IdentitÉs et Engagement: Educators Explore Canada’s Public Memory

We often ask ourselves “what does it mean to be Canadian?” In Macdonald’s time, the need to link Canadians had more to do with practical concerns – trade, protection from invasion – than our current conception of nation-building which is more about uniting disparate cultures and regions through national myths or collective identity.

Bromont, Quebec where the conference was held

The Association for Canadian Studies (ACS) is a non-profit organization that supports research in Canadian identity and the teaching of Canadian History. ACS held its annual conference in Bromont, Québec on October 17-18th. The Identités et engagement conference invited those involved in the dissemination of Canadian history – teachers, researchers, students, journalists, and librarian – an opportunity to explore the themes of engagement and identity.

Panels included:• The teaching of the history and relations between Anglophones and Francophones: 50 years of the Royal Commission on bilingualism and Biculturalism

• Measuring interest in history

• Teaching the history of the la francophonie canadienne

• The teaching of war & conflicts

• Teaching our history in a society in transformation

• Teaching the history of Quebec and Canada to Anglophones and the place of Anglophones in Quebec history

According to ACS Executive Director, Julie Perrone, the conference was a great success with over 400 participants, including Graham Fraser, Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada.

Graham Fraser was one of the keynote presenters at the conference

Director of Programs and Administration, James Ondrick, said bringing Canadians together to discuss collective public memory is a central focus of ACS “Looking to the past in order to celebrate a nation is something that occurs in all societies. Therefore, there is no reason why it should not have a place in the societies of today.” Working with educators and students helps ACS meet their main objective which is “to preserve or highlight a Canadian identity. This preservation is predicated upon the teaching of history in our schools.” ACS would like to invite educators with an interest in Canadian history and identity to participate in next year’s conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, November 21-22, 2014. The Sir John A. Macdonald Commission will be present to showcase the work of the SALON Acting Company which presents the life and legacy of our first prime minister to Canadians of all ages through the magic of theatre. One event, representing two types of nation-building – the legacy of Confederation and the railway meets conceptions of a collective Canadian identity. For more information: http://www.acs-aec.ca/en/