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Cultural Identity in Canada

I find a certain comfort in my religion; it brings me closer to a much larger community that I find to be like a home. I lived in Pakistan for a major chunk of my life, where I was exposed to a mostly Muslim population. It was easy for me to practice my faith there and blend in with the crowd, because fasting and praying were a norm. Eating halal meat was never a concern, nor was having alcohol around (both dietary laws in Islam). But when I moved to Canada, I was actively exposed to other diverse groups that made a mixed majority of the country. I did not hear the call to prayer nor did stores close at certain times during Ramadan. I still had to continue going to school and function as a student even though I had other duties as a Muslim. It was interesting for me to learn about other faiths and it became even more interesting for me to teach other people. I had to face little difficulty while fasting in the month of Ramadan when people would openly consume food and drink, then offer me some. To break our fast we have to eat something at sunset but if I am at work or I am at school then I have to wait for my break to eat properly. We have an app on our phone that can tell us the exact time of sunset these days.
             The biggest contrast in my culture is eid. Another issue I found in Canada is that there is no holiday on our special day, we (Muslims) celebrate eid twice a year, but Christian and non-Christian people have a national holiday on Christmas. I have to request special permission to take my day off. If I compare eid here to eid in Pakistan, there is a huge difference, over there you celebrate at least a whole day or typically three days but here only for three hours because we have to go to prayer then resume normal life. I have to wait for weekend so I can make plans with family and friends.
             At Ryerson, I consider myself really lucky because I have found a proper place to pray and I made friends with a lot of Pakistani people so we all share same culture.


Essays Related to Cultural Identity in Canada

1. canada's culture

Canada is a nation in the midst of an identity crisis between two of its major cultural heritages, English and French, and with a powerful southern neighbour, the United States. ... Canadians are more aware of their rich cultural diversity and natural resources. ... For those doing business in Canada, it is wise to remember that Canadians are not culturally "just like" the United States. ... Canada is an interesting cultural mosaic. ... The latest cultural enhancement to the Canadian West Coast is coming from Asia. ...

  • Word Count: 508
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. The Failures of Canadian Multiculturalism

The multiculturalism policy has been offered as an answer to the question of how Canada ought to respond to the fact of its own cultural diversity. ... Multiculturalism emphasizes social distinctions and thus naturally it is discordant with the overall goal of achieving a common identity for Canadians. ... Instead perceiving the policy as an effort to achieve a single identity as a multicultural society that is able to live and work in cohesion, most Canadians, especially immigrants have a totally different perception of the policy. ... The extent to which each group is allowed to their cultur...

  • Word Count: 2297
  • Approx Pages: 9
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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Public Broadcasting In Canada

A nation's identity is formed and sustained by the culture of its people. In Canada, the most influential form of cultural exposure is through television. ... Public broadcasting imparts a sense of identity and roots. ... The less support we have for this public outlet, the deeper the holes in Canada's cultural fabric. ... The need for a strong public broadcasting system is clear; it ensures Canadian content and strengthens the Canadian identity, educational quality, and an independence from major business interests....

  • Word Count: 470
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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Americanization of Canada

Canada's floundering identity is slowly diluting and digressing towards a more assertive American way of life. ... We feel they stole hockey, rugged nature, beer - these staple goods of the Canadian identity, from us rather than vice versa,"" says Allan Smith in An American Nation?. ... By removing cultural diversity and replacing it with a watered down substitute - popular media, Canada is losing its national pride. Professor Bliss of the University of Toronto agrees, stating, "Canada has squandered its opportunities in everything from our social policy to our cultural achievements,...

  • Word Count: 2964
  • Approx Pages: 12
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5. Immigration In Canada

The vast majority of Canadians are born in Canada, and most of them are from European descent. ... Children from immigrant families who maintain a strong identity with their culture do better than children who were force to assimilate. ... With the overwhelming number of cultural groups, in 1971 the Canadian government established a multicultural policy that recognizes the changing composition of the Canadian population. ... Here, children have a large quantity of freedom but this can cause big issues for parents, who have different cultural and behaviour expe...

  • Word Count: 1500
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6. Native Vs, Euros

Long before the white man set foot on Canadian and Saskatchewan soil, the Indians, or rather the Native Canadians had been living in North America. ... The Europeans exploited this cultural helplessness. ... None of these parts of individual identity are directly tied to race. ... All of these other aspects of identity are changeable, not immutable. ... However, our culture is in no way free from cultural criticism. ...

  • Word Count: 1717
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7. Exploring Identity in the works of Michael Ondaatje

These frequent occurrences may be a product of Ondaatje's immigration from Sri Lanka to Canada in 1962. ... Patrick's cultural liberation happens while attending a play put on by Alice Gull, his lover, at the Waterworks, a theatre. ... He is taken in by the residents of the villa and begins to develop their cultural tendencies in living. ... In Tuscany, two Canadians, an alleged Englishman and a Sikh take refuge in the abandoned building during World War II. ... Before she leaves for her native Canada, Hana gives Almasy an overdose of morphine. ...

  • Word Count: 1671
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. Canadian Multicultural Policy

Multicultural countries have proven to enjoy capital and cultural gains from diversity. ... That the cultural mosaic that we are so proud of is a diverse group of cultures that mistrust and avoid each other. They further argue that we lack a national identity due to the fact that immigrants remain faithful to the old ties in their origin of birth. ... Our country's sense of nationalism and identity is based in our attitudes toward multiculturalism. ... Our growing ethno cultural diversity requires making certain adjustments to ensure that all Canadians can participate fully i...

  • Word Count: 651
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. The Canadian Personality

When immigrants come to Canada from another country, they are encouraged to remember their other identity, language, and their roots in their country of birth, while, for example, Americans tell them to forget their old life because they are Americans. I think that encouraging cultural diversity is a good idea because it makes our cities more interesting. We don't just have cities filled with immigrants from one certain country, but cities filled with Portuguese-Canadians, Chinese-Canadians, etc., who are true to Canada, yet still remember their old homeland. ... This was why Quebec was t...

  • Word Count: 364
  • Approx Pages: 1

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