader when it that even in the post 9/11-era, Canada is still Even on StatsCan’s home page, the visitor is think about what it means to be Canadian. comes to democracy, openness and respect. very much an open society. immediately made to feel at home with a But in a country as vast as ours, the ques - It is for these reasons that 200,000 people prominent button labelled “First visit to our tion of identity can be a difficult one to from all over the world choose to immi - During the 20th century, most of the coun - site?” When you click on this button, you’re answer. Canada boasts a wealth of cultures, grate to Canada each year. These new citi - tries in the world were still governed by immediately taken to a “menu” of all kinds of from the Aboriginals who have called this zens are proud to join Canada’s other citi - authoritarian regimes of one kind or another information on Canada, much of which is land home for thousands of years to the zens in contributing to its development. and in this context Canada very much played displayed in coloured, easy-to-read tables. recent immigrants looking for a better life. the role of a “haven” nation, where people In fact, Canadian identity is closely tied to Our diversity is not without conflict, how - who were unhappy in their homelands could Also prominently displayed on the homepage this diversity. It is this diversity that makes ever. Racism continues to exist and tension attempt to move to. is a “Learning Resources” button that takes our country so full of promise. can sometimes occur when we express dif - you to a “wide variety of statistical products fering opinions. While Canadians may not Canadians who were born in Canada very and services specifically designed for stu - At a time when everyone is throwing always see eye-to-eye, Canada Day is the much take this openness for granted but, dents and teachers.” around concepts like globalization, global perfect time to remember that while we despite our occasional complaints about edu - communication and international con - may not necessarily agree with our neigh - cation, healthcare or the cost of gasoline, we In this way, Statistics Canada really helps science, should we not consider Canada’s bours, we can respect them for being only have to live in many of the other 200 or Canadians learn about what it means to be a multiculturalism to be a major asset for our decent, hard-working people. Perhaps that so countries in the world for any length of Canadian. future? Canada was the first country to is what makes us all Canadians. Happy time to appreciate how fortunate we are to adopt an official multicultural policy and is Birthday, Canada! live in Canada. So, on Canada Day, July 1, why not find out more about your own community in one of One striking characteristic of this openness is StatsCan’s 8,000 community profiles? There simply how much ordinary citizens can learn you’ll find not only numbers but lots of inter - Flags that tell a story about their own country from official sources esting descriptive information as well! Canada has had many flags over the years, evi - What diversity looks like… dence of its evolving iden - tity and the origins of Every year on July 1, Canadians celebrate Thus, while the rural areas of Canada still those who helped build the founding of their country in 1867 when very much reflect the Aboriginal and this country. These sym - the British Parliament passed the British European origins of Canada’s peoples, its bols can teach us a great North America Act. In those days, the world cities increasingly reflect the new trends of deal about our country and was very much a picture of empire and colo - ethnocultural diversity. what it means to be nialism with only the United States of Canadian. America standing out as a powerful indepen - In fact, immigration statistics for Canada dent country outside for 2001 show that the English explorer John Europe. top five countries sup - Cabot first declared our plying newcomers to land British territory in The maple leaf is the main symbol of the Canadian flag. Also in those days, virtu - Canada are all from Asia 1497 by posting the cross ally all of Canada’s esti - (China, India, Pakistan, of St. George—the British flag at the time. provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia mated 3.5 million inhabi - the Philippines and It was depicted by a red cross on a white and New Brunswick). The coat of arms of tants were of Aboriginal, South Korea, in that background. Canada’s remaining provinces were gradu - French, British or order), with Britain, the ally added over time. This flag was called American origin. traditional supplier dur - Then Canada’s First Nations saw the Fleur- the Canadian Red Ensign. ing Canada’s first hun - de-lis flag flown over their land, as Jacques Fast forward to 2003 and dred years, now in tenth Cartier declared Canada to now be under Our current Canadian flag with its promi - we see that not only position. French rule. Later, in 1763, Canada nent red maple leaf was only created in has Canada’s population returned to the British fold after England 1965. The bountiful maple tree has held increased nine-fold to So, whether you’re a won the Seven Years’ War. The Union Jack important meaning for Canada’s Aboriginal over 31.5 million, its long-standing or new now flew high over our lands. This new people for generations—even long before composition has changed Canadian, rural or urban British flag combined the red from the first white men arrived on these shores. significantly. resident, Canada Day England’s cross of St. George, the white The two vertical bands represent the two every year is a good from Scotland’s St. Andrew’s cross and the coasts that flank our country. The red and Nowhere is this truer than Whether you’re a long-standing time for all of us to diagonal red of Ireland’s St. Patrick’s cross. white colours represent France and in our largest cities whose or new Canadian, Canada Day think about the many England, a symbol to unify our nation’s ori - populations now largely is your Day! (Photo SP) forms being Canadian Following its Confederation in 1867, gins. consist of residents whose origins are neither now takes. Indeed, without such an effort, Canada naturally wanted to have its own Aboriginal, French, British nor American. it will be very easy to fall back into identity, but still continue to pay allegiance People from around the world look upon The most striking example of this trend is regional and ethnic preferences that may to England. As a result, a new flag was cre - the Canadian flag with respect and friend - our largest city, Toronto, where much of the not be a good example for the rest of this ated, bearing the Union Jack along with the ship. That is something we can all be population was born outside Canada. conflict-ridden world! coat of arms of Canada’s founding proud of. NOTICE TO PUBLISHERS, SALES PERSONNEL AND PRODUCTION STAFF: In this supplement, if a photo credit is given, you cannot use the credited photo for any purpose other than what it is intended for, e.g. you cannot make an advertisement for a client with the photo. TOOLBOX , JULY-AUGUST 2003, PAGE 13.