Anne F. MacLennan, an associate professor in the Department of Communication & Media Studies, has received a prestigious Partnership Development Grant from the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for her groundbreaking research project “Interrogating Canadian Identities (ICI).”
Perceptions of Canadian identities that have persisted since the country’s centennial celebrations in 1967 are often rooted in historical perspectives of settler communities and the first 157 years of Canada’s history. MacLennan’s project looks to understand how this historical – and outdated – legacy continues to shape modern perceptions of Canadian identities, particularly considering significant demographic changes over the past five decades due to immigration following the implementation of the Multiculturalism Policy in 1971.
Furthermore, the project examines the impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action in 2015, as well as ongoing movements towards diversity, equity, inclusion and other shifts in how Canadians define their identities in the 21st century.
“The excitement of 100 years of Canada in 1967 generated a sense of Canada that crystallized,” says MacLennan. “The Canadian population has more than doubled from 20,334,000 in 1967 to 41,288,599 in 2024. Canada has evolved with new priorities, immigration and the Multicultural Policy. Now is the time to reassess what it means to be Canadian and who Canadians are.”
The overall goal of this project is to shed new light on the complexities of Canadian identities and provide valuable insights into how historical narratives can influence contemporary understandings of what it means to be Canadian. Policy briefs and recommendations gathered through this research will be shared with government stakeholders at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
As SSHRC Partnership Development Grants go towards developing research and related activities in the social sciences and humanities through knowledge mobilization and partnerships, the recent grant will go towards helping the ICI project – which MacLenann is the principle investigator and director of – connect a diverse network of community groups, media producers, policy organizations, museums, archives and universities across Canada. This collaborative effort is aimed at initiating a nationwide dialogue on Canadian identities, with a focus on real-life experiences.
The project will continue to expand to include new collaborators and as many different communities as possible, through a series of focus groups, public forums and interviews. The ICI research partnership will also provide extensive methods of training for research assistants and provide knowledge mobilization through the publication of books, journals, articles and podcasts, as well as at conferences and on the ICI official website.
To learn more about this project or to participate in one of the upcoming interviews, focus groups or public forums, visit the ICI webpage or contact MacLennan at amaclenn@yorku.ca. The project is actively seeking Canadian participants from every part of the country.