Critical in developing the nation, the date of July 1st, 1867 has a connotation unlike any other in Canadian history. Commemorated annually with shows of patriotism, Canadian Confederation is perhaps the most public presentation of history in the country. Aiming to dilute the perception of Canada’s divide between the French and the English, the overwhelming Anglocentric bias in the presentation of Canadian Confederation homogenizes Canadian culture. Plagued by English ethnocentricity, Anglocentrism is displayed through the belittlement, misrepresentation and weakening of the role of French-Canadian in the presentation of confederation. Asserting the English hegemony in Canada, the sole representation of English ideals in the presentation makes
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Despite a cultural divide, the popular representation of French-Canadian Sir Georges-Etienne Cartier in Quebec was oddly less than his English counterpart Sir John A. Macdonald. Noted by historian Cecelia Morgan, Macdonald’s statue in Montreal was erected 4 years after his death, while the memorialization of Cartier in the city which he resided in took 39 years. Cartier’s inexplicable belittlement caused by the delay in the creation of his statue can only be caused by Anglocentrism. Eventually erected in 1912, Cartier’s humble statue Parc du Mont-Royal came too late, as the central placement of the glorified statue of Macdonald seized the attention of the public. Perpetually neglected, Cartier’s memory was cast aside in favour of an Anglo-Canadian leader in a city predominantly inhabited by Francophones. Understandably contested due to its place in Canadian history, Cartier’s public presentation eerily follows a similar format of minimization even in the present. Marginalized by Canada’s Anglocentric presentation of the history of confederation, Cartier is repeatedly out of the spotlight, which instead turns to his partner in Macdonald. This phenomenon is regrettably displayed in the Historica Canada Heritage Minute produced to educate Canadians on the role of Cartier in confederation. Published in 2014, the example of current Anglocentrism in the portrayal of Cartier is evident through his role in the scene. A posthumous account of Cartier’s accomplishments as a legislator and peacemaker, the duties of eulogizing Cartier’s accomplishments falls to Macdonald, who narrates the piece. Unsurprisingly glazing over his partner’s accomplishments, Cartier is represented as an insignificant figure in the quest for Canadian confederation. Seeking to heighten the status of Macdonald and make Cartier look unimportant,
Despite a cultural divide, the popular representation of French-Canadian Sir Georges-Etienne Cartier in Quebec was oddly less than his English counterpart Sir John A. Macdonald. Noted by historian Cecelia Morgan, Macdonald’s statue in Montreal was erected 4 years after his death, while the memorialization of Cartier in the city which he resided in took 39 years. Cartier’s inexplicable belittlement caused by the delay in the creation of his statue can only be caused by Anglocentrism. Eventually erected in 1912, Cartier’s humble statue Parc du Mont-Royal came too late, as the central placement of the glorified statue of Macdonald seized the attention of the public. Perpetually neglected, Cartier’s memory was cast aside in favour of an Anglo-Canadian leader in a city predominantly inhabited by Francophones. Understandably contested due to its place in Canadian history, Cartier’s public presentation eerily follows a similar format of minimization even in the present. Marginalized by Canada’s Anglocentric presentation of the history of confederation, Cartier is repeatedly out of the spotlight, which instead turns to his partner in Macdonald. This phenomenon is regrettably displayed in the Historica Canada Heritage Minute produced to educate Canadians on the role of Cartier in confederation. Published in 2014, the example of current Anglocentrism in the portrayal of Cartier is evident through his role in the scene. A posthumous account of Cartier’s accomplishments as a legislator and peacemaker, the duties of eulogizing Cartier’s accomplishments falls to Macdonald, who narrates the piece. Unsurprisingly glazing over his partner’s accomplishments, Cartier is represented as an insignificant figure in the quest for Canadian confederation. Seeking to heighten the status of Macdonald and make Cartier look unimportant,