Another frenzied fall of election emphasis is upon us. Canada’s federal election looms on the near horizon. With this process, each one of us has a say in the future of our country. We have the opportunity to choose the kind of culture we want to have in our homeland. What type of culture do you want for Canada?
Canadians speak out
In early 2018, a national survey was held to unearth what Canadians think about Canada’s culture. The first question asked people to select the values that best describe Canada’s current culture. The three values of human rights, welcoming, and appreciation of diversity were chosen by 33% of respondents. The next level of values, selected by 25% of respondents, included universal healthcare, national pride, and freedom. Included in the top 10 were also a few negative values: bureaucracy, corruption, and wasted resources. What words would you use to describe Canada’s culture?
Canada’s future
When asked what values Canada should embrace going forward, 37% of Canadians identified caring for the elderly as important. This value was followed closely by affordable housing (36%), effective government (35%) and caring for the environment (34%). Other values related to caring also showed up in the top 10. These included concern for future generations, caring for the disadvantaged, and caring for the environment. What words would you use to describe an even better Canadian culture than what you experience today?
These are the values Canadians want to see in Canada’s culture. It’s a reflection of our personal values, the things we hold most dear.
What’s Your Role in our Canadian Culture?
Our organizations all have a culture. We actively design and manage it, or we allow a default culture to exist. Our organization’s culture isn’t shaped by that annual employee recognition event, it’s shaped by the way work gets done all year long. That’s the way we experience workplace culture.
The same is true for national cultures. Every day, as we exit our homes, we experience Canadian culture. While we may celebrate it on that one special day of the year, July 1, with parties and fireworks, it’s our everyday actions that shape our communities and our country.
Governments help set the parameters for a country’s culture. They do this based on the laws they create and the policies they enact. And in a democratic environment, voters can set the agenda. This is why it’s so important that every one of us engages in our elections. The different political philosophies of each party will shape the culture of our country differently. We need to ensure that we elect officials who share our vision for Canada.
Oh Canada
What are you most grateful for about Canada? I know I feel blessed to have a country with universal healthcare. We may not be perfect, our leaders may not be perfect, but we have a wonderful country that I’m proud to call home. Each of us is a thread in the fabric of our Canadian culture, make it a strong one.
