Multiculturalism: The Role Of Cultural Diversity In Canada

According to Statistics Canada, immigrants make up about 20% of the Canadian population. People from around the world migrate to Canada because they are encouraged to maintain their cultural heritage, while being a part of the Canadian culture as well. Culture is an important part of people’s life, as it influences one’s beliefs, values and basic ways of conducting life. Many countries expect immigrants to forget about their cultural heritage and to adopt the cultures of that country, a process which is referred to as the “melting pot theory” (Unknown, 2008) however, in Canada, the term “cultural mosaic” (Rasul, 2008) is used to describe Canada’s support of different cultures. Canadian culture consists of various cultures from all over the world coexisting together. Canadian multiculturalism is effective because it overcomes cultural barriers, it introduces intercultural exchange and it also encourages a sense of unity in the country. …show more content…
Multiculturalism is not only spread through the media but more importantly it is practiced in schools and workplaces. Small events such as doing projects on ones native country, or having an organized lunch with traditional foods from various countries, reinforces peoples culture and exposes them to new cultures at the same time. Canada supports diversity and allows immigrants to not only maintain their own culture, but also allows them to hold a part in the Canadian culture. Multiculturalism encourages a sense of harmony among people and brings people of different races together through cultural