Proud2bCanadian

Canada is often described as a multicultural nation that reflects a vast diversity of cultural heritages and racial groups. They all play a key role in shaping the character of Canadian society.

Our diverse population is now one of the distinctive features of living in Canada. Canadians are challenged to accept cultural pluralism and embrace it as a fact of life. The greater the diversity of the racial and cultural mix, the greater the need for tolerance and openness in accepting one another as fellow Canadians.

I often wondered what it would be like to have 90 different ethnic groups coming together to say in unison in their mother tongue “I am proud to be Canadian”.

Since this would be an impossible task to accomplish on our Proud2bCanadian blog, there is a unique way we can achieve the same results.

Below I have listed the names of many ethno cultural groups who represent the visible minorities within Canada as well as anglophone/francophone citizens. If I have neglected to mention your country of origin, please accept my apology.

Ethnic Groups in Canada: Afghan, Albanian, Amharic, Anglo-Saxon, Arabic, Armenian, Asian, Bangla, Bengali, Bosnian, Brasilian, British, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cambodian, Cantonese, Caribbean, Celtic, Chinese, Creole, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, East Indian, Egyptian, Eritrean, Esperanto, Estonian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Finnish, Flemish, French, Fukienese, Gaelic, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indian languages, Indo-Aryen, Inuit, Iranian, Irish, Italian, Jamaican, Japanese, Jewish, Khmer, Korean, Kurdish, Latino, Latvian, Lebanese, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maltese, Mandarin, Mexican, Mongolian, Napoli, Norwegian, Ojibway, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Scandinavian, Scottish, Serbian, Sinhalese, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Sri Lankan, Swedish, Tagalog, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Viet, Vietnamese, Welsh, Yiddish.

Your assignment should you choose to accept it.

In your mother tongue, write the following: Canada is a land of freedom and opportunity. We celebrate diversity and are allowed to express our cultural identity. I live in a democratic society, get along with my neighbour and am proud to be Canadian.

Please include your name, country of origin, how long you have been a Canadian citizen and what city/town in Canada you call home.

We will begin to build a Proud2bCanadian scrapbook that will include a photograph of your family and background about your ethnic ancestry.

Show your pride in being Canadian
Join the Canadian Unity Travel Club

www.canadianunitytravelclub.ca
info@canadianunitytravelclub.ca

Canada is a country of diversity. A society that accommodates everyone equally is a society that encourages achievement, participation, attachment to country and a sense of belonging. As Canadians we need to get to know one another.

Canada now has its first multicultural travel club. The Canadian Unity Travel Club.

The aims and objectives are:

• Development of a cultural exchange project that works toward ensuring the preservation, enhancement and sharing of the cultural heritage of Canadians.
• To challenge all Canadians to learn more about their country, while encouraging them to fully participate as active members of the Canadian Unity Travel Club.
• Provide an economical opportunity for interaction and networking among Canadians of all ethnic backgrounds in order to strengthen bonds of friendship and understanding within our multicultural society.

This cultural-driven travel club provides all Canadians an extraordinary means in which to build trust, understanding of cultural differences, experience the diversity of Canada’s communities, languages and an opportunity to connect and develop friendships with one another throughout the country.

Members benefit by experiencing first hand how other Canadians live and work. This multicultural travel club also offers an educational experience for Canada’s youth and an opportunity for them to exchange interests with other Canadians their age.

As the Canadian Unity Travel Club expands across Canada, the membership base will include a kaleidoscope of Canadian multicultural faces from many different regions that would like to travel and learn more about the unique cultures, languages and lifestyles of their neighbours.

Participation is important for the growth of the Canadian Unity Travel Club.

Show your pride in being Canadian
Join the Canadian Unity Travel Club

www.canadianunitytravelclub.ca
info@canadianunitytravelclub.ca

Cultural diversity is reflected in the numerous ethno cultural neighbourhoods of our communities across Canada and the proliferation of authentic stores, culinary restaurants and diverse businesses derived from cultures from around the world that makes Canada one of the most exciting places to live.

Moreover, our collective respect for each other as we endeavour to link so many diverse people and cultures is a testament to the tolerant characteristics of Canadian society and the desire to live harmoniously together.

Communities serve as a catalyst to link together local people, organizations and business that value cultural diversity in order that we become an inclusive society respectful of citizens from many ethnic backgrounds.

The Canadian Unity Travel Club was created as a national, regional and community-based non-partisan project to promote understanding, respect and interaction among Canadian citizens of diverse cultural backgrounds and the anglophone/francophone Canadian population in an effort to get to know one another. Through this cultural initiative, we are one step closer to integrating ethnic communities into mainstream Canadian society.

This innovative and visionary initiative provides Canadians the opportunity to immerse themselves in our country’s multicultural society, share a memorable vacation of treasured moments in undiscovered regions of Canada and experience a sense of community involvement and belonging.

There is no disputing that the Canadian Unity Travel Club is a creative and compassionate grass roots initiative that serves to introduce Canadians to an innovative approach to travel and an invaluable understanding of what it means to be Canadian.

If we are to one day proudly say that our wonderful country is totally free of racial prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination; Canadians need to get to know one another on a personal level where cultural acceptance begins.

Through the development of this cultural initiative community by community, we are commited to building a society that is inclusive and respectful of all Canadians, promoting gender equality, full inclusion and participation.

Your assignment should you choose to accept it.

Spread the word! Tell your family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues about the Canadian Unity Travel Club and get them involved.

Approach your local Chamber of Commerce, membership organizations, travel clubs, multicultural groups, leaders in your community, elected members of city/town council, your member of parliament, school administrators and university heads. They all need to be made aware of this multicultural and educational travel experience available to all Canadians.

Become a Member and get involved in your community.

Join the Canadian Unity Travel Club

www.canadianunitytravelclub.ca

info@canadianunitytravelclub.ca

While creating this Proud2bCanadian Blog, I wanted to take into account the feelings of all citizens and to learn from each other what it means to be Canadian.

For me, Canada is a land of opportunity to explore new challenges and the freedom to make personal decisions along life’s adventurous journey, experiencing highs and even road bumps along the way. Being Canadian to me means having the opportunity to freely express myself and my opinions and to know that my country is a safe and friendly place to live.

Without outwardly showing it except at sporting events and the 1st of July parade, Canadians are generally patriotic people who are proud to call Canada home. Here is an opportunity to show your patriotism to the rest of Canada. Put your feelings into words (about 1500) and tell us what being a Canadian means to you and your family. Are you a new Canadian or has your family been Canadian citizens for several generations. What makes you most proud to be a Canadian and how has this country enriched your life.

You can tell us anything you like. Periodically, we will choose from all the responses a few we think best expresses what it means to be Canadian and post them in a special section of the Proud2bCanadian Blog for all to read. At the end of every month, we will select four submissions to receive a complementary annual membership in the Canadian Unity Travel Club each valued at $200. So gather your thoughts and send them along to us - we welcome each and every one of them.

To participate in the contest, please follow this link.  www.canadianunitytravelclub.ca

Look forward to hearing from you.

Diane R. St. John

Over the years in the Federal Government’s Speech from the Throne, Canadians have listened to promises made and then watched them quickly disappear.

Like for instance when in 2001 the Government of Canada said in the Throne Speech:

“We must ensure that every region, every province and territo ry, every community, and every citizen has a strong voice and can contribute to building our nation.”

“In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Government of Canada will be guided by the values of Canadians. It will work with other levels of government, the private and voluntary sectors, and individual citizens.”

That sentiment was apparently not shared by their Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Honourable Stephane Dion. He expressed in his letter to me dated April 19, 2001 that “I concur with you that there is a need to encourage Canadians to participate fully in shaping the future of our country. I regret that the Government of Canada could not provide support for the proposal you submitted”.

Let’s fast forward a few years to 2007. There has been a change in political leadership and we are told that this new Canadian Government is going to do things differently. They promise us they are going to be transparent and more in touch with the average Canadian.

This new federal government is not very forthright with Canadians as I recently discovered and I have the documentation to prove it.

On the 4th of January, 2007 Prime Minister Harper announced the appointment of Jason Kenney as Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity). The press release from the Prime Minister stated “Jason Kenney is an experienced Member of Parliament who has ably served me as my Parliamentary Secretary. He has done exemplary work for the Government with New Canadians and all multicultural communities. He will continue to work with them to ensure that Canada works for all of us”.

Because of my continued indirect contact with the Canadian Government over a period of several years, I knew that they had never implemented a muticultural exchange initiative for the long-term benefit and participation of all Canadians that could be reasonably compared to the Canadian Unity Travel Club.

The federal government has year after year handed out millions upon millions of taxpayers dollars to pro-federalist, not-for-profit organizations for some projects that have never seen the light of day and others that were so insignificant in participation numbers and tangible results that their effectiveness cannot be accurately substantiated.

The federal government continues to fund an exchange program for the youth ages 14 to 17 years with limited annual participation. This new government has committed $2.4 million dollars each year over 5-years to this youth exchange program called Encounters with Canada.

On the 7th of February, 2007 I wrote Jason Kenney a letter introducing him to the Canadian Unity Travel Club and outlined the importance of this multicultural national project for Canadians and newcomers from all cultural backgrounds. I said that “We want to know what the new Government of Canada would be willing to do in support of this very worthwhile and overdue national multicultural initiative for Canadians.”

On the 13th of April, 2007 this was in part Mr. Kenney’s response. He said “I appreciate your advising me of your organization’s activities and its efforts aimed at introducing Canadians to an innovative approach to travel and an understanding of what it means to be Canadian. However, the Department of Canadian Heritage does not have any program that could provide support for the type of endeavour that you describe”.

Jason Kenney’s letter further went on to say “The Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage supports projects that address issues of full participation in Canadian society, as well as those that facilitate collective community initiatives and responses to ethnic, racial, religious and cultural conflict and hate-motivated activities. To be eligible for Multicultural Program funding, projects must propose solutions and produce measurable results that contribute to long-term social change. Projects designed to raise awareness and understanding about diversity must also have a strong educational component, facilitate public dialogue and support sustained action.”

Did the Honourable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) actually mean what he said or was this letter written by a government bureaucrat from the ‘writing pool’ on his behalf. I contacted his office and was assured that Mr. Kenney is aware of the content of his correspondence and that his signature at the bottom of the page was by his own pen and is authentic. Could have fooled me!!

Fellow Canadians, it is time for us to put these MP’s feet to the fire. We need more accountability from members of parliament and less smoke and mirrors.

Have you ever had an important private sector initiative relating to help build an inclusive society for visible minorities in your community that was rejected for funding support by the Government of Canada? Or even the Provincial Government?

I would like to hear your story.

Your assignment should you choose to accept it.

Contact Jason Kenney at E-mail: jason_kenney@parl.gc.ca and cc: info@canadianunitytravelclub.ca

The first question that you should direct to Jason Kenney is what does he have planned for your community as minister responsible for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity that offer people of visible minorities the means by which to feel they are truly a stakeholder in the future of Canada.

Which particular programs has he either supported or initiated through the Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage to improve the status of visible minorities and bring awareness to multiculturalism.

Request his office provide you with audited statements that reflect federal government funds granted to not-for-profit organizations across Canada in promoting programs for multiculturalism and visible minorities as compared to funding for similar private sector initiatives.

Don’t give up - as taxpayers we have the right to know how they are spending our money. If you do not get a response back within a reasonable time (aside from the maze of contributing writers that are hired to respond to the minister’s mail, they always reply by snail mail so don’t expect a reply within at least two months) you may want to contact Senior Special Assistant, Alykhan Velshi at 819 934-1122 or E-mail him at alykhan_velshi@pch.gc.ca

Also contact your local Member of Parliament.

Good luck - let me know how you made out!

Diane R. St. John

info@canadianunitytravelclub.ca

Excerpt from www.culture.ca

“The world is forever getting smaller - and cultural diversity is a very current subject in international relations. It refers to the presence of different cultural groups in one place. In 2001, the UNESCO Declaration of Cultural Diversity was adopted. Canada has been a leader in the formulation and the promotion of the Declaration of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2005.

Canada has a deep commitment to cultural diversity. When everyone is accepted and respected, the result is a more harmonious, a more creative, and indeed, a more stable society.

When Europeans arrived on the shores of what is now Canada, there were already 56 Aboriginal nations with more than 30 languages. Today, diversity is a key part of the Canadian fabric. Canada is a country of 32 million people, with cultural groups from all over the world, and a yearly immigration rate of about 200,000. Canada’s cultural diversity is expanding.

The sense of belonging and inclusion, some of the hallmarks of Canada, are attributes that need to be cultivated and maintained. This is process - not an end. Our continued success in this process is one of the foundations of Canada. Part of the success is the will to pursue. In Canada, we have that. We are up to the challenge.”