Digital Education Strategies at The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education supports open educational resources to ensure greater access to education for a wide range of learners. To commemorate Canada 150 and celebrate the importance of diversity as a fundamental Canadian value, we are pleased to present this series of recordings, an initiative that comprises one of the open educational resources in our collection.
Migration and Multiculturalism Global Challenge, Canadian Experience
Desmond Glynn, former Senior Program Director at The Chang School, Toronto Metropolitan University, presents an audio program on the themes of migration and multiculturalism as a historical retrospective to mark Canada's 150th anniversary.
The recordings consist of excerpts from audio lectures by renowned university professors that were originally recorded as part of print/audio courses offered through CJRT-FM and Open College. The course materials are available as an open educational resource (OER) through The Chang School website.
Migration and Colonization New France, 1608–1763
Professor John Bosher, a member of the Department of History at York University, was a distinguished scholar of French and French Canadian History. He authored many books and articles on France and its relations with its one-time colony, New France.
The following interview, recorded in the early 1980s, focuses on one of the most fascinating aspects of the history of New France (present-day Quebec): its remarkable population growth during the 18th century. Remarkable in that it was one of the highest ever recorded. And all the more remarkable given the comparatively small numbers of migrants who made their way to New France compared to the British colonies to the south, but especially New England.
The Great Migration British North America, 1815–1850
Professor David Gagan, a member of the Department of History at Simon Fraser University and its Vice President Academic, was a pioneer researcher in the field of quantitative social history. His most important work was titled "Hopeful Travellers" and was a study of families, land and social change in mid-19th century Canada.
The following interview, recorded in the early 1980s, focused on his work in what was called at the time "the new social history". Also called history from the "bottom-up", it revealed social reality in the analysis of census records. "Hopeful Travellers" depicts the phenomenon of geographic transiency among the record number of British emigrants who comprised what historians have called "The Great Migration".
The New Immigration Canada, 1896–1914
Professor Robert Harney, a member of the Department of History at the University of Toronto, was a renowned scholar in the field of migration and ethnic studies. He founded the Multicultural History Society of Ontario and served as its first academic director.
Professor Harney was appointed to the Professorship and Program in Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies. Following his untimely death in 1989 the program was renamed the Robert F. Harney Professorship and Program.
The following interview, conducted in the early 1980s, focused on the immigration that occurred in turn-of-the-century Canada, 1896–1914. Historians have called this movement "The New Immigration" for it brought newcomers from areas of Europe that up until that time had not reached Canadian shores in significant numbers. The New Immigration laid the 20th century foundation for Canada as a multicultural and multi-ethnic country.
The Birth of Multiculturalism Canada, 1921–1971
Professor Roberto Perin, a member of the Department of History Glendon College, York University, is a recipient of the 2016 Principal's Research Excellence Award. The award recognizes his ongoing work in the areas of the history of immigration and religion.
The following interview, conducted in the early 1980s, focused on the concept of ethnicity and its value in understanding the immigrant experience in Canada. His critical commentary on ethnic identity and the immigrant experience are particularly valuable in enriching our understanding of multiculturalism. For while Canada's policy of official multiculturalism puts emphasis on the equality of status of all cultural and ethnic groups, the retention of ethnic identity by newcomers is not something that can be assumed as a given.