“Dear fellow citizens, each day and in 1001 ways, you contribute, all together, to the well deserved greatness of our country. This is why, on the occasion of Canada Day that we are prouder than ever to call our selves Canadian.” (Jean, 2010). As the fifth generation in Canada, it seems that I have taken a lot for granted. I do not seem to share this sense of nationalism and excitement to be Canadian. I have been lucky enough to travel to other nations and this has not made me value being Canadian more. In fact, each country I visit, I could see myself living in. It’s not that I am not proud to be Canadian, it’s just that I am willing and open to living around the world and taking on new cultures.
As I watched the Heritage minutes (numerous times) I started to try and appreciate my heritage and draw on some semblance of nationalism that I might have. Throughout this paper I will discuss some examples of nationalism that are displayed in the heritage minutes and my reflections on them. The first is the Underground Railroad and the second is Juno Beach. I chose these ones because they display two exciting and defining moments in Canadian history.
“Between 1840 and 1860, more than 30,000 American slaves arrived in Canada. Their journey was secretive, and in the pursuit of freedom. Agents on the Underground Railroad, men and woman, white and black, Canadian and American, aided them on their travel.” (Settling Canada, 2010) The heritage moment’s clip draws on Canadians long history of standing for equality and fighting for human rights. The film also displays how Canada welcomed another race. We opened our arms to people in need and encouraged them to practice their way of life. In 1926 Canada celebrated its first black history month, it was a time to honor and celebrate African Canadians. After watching this clip I couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of honor. Canada helped bring thousands of people to freedom and safety during a time when it would have been frowned upon. Canada stood for something that impacted thousands of lives and the many generations since then.
The next segment I will discuss is the Juno beach film. It takes place on June 6, 1944. The clip starts off with John Lombardi entertaining his troops on the battlefield. The message it is conveying is that Canada is coming into its own, standing independently from Great Britain. This is another proud moment in Canadian history. One example from the clip that conveys this message strongly is when a soldier is shown talking about the British radio station. He is abruptly interrupted when another soldier pipes up and tells the group to listen to Canadian radio; he claims it is “something that really matters.” (Heritage Minutes, 2010). This is a time when Canada started to develop its own identity, from creating their own radio stations to their unique role in the world. What these small things did over time was something great. They created a sense of who we are as Canadians. After Juno beach, Canada became known for our military on the international map.
Another example of nationalism in this film is displayed by John Lombardi, the pioneer of multicultural broadcasting. A man that encompassed a nation through radio.
Johnny was an integral part of the transformation of unban society in post-war southern Ontario
Moving to a new country with a new culture can be a big change for people. However, Johnny Lombardi’s radio show made this transition much easier. His show provided people with a sense of security and a feeling that they had found ‘home sweet home’ in Canada. Many of the people who made the move to Canada said they would have moved back to their home country if it weren’t for CHIN radio. Before seeing this clip I had no knowledge of who Johnny Lombardi was, nor did I know a great deal about Juno Beach. After researching these events I feel a stronger sense of national pride. I can proudly say that we live in a Country has been gracious and embracing to all races and cultures. We are after all a melting pot.
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