Clockwise from top left: Viktoriya Kotsyuba, Dr. John Valentine, Craig Brenan, Dr. Etayankara (Murli) Muralidharan and Josh Languedoc.

From maple syrup to hockey to ending every sentence with “eh?,” being Canadian evokes a particular image internationally. Over the last several months, the self-identity of many Canadians has been altered and emboldened by political tensions with our neighbour to the south. But has that change been positive or negative?

We asked five MacEwan community members to explore what has changed about their opinions of the true north, their quintessentially Canadian moments and what – if anything – they feel defines our country.

What does being Canadian mean in this moment?

Brenan: Continuing to be the “good neighbour” that we have always tried to be. Not just on the national scale but also on the international scale. Having recently travelled extensively on my sabbatical, I know Canadians are warmly welcomed wherever we go.

Kotsyuba: As a Ukrainian native who became a Canadian citizen just five years ago, it’s the refuge Canada has offered to tens of thousands of Ukrainians, especially during the past three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The ability to find safety, express your identity and preserve your culture here is, to me, the true essence of being Canadian. It’s a foundational value that has shaped this country from the beginning – and one we must continue to uphold.

Languedoc: I would argue that being “Canadian” has become an antithesis statement. People are rallying around “Canadian” as a “not American” label. For the majority of people – although unfortunately not for some – it is a macro-level identity that is standing up against authoritarian regimes, embracing immigration and diversity, and promoting tolerance and understanding. It also means rallying behind businesses made within Canada. These are good traits to embrace, yet they are being celebrated and adapted as a direct rebuttal to what is happening in the United States.

Dr. Muralidharan: Canada, to me, has been the foundation of my professional transformation. It provided the environment, the networks and the academic freedom to reorient my career from industry to academia. Here, I’ve been able to grow as a scholar, collaborate meaningfully and contribute to both teaching and research in ways that align with my values and aspirations.

Dr. Valentine: Canadians tend not to think about Canada unless there is an election, sovereignty is attacked, it’s around Canada Day or they want to complain and blame, which is the national pastime. Robertson Davies said that Canada is not a country you love, it’s a country you worry about. Canada is not a country tied together by language, race, religion or ethnicity. In fact, those things divide more than unite. Canada has no great mythical narrative story contributing to a historical nationalism – the closest is Vimy Ridge. Yet being Canadian at this moment is a privilege.

Would your answer have been different a year ago?

Brenan: My answer would be the same. I believe our fundamental values have not changed, and while they might be hard to see in Canada at the moment, leaving the country really opened my eyes to how the larger world perceives us. It made me proud to be Canadian.

Kotsyuba: My answer remains the same, but the feeling has only deepened over time. The sense of inclusivity and acceptance found in Canada is becoming increasingly unique to this country.

Dr. Valentine: Yes. The nationalism of today is a “buy Hawkins Cheezies and plan staycations instead of buying American beer and travelling south” nationalism. Booing another country’s national anthem was not acceptable under an old prim-and-proper nationalism, but it may be in the 2025 “elbows up” nationalism.

Is there a specific moment when your identity as a Canadian really meant something to you?

Brenan: I recently had the opportunity to perform and record in Germany with the WDR Big Band. As the first Canadian to work with that world-famous group, I am extremely proud to have that honour and represent the many fine musicians that schools like MacEwan train every year.

Kotsyuba: Reaching important life milestones reminds me of the vision I had when I first came here and fills me with pride. It brings into focus my unique journey as an immigrant and the growth that has allowed me to now proudly call Canada my home. Each day, I engage with people from diverse backgrounds who share their stories and cultures, highlighting both our differences and shared experiences. It’s one of the things I enjoy and cherish most about living in Canada.

Languedoc: Not really. I've always been proudly Indigenous and the older I get, the more I identify with that. But, I do love the topography and beautiful landscapes of this country, and we have some fabulous musicians I wish were celebrated more on the global stage.

Dr. Muralidharan: The moment I received my Canadian citizenship was deeply meaningful – not just as a legal status, but as a symbol of inclusion. Having spent much of my life elsewhere, that day affirmed that Canada saw value in who I am and what I bring. It marked the point where I felt rooted – not just residing in Canada but belonging here.

What product, item, event or location do you think is quintessentially Canadian?

Brenan: Jasper is the most Canadian place I can think of. The world rallied around us last year, and I barely went a day in Europe without someone sharing a memory or the desire to get the opportunity to visit in the future.

Kotsyuba: Though it may seem like an obvious choice, Heritage Days in Edmonton truly embodies the diversity and inclusivity of Canada. It’s an event I look forward to every year, where I proudly share my culture in the place I now call home.

Languedoc: Nothing. Canada is a national identity and I do not really associate much in my life directly to that national identity. My first thought was “the mountains” because, at least in marketing media, they are always held as symbols of pride for this country. But the mountains do not belong to Canada. They belong to the land. The mountains are ancestral, sacred and beautiful on their own without any national identity tied to them.

Dr. Muralidharan: Canada Day felt deeply significant for me. Watching people from all backgrounds celebrate together – some in parks, some in parades, others in quiet reflection – helps me appreciate how Canada allows space for many stories under one national identity.

Dr. Valentine: The new prime minister wrote a book called Values. Values make Canada, Canada. Values have influenced the creation of the social safety net: health care, pensions, education, social assistance, child care and the child tax benefit, to list a few. Values make Canada less patriarchal and more multicultural, and more community-oriented than individualistic. 

Final thoughts

Dr. Muralidharan: We, as Canadians, should view the current geopolitical tensions and their economic consequences not as threats or challenges, but as opportunities. It's time we broaden our perspective, leverage our strengths and expand our presence globally instead of limiting ourselves to a few markets.

Languedoc: I support the anti-authoritarian and anti-autocratic movement happening, and we as a nation, for the most part, are standing together in a way that is important and needs to happen. At the same time, being "Canadian" has erased Indigenous identities for generations, leaving that national identity hard for me to fully identify with. We have every right to be a proud Canadian, yet we have to include Indigenous narratives as the true national identities of these lands. Canada still has a long way to go towards reconciliation, and we cannot let these troubling times erase that work that needs to happen.

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MacEwan University is a diverse community with approximately 2,800 faculty and staff supporting almost 19,000 students. We are proud of our more than 90,000 alumni in communities across Canada and around the world. We could only fit five voices into this piece, but we invite you to join the conversation on our social media platforms.