Multiculturalism in Canada facts for kids

The Yanaluk family, a Slavic immigrant family from Germany - photographed by William James Topley at Quebec City in 1911.

Multiculturalism in Canada is a very important part of the culture of Canada. Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, the Canadian government officially began pushing for multiculturalism in policy.

Canadians use the word "multiculturalism" in many different ways. Sometimes they use it to describe different religious traditions and cultural influences. They say that this creates a very special cultural mosaic in Canada. The country is full of people that come from many different racial, religious, and cultural origins.

Since Canada was created, there has been a lot of immigration. By the beginning of the 21st century, there were more people that were not of a British or French background.

In Canada there are many examples of multiculturalism. For example, Canada lets in refugees and immigrants and does not care about their race, religion, or culture.

Multiculturalism is reflected with the law through the Canadian Multiculturalism Act of 1988 and section 27 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

The Broadcasting Act of 1991 asserts the Canadian broadcasting system should reflect the diversity of cultures in the country. Despite the official policies, a small segment of the Canadian population are critical of the concept(s) of a cultural mosaic and implementation(s) of multiculturalism legislation.

Quebec's ideology differs from that of the other provinces in that its official policies focus on interculturalism.

Images for kids

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  Head Tax Receipt - The head tax was introduced in 1885, as a means of controlling Chinese immigration.

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  The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver's Chinatown is the first full-size Chinese or "scholars" garden built outside of China

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  Political cartoon on Canada's bicultural identity showing a flag combining symbols of Britain, France and Canada, from 1911.

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  Monument to Multiculturalism by Francesco Pirelli in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Four identical sculptures are located in Buffalo City, South Africa; Changchun, China; Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Sydney, Australia.

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  The Global Centre for Pluralism is located in Ottawa on Sussex Drive at the former location of the Canadian War Museum.

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  Toronto's Chinatown is an ethnic enclave located in the city centre

See also

In Spanish: Multiculturalismo en Canadá para niños