Canada's diversity: Does it strengthen or divide us?
Our family vacation has come to an end: a 4,400 km road trip through 4 US states, 4 Canadian provinces; visiting family, friends and Niagara Falls (see my July 30 post: Borders or barriers); and with stays in Toronto (see my July 31 post: Big city pull or push?), Ottawa and Québec City.
One thing that stands out for me from this trip is the diversity we see across this country. This was evident in the multiple languages we heard and ethnic backgrounds we saw in Toronto. It was evident in the varied geography we saw: the size and power of the Horseshoe Falls; the massive Lake Ontario; the mountains in Québec; and the rolling hills and forests in New Brunswick. It was evident in the different character of the cities we visited: the huge concentration of people and economic activity in Toronto; the concentration of political activity in Ottawa with the Parliament and various government institutions and buildings; and the quaintness and history of Old Québec. It was also evident in the differences in economic structure: the multiple vineyards in the Niagara region, the financial district of Toronto, the concentration of federal government activity in Ottawa, the car plant in Oshawa, the dairy farms and aerospace plant in Québec, and the potato and forest products facilities in New Brunswick.
As we watched the light show against the Parliament building in Ottawa, which described and portrayed Canada's history and development, it was clear that Canada has grown and become stronger as it drew upon its diverse perspectives and varied strengths of its people and constituent provinces and territories. Yet in recent times we often seem divided, whether among, for example, the four Atlantic provinces, all ten provinces or our different levels of government. From my perspective, when our differences divide us and prevent us from moving forward, we weaken the whole (see my July 30 post: Borders or Barriers?). By contrast, when we find ways to celebrate and leverage our various assets and strengths, and we listen to and incorporate our diverse perspectives, we can continue to build a stronger Canada, for the ultimate benefit of everyone.