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Political violence and upheavals have been very rare in Canadian history. In spite of the country’s divisive tensions, generated by regionalism and by cultural and ethnic diversity, Canada has avoided the dramatic, bloody resolutions of conflict experienced by its neighbor, the United States. As a result, many Canadians have proudly referred to their country as “the peaceable kingdom.” Canada’s tradition of liberty, democratic stability, and tranquillity in the face of regional and cultural diversity was severely tested in October, 1970. Contributing factors to the October crisis were a rebellious trend associated with this historical period and the long-standing grievances of Canada’s French-speaking community. Francophones, about 25 percent of Canada’s population and largely concentrated in Quebec province, had always waged an uphill struggle against assimilation into the dominant Anglophone culture.

The idea behind multiculturalism, a term that developed in the 1960s, is to find unity in diversity, to enable immigrants to assimilate linguistically, politically, and into the labor force while retaining some affinity with their countries of origin via public endorsement and funding of their cultural and linguistic heritage. Multiculturalism has frequently been contrasted with the melting pot Melting pot theory concept more prevalent in the United States, whereby some groups have assimilated into the dominant culture in about two or three generations following immigration. The aim of Canadian multiculturalism is to build a rich social tapestry of different traditions that combine to create a unique Canadian identity. Ideally, being “Canadian” would imply identification with many cultural systems, loyalty to an individual’s own roots, tolerance for different peoples, and mutual respect. In reality, multiculturalism is a work in progress with as many setbacks as advances. Multiculturalism in Canada