Let’s celebrate the first ever Canadian Multiculturalism Day
By
Sheila Copps
Minister
of Canadian Heritage
and
Jean Augustine
Secretary
of State
(Multiculturalism)
(Status of Women)
On June 27, we are going to do
something uniquely Canadian: we are going to celebrate our diversity. On
this day, we will celebrate the first ever Canadian Multiculturalism Day.
This day joins National Aboriginal Day on June 21, Saint Jean-Baptiste Day
on June 24m and, of course, Canada Day on July 1 on the Celebrate
Canada! Roster of activities.
Why have we added multiculturalism to this
special calendar? Because, just like Celebrate Canada!,
multiculturalism is for everyone. Aboriginal Canadians, Canadians who were
born here and whose families have lived here for generations, and new
Canadians, those who have chosen Canada and worked hard to get here. This
special day provides us all – regardless of ethnic or racial background
– with an occasion to appreciate our country’s multicultural nature,
and the incredible economic, social and cultural benefits we enjoy as a
result.
According to the 2001 Census, Canada’s population is increasingly
diverse. In fact, Canada is considered to be one of the most multicultural
countries in the world, with over 200 different ethnic communities.
Our diversity is one reason why the Government of Canada has
Multiculturalism Program. It is also why, last spring, we held regional
forums and a national Forum on Diversity and Culture, when participants
from across Canada, representing Canadians from many different
backgrounds, provided us with recommendations on how the Government could
make its cultural programs more accessible and inclusive.
The result of this extensive consultation, the Strategic Plan on
Diversity and Culture, is being released on Canadian Multiculturalism Day.
The Plan details activities that will improve access to relevant programs,
establish better consultation and communications with key groups, outline
how we will measure success, and establish a Cultural Diversity Network.
But it takes more than policy to help people from many different
backgrounds live together in harmony, define citizenship, and create a
country. It takes firm values. The words respect, equality and freedom are
not vague concepts, but are values Canadians practice every day.
Multiculturalism Day encourages us to explore and refine these values,
freeing us from the prejudices of the past so we can move forward together
into the future. These values, and our sustained commitment to
multiculturalism, have made Canada an example to be followed in the world
community.
We encourage Canadians from all backgrounds to participate in
Canadian Multiculturalism Day. This is a time to celebrate the wealth of
different traditions that enrich our country and the lives of every
Canadian.