A look at Canada Day through Heritage Minutes

Canada Day celebrations are back this year after being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a day to celebrate the nation’s shared history and achievements. People can expect big events, fireworks and get-togethers with family and friends.

Historica Canada, a national charity that strives to educate people about Canada’s history, has produced and broadcast one-minute dramatizations of significant moments in Canada’s history for more than 30 years.

These dramatizations are known as Heritage Minutes. Their goal is to help viewers understand the origins of Canada’s rooted values ​​and why we celebrate them. They are well known to Canadians and a common cultural reference.

Find out if you qualify for Canadian immigration

Heritage Minutes cover the range of Canadian contributions to science, women’s rights, popular culture and sports. There are also several that highlight how immigrants and refugees have shaped our country and made it what it is today.

Without immigration, Canada could not maintain its workforce and the economy would falter. Some Heritage Minutes attempt to capture the significant impact of immigration on Canadian history.

Immigrants helped settle the Prairies

Until the end of the 19th century, the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were sparsely populated. At this time, a wave of Ukrainian immigrants arrived in these provinces and established farms and settlements. Like the current influx of Ukrainians, they escaped Russian domination.

Canada’s history as a refuge for refugees

The 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan focuses on the goal of welcoming more than 60,000 refugees each year until 2024. Canada is often the final destination for those fleeing dangerous situations at home of origin and Canada ensures that refugees and their families can settle and live peacefully. For example, Canada was one of the few countries to accept refugees at the end of the Vietnam War.

The Treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Canada may have a reputation for being a welcoming place for immigrants, but not all of Canada’s history is positive. Canada Day began to take on a somber note in 2021 as the bodies of thousands of Indigenous children who died in residential schools began to be discovered across the country. With this in mind, there is growing backlash against celebrating Canada Day.

A Canadian classic

This Heritage Minute is not directly related to immigration, but according to Historica Canada, it is the most popular and most quoted classic. It’s one of the oldest Heritage Minutes and baby boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials often saw it on TV before streaming services became the norm. For some inexplicable reason, it has become a cultural reference and is synonymous with being confused and overwhelmed.

It features Dr. Wilder Penfield, a brain surgeon who immigrated to Montreal from the United States. He has spent his career helping people with seizure disorders.

Things to think about

Canada Day exists to celebrate Canada’s achievements, history, global contributions and high standard of living. It’s a day to relax, enjoy the summer and be proud of how Canada has progressed as a nation. It is also an opportunity to reflect on all the work that remains to be done to ensure that all Canadians and newcomers are treated equally.

Find out if you qualify for Canadian immigration

© CIC News All rights reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your options for immigrating to Canada.