Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multicultural Education, Diversity, and Citizenship in Canada

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Learning from Difference: Comparative Accounts of Multicultural Education

Part of the book series: Multilingual Education ((MULT,volume 16))

Abstract

Multiculturalism in Canada refers exclusively to a concern with cultural diversity, thus addressing issues of immigrant integration, cultural identity, racism, religious diversity, and linguistic diversity. These issues have been part of a discussion of Canadian identity that began at the time Canada officially became a country in 1867. From the outset, cultural diversity has been an important part of Canadian policy. Initially the concern was how to bring together the so-called ‘two founding nations’ (the British and French colonizers), assimilate other immigrants, and administer the relationship between the State and the original peoples of the land. Education has always been seen as a key to ensuring that cultural diversity was managed properly. What has changed over time is the value and meaning that Canadians have attached to cultural diversity. In this chapter we will outline the historical underpinnings of multiculturalism, discuss contemporary meanings of multiculturalism as it has been expressed in educational policies, and provide some examples of the practice of multicultural education in schools and classrooms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agocs, C. (2004). Surfacing racism in the workplace: Qualitative and quantitative evidence of systemic discrimination. Canadian Diversity/Diversite Canadienne, 3, 25–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberta Education. (2005). Social studies K-12. Retrieved August 29, 2005, from http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/bySubject/social/sockto3.pdf

  • Alberta Learning, French Language Services Branch. (2001). Affirming Francophone education – Foundations and directions: A framework for French first language education in Alberta. Edmonton: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation. (1999). Foundation for the Atlantic Canada social studies curriculum. Halifax: Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, J. A. (2009). Foreward. In D. E. Lund & P. R. Carr (Eds.), Doing democracy: Striving for political literacy and social justice (pp. xi–xiv). New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Battiste, M., & Semaganis, H. (2002). First thoughts on first nations citizenship issues in education. In Y. Hébert (Ed.), Citizenship in transformation in Canada (pp. 93–111). Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernard, P. (1999). Social cohesion: A critique (Discussion paper). Ottawa: Canadian Policy Research Networks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bessis, S. (1995). From social exclusiono social cohesion: A policy agenda (MOST Policy Paper No.2). Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharjee, K. (2003). The Ontario Safe Schools Act: School discipline and discrimination. Toronto: Ontario Human Rights Commission. Retrieved from http://ohrc.on.ca/english/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bickmore, K. (2005a). Foundations for peacebuilding and discursive peacekeeping: Infusion and exclusion of conflict in Canadian Public School Curricula. Journal of Peace Education, 2(2), 161–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bickmore, K. (2005b). Teacher development for conflict participation: Facilitating learning for ‘Difficult Citizenship’ education. Citizenship Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 2–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruno-Jofré, R. (2002). Citizenship and schooling in Manitoba between the end of the First World War and the end of the Second World War. In Citizenship in transformation in Canada (pp. 112–133).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruno-Jofré, R., & Aponiuk, N. (Eds.). (2001). Educating citizens for a pluralistic society. Calgary: Canadian Ethnic Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, B. (1988). Building the educational state: Canada West, 1836–1871. London: The Althouse Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Justice. (1982). Constitution Acts 1867–1982. Viewed 10 March 2009, http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/annex_e.html#I

  • Durham, L. (1839). Lord Durham’s report on the affairs of British North America. Viewed 10 March 2009, http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/docs/durham/1.htm

  • Fleras, A., & Elliott, J. (1996). Unequal relations: An introduction to race, ethnic and aboriginal dynamics in Canada (2nd ed.). Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Montufar, G., Solis, M. A., & Iaacson, S. E. (2004). Advances in religious liberty in Peru. Brigham Young University Law Review, 385–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granatstein, J. L. (1993). The “Hard” obligations of citizenship: The Second World War in Canada. In W. Kaplan (Ed.), Belonging: The meaning and future of Canadian citizenship. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, D. (2005). A brief history of neoliberalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hébert, Y. (Ed.). (2002). Citizenship in transformation in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ignatieff, M. (2000). Republicanism, ethnicity and nationalism. London: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaenen, C. J. (1981). Mutilated multiculturalism. In J. D. Wilson (Ed.), Canadian education in the 1980s (pp. 79–96). Calgary: Destelig.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jedwab, J. (2002). Immigration and the vitality of Canada’s official language communities: Policy, demography and identity. Ottawa: Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenson, J. (1998). Social cohesion: The state of Canadian research. Ottawa: Canadian Policy Research Networks. Retrieved January 27, 2005, from www.cprn.org

  • Johnson, L., & Joshee, R. (2007). Introduction: Cross-border dialogue and multicultural policy webs. In R. Joshee & L. Johnson (Eds.), Multicultural education policies in Canada and the United States (pp. 3–13). Vancouver: UBC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshee, R. (2004). Citizenship and multicultural education in Canada: From assimilation to social cohesion. In J. A. Banks (Ed.), Diversity and citizenship education: Global perspectives (1st ed., pp. 127–156). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshee, R. (2007). Opportunities for social justice work: The Ontario diversity policy web. EAF Journal, 18, 171–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshee, R. (2009). Multicultural education policy in Canada: Competing ideologies, interconnected discourses. In J. A. Banks (Ed.), The Routledge international companion to multicultural education (pp. 96–108). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshee, R., & Winton, S. (2007). Past crossings: US influences on the development of Canadian Multicultural Education Policy. In R. Joshee & L. Johnson (Eds.), Multicultural education policies in Canada and the United States (pp. 17–27). Vancouver: UBC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenney, J. (2009a). Speaking notes for the Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism at the 6th Annual Internationally Educated Professionals’ Conference, Toronto, Ontario, February 20, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/speeches/2009/2009-02-20.asp, http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/speeches/2009/2009-02-20.asp

  • Kenney, J. (2009b). Speaking notes for the Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P. Minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism “Good Citizenship: The Duty to Integrate” at Huron University College’s Canadian Leaders Speakers’ Series, London, Ontario, March 18, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/speeches/2009/2009-03-18.asp

  • Kidd, J. R. (1947). A study to formulate a plan for the work of the Canadian Citizenship Council, Unpublished EdD, Columbia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunz, J. L., & Sykes, S. (2007). From mosaic to harmony: Multicultural Canada in the 21st century. Ottawa: Policy Research Initiative.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka, W. (2003). Being Canadian. Government and Opposition, 38(3), 357–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka, W. (2004). Foreward. In J. A. Banks (Ed.), Diversity and citizenship education: Global perspectives (pp. xii–xvii). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka, W. (2007). Ethnocultural diversity in a liberal state: Making sense of the Canadian model(s). In K. Banting, T. J. Courchene, & L. Seidle (Eds.), The art of the state volume Iii: Belonging? Diversity, recognition and shared citizenship in Canada (pp. 39–86). Montreal: The Institute for Research on Public Policy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka, W., & Norman, W. (Eds.). (2000). Citizenship and diverse societies. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka, W., & Opalski, M. (2001). Introduction. In W. Kymlicka & M. Opalski (Eds.), Can liberalism be exported? Western political theory and ethnic relations in Eastern Europe (pp. 1–10). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lévesque, S. (2004). History and social studies in Quebec: An historical perspective. In A. Sears & I. Wright (Eds.), Challenges and prospects for Canadian social studies (pp. 55–72). Vancouver: Pacific Educational Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M. (1990). Continental divide. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLean, L. (2007). Education, identity, and citizenship in early modern Canada. Journal of Canadian Studies, 41(1), 5–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton, D. (1993). Divided loyalties? Divided country? In W. Kaplan (Ed.), Belonging: The meaning and future of Canadian citizenship (pp. 50–63). Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Multiculturalism Branch. (2008). A survey of recent research on religious diversity and implications for multiculturalism policy. Retrieved 2 Apr 2009 from http://www.policyresearch.gc.ca/page.asp?pagenm=2009-0008_15

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2005a). An educator’s guide to program pathways. Ontario: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2005b). Ontario’s Aménagement Linguistique Policy for French-Language Education. Toronto: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2006). Finding common ground: Character development in Ontario schools, K–12. Ontario: Author. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2009a). Aménagement linguistique – a policy for Ontario’s French-Language Schools and Francophone Community, Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/amenagement/

  • Ontario Ministry of Education. (2009b). Equity and inclusive education in Ontario Schools. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/inclusiveguide.pdf

  • Ontario Ministry of Education and Training. (1993). Antiracism and ethnocultural equity in school boards: Guidelines for policy development and implementation. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/curricul/antiraci/antire.pdf

  • Osborne, K. (2001). Public schooling and citizenship education in Canada. In R. Bruno-Jofré & N. Aponiuk (Eds.), Educating citizens for a pluralistic society (pp. 11–48). Calgary: Canadian Ethnic Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quell, C. (2002). Official languages and immigration: Obstacles and opportunities for immigrants and communities. Retrieved October 3, 2006, from http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/archives/sst_es/2002/obstacle/obstacle_e.htm

  • Resnick, P. (1994). Thinking English Canada. Toronto: Stoddart.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safe Schools Action Team. (2006). Safe schools policy and practice: An agenda for action. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sears, A. (2010). Possibilities and problems: Citizenship education in a multinational state, the case of Canada. In A. Reid, J. Gill, & A. Sears (Eds.), Globalization, the nation-state and the citizen: Dilemmas and directions for citizenship education (pp. 191–205). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sears, A., & Hughes, A. S. (1996). Citizenship education and current educational reform. Canadian Journal of Education, 21(2), 123–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sears, A., & Wright, I. (Eds.). (2004). Challenges and prospects for Canadian social studies. Vancouver: Pacific Educational Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sears, A., Clarke, G. M., & Hughes, A. S. (1999). Canadian citizenship education: The pluralist ideal and citizenship education for a post-modern state. In J. T. Purta, J. Schwille, & J. A. Amadeo (Eds.), Civic education across countries: Twenty four national case studies from the I.E.A. civic education project (pp. 111–135). Amsterdam: IEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D., & Carson, T. (1998). Educating for a peaceful future. Toronto: Kagan & Woo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Canada. (2001). Population by religion, by province and territory (2001 Census). Retrieved from http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/demo30a-eng.htm

  • Statistics Canada. (2006). Ethnic origin and visible minorities, 2006 Census, Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?lang=eng&catno=97-562-X

  • Statistics Canada. (2010). Projections of the diversity of the Canadian population 2006 to 2031. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100309/dq100309a-eng.htm

  • Varma-Joshi, M. (2004). Understanding Multiculturalism in the Social Studies Classroom. In A. Sears & I. Wright (Eds.), Challenges and Prospects for Canadian Social Studies (pp. 150–163). Vancouver: Pacific Educational Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Reva Joshee

  2. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

    Carla Peck

  3. Acadia University, Wolfville, Canada

    Laura A. Thompson

  4. St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Canada

    Ottilia Chareka

  5. University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada

    Alan Sears

Authors
  1. Reva Joshee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carla Peck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laura A. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ottilia Chareka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alan Sears
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reva Joshee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Joseph Lo Bianco

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Psychologya, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA

    Aydin Bal

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Joshee, R., Peck, C., Thompson, L.A., Chareka, O., Sears, A. (2016). Multicultural Education, Diversity, and Citizenship in Canada. In: Lo Bianco, J., Bal, A. (eds) Learning from Difference: Comparative Accounts of Multicultural Education. Multilingual Education, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26880-4_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26880-4_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-26879-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26880-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation