Heritage Month

This year, Black History month brought along with it an interesting question for me. Why do we have a Black History month which celebrates the historical and present contributions of African Canadians (City of Toronto) yet we don't celebrate other cultures or races (even the diverse groups that make up "African Canadians").

One schoolboard trustee, Scott Harrison, dared to perform his job by examining whether or not schools in Toronto would benefit by expanding Black History month to become Heritage Month (Globe and Mail). He was browbeaten by several groups including the Urban Alliance on Race Relations whose supposed mission statement includes promoting equality for all ethnicities not just Blacks.

I understand the need for learning and celebrating the history and current contributions of different ethnic groups. In fact I whole-heartedly support it. However, I remember learning far more about the Underground Railroad and Slavery In Canada than I ever did about Chinese people or the Internment of Japanese Canadians During World War II. I learned about the Métis and other native groups but not about the Inuit. I didn't learn a single thing about my ancestor's role in creating the Canada I love today. I think our schools (and our society as a whole) should focus on the diverse culture that makes up Canada rather than singling out one group as more important than the others.

I feel that by embracing all of the cultures that make us Canadians we will promote unity in our schools and tolerance in our communities. Some might go so far as to call this backlash against even considering Heritage Month a case of Reverse Discriminationon. All I want is for people to be able to openly discuss this issue without fear of reprisal by a trigger-finger communities.