The document discusses the construction of a Canadian national identity through various means such as propaganda and memorials like the Vimy Ridge Memorial. It questions whether the memorial truly represents a united Canadian nation that emerged from World War I, or rather reflects an ideology promoted by nationalist groups. Several perspectives are presented on Canada's level of unity and division before, during, and after the war. The memorial is both a remembrance of fallen soldiers and an attempt to symbolize ideals of peace, justice and liberty to help unite Canadians despite ongoing cultural and political tensions.

4. “ I am Canadian” “ Je’ sui Canadien” “ No way eh, we’re Canadians” “ Yeh Yeh you’re all Canadians. Now go and fight for the Mother Land so you have something in common!”

10. Propaganda

11. The Average age of the Soldier was 22 Myth - They enlisted as a call of duty Fact - Most enlisted for A)money B) everyone else was C) they thought they would return before Christmas D) an adventure

12. Fact Many Canadians opposed the War 628,736 Canadians enlisted. 66,573 dead and 138,166 wounded 3,600 at Vimy Ridge 2,818 were POW (prisoners of war) Canadians at home are at further divided The taking of Vimy Ridge, April 1917, with troops advancing behind a tank in a major Canadian military success.

14. Does the Vimy Memorial represent a united nation or an ideology? Vimy memorial = Peace-Justice-Liberty Many historians and writers consider the Canadian victory at Vimy a defining moment for Canada, when the country emerged from under the shadow of Britain and felt capable of greatness. CANADA A “NATION” The victory at Vimy was a significant landmark for Allied forces in the First World War and back home in Canada, it united Canadians and brought honour and pride to the young nation. (Veterans Affairs Canada , Canadian Government) Now you take a close look at the following images and you tell me if we were united. Pre WW1 WW1 Post WW1 WHATS CHANGED!

20. Wilfrid Laurier encouraging a Quebec crowd to enlist, 1916

21. Troops of the 22nd Battalion leave St. Jean, Quebec, 1915 This French-speaking unit became the Royal 22nd Regiment, the famous Vingt-deuxième or "Van Doos", and served with distinction in both world wars.

22. Front de Liberation du Quebec, the FLQ. 1970 Police mug shot of Paul Rose, a member of the Chenier cell of the FLQ responsible for the kidnap and murder of Pierre Laporte, Vice-Premier and Quebec Minister of Labour.

24. " Justice Cannon Defense for the helpless

25. Aboriginal children in Residential school, 1894 . Photographer: Unknown , National Archives of Canada, Neg no.C26448.

26. The OKA Crises 1990 The Mohawk Defense Of Kanasetake (aka Oka, Quebec, Canada), Gayaneshakgowa And The Wampum Belt Of The Iroquois Confederacy

28. A Romantic construction of a fragmented Nation Statue of Peace Female Mourner Male mourner Weeping “mother Canada”

30. Stood with the Dead by Lt. Siegfried Sassoon I STOOD with the Dead, so forsaken and still: When dawn was grey I stood with the Dead. And my slow heart said, ‘You must kill, you must kill: ‘Soldier, soldier, morning is red’. On the shapes of the slain in their crumpled disgrace I stared for a while through the thin cold rain... ‘O lad that I loved, there is rain on your face', ‘And your eyes are blurred and sick like the plain.’ I stood with the Dead ... They were dead; they were dead; My heart and my head beat a march of dismay: And gusts of the wind came dulled by the guns. ‘Fall in!’ I shouted; ‘Fall in for your pay!’

32. It's a consecration of love, says King Edward VIII of the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Before a crowd of Canadians and dignitaries, the memorial is unveiled and dedicated to Canada's fallen sons. For many, the ceremony is bittersweet – it is both a memorial to those who died in the First World War and a commemoration of Canada's growing sense of nationhood.

35. Front de libération du Québec (FLQ), a revolutionary movement that used propaganda and TERRORISM to promote the emergence of an independent, socialist Québec. 1970 Riots

36. While Quebec was looking into the idea of holding a new referendum on sovereignty other nations, such as the Canadian First Nations, were attempting to gain their own recognition as an independent people within Canada. While Natives had been making claims for centuries, the ones put forth at Oka took a turn that left its mark on Canadian history. July 1990 http://www.histori.ca/peace/page.do?pageID=343

39. R evisiting Representation and Identity One way in which identity is attached to a particular place is by feeling you belong to that place. It’s a place in which you feel comfortable or at home, because part of how you define yourself is symbolized by certain qualities of that place (Rose 1995:87-118) Things to think about PLACE Vimy Ridge World War One The memorial represents what every human aspires for; justice, peace and liberty. It was these romantic elements embodied in Allward’s monument that redirected our attention from the atrocities of War and the cultural/political tensions that still divide Canadians today. The Vimy monument, in my opinion memorializes the men and women who died in the battle. However the monument as a representation of a country which upholds liberty and justice is a constructed attempt to try and unify Canadians. The monument does not discriminate. It memorializes a “united” war effort, but NOT a “united” nation. . CONCLUSION: National Identity is created through symbolic processes that may or may not reflect the ideologies of a collective society.