Arts Educators Respond to Challenges in a Diversity-Friendly Country

Canadians pride themselves on living in a progressive, multicultural society where differences in religion, culture, ethnicity, ability, country of origin, sexual orientation and gender identity are not only accepted but warmly embraced. In 2011, Canada ranked first in a survey of 17 developed countries on acceptance of diversity. Notwithstanding this diversity-friendly posture, Canada continues to face challenges in living up to its ideals. Foremost among diversity issues facing Canadians are: (1) reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples who have suffered from discriminatory policies for generations; and (2) the acceptance of an ambitious number of predominantly Muslim refugees, particularly from war-ravaged Syria. The federal government has shown leadership in both of these areas with the support of a majority of citizens. In 2015, the Prime Minister vowed to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees within three months of taking office. Since that time the number of arrivals has exceeded 40,000. Across the country, hundreds of community groups have mobilized to assist these arrivals to adapt to their new economic and cultural environment. Notwithstanding this encouraging response, the record is marred by recurring accounts of vandalism against Islamic community centres and attacks against individuals. On 29 January 2017, a lone gunman entered a mosque in the Sainte-Foy district of Quebec City and opened fire, killing 6 and wounding nineteen. The federal government is also taking measures to redress the legacy of residential schools programme which required Indigenous children to leave their homes for extended periods of time to reside in schools run by Christian organizations. The express intent of these schools was to deprive children of their traditional language, culture and religion in a process that has subsequently been called ‘cultural genocide’. The government is committed to implementing all 94 recommendations of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Nevertheless, the tragic impact of the residential schools continues to be felt. Canadian arts educators have taken up the diversity challenge, developing a range of programmes and activities designed to foster intercultural understanding and acceptance of diversity. Many of these programmes were on display, recently, when the Canadian Network for Arts and Learning held a national conference on a theme of Diversity at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in the nation’s capital, Ottawa (18–20 October 2017). This chapter will draw examples from presenters at this ground-breaking event to illustrate how arts educators are applying their work to meet these challenges.