Step 2: Article Summary

Michelle Gadpaille, Slovenia: Michelle Gadpaille is an English literature professor in the University of Maribor in Slovenia. She questioned why everybody thinks Canadians are warm people. A reason many Slovenians think this about Canadians is because of them being linked by family. Gadpaille gives an example, "every cab driver here has an uncle in Vancouver, and is sure that I must know him".

Irene Salverda, the Netherlands: Many of Irene Salverda's non-Canadianist friends consider Canada to be the "European version of America" because of it's natural beauty. Although they consider Canada to be beautiful, many Europeans fear that Canada will become like America, and end up being an oil field.

Lucia Otrisalova, Slovakia: Solvaks don't know much about Canada and how the country works. This is considered a good thing because along with the good parts of Canada, the bad parts are quite hidden as well. Canada is known as a better version of America to Solvaks. America helps this image of Canada because everybody blames America for everything that goes wrong in the world, making Canada look like an angel country.

Earl Fry, United States: Although Americans love their neighbouring Canadians, they know the least about them compared to the rest of the world. Americans feel that they can learn a lot from Canada, especially with their public schools, health care, federalism, livable cities, relatively low violent crime, and other important areas.

Danny Ben-Natan, Israel: Canada went from being "the country north of America" to having it's own identity in the academic world. Canada has become of prime interest and importance in the educational and scholarly world. Canada is now in a regression in the academic world but it still is a free, and democratic country.

Lihua Yang, China: Canada was believed to be a country without an influential political system. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a visit to China and signed a number of economic agreements with China's government, although there were previous criticisms made by the Canadian government on China's human rights issues. Although China accepted Canada's foreign policy, China hopes that Canada can further engage itself in defending fundamental rights.

Andrew Holman, United States: Although Canada has been in existence for over a century and a half, they have never considered themselves an experiment country. However, historians consider America a "great experiment in liberty." Even after both these facts, Canada is, and always has been, the more experimental country of the two.

Shilpa Bhat, India: Engagements between India and Canada haven't flourished the way they should have. There seems to be more optimism now, than in the past because of political feuds between the two countries.

Wolfgang Klooß, Germany: Since Canada is the second oldest federal democracy worldwide, an important member of both G7 and G20, and as one of the biggest energy and natural resources produces, Canada is considered to be an '"international actor". Under the current government, it seems to have shifted its foreign policy to national rather than international concerns. The Understanding Canada program had been terminated in 2012 at the University of Germany because Canada had qualified as a self-assured country that no longer needed to be studied. Canada is still a model country for multi-faced immigrant countries.

Will Smith, United Kingdom: Will Smith specialises in the study and teaching of Canadian literature. On Canada day, he hosted four Canadian poets at the Wordsworth Trust. This was to build closer ties between both Toronto and England's literary communities.

Ewa Urbaniak-Rybicka, Poland: Although Canada is quite a young country, it has a rich history that is hidden beneath most peoples idea of it being a postmodern country. Ewa Urbaniak's students envision Canada s a country of immigrants cherishing its multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious heritage.

Emperatriz Arreaza, Venezuela: Canada is deeply involved with Latin America. Canada has a role as a peacemaker in Venezuela. Many Venezuelans have emigrated to Canada in the past ten years for school or work.

Wang Bing, China: The Liaoning Normal University in China's Canadian curriculum focuses on Chinese immigrants, bilingualism and multiculturalism, which is perceived as the best choice to solve problems of ethnic conflicts. Canada has a really positive image in the Chinese mind because of the way Canada handles justice and abuse of human rights.

Susan Hodgett, Northern Ireland: Susan Hodgett teaches Canadian Studies at Ulster University in Northern Ireland. When asked why, she says its because she discovered Canada had a lot to tell other people and place about things its already knows. She was fascinated by Canada and learnt a lot from the country.

Salvador Cervantes, Mexico: With the help of the Canadian government, Mexico had been building a strong international community of Canadianists. Recently, the interests of students and academics in Canadian studies has declined and there is a need for more strategies to form the new generation that can be ready to face the challenges happening in the world.

Step 3: Analysis

1. What is Canada's biggest strength? Biggest weakness?

Canada's biggest strength is that it's government has won peoples hearts over, resulting in career changes or great interest in the country. Susan Hodgett from Northern Ireland discovered Canada had a lot to tell other people, and places, about the things it already knows. It's biggest weakness is that it America is slowly influencing the beautiful country of Canada. Irene Salverda from the Netherlands mentioned that Canada is eventually going to end up being a big oil field because of how it is slowly getting similar to America.

2. What is Canada's most pressing issue or concern?

Canada's biggest issue as of right now is it's financial state. Immigration has risen in Canada, causing more people to come in, with less money going out. Tax rates are increasing, and there is less and less money for retirees. This issue involves everybody and it isn't taken as seriously as it should be.

3. Should Canadians be proud of their country?

In my opinion, we should be extremely proud that we can call ourselves Canadian. This is mainly because compared to other countries, our country is doing extremely well and people are emigrating to Canada because of this. Our country is a much warmer and happier country, compared to some countries such as America or European countries. Most of the anecdotes mentioned are Candianists from countries such as China or Ireland, who are so proud of Canada that they want to spread the word about how great of a country Canada is. Earl Fry, Endowed Professor of Canadian Studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah says, "Americans can learn so much from Canada, especially in terms of public schools, health care, federalism, livable cities, relatively low violent crime, and other important areas" (How Canada is perceived around the world).

4. Is Canada "better off" compared to other countries?

Canada is not necessarily better off compared to other countries due to some factors like the financial crisis but it is doing better than some countries. More populated provinces in Canada are mostly affected by the financial crisis because more people are losing their jobs in those provinces.