Canadian identity

Canadian identity refers to the unique culture, characteristics and condition of being Canadian, as well as the many symbols and expressions that set Canada and Canadians apart from other peoples and cultures of the world. Changes in demographics, history, and social interactions have led to alterations in the Canadian identity over time. This identity is not fixed; as Canadian values evolve they impact Canadians' social integration, civic engagement, and connections with one another. In Quebec, identity is strong and there is a French Canadian culture that is distinct from English Canadian and Indigenous identities. Nonetheless, as a whole, Canadian multiculturalism, is in theory a cultural mosaic of regional ethnic subcultures and diverse areas including ethnic enclaves, with nearly nine in ten (87%) Canadians being proud to identify as Canadian, with over half (61%) expressing they were very proud.

The question of Canadian identity was traditionally dominated by two fundamental themes: first, the often conflicted relationship between English Canadians and French Canadians, stemming from the Francophone imperative for cultural and linguistic survival; secondly, the close ties between English Canadians and the British Empire, and the gradual political process towards complete independence from the "mother country". As political ties between Canada and the British Empire weakened, immigrants from various regions shaped Canadian identity.

Despite efforts, Canadians have never been able to agree on a cohesive image of their country. The notions of Canadian identity have oscillated between oneness and plurality, emphasizing either a single Canada or multiple nations. Modern Canadian identity is characterized by both unity and plurality. This pluralist approach is to find common ground and evaluate identity through regional, ethnic (including immigrants), religious and political debate. Richard Gwyn has suggested that "tolerance" has replaced "loyalty" as the touchstone of Canadian identity. Canadian Prime Ministers and journalists have defined the country as a postnational state.

Today, Canada is theoretically a just society with constitutional protection for policies that promote multiculturalism in lieu of a monolithic national myth based on any single ethnicity or language. Canadians identify with the country's institutions of health care, military peacekeeping, the national park system, and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. More than 90 per cent of polled Canadians believed that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the national flag were the top symbols of Canadian identity. Next highest were the national anthem, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and ice hockey.