What does a Canadian look like?

“Whether we live together in confidence and cohesion; with more faith and pride in ourselves and less self-doubt and hesitation; strong in the conviction that the destiny of Canada is to unite, not divide; sharing in cooperation, not in separation or in conflict; respecting our past and welcoming our future.” – Lester Pearson

 

What does being Canadian really mean?

Canada is a cultural mosaic. We can hold on to our unique cultural, religious and ethnic identities while embracing Canadian values of tolerance, acceptance and politeness. The richness of our identity comes from the numerous ethno-cultural backgrounds that have called our country their own.

In the coming weeks and months we will be profiling Canadians from across the country and sharing their stories with you, our readers.

I could think of no better way than to have one of the lead characters of a proudly Canadian sitcom, Little Mosque On the Prairie from our national television network the CBC, open the segment for us.

Although in my opinion, he doesn’t really need an introduction. I am honoured to have Canadian actor, writer and director Zaib Shaikh share what being Canadian means to him.

 

Please tell us a little bit about your background:

My parents were born and lived their early lives in Pakistan but have lived the majority of their lives in Canada. I was born in Toronto.

 

What makes you Canadian? 

The fact that I was born in Toronto, Ontario Canada makes me a Canadian. When I look in the mirror, I see a Canadian. The fact that I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. The fact that I am a Team Canada fan. The fact that I proudly look at the Canadian Flag whenever it comes into my view and take a moment to thank God that I was born in Canada.  The fact that no matter where I have lived in the world or visited I have always returned to and will always return to my home, Canada.

 

 

What is your favourite thing about being Canadian?

My favourite thing about being Canadian is that no matter where you go in the world, people smile more often than not when you tell then you’re a Canadian.

 

What’s your least favourite thing about being Canadian? 

Our endless conversation about what it may mean to be Canadian when it’s quite clear that the beauty of Canada is that it can mean anything to be a Canadian.

 

What does the term Canadian Mosaic mean to you? 

To me, the term Canadian Mosaic means that various cultures and beliefs and ways of life all unite to live harmoniously among one another and constantly work and look to not just define the differences and similarities but celebrate them as well.

 

A November 2, 2012 review of Midnight’s Children by Maclean’s magazine quotes:

“Based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Salman Rushdie, it’s the most sumptuous, and ambitious, Canadian movie you’re likely to see this year. It may also be the least Canadian Canadian movie you’ll see this year. Aside from director Deepa Mehta, her producer/husband, David Hamilton, and the colour of the money from Telefilm Canada, and some crew, there’s nothing visibly tangibly Canadian about this movie—at least not the lead actors, the characters, the locations, the setting, or the story.”  What are your thoughts.

I think that was an unfortunate way to describe and critique the film although I think I understand what the reviewer was going for or trying to articulate. I think he was making reference to the fact that the book is by Salman Rushdie who is not Canadian and that the story is set in the Indian subcontinent full of characters from the Indian subcontinent or Britain. I agree with him. Those aspects of the film are, of course, not Canadian.

He clearly, however, lost his way the moment he stated ‘there’s nothing visibly tangibly Canadian about this movie’. For starters I am visibly tangibly Canadian. In fact, the show that I am most famous for, Little Mosque on The Prairie is in over 100 countries and is known around the world as being a Canadian show with a Canadian Muslim as the lead character. When I travel the world and talk about how media and arts can help bridge cultural gaps, people know me and recognize me as Canadian. Anita Majumdar who plays the major role of Emerald is Canadian. And then of course, it’s really astonishing to say that a movie directed by Deepa Mehta and produced by David Hamilton is not Canadian because the world knows them as Canadian film makers.

You look at a book like Life of Pi that is written by a Canadian, has won numerous Canadian accolades and even has some parts of the story that are taking place in Canada. But, if you went to see the film Life of Pi directed by Ang Lee you’d never call it Canadian because none of the people associated with the film are Canadian or known for being Canadian. It just so happens that Midnight’s Children the book may not be so Canadian but Midnight’s Children the film is definitely and proudly Canadian.

 

The previous quote from the review was later amended to state that the author did not intend it as a reference to skin colour. What are your thoughts?

That may be the case and I completely understand how he didn’t mean to come across as racist or prejudiced. But, I think that review, its later amendment and the reviewer’s comments in his defence all speak to how we really haven’t gotten all the way yet in Canada to really embracing that we are a diverse country and that to be ‘visibly tangibly Canadian’ is not a homogenous concept. A few years ago you would never be able to claim that a name like Barack Obama would ever be associated with being visibly tangibly American and now the man that has that name is a two term president of the United States of America. That country may be divided about its politics and politicians but the world congratulates America on decisively changing what it means to be visibly tangibly an American.

It’s sad to think that for a country that’s known for being so inclusive, so forward thinking and so fair like Canada that we, as Canadians, may be behind a step from our complex and complicated neighbours to the south, when it comes to notions of what it means to be visibly tangibly representative of your country.

 

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I fully agree with Zaib, part of the beauty of being Canadian is our acceptance of diversity. What does being Canadian mean to you?

If you would like to share your story of what being Canadian means to you, or that of what it means to someone you know, send us an email at editor@fariha.happilyhafsawebsite.com I’d love to hear from you. If your story is selected, it will be featured right here on our Being Canadian panel.