Southern Ontario

Southern Ontario is home to some of the most diverse landscapes and populations within Canada. Toronto, which is not only the capital of Ontario, boasts that it is, "the cultural, entertainment and financial capital of Canada." This excerpt comes from the official City of Toronto website. There is a host of information contained within this link, including statistics that make Toronto the clear multicultural city of Canada. Ethnic diversity within Southern Ontario is most clearly seen within the boundaries of Toronto, where over 150 languages are spoken everyday, and 50% of the residents are foreign born. This city has adapted to this diverse ethnic mosaic by creating portals such as Chinatown and Kensington Market. These sections allow immigrants to become a part of the Canadian landscape, while still maintaining their own traditions. As Bannerji states in his article, this is the kind of multiculturalism that all of Canada must strive for. The type in which citizens and immigrants of Canada are welcome to celebrate their own diversity, traditions and differences within the boundaries of Canada. This is exactly what Toronto tries to maintain, making it the ethnic centre of the country.

Ethnicity within all of Southern Ontario is quite vast, as most immigrants choose to move to this area of the country. Much of this is due to good financial prospects and opportunities, as well as the many different areas that are optimal for settling down. Southwestern Ontario is known for its rich land that is able to farm many different fruits and vegetables, as well as tobacco. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture website makes it very clear that farming is an integral part of Southern Ontario's identity. This symbol is closely accompanied by the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls, which are both known as symbols of Southern Ontario around the world. Horseshoe Falls of Niagara Falls, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, is nestled on the Canadian-American border. Not only is this a natural symbol of Southern Ontario, it is yet another multicultural hotspot in Canada. The Official Niagara Falls Tourism website highlights many different opportunities and attractions for people from all over the world.

Some other symbols of Southern Ontario which are known around the world are: Peelee Island which is the southernmost tip of Canada, Grand River Country which is home to a Canadian heritage river and Aboriginal culture, and Shakespeare Country which hosts the world-renowned Stratford Festival. All of these cultural symbols define Southern Ontario in different ways, and all offer opportunities to experience the diverse landscapes and heritage of this region.

Symbols and Ethnicity go hand in hand when it comes to Southern Ontario. It is the symbols of this region that attract immigrants, and it is the many different immigrants and cultural backgrounds that make Southern Ontario the multicultural land that it is. Without one, the other would not be possible. Ethnicity and symbols of this region will continue to be diverse, and will continue to make Southern Ontario the neverending cultural experience that it is.

Northern Ontario

It is evident that the people of Northern Ontario have a strong sense of identity that is separate from the rest of Ontario. There are many distinguishing characteristics of Northern Ontario which creates its strong sense of identity.
The Big Nickel in Sudbury is one of the major symbols representing Northern Ontario. The City of Sudbury website provides an excellent description of the physical construction of the Big Nickel as well as its history.
The Big Nickel is a symbolic representation of the prominence of nickel in Northern Ontario’s mining industry. Mining plays a key role in constituting Northern Ontario’s ethnic identity. Furthermore, Sudbury is known to be one of the world’s leading mining centres. The Ontario’s Ministry of Finance website points out that Sudbury, with its rich basin supplies 13 per cent of the world’s nickel.
Timmins, a city in northeastern Ontario is also a major mining centre. Mining makes up the majority of the city’s economic base and mining tours are a main attraction there. Overall, this vibrant sector of Ontario’s economy is the leading employer in the northern community. Hence, it plays a significant role in shaping Northern Ontario and distinguishing it from the rest of Ontario.

Prince Edward Island

Similar to the flag of Nova Scotia being influenced by Scotland, the Flag of Prince Edward Island is influenced by England.

Of the official symbols of PEI, 6 are unique to PEI, 3 are unique to England and 1 is unique to Scotland. Interestingly, the Canadians dominate the population, but the Scottish are second with 50 700 people and the English is third with 38 330 people.

The tourism web site, similarly to that of Nova Scotia, is dominated by scenery and symbols that are unique to PEI.

Overall, it is becoming clear that Canadian symbols, ethnicity and culture are very specific to the individual provinces and are related to ethnicity. Do these symbols represent the culture of Canada? Or only that of their Province. If the symbols and culture are provincial, then is it possible for Canada as a country to have symbols and culture?

Nova Scotia.

After class discussions on the articles Scottishness and Britishness in Canada by J. M. Bumstead and Tartanism Triumphant by Ian Mckay, it was clear that Nova Scotia used Scottish symbols and culture as their own. This became even more evident in viewing the symbols of Nova Scotia.

It becomes clear that the flag of Nova Scotia is strongly influenced by Scotland, when comparing the flag of Nova Scotia to the official and unofficial flags of Scotland.

Although her flag is dominated by Scottish symbols, the official symbols and emblems of Nova Scotia are mainly unique to Nova Scotia. Of the symbols and emblems, 9 are unique to Nova Scotia, 5 relate to Scotland and 1 one relates to England. This relates to ethnicity because Canadians dominate the population of Nova Scotia but the number of Scottish and English people are almost the same.

It was interesting also, to note that the tourism websites are not at all dominated by Scotishness.

New Brunswick

Atlantic history is deeply tied to the fishing industry, and New Brunswick is no exception. With an economy consisting mostly of food production throughout (the McCain Farms are located here) fisheries along the coast, and forestry in the interior of the province. Tourism is another important economic venture for the province.

New Brunswick is home to the town of Shediac, which is the self proclaimed "Lobster Capital of the World". Shediac houses a large monument of a lobster, with a fisherman between its claws, and has a yearly lobster festival.

The lobster festival brings thousands of people into the town during the two weeks it runs, and though the lobster is a symbol of something that has been part of New Brunswick's history, and is a large part of their culture, it is also a symbol of a time that is no longer a complete truth. Fisheries have suffered along the east coast, and Shediac is no exception. They are unable to produce enough lobster from their own water, and are forced, somewhat ironically, to import lobsters for the festival.

Shediac was an Acadian developed town, housing some of the expelled people from Nova Scotia, and bringing French and English traditions into the area.
New Brunswick is the only province that is officially billingual, with more people claiming a French heritage, than an English. Even though small percentage of the population considers themselves to be Acadian, the First Canadian Acadian Congress was held in Moncton, and there are many festivals throughout the year that celebrate Acadian culture and hertiage.

Newfoundland

In many Newfoundlanders minds, the history of their province has been marked by challenge. In Jerry Bannister's "Making History: Cultural Memory in Twentieth Century Newfoundland", he discusses how Newfoundland's historical memory is surrounded by the thought of past and future struggle and conflict. The pink, white and green flag is a symbol of this conflicted past, and a feeling of unity for the future.

Sr. John FitzGerald discusses the history of the flag on the website Pink, White and Green: A Revolution. The flag, which became popular during the mid-nineteenth century, was designed to show the connection of Newfoundland's past to Ireland and England, bringing them together. Though it is not an official symbol for Newfoundland, it is used by many as an independent icon. Another article posted on the website is an article published in the Independent newspaper, discussing Danny Williams desire to bring the issue of changing the provincial flag to Parliament.

The use of the flag is also supported by Newfoundland's Premier Danny Williams and his conservative government. Williams has helped to turn around the economy of the province. as well as bring new pride and a sense of nationalism for the province, which the flag symbolizes. The desire to change the flag is another symbol of the changing atmosphere of the province that is deeply tied to its history and which feels separated from the rest of the country.