Hannah Sewpersaud
This year Canada is reaching a very important milestone; its 150th birthday. From the explorations of Jacques Cartier, to the victories in both world wars, Canada has passed many milestones that have defined characteristics of our diverse identity. Canada has been a complex nation from the start, where many contrasting cultures have worked together to establish a country that is not only diverse, but stable. This ability to control differences and reach comparable compromises of the time is a notable characteristic of Canada’s lengthy history. In addition, Canada has a formidable war reputation that distinguishes us as strategic and logical fighters for not only Canadian interests, but world interests. The diverse richness of Canadian history is responsible for shaping a noble Canadian identity that is respected globally.
The contributions of various ethnic Canadians in early Canada laid a foundation upon which Canada has flourished. This intricacy has slated Canadian fate to forever stand out from other nations because of our ever-growing diverse nation, naturally forming the cultural lenience associated with the Canadian identity. This diversity literally connected Canada, and allowed for greater growth in the form of immigrant railway labourers. The Canadian Pacific Railway was implemented as a promise to British Columbia upon entrance into Confederation, connecting eastern Canada to BC. This rail would help develop mining and telecommunications in Canada. Furthermore in WWII the railway provided a means of transportation for much needed armaments. This would have been an unfeasible feat if it were not for the much needed 15,000 Chinese laborers who worked on the rail because of an insufficient work force (Lavallé). The sacrifices made by these laborers, who came from an entirely different culture from the British and French, to build this railway for a foreign country symbolizes early Canadian allegiance. This patriotism has transcended through their generations, whom have mostly settled in Vancouver. Having a diverse nation from the beginning is something our neighbours to south cannot say. Canada’s progressive tolerance for its time can also be evaluated by its early gradual abolition of slavery.
In 1793, upper Canada was the only colony to abolish slavery, compared to the United States who did not follow until in 1865. By 1800, the entire great Canadian landscape had eliminated the festering of slavery (Walker). Some blacks contributed further by fighting for Canada in the War of 1812 in the “Company of Colored Men”, the Upper Canadian Rebellion, and formed the first authorized militia unit in the West Coast colony called the Victoria Pioneer Rife Corps (Veterans Affairs Canada).
In both world wars, black men fought diligently in the army, while women helped on the Homefront working in factories for ammunition. However, the most vital group to Canadian success is the Indigenous population. Their alliance with the British was key in British North America’s defense against American forces in the war of 1812, where thousands of First Nations and Métis men fought. According to Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, the natives were a large part of battle successes in Queenston Heights, Capture of Detroit, and the Battle of Chateauguay (Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada). The fundamental infrastructures, freedoms and more can be credited to all early Canadians, whose diligence and hard work has shaped the Canadian identity into a beacon of compromise and nobility. Canada’s noble character and heroism is known by the significant role we played in wars, and is very symbolic of, not only the influence, but also the logic and leadership Canada takes on a global scale.
At the turn of the century in 1899, the British and Dutch settlers were in conflict in South Africa, named the Boer War. As a British colony, Canada volunteered 8,000 of its men for service; this was the largest group of Canadians to serve overseas at this point. During the Boer War Canadians showed tenacity, stamina and initiative in their fighting, a stark contrast to the poor British Leadership. Canada emerged as a proud nation bolstered by its sacrifices, but also its victory (“The Boer War”). Canadian troops would be called to fight again in the early youth years of the 20th century, in the battle of Ypres as apart of WW1. Canada, yet again, proved themselves a prime fighting force by resisting the large-scale poison gas attack by the Germans and holding a strategic and critical frontline until British reinforcements could be raised. These soldiers put up with a constant presence of death and poor living conditions in trenches, but many survived because of ingenuity of the soldiers to use a cloth soaked in urine to filter the gas and persevere for the greater good (Foot). Another notable battle for Canada was the battle of Vimy ridge. Many historians have concluded that the victory at Vimy Ridge was a defining moment that brought Canada out of the shadows of Britain. Where previous attempts by the French and British went awry, Canada captured this difficult position by using models to represent the battlefield, and new aerial maps were drawn thanks to Sir Arthur Curry. Tunnels were dug to safely transport troops from the rear to the front, but also protected the soldiers from shrapnel and bullets. Vimy Ridge has become a symbol of sacrifice for young Canada, where losses were heavy (Foldes-Busque). In the next war, Canadians proudly participated in the D-Day attacks, fighting German forces on what was code- named Juno Beach. The success of this battle liberated Europe. It has been said that “At the end of the day, its forward elements stood deeper into France than those of any other division. The opposition the Canadians faced was stronger than that of any other beach save Omaha. That was an accomplishment in which the whole nation could take considerable pride” (Lane). The heroics of dedicated Canadian soldiers did not stop there. In 1959, the Suez Crisis broke out, and threatened a divide between the U.S and Britain and overthrow the western military alliance. Lester. B. Person created the U.N peacekeeping force to deescalate the situation, for which he earned the Nobel peace prize for the following year. His exact words were “ I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to participate in that work as a representative of my country, Canada, whose people have, I think, shown their devotion to peace” (Tattrie). Today, the blue berets of UN Peacekeepers are as universally symbolic of peace as a dove. This long-lasting legacy of peace lives through those touched by Canadian peacekeeping values, and is a virtue praised by many countries today. Canada’s extensive military history is inspiring, not for the art of war but for the sacrifices many men and women have made to protect sovereignty and autonomy in Canada and throughout the world. The diverse richness of Canadian history is responsible for shaping a noble Canadian identity that is respected globally. The diversity that marked the early Canadian population has helped to develop a culture of compromise and later, a culture of deep tolerance. Furthermore, Canadian history is rich in war victories, where Canadians have fought selflessly for not only their country, but also the autonomy and freedoms of others. Canada is truly the cornerstone for cultural, economic diversity and success. Today, people all over the world strive to live in a better place, where their children can grow in a safe and accepting country. Many choose Canada, because we are not only that, but also a beacon of hope for the marginalized, oppressed and lost. For this reason, Canada’s name will ring throughout the ages as a remarkable nation to aspire to. These 150 years have been more than eventful, and we have yet much more to look forward to, as this is in fact, just the very beginning.
http://artessay.ca/creative-minds-peel-2017-finalists/
