What does it mean to be Canadian?

The question seems simple at first. That is, until respondents try to put their thoughts into words, piecing together the images and ideas that make Canada identifiable in order to form one graspable explanation.

But as high school social studies teacher Graham Magnusson has determined – there is no clear answer.

The Earl Marriott instructor even had to stop and think himself, when Peace Arch News posed the question leading up to Canada Day.

Before voicing his findings, Magnusson asked some of his students what they thought.

“The themes were similar,” he said of their responses. “We’re about being a picture of a lot of different faces.

“We are a mosaic; that is how Canada primarily describes itself. You really can’t get the whole picture until you understand or visualize all the pieces together.”

To begin to comprehend Canada’s identity – beyond the general image of hockey, beer and subzero temperatures – Magnusson said one must first look to the past.

Immigration, the fur trade, the gold rush, farming, economics and politics all had major roles in forming the nation.

“Learning about the past and Canadian history and our geography and our sense of government is learning about ourself.”

The subjects are all part of the high school curriculum for social studies, which students are required to take up to Grade 11. The final course seeks to answer the fundamental question of what it means to be Canadian – an inquiry Magnusson said students struggle with.

“The 16-year-old age group, they’re still trying to figure out who they are,” he said. “Maybe it’s no coincidence that we teach this at that time – that teaching you what it means to be Canadian is a big part of what it means to be a youth.”

Before walking into the classroom, Magnusson said some students already have the impression Canadian content is boring. He thinks their predispositions stem from the fact Canadian history isn’t highlighted in major media, including movies and video games, to the extent of other countries, such as the U.S.

“There are some (students) that find social studies generally engrossing,” he said. “There are students that enjoy social studies depending on the topic. Those students tend to enjoy topics that perhaps they’ve seen before in movies or media that are part of pop culture.

“It is our job, as social studies teachers, to show kids that, ‘Hey, this is who we are.’”

Many former students have told Magnusson they didn’t process what they learned about Canada in school until they were older, when they had formed a stronger sense of self and reflected back on what they were taught.

Such was the case for Hugh Ellenwood, archives manager for White Rock Museum and Archives.

Since he was a child, he has struggled with what it means to be Canadian – a question triggered by the American-focused media.

“Their media was dominant but I was still struggling against that because I was conscious I was Canadian.”

Having been interested in history all his life, Ellenwood understands why some students consider Canada’s past boring. In fact, he thinks they’re right, and wonders if that’s such a bad thing after all.

“Canadian history is boring because we’ve led good lives,” he said.

It wasn’t until Ellenwood was older – and his interests shifted – that Canada’s past caught his attention.

“It becomes really, really fascinating... when you’re not a kid anymore and you’re not looking for battles. You’re interested in people like Louis Riel and people like Lester Pearson... and Pierre Trudeau and phrases like ‘the just society.’ That, to me, is a great achievement. It’s a great achievement that our history is boring.”

While Ellenwood admits many would disagree – such as his own mother, Lorraine, a local historian – he said a subject doesn’t tend to be interesting until one understands it.

“The more you understand something, the more fascinating it becomes.”

Ellenwood gained some of that understanding by driving across Canada, which he has done 10 times.

“That’s a great way to get a sense of the country. The geography is so powerful, and the history is linked to the geography,” he said, noting the various colours and textures of the mountains, prairies and wilderness.

“You get these landscapes like the Group of Seven would’ve painted. Those kinds of things seem Canadian to me.”

However, geography has also created challenges in pinpointing Canada’s character.

Magnusson said figuring out what it means to be Canadian can be difficult when living next to the U.S., which has such a strong, united sense of identity.

“Sometimes we tend to identify ourselves as ‘not them’ or ‘not American,’” he said. “That may be another part of it, but it’s not the big picture.”

Magnusson – whose three-year-old son was adopted from Oklahoma and named after Josiah Henson, who came to Canada by way of the underground railroad – said Canadians are unique in their acceptance of various cultures, as well as their recognition of past errors, such as the Chinese head tax, Japanese internment camps and First Nations residential schools.

“We’re about accepting and celebrating our differences and recognizing mistakes we’ve made in the past. Not every culture does that,” he said. “Very few Western countries, if any that I can think of, have been so considerate of themselves and the mistakes they’ve made.”

Ellenwood said it’s difficult to define Canada because of the various cultures that call it home. He said Canada is not a nation, but a country filled with nations.

“I think it’s almost an impossible question to answer without describing every single person who lives in Canada.”

Montreal-born and a B.C. resident for more than 30 years, Ellenwood still hasn’t put his finger on the reason he enjoys being Canadian.

“I really love Canada, but I don’t fully understand why. It’s like being in love. It’s like a faith.

“There are problems with Canada but it’s my home and it will always be my home.

“I know there is something in there – maybe some day I’ll find out what it is – that makes me proud to be Canadian.”

Magnusson – who was born in Langley but whose family emigrated from Sweden at the turn of the 1900s – said his idea of what it means to be Canadian will differ from his colleagues’ opinions, which will differ from his students’.

“Everybody’s sense is a little bit different, but there’s common themes to it, and it largely centres around learning from each other and understanding each other.”

What it means to be Canadian is a question people can ponder throughout a lifetime, Magnusson added.

“It’s a neat question. It’s not closed. It’s not fixed. There’s no end point. I hope people have time to give it some thought – and it’s OK not to have an answer right away.”

In other words, the hunt for a national identity may just be what identifies Canada.

Maybe being Canadian is constantly asking oneself what that means, and always being in pursuit of the answer.

Pieces of the puzzle, in their own words

Walter Uden, Second World War veteran

Born in England in 1922, Uden has been living on the Semiahmoo Peninsula for more than 40 years.

“Citizens are taken care of,” he said. “They’re living in paradise.”

Emily Hopkins, high school student

Hopkins, who will soon start her final year at Earl Marriott Secondary, said being Canadian means not having to worry about certain fundamental rights that don’t exist in some areas.

“They can still keep their heritage really close to them and still be proud to be Canadian,” she said. “We’ve really been able to change from Japanese internment camps to having the incredible sense of acceptance of what our country has right now.”

Hayley Woodin, Miss White Rock

Born in Langley, the 17-year-old said Canada’s multiculturalism sets it apart from other countries.

“I’m proud to be Canadian.”

Sgt. Paul Fletcher, White Rock RCMP

For Vancouver-born Fletcher, one prominent thought came to mind when asked what it means to be Canadian.

“We’re very lucky to have that.”

Catherine Ferguson, White Rock mayor

Canada Day has always been important for Ferguson, who was born in Chilliwack and feels privileged to be a Canadian citizen.

“One of the reasons I feel so privileged is we’re such an inclusive country. We’re a country with people from all over the world living side by side, peacefully and respectfully – not a lot of countries can say that.”

Maeve Glass, Olympian

Glass – who carried the torch in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and was equipment manager for the Canadian women’s soccer team at last year’s Beijing Olympics – said people she meets are in awe of her home country.

“I’m very proud of my Irish heritage, but first and foremost, I’m a Canadian.”