Science and Religion in Islam: The Link.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

527)Large Hadron Collider Roars To Life, Opening Up A Window To The Marvels Of The Ultra-Miniscule Creation; Quotes Of Aga Khan IV And Others.

"In Islamic belief, knowledge is two-fold. There is that revealed through the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) and that which man discovers by virtue of his own intellect. Nor do these two involve any contradiction, provided man remembers that his own mind is itself the creation of God. Without this humility, no balance is possible. With it, there are no barriers. Indeed, one strength of Islam has always lain in its belief that creation is not static but continuous, that through scientific and other endeavours, God has opened and continues to open new windows for us to see the marvels of His creation"(Aga Khan IV, Aga Khan University, 16 March 1983, Karachi, Pakistan)

"......The Quran tells us that signs of Allah’s Sovereignty are found in the contemplation of His Creation - in the heavens and the earth, the night and the day, the clouds and the seas, the winds and the waters...."(Aga Khan IV, Kampala, Uganda, August 22 2007)

"Of the Abrahamic faiths, Islam is probably the one that places the greatest emphasis on knowledge. The purpose is to understand God's creation, and therefore it is a faith which is eminently logical. Islam is a faith of reason"(Aga Khan IV, Spiegel Magazine interview, Germany, Oct 9th 2006)

"Science is a wonderful, powerful tool and research budgets are essential. But Science is only the beginning in the new age we are entering. Islam does not perceive the world as two seperate domains of mind and spirit, science and belief. Science and the search for knowledge are an expression of man's designated role in the universe, but they do not define that role totally....."(Aga Khan IV, McMaster University Convocation, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, May 15th 1987)

“Muslims believe in an all-encompassing unit of man and nature. To them there is no fundamental division between the spiritual and the material while the whole world, whether it be the earth, sea or air, or the living creatures that inhabit them, is an expression of God’s creation.”(Aga Khan IV, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, 13 April 1984)

"The truth, as the famous Islamic scholars repeatedly told their students, is that the spirit of disciplined, objective enquiry is the property of no single culture, but of all humanity. To quote the great physician and philosopher, Ibn Sina: "My profession is to be forever journeying, to travel about the universe so that I may know all its conditions." "(Aga Khan IV, Aga Khan University, 16 March 1983, Karachi, Pakistan)

"Islam does not deal in dichotomies but in all encompassing Unity. Spirit and body are one, man and nature are one. What is more, man is answerable to God for what man has created"(Aga Khan IV, Speech to the Asia Society, New York, USA, September 25 1979)

"Our religious leadership must be acutely aware of secular trends, including those generated by this age of science and technology. Equally, our academic or secular elite must be deeply aware of Muslim history, of the scale and depth of leadership exercised by the Islamic empire of the past in all fields"(Aga Khan IV, 6th February 1970, Hyderabad, Pakistan)

"God has given us the miracle of life with all its attributes: the extraordinary manifestations of sunrise and sunset, of sickness and recovery, of birth and death, but surely if He has given us the means with which to remove ourselves from this world so as to go to other parts of the Universe, we can but accept as further manifestations the creation and destructions of stars, the birth and death of atomic particles, the flighting new sound and light waves. I am afraid that the torch of intellectual discovery, the attraction of the unknown, the desire for intellectual self-perfection have left us"(Aga Khan IV,Speech, 1963, Mindanao, Phillipines)

"The creation according to Islam is not a unique act in a given time but a perpetual and constant event; and God supports and sustains all existence at every moment by His will and His thought. Outside His will, outside His thought, all is nothing, even the things which seem to us absolutely self-evident such as space and time. Allah alone wishes: the Universe exists; and all manifestations are as a witness of the Divine Will"(Memoirs of Aga Khan III, 1954)

"Islamic doctrine goes further than the other great religions, for it proclaims the presence of the soul, perhaps minute but nevertheless existing in an embryonic state, in all existence in matter, in animals, trees, and space itself. Every individual, every molecule, every atom has its own spiritual relationship with the All-Powerful Soul of God"(Memoirs of Aga Khan III, 1954)

Thus Islam's basic principle can only be defined as mono-realism and not as monotheism. Consider, for example, the opening declaration of every Islamic prayer: "Allah-o-Akbar". What does that mean? There can be no doubt that the second word of the declaration likens the character of Allah to a matrix which contains all and gives existence to the infinite, to space, to time, to the Universe, to all active and passive forces imaginable, to life and to the soul. Imam Hassan has explained the Islamic doctrine of God and the Universe by analogy with the sun and its reflection in the pool of a fountain; there is certainly a reflection or image of the sun, but with what poverty and with what little reality; how small and pale is the likeness between this impalpable image and the immense, blazing, white-hot glory of the celestial sphere itself. Allah is the sun; and the Universe, as we know it in all its magnitude, and time, with its power, are nothing more than the reflection of the Absolute in the mirror of the fountain"(Memoirs of Aga Khan III, 1954)

"Islam is fundamentally in its very nature a natural religion. Throughout the Quran God's signs (Ayats) are referred to as the natural phenomenon, the law and order of the universe, the exactitudes and consequences of the relations between natural phenomenon in cause and effect. Over and over, the stars, sun, moon, earthquakes, fruits of the earth and trees are mentioned as the signs of divine power, divine law and divine order. Even in the Ayeh of Noor, divine is referred to as the natural phenomenon of light and even references are made to the fruit of the earth. During the great period of Islam, Muslims did not forget these principles of their religion."(Aga Khan III, April 4th 1952, Karachi, Pakistan)

"The God of the Quran is the One whose Ayats(Signs) are the Universe in which we live, move and have our being"(Aga Khan III, April 4th 1952, Karachi, Pakistan)

"In fact this world is a book in which you see inscribed the writings of God the Almighty"(Nasir Khusraw, 11th century Fatimid Ismaili cosmologist-philosopher-poet)

"O brother! You asked: What is the [meaning of] `alam [world] and what is that entity to which this name applies? How should we describe the world in its entirety? And how many worlds are there? Explain so that we may recognize. Know, O brother, that the name `alam is derived from [the word] `ilm(knowledge), because the traces of knowledge are evident in [all] parts of the physical world. Thus, we say that the very constitution (nihad) of the world is based on a profound wisdom"(Nasir Khusraw, 11th century Fatimid Ismaili cosmologist-philosopher-poet, from his book "Knowledge and Liberation")

“The physician considers [the bones] so that he may know a way of healing by setting them, but those with insight consider them so that through them they may draw conclusions about the majesty of Him who created and shaped [the bones]. What a difference between the two who consider!”(Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, Muslim Theologian-Philosopher-Mystic, d1111CE)

"Tarkib' is composition as in the compounding of elements in the process of making more complex things, that is, of adding together two things to form a synthesis, a compound. Soul composes in the sense of 'tarkib'; it is the animating force that combines the physical elements of the natural universe into beings that move and act. Incorporating is an especially apt word in this instance. It means to turn something into a body, as in 'composing'. But it is actually the conversion of an intellectual object, a thought, into a physical thing. Soul acts by incorporating reason into physical objects, the natural matter of the universe and all the things composed of it"(Abu Yakub Al-Sijistani,10th century Fatimid Ismaili cosmologist, d971CE, from the book, 'Abu Yakub Al-Sijistani: Intellectual Missionary', by Paul Walker)

"Every particle of the Creation has a share of the Command of God, because every creature shares a part of the Command of God through which it has come to be there and by virtue of which it remains in being and the light of the Command ofGod shines in it. Understand this!"(Abu Yakub Al Sijistani, 10th century Fatimid Ismaili cosmologist, d971, Kashf al-Mahjub("Unveiling of the Hidden"))

"Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave"(Prophet Muhammad, circa 632CE)"

"Seek knowledge, even in China"(Prophet Muhammad, circa 632CE)

"One hour of contemplation on the works of the Creator is better than a thousand hours of prayer"(Prophet Muhammad, circa 632CE)

"All human beings, by their nature, desire to know."(Aristotle, The Metaphysics, circa 322BC)

The above are 23 quotes and excerpts taken from Blogpost Four Hundred, a collection of around 100 quotes on the subjects of Knowledge, Intellect, Creation, Science and Religion:
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/09/400blogpost-four-hundred-knowledge.html

Large Hadron Collider roars to life

The world's largest particle accelerator is spurred to record-breaking speed, suggesting that it will deliver on its scientific promise. And it's not even at full power yet.

The much-delayed, problem-plagued European Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, is finally beginning to show off the technological muscle that is expected to produce some of the greatest scientific discoveries of the 21st century.

After months of repairs, operators at the $8-billion collider located on the Franco-Swiss border successfully accelerated the machine's twin beams of protons to 1.18 trillion electron volts Monday. That surpasses the previous collider record of 0.98 trillion electron volts, set in 2001 by America's Tevatron collider, located at Fermilab outside Chicago.

Such power suggests the collider may yet do what its creators had hoped -- recreate conditions that existed shortly after the Big Bang.

The collider isn't even at full power yet. In coming weeks, the international team of physicists and engineers who built the machine in a 17-mile circular tunnel 300 feet underground is planning to gradually increase the energies in each of the two proton beams.

Eventually, scientists hope to produce 14 trillion electron volts by colliding the beams together at just a whisker below the speed of light.

That would not only help researchers understand the conditions that led to the development of today's universe, it also could unmask the long-sought Higgs boson particle, one of the most elusive and mysterious objects since the Yeti.

"That's the Holy Grail," said Caltech physicist Mark Wise.

Physicists believe the Higgs particle is what gives mass to the rest of the particle zoo, from quarks to neutrons and protons. But no machine has been powerful enough to create a Higgs.

"We are still coming to terms with just how smoothly the LHC commissioning is going," Rolf Heuer, director general of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, said in a statement. "It is fantastic. However, we are continuing to take it step by step, and there is still a lot to do before we start physics in 2010. I'm keeping my champagne on ice until then.

"The history of collider physics dates to the early 20th century, when scientists realized that atomic nuclei were made of objects smaller than protons and neutrons.

The theory behind a collider is simple: Send a beam of protons crashing into something, either a stationary target or a beam of particles traveling in the opposite direction, then wait and see what comes out.

As bigger and more powerful colliders were built, physicists began to uncover a plethora of tiny objects, such as quarks, which were held together by other tiny objects called gluons.

To understand the infinitesimal nature of these new objects, consider that if a quark measured an inch, an atom would stretch a thousand miles.

These discoveries allowed scientists to devise a picture of the universe at the subatomic level. Called the Standard Model, it is considered the most successful scientific theory in history, explaining how the melange of particles fits together and gives rise to the familiar forces that surround us.

One thing the standard model has not been able to do, Wise said, is show why particles have mass and how that mass is distributed.

Scientists believe that's because the particle responsible for mass, the Higgs boson -- named for Scottish physicist Peter Higgs -- can't be produced in today's accelerators. Because it is thought to bind weakly with other particles, "you need a lot of collisions" to produce one, Wise said.

That led scientists to envision a new generation of giant colliders.

Construction of the giant European collider was approved in 1995, but encountered numerous problems, beginning with funding overruns that bloated the already huge budget.

The next step in revving up the machine will be initiating low-energy collisions for calibration purposes.

The first meaningful results from collisions are expected in the first quarter of next year, scientists said.

john.johnson@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times

Related Posts:
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/08/393the-particle-zoo-building-blocks-of.html
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/09/403the-large-hadron-collider-and-god.html
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/05/482the-movie-angels-and-demons.html

Easy Nash

The Qur'an itself repeatedly recommends Muslims to become better educated in order better to understand God's creation: Aga Khan IV(2007)
The Quran tells us that signs of Allah's Sovereignty are found in the contemplation of His Creation: Aga Khan IV(2007)
This notion of the capacity of the human intellect to understand and to admire the creation of Allah will bring you happiness in your everyday lives: Aga Khan IV(2007)
Islam, eminently logical, placing the greatest emphasis on knowledge, purports to understand God's creation: Aga Khan IV(2006)
The Holy Qu'ran's encouragement to study nature and the physical world around us gave the original impetus to scientific enquiry among Muslims: Aga Khan IV(1985)
The first and only thing created by God was the Intellect(Aql): Prophet Muhammad(circa 632CE)

526)A Collection Of Posts Describing The Stephen Harper Conservative Government's Magnificent New Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney.

A Collection Of Posts Describing In Detail The Stephen Harper Conservative Government's Magnificent New Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Canadian Federal Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney.

Among the tens of thousands of people from six continents who visit my Blog there must be a significant number who may show an interest in becoming Canadian citizens now or in the future. Consequently I am showcasing on my Blog the Stephen Harper Conservative Government's magnificent new Citizenship Guide for prospective Canadian citizens unveiled on November 12th 2009, the day after Rememberance Day. When I read the online version of this booklet I came away feeling a deep sense of awe and admiration for the country I have lived in for the past 36 years, 5 as a landed immigrant and 31 as a citizen. Indeed this booklet should not just be required reading for prospective Canadians but also for established Canadian citizens of all ages. It's always refreshing to remind ourselves about our secular democracy-its evolution, history, system of government, regions, rights and responsibilities, justice system, economy, symbols, achievements and much, much more. The text of the booklet has been carefully researched and well written and the many photographs wisely chosen. While I have reproduced all the text from the Guide in the following Blogposts one cannot fully appreciate the material without also looking at the photographs and their captions. For that reason each Blogpost has two links to the original page on the Citizenship And Immigration Canada(CIC) website, one at the beginning and one at the end of the post.

On another forum I made the following comment to commemorate Rememberance Day on November 11th 2009: Canada is a stable secular democratic state with a solid, longstanding and admirable history. It is not a disparate bunch of autonomous multicultural fiefdoms as some political parties would have you beleive. Canada is the Magna Carta(1215), War of 1812, British North America Act(1867), Boer War(1899-1902), Vimy Ridge, Ypres and Paschendale(1914-1918), Dieppe, Monte Cassino, D-Day, Juno Beach, Belgium and Holland(1939-1945), Korean War(1950-1953), Cold War(1917-1989), Vietnam War(1960's) and Afghanistan(post 2001).

THE STEPHEN HARPER Government's New Citizenship Study Guide To Help Newcomers And Canadians Better Understand Canada; Quotes Of Hon. Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/510the-stephen-harper-governments-new.html
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2009/2009-11-12.asp

OVERVIEW, The Harper Government's Citizenship Guide:Discover Canada,The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship;Quotes of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/511overview-harper-governments.html
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/index.asp

SECTION 1: THE OATH OF CITIZENSHIP/LE SERMENT DE CITOYENNETE; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/512section-1-oath-of-citizenshiple.html
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-01.asp

SECTION 2: MESSAGE TO OUR READERS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/513section-2-message-to-our-readers.html
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-02.asp

SECTION 3: APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/514section-3-applying-for-citizenship.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-03.asp

SECTION 4: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/515section-4-rights-and.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-04.asp

SECTION 5: WHO WE ARE; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/516section-5-who-we-are-stephen-harper.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-05.asp

SECTION 6: CANADA'S HISTORY; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/517section-6-canadas-history-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-06.asp

SECTION 7: MODERN CANADA; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/518section-7-modern-canada-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-07.asp

SECTION 8: HOW CANADIANS GOVERN THEMSELVES; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/519section-8-how-canadians-govern.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-08.asp

SECTION 9: FEDERAL ELECTIONS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/520section-9-federal-elections-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-09.asp

SECTION 10: THE JUSTICE SYSTEM; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/521section-10-justice-system-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-10.asp

SECTION 11: CANADIAN SYMBOLS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/522section-11-canadian-symbols-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-11.asp

SECTION 12: CANADA'S ECONOMY; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/522section-12-canadas-economy-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-12.asp

SECTION 13: CANADA'S REGIONS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/523section-13-canadas-regions-stephen.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-13.asp

SECTION 14: FOR MORE INFORMATION; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/524section-14-for-more-information.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-14.asp

SECTION 15: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PHOTO CREDITS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2009/11/525section-15-acknowledgements-and.html http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-15.asp

Quotes Of Canadian Minister Of Citizenship, Immigration And Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney(2009):

1)When you become a citizen, you're not just getting a travel document into Hotel Canada.
2)I think it's scandalous that someone could become a Canadian not knowing what the poppy represents, or never having heard of Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Dieppe or Juno Beach.
3)We mention freedom of conscience and freedom of religion as important rights but we also make it very clear that our laws prohibit barbaric cultural practices, they will not be tolerated, whether or not someone claims that such practices are protected by reference to religion.
4)I think we need to reclaim a deeper sense of citizenship, a sense of shared obligations to one another, to our past, as well as to the future, a kind of civic nationalism where people understand the institutions, values and symbols that are rooted in our history.

Easy Nash

Sunday, November 29, 2009

525)SECTION 15: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PHOTO CREDITS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney

Among the tens of thousands of people from six continents who visit my Blog there must be a significant number who may show an interest in becoming Canadian citizens now or in the future. Consequently I am showcasing on my Blog the Stephen Harper Conservative Government's magnificent new Citizenship Guide for prospective Canadian citizens unveiled on November 12th 2009, the day after Rememberance Day. When I read the online version of this booklet I came away feeling a deep sense of awe and admiration for the country I have lived in for the past 36 years, 5 as a landed immigrant and 31 as a citizen. Indeed this booklet should not just be required reading for prospective Canadians but also for established Canadian citizens of all ages. It's always refreshing to remind ourselves about our secular democracy-its evolution, history, system of government, regions, rights and responsibilities, justice system, economy, symbols, achievements and much, much more. The text of the booklet has been carefully researched and well written and the many photographs wisely chosen. While I have reproduced all the text from the Guide in the following Blogposts one cannot fully appreciate the material without also looking at the photographs and their captions. For that reason each Blogpost has two links to the original page on the Citizenship And Immigration Canada(CIC) website, one at the beginning and one at the end of the post.

On another forum I made the following comment to commemorate Rememberance Day on November 11th 2009: Canada is a stable secular democratic state with a solid, longstanding and admirable history. It is not a disparate bunch of autonomous multicultural fiefdoms as some political parties would have you beleive. Canada is the Magna Carta(1215), War of 1812, British North America Act(1867), Boer War(1899-1902), Vimy Ridge, Ypres and Paschendale(1914-1918), Dieppe, Monte Cassino, D-Day, Juno Beach, Belgium and Holland(1939-1945), Korean War(1950-1953), Cold War(1917-1989), Vietnam War(1960's) and Afghanistan(post 2001).

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-15.asp

Study Guide – Discover Canada
The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

SECTION 15: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PHOTO CREDITS

Government of Canada Departments and Agencies

Canadian Heritage
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Elections Canada
Environment Canada
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Industry Canada
Justice Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library of Parliament
Natural Resources Canada
Parks Canada
Veterans Affairs Canada

Organizations

Canada’s National History Society
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA)
Historica — Dominion
Institute for Canadian Citizenship

Individuals

Dr. Janet Ajzenstat
Mr. Curtis Barlow
Dr. Randy Boyagoda
Mr. Marc Chalifoux
General John de Chastelain
The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson
Mr. Andrew Cohen
Mr. Alex Colville
Ms. Ann Dadson
Dr. Xavier Gélinas
Dr. Jack Granatstein
Mr. Rudyard Griffiths
Dr. Lynda Haverstock
Dr. Peter Henshaw
Dr. D. Michael Jackson
Senator Serge Joyal
Dr. Margaret MacMillan
Dr. Christopher McCreery
Mr. James Marsh
Fr. Jacques Monet, SJ
Dr. Jim Miller
Ms. Deborah Morrison
Dr. Desmond Morton
Mr. Bernard Pothier
Mr. Colin Robertson
Dr. John Ralston Saul

Photo credits

Section 1:
Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada: Canadian Heritage
Taking the oath of citizenship: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Section 2:
Family: Stock image
Parliament Hill: Canadian Tourism Commission
Boy holding Canadian flags: Stock image

Section 3:
Taking the oath of citizenship: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Taking the oath of citizenship: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Taking the oath of citizenship: MaRS Discovery District
Canadian Passport: Passport Canada
Boy at Citizenship Ceremony: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citizenship Judge and Mountie: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Family at Citizenship Ceremony: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Section 4:
Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada: Library and Archives Canada PA-141503
Woman donating blood: Stock image
Children’s program: Debbie Farnand
Man and woman: Stock image
Canadian Army General and Navy sailor shaking hands: National Defence
Canadian Air Force Pilot: National Defence, Master Corporal John Bradley
Canadian Forces participating in the annual Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands: Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Master Corporal Robert Bottrill

Section 5:
Métis from Alberta: Fred Carroll
Cree dancer: Fred Cattroll
Inuit children in Iqaluit, Nunavut: Fred Cattroll
Haida artist Bill Reid carves a totem pole: Chris Hopkins
Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada (novelist John Buchan), in Native attire: (Year of the Portrait), Yousuf Karsh, Library and Archives Canada
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Montreal, Quebec: Jimmy James
Highland dancer at Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville, Ontario: Mario Groleau
Celebrating Fête Nationale, Gatineau, Quebec: Patrick Guillot
Acadian fiddler, Village of Grande-Anse, New Brunswick: Canadian Tourism Commission
Celebration of cultures, Edmonton, Alberta: Canadian Tourism Commission
Ismaili Muslims in the Calgary Stampede, Alberta: Ismaili Council
Caribbean cultural festival, Toronto, Ontario: Ontario Tourism
Ukrainian Pysanka Festival, Vegreville, Alberta: Vegreville and District Chamber of Commerce
Young Polish dancers in Oliver, British Columbia: Stock image
Pipes and drums in Ottawa: National Defence – Corporal Bern LeBlanc
Winter fun in Whistler, British Columbia: Canadian Tourism Commission
Kids playing hockey in the street: Paul Chambers
Sailing, Toronto harbour: Canadian Tourism Commission
Cadets white-water rafting: Cadets Canada
Christmas in Gatineau, Quebec: Rob Wiebe
Chinese-Canadian war veterans: Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society
Notre-Dame des Victoires, Quebec City: Stock image
Chinese New Year celebration, Vancouver, British Columbia: Paul Clarke
Olympian Marjorie Turner-Bailey of Nova Scotia: The Black Loyalist Heritage Society

Section 6:
Indian encampment, fur trade era: Library and Archives Canada C-040293
John Cabot: Oil on canvas by Ernest Board, Bristol’s City Museum and Art Gallery
Jacques Cartier: Library and Archives Canada C-011226
Count Frontenac: Library and Archives Canada C-073710
Pierre Le Moyne: Louisiana State Museum
Sir Guy Carleton: Library and Archives Canada C-002833
The first elected Assembly of Lower Canada, in Quebec City: Collection of the National Assembly of Quebec
Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe, Upper Canada’s first Lieutenant Governor: Library and Archives Canada C-008111
Mary Ann (Shadd) Carey: Library and Archives Canada C-029977
HMS Shannon, a Royal Navy frigate, leads the captured USS Chesapeake into Halifax harbour, 1813: Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management N-2301 & CN-1139
Major General Sir Isaac Brock and Chief Tecumseh: Library and Archives Canada C‑011052
Militiaman, Lower Canada Sedentary Militia, 1813: G.A. Embleton, © Parks Canada
The Fathers of Confederation: House of Commons Collection, Ottawa (Artist – Rex Woods)
Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine: Library and Archives Canada C-005961
Dominion of Canada one dollar note, 1923: National Currency Collection, Currency Museum, Bank of Canada
Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada: Library and Archives Canada C‑006536
Sir Sam Steele: Library and Archives Canada PA-028147
Gabriel Dumont: Library and Archives Canada PA-117943
Members of the train crew pose with a westbound Pacific Express: Canadian Pacific Archives A17566
Chinese workers’ camp on the CPR, Kamloops, 1886: Library and Archives Canada C-021990
Sergeant, Fort Garry Horse, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 1916: Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces
Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Currie 1919: Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, CWM19710261-0539. Beaverbrook Collection of War Art © Canadian War Museum
Maple Leaf cap badge from the First World War: Maple Leaf cap badge CWM 19820048-001 © Canadian War Museum
The Vimy Memorial in France: Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Sergeant Jerry Kean
Canadian nurses nicknamed the“Bluebirds” served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps: Richard Mathews
Nursing Sister: Richard Mathews, CWM 19710261-6070, Beaverbrook Collection of War Art © Canadian War Museum
Canadian soldiers observe Remembrance Day: Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Master Corporal Robert Bottrill
Remembrance Day poppy: Stock image
Canadian war veteran: Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Master Corporal Frank Hudec
Scouts with Remembrance Day wreath: Patrick Tam
Phil Edwards: Library and Archives Canada PA-150992
The 1st Battalion, The Regina Rifle Regiment, Assault Landing at Courseulles, France, June 1944: Royal Regina Rifles Trust Fund, Painting by O.N. Fisher, 1950
Give – The Canadian Red Cross, CWM 19720114-023, © Canadian War Museum

Section 7:
Toronto business district: Stock image
Vietnamese-Canadians: Alex Pylyshyn
F-86 Sabre, Royal Canadian Air Force: National Defence
Cirque du Soleil: Photo: OSA Images, Costume: Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt, @ 2007 Cirque du Soleil
The Jack Pine, Tom Thomson: Tom Thomson, Tom Thomson, The Jack Pine, 1916-1917, photo © National Gallery of Canada, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
Donovan Bailey: COC/The Canadian Press/Claus Andersen
Chantal Petitclerc: Canadian Paralympic Committee/Benoit Pelosse
Terry Fox: Ed Linkewich
Wayne Gretzky: The Canadian Press, Mike Ridewood
Mark Tewksbury: The Canadian Press, Ted Grant
Canadian Football: The Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Canadarm2: Canadian Space Agency
Sir Frederick Banting: Library and Archives Canada PA-123481

Section 8:
Queen Elizabeth II opening the 23rd Parliament (1957): Photograph by Malak, Ottawa
Parliament Hill: Stock image
Michaëlle Jean, the 27th Governor General since Confederation: Rideau Hall, Sgt Serge Gouin, GG2009-0282-033

Section 9:
House of Commons chamber: Stock image
House of Commons in session: House of Commons
Election photos: Elections Canada
Provincial Assembly of Charlottetown, PEI: Government of Prince Edward Island

Section 10:
Scales of Justice, Vancouver Law Courts: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Jury benches: Dan Carr
Ottawa police constable helping a young boy at the Aboriginal Day Flotilla: Ottawa Police Service, Constable Steve Lewis, Jacob Brown
Handcuffs: Correctional Services Canada
Border guard with sniffer dog: Canada Border Services Agency

Section 11:
Mace of the House of Commons: Ottawa House of Commons Collection, Ottawa, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company (Great Britain)
Canadian Flag of 1965: Stock image
The Royal Arms of Canada: Bank of Canada
Parliament at dusk: Stock image
The Snowbirds: National Defence
Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup champions, 1978: CHC – Denis Brodeur
RCMP Musical Ride, Ottawa, Ontario: Patrick Guillot
A beaver, Algonquin Park, Ontario: Steve Urszenyi
Oscar Peterson, Norah Willis Michener and Governor General Roland Michener, 1973: John Evans / Library and Archives Canada / e002107535-v6
Alexander Roberts Dunn, V.C: Sharif Tarabay
Able Seaman William Hall, V.C.: Library and Archives Canada NLC-8759
Brig. Paul Triquet, V.C: Mr. Adam Sherriff Scott, CWM 19710261-5841, Beaverbrook Collection of War Art, © Canadian War Museum
Sgt. Filip Konowal, V.C. : Arthur Ambrose McEvoy, CWM 19710261-6070, Beaverbrook Collection of War Art © Canadian War Museum
Honorary Air Marshal William Avery Bishop, VC, DSO and Bar, MC, DFC: Alphonse Jongers, VC, DSO and Bar, MC, DFC CWM 19680068-001, Beaverbrook Collection of War Art, © Canadian War Museum
Robert Hampton Gray, V.C.: Sharif Tarabay

Section 12:
Oil pumpjacks in southern Alberta: Stock image
Atlantic lobster: Stock image
Hydro-electric dam on the Saguenay River, Quebec: Stock image
Lumber truck: Stock image
Toronto’s financial district: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Car assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario: Ford of Canada
Port of Vancouver: Stock image
Research laboratory: The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck
RIM’s BlackBerry: Stock image
Ice wine grapes, Niagara Region, Ontario: Stock image

Section 13:
Ottawa’s Rideau Canal: Stock image
Banff National Park: Stock image
Peggy’s Cove Harbour: Stock image
“The Edge” Newfoundland and Labrador: Canadian Tourism Commission
Moose: Ontario Tourism
Point Prim, Prince Edward Island: Canadian Tourism Commission
Anne of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island: Smudge 9000
Destroyer HMCS Athabasca (DD282), in the foreground, and HMCS Toronto (FF333) sail through Halifax Harbour on February 17, 2009, for an annual sailpast: Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Private Martin Roy
Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia: Stock image
Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick: Canadian Tourism Commission
Whale: Canadian Tourism Commission
Percé Rock: Stock image
Petit Champlain, Quebec City: Stock image
Muskoka Skeleton Lake, Ontario: Ontario Tourism
Toronto Skyline: Stock image
Pisew Falls, Manitoba: Stock image
Golden Boy statue: Government of Manitoba
Wheat fields in Saskatchewan: Stock image
Coronach, Saskatchewan: Canadian Tourism Commission
Alberta rancher: Stock image
Alberta oil pump jack: Stock image
Vancouver skyline: Stock image
Orca: Stock image
Family searching for gold, Dawson City, Yukon: Canadian Tourism Commission
Takhini Hot Springs Road, Yukon: Canadian Tourism Commission
Northern lights, Northwest Territories: Canadian Tourism Commission
Polar bear: Stock image
Pangnirtung, Nunavut: Lindsay Terry
Inukshuk, Nunavut: Stock image
The Canadian Rangers: National Defence
An Inuit boy in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut: Clarkework Orange Photography
The caribou (reindeer): Stock image

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-15.asp

Quotes Of Canadian Minister Of Citizenship, Immigration And Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney(2009):

1)When you become a citizen, you're not just getting a travel document into Hotel Canada.
2)I think it's scandalous that someone could become a Canadian not knowing what the poppy represents, or never having heard of Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Dieppe or Juno Beach.
3)We mention freedom of conscience and freedom of religion as important rights but we also make it very clear that our laws prohibit barbaric cultural practices, they will not be tolerated, whether or not someone claims that such practices are protected by reference to religion.
4)I think we need to reclaim a deeper sense of citizenship, a sense of shared obligations to one another, to our past, as well as to the future, a kind of civic nationalism where people understand the institutions, values and symbols that are rooted in our history.

Easy Nash

524)SECTION 14: FOR MORE INFORMATION; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney

523)SECTION 13: CANADA'S REGIONS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney

Among the tens of thousands of people from six continents who visit my Blog there must be a significant number who may show an interest in becoming Canadian citizens now or in the future. Consequently I am showcasing on my Blog the Stephen Harper Conservative Government's magnificent new Citizenship Guide for prospective Canadian citizens unveiled on November 12th 2009, the day after Rememberance Day. When I read the online version of this booklet I came away feeling a deep sense of awe and admiration for the country I have lived in for the past 36 years, 5 as a landed immigrant and 31 as a citizen. Indeed this booklet should not just be required reading for prospective Canadians but also for established Canadian citizens of all ages. It's always refreshing to remind ourselves about our secular democracy-its evolution, history, system of government, regions, rights and responsibilities, justice system, economy, symbols, achievements and much, much more. The text of the booklet has been carefully researched and well written and the many photographs wisely chosen. While I have reproduced all the text from the Guide in the following Blogposts one cannot fully appreciate the material without also looking at the photographs and their captions. For that reason each Blogpost has two links to the original page on the Citizenship And Immigration Canada(CIC) website, one at the beginning and one at the end of the post.

On another forum I made the following comment to commemorate Rememberance Day on November 11th 2009: Canada is a stable secular democratic state with a solid, longstanding and admirable history. It is not a disparate bunch of autonomous multicultural fiefdoms as some political parties would have you beleive. Canada is the Magna Carta(1215), War of 1812, British North America Act(1867), Boer War(1899-1902), Vimy Ridge, Ypres and Paschendale(1914-1918), Dieppe, Monte Cassino, D-Day, Juno Beach, Belgium and Holland(1939-1945), Korean War(1950-1953), Cold War(1917-1989), Vietnam War(1960's) and Afghanistan(post 2001).

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-13.asp

Study Guide – Discover Canada
The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

SECTION 13: CANADA'S REGIONS

Canada is the second largest country on earth—10 million square kilometres. Three oceans line Canada’s frontiers—the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. Along the southern edge of Canada lies the Canada-United States boundary. Both Canada and the USA are committed to a safe, secure and efficient frontier.

(Pictures)
Ottawa’s Rideau Canal, once a military waterway, is now a tourist attraction and winter skateway
Banff National Park, Alberta

The Regions of Canada

Canada includes many different geographical areas and five distinct regions:

The Atlantic Provinces
Ontario and Quebec
The Prairie Provinces
The West Coast
The Northern Territories

The National Capital

Ottawa, located on the Ottawa River, was chosen as the capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria, the great-great- grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. Today it is Canada’s fourth largest metropolitan area. The National Capital Region, 4,700 square kilometres surrounding Ottawa, preserves and enhances the area’s built heritage and natural environment.

Provinces and Territories

Canada has 10 provinces and three territories. Each province and territory has its own capital city. You should know the capital of your province or territory as well as that of Canada.

Population

Canada has a population of about 33 million. While the majority live in cities, Canadians also live in small towns, rural areas and everywhere in between.

(Picture): Peggy’s Cove harbour, Nova Scotia

Region:
Atlantic region

Province/Territory:
Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick

Capital City:
St. John’s
Charlottetown
Halifax
Fredericton

Region:
Central Canada

Province/Territory
Quebec
Ontario

Capital City:
Quebec City
Toronto

Region:
Prairie Provinces

Province/Territoy
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta

Capital City:
Winnipeg
Regina
Edmonton

Region:
West Coast

Province/Territory:
British Columbia

Capital City:
Victoria

Region:
North

Province/Territory:
Nunavut
Northwest Territories
Yukon Territory

Capital City:
Iqaluit
Yellowknife
Whitehorse

The Atlantic provinces

Atlantic Canada’s coasts and natural resources, including fishing, farming, forestry, and mining, have made these provinces an important part of Canada’s history and development.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is the most easterly point in North America and has its own time zone. In addition to its natural beauty, the province has a unique heritage linked to the sea. The oldest colony of the British Empire and a strategic prize in Canada’s early history, the province has long been known for its fisheries, coastal fishing villages, and distinct culture. Today off-shore oil and gas extraction contributes a substantial part of the economy. Labrador also has immense hydro-electric resources.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) is the smallest province, known for its beaches, red soil, and agriculture, especially potatoes. P.E.I. is the birthplace of Confederation, connected to mainland Canada by one of the longest continuous multi-span bridges in the world, the 13-kilometre Confederation Bridge. Anne of Green Gables, set in P.E.I. by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is a much-loved story about the adventures of a little red-headed orphan girl.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is the most populous Atlantic Province, with a rich history as the gateway to Canada. Known for the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy, the province’s identity is linked to shipbuilding, fisheries and shipping. As Canada’s largest east coast port, deep-water and ice-free, the capital, Halifax, has played an important role in Atlantic trade and defence and is home to Canada’s largest naval base. Nova Scotia has a long history of coal mining, forestry, and agriculture. Today there is also off-shore oil and gas exploration. The province’s Celtic and Gaelic traditions sustain a vibrant culture. Nova Scotia is home to over 700 annual festivals, including the spectacular military tattoo in Halifax.

New Brunswick

Situated in the Appalachian Range, the province was founded by the United Empire Loyalists and has the second largest river system on North America’s Atlantic coastline, the St. John River system. Forestry, agriculture, fisheries, mining, food processing and tourism are the principal industries. Saint John is the largest city, port and manufacturing centre; Moncton is the principal Francophone Acadian centre; and Fredericton the historic capital. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province, and about one-third of the population lives and works in French. The province’s pioneer Loyalist and French cultural heritage and history come alive in street festivals and traditional music.

Ontario and Quebec

More than half the people in Canada live in cities and towns near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in southern Quebec and Ontario, known as Central Canada and the industrial and manufacturing heartland. Together, Ontario and Quebec produce more than three-quarters of all Canadian manufactured goods.

Quebec

Nearly eight million people live in Quebec, the vast majority along or near the St. Lawrence River. More than three-quarters speak French as their first language. The resources of the Canadian Shield have helped Quebec to develop important industries, including forestry, energy, and mining. Quebec is Canada’s main producer of pulp and paper. The province’s huge supply of fresh water has made it Canada’s largest producer of hydroelectricity. Quebecers are leaders in cutting-edge industries such as pharmaceuticals and aeronautics. Quebec films, music, literary works, and food have international stature, especially in La Francophonie, an association of French-speaking nations. Montreal, Canada’s second largest city and the second largest mainly French-speaking city in the world after Paris, is famous for its cultural diversity.

Ontario

At more than 12 million, the people of Ontario make up one-third of Canadians. The large and culturally diverse population, natural resources, and strategic location contribute to a vital economy. Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the country’s main financial centre. Many people work in the service or manufacturing industries, which produce a large percentage of Canada’s exports. The Niagara region is known for its vineyards, wines, and fruit crops. Ontario farmers raise dairy and beef cattle, poultry, and vegetable and grain crops. Founded by United Empire Loyalists, Ontario also has the largest French-speaking population outside of Quebec, with a proud history of preserving their language and culture. There are five Great Lakes located between Ontario and the United States: Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan (in the USA) and Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world.

The Prairie Provinces

Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the Prairie Provinces, rich in energy resources and some of the most fertile farmland in the world.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s economy is based on agriculture, mining and hydro-electric power generation. The province’s most populous city is Winnipeg, whose Exchange District includes the most famous street intersection in Canada, Portage and Main. Winnipeg’s French Quarter, St. Boniface, has Western Canada’s largest Francophone community at 45,000. Manitoba is also an important centre of Ukrainian culture, with 14% reporting Ukrainian origins , and the largest Aboriginal population of any province, at over 15%.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan, once known as the “breadbasket of the world” and the “wheat province,” has 40% of the arable land in Canada and is the country’s largest producer of grains and oilseeds. It also boasts the world’s richest deposits of uranium and potash, used in fertilizer, and produces oil and natural gas. Regina, the capital, is home to the training academy of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Saskatoon, the largest city, is headquarters of the mining industry and an important educational, research and technology centre.

Alberta

Alberta is the most populous Prairie province. The province, and the world-famous Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains, were both named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. Alberta has five national parks, including Banff National Park, established in 1885. The rugged Badlands house some of the world’s richest deposits of prehistoric fossils and dinosaur finds. Alberta is the largest producer of oil and gas, and the oil sands in the north are being developed as a major energy source. Alberta is also renowned for agriculture, especially for the vast cattle ranches that make Canada one of the world’s major beef producers.

The West Coast

British Columbia is known for its majestic mountains and as Canada’s Pacific gateway. The Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest and busiest, handles billions of dollars in goods traded around the world.

British Columbia

British Columbia, on the Pacific coast, is Canada’s westernmost province, with a population of 4 million. The Port of Vancouver is our gateway to the Asia-Pacific. About one-half of all the goods produced in B.C. are forestry products, including lumber, newsprint, and pulp and paper products — the most valuable forestry industry in Canada. B.C. is also known for mining, fishing, and the fruit orchards and wine industry of the Okanagan Valley. B.C. has the most extensive parks system in Canada, with approximately 600 provincial parks. The province’s large Asian communities have made Chinese and Punjabi the most spoken languages in the cities after English. The capital, Victoria, is a tourist centre and headquarters of the navy’s Pacific fleet.

The Northern Territories

The Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon contain one-third of Canada’s land mass but have a population of only 100,000. There are gold, lead, copper, diamond and zinc mines. Oil and gas deposits are being developed. The North is sometimes called the “Land of the Midnight Sun,” because at the height of summer, daylight can last up to 24 hours. In winter, the sun disappears, and darkness sets in for three months. Much of the North is made up of tundra, the vast rocky Arctic plain. Because of the cold Arctic climate, there are no trees on the tundra and the soil is permanently frozen. Some continue to earn a living by hunting, fishing, and trapping. Inuit art is sold throughout Canada and around the world.

Yukon

Thousands of miners came to the Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s, celebrated in the poetry of Robert W. Service. Mining remains a significant part of the economy. The White Pass and Yukon Railway, opened from Skagway in neighbouring Alaska to the territorial capital, Whitehorse, in 1900, provides a spectacular tourist excursion across precipitous passes and bridges. Yukon holds the record for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada (-63°C).

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories (NWT) were originally made up in 1870 from Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory. The capital, Yellowknife (population 20,000), is called the “diamond capital of North America.” More than half the population is Aboriginal (Dene, Inuit and Métis). The Mackenzie River, at 4,200 kilometres, is the second-longest river system in North America after the Mississippi and drains an area of 1.8 million square kilometres.

Nunavut

Nunavut, meaning “our land” in Inuktitut, was established in 1999 from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories, including all of the former District of Keewatin. The capital is Iqaluit, formerly Frobisher Bay, named after the English explorer Martin Frobisher, who penetrated the uncharted Arctic for Queen Elizabeth I in 1576. The 19-member Legislative Assembly chooses a premier and ministers by consensus. The population is about 85% Inuit, and Inuktitut is an official language and the first language in schools.

The Canadian Rangers

Canada’s vast north brings security and sovereignty challenges. Dealing with harsh weather conditions in an isolated region, the Canadian Rangers, part of the Canadian Forces Reserves (militia), play a key role. Drawing on indigenous knowledge and experience, the Rangers travel by snowmobile in the winter and allterrain vehicles in the summer from Resolute to the Magnetic North Pole, and keep the flag flying in Canada’s Arctic.

(Pictures)
From left to right:
An Inuit boy in Sanikiluaq, Nunavut, uses a pellet gun to hunt for birds
The caribou (reindeer) is popular game for hunters and a symbol of Canada’s North

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-13.asp

Quotes Of Canadian Minister Of Citizenship, Immigration And Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney(2009):

1)When you become a citizen, you're not just getting a travel document into Hotel Canada.
2)I think it's scandalous that someone could become a Canadian not knowing what the poppy represents, or never having heard of Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Dieppe or Juno Beach.
3)We mention freedom of conscience and freedom of religion as important rights but we also make it very clear that our laws prohibit barbaric cultural practices, they will not be tolerated, whether or not someone claims that such practices are protected by reference to religion.
4)I think we need to reclaim a deeper sense of citizenship, a sense of shared obligations to one another, to our past, as well as to the future, a kind of civic nationalism where people understand the institutions, values and symbols that are rooted in our history.

Easy Nash

522)SECTION 12: CANADA'S ECONOMY; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney

522)SECTION 11: CANADIAN SYMBOLS; The Stephen Harper Government's Citizenship Guide; Quotes Of Minister Jason Kenney

Among the tens of thousands of people from six continents who visit my Blog there must be a significant number who may show an interest in becoming Canadian citizens now or in the future. Consequently I am showcasing on my Blog the Stephen Harper Conservative Government's magnificent new Citizenship Guide for prospective Canadian citizens unveiled on November 12th 2009, the day after Rememberance Day. When I read the online version of this booklet I came away feeling a deep sense of awe and admiration for the country I have lived in for the past 36 years, 5 as a landed immigrant and 31 as a citizen. Indeed this booklet should not just be required reading for prospective Canadians but also for established Canadian citizens of all ages. It's always refreshing to remind ourselves about our secular democracy-its evolution, history, system of government, regions, rights and responsibilities, justice system, economy, symbols, achievements and much, much more. The text of the booklet has been carefully researched and well written and the many photographs wisely chosen. While I have reproduced all the text from the Guide in the following Blogposts one cannot fully appreciate the material without also looking at the photographs and their captions. For that reason each Blogpost has two links to the original page on the Citizenship And Immigration Canada(CIC) website, one at the beginning and one at the end of the post.

On another forum I made the following comment to commemorate Rememberance Day on November 11th 2009: Canada is a stable secular democratic state with a solid, longstanding and admirable history. It is not a disparate bunch of autonomous multicultural fiefdoms as some political parties would have you beleive. Canada is the Magna Carta(1215), War of 1812, British North America Act(1867), Boer War(1899-1902), Vimy Ridge, Ypres and Paschendale(1914-1918), Dieppe, Monte Cassino, D-Day, Juno Beach, Belgium and Holland(1939-1945), Korean War(1950-1953), Cold War(1917-1989), Vietnam War(1960's) and Afghanistan(post 2001).

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-11.asp

Study Guide – Discover Canada
The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

SECTION 11: CANADIAN SYMBOLS

Canada has many important symbols — objects, events, and people that have special meaning. Together they help explain what it means to be Canadian and express our national identity. Important Canadian symbols appear throughout this booklet.

(Pictures)
From left to right:
Mace of the House of Commons, OttawaCanadian Flag of 1965
The Royal Arms of Canada
Parliament at dusk

The Canadian Crown

The Crown has been a symbol of the state in Canada for 400 years. Canada has been a constitutional monarchy in its own right since Confederation in 1867 during Queen Victoria’s reign. Queen Elizabeth II has been Queen of Canada since 1952, marked her Golden Jubilee in 2002, and celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years as Sovereign) in 2012. The Crown is a symbol of government including Parliament, the legislatures, courts, police services, and the armed forces.

(Picture): The Snowbirds(431 Air Demonstration Squadron) are a Canadian icon

The National Flag

The National Flag was first raised on February 15, 1965. The red-white-red pattern comes from the flag of the Royal Military College, Kingston, founded in 1876. National Flag of Canada Day is February 15. The provinces and territories also have flags that embody their distinct traditions.

The maple leaf

The maple leaf is Canada’s most known and respected symbol. Maple leaves were adopted as a symbol by French-Canadians in the 1700s, have appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia since the 1850s, and are carved into the headstones of our fallen soldiers buried overseas and in Canada.

Coat of arms and motto

As an expression of national pride after the First World War, Canada adopted an official coat of arms and a national motto, A Mari Usque Ad Mare, which in Latin means “from sea to sea.” The arms contain symbols of England, France, Scotland, and Ireland as well as red maple leaves. Today the arms can be seen on dollar bills, government documents, and public buildings.

Parliament buildings

The towers, arches, sculptures, and stained glass of the Parliament Buildings embody the French, English, and Aboriginal traditions and the Gothic Revival architecture popular in the time of Queen Victoria. The buildings were completed in the 1860s. The Centre Block was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1916 and rebuilt in 1922. The Library is the only part of the original building remaining. The Peace Tower was completed in 1927 in memory of the First World War. The Memorial Chamber within the Tower contains the Books of Remembrance, in which are written the names of soldiers, sailors and airmen who died serving Canada in wars or while on duty.

The provincial legislatures are architectural treasures. The Quebec National Assembly is built in the French Second Empire style, while the legislatures of the other provinces are Baroque, Romanesque, and neoclassical, reflecting the Greco-Roman heritage of Western civilization in which democracy originated.

Popular sports

(Picture): Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions, 1978

Hockey is Canada’s most popular spectator sport and is considered to be the national winter sport. Ice hockey was developed in Canada in the 1800s. The National Hockey League plays for the championship Stanley Cup, donated by Lord Stanley, the Governor General, in 1892. The Clarkson Cup, established in 2005 by Adrienne Clarkson, the first Governor General of Asian origin, is awarded for women’s hockey. Many young Canadians play hockey at school, in a hockey league, or on quiet streets — road hockey or street hockey — and are taken to the hockey rink by their parents. Canadian children have collected hockey cards for generations.

Canadian football is the second most popular sport. Curling, an ice game introduced by Scottish pioneers, is popular. Lacrosse, an ancient sport first played by Aboriginals, is the official summer sport. Soccer has the most registered players of any game in Canada.

(Pictures)
From top to bottom:
RCMP Musical Ride,Ottawa, Ontario
A Beaver, AlgonquinPark, Ontario

The beaver

The beaver was adopted centuries ago as a symbol of the Hudson’s Bay Company. It became an emblem of the St. Jean Baptiste Society, a French Canadian patriotic association, in 1834, as well as other groups. This industrious rodent can be seen on the five-cent coin, on the coats of arms of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and of cities such as Montreal and Toronto.

Canada’s official languages

English and French are the two official languages, and are important symbols of identity. English speakers (Anglophones) and French speakers (Francophones) have lived together in partnership and creative tension for more than 300 years. You must have adequate knowledge of English or French to become a Canadian citizen. (People under the age of 18, and over the age of 54 are exempted from this requirement.)

Parliament passed the Official Languages Act in 1969. It has three main objectives:

1)Establish equality between French and English in Parliament, the Government of Canada and institutions subject to the Act;
2)Maintain and develop official language communities in Canada; and
3)Promote equality of French and English in Canadian society.

National Anthem

O Canada was proclaimed as the National Anthem in 1980. It was first sung in Quebec City in 1880. French and English Canadians sing different words to the National Anthem.

O Canada
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command
With glowing hearts we see thee rise
The true North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada we stand on guard for thee
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee

Ô Canada!
O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Royal Anthem

The Royal Anthem of Canada, “God Save the Queen (or King),” can be played or sung on any occasion when Canadians wish to honour the Sovereign.

God Save the Queen
God Save our gracious Queen!
Long live our noble Queen!
God save The Queen!
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save The Queen!

Dieu protège la reine
Dieu protège la Reine!
De sa main souveraine!
Vive la Reine!
Qu’un règne glorieux,
Long et victorieux,
Rende son peuple heureux,
Vive la Reine!

(Picture): Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson(left) receives the Order ofCanada from Roland Michener(right), the 20th GovernorGeneral, in 1973. In the centre are Norah Michener and a portrait of Vincent Massey, the 18th Governor General.

The Order of Canada and other honours

All countries have ways to recognize outstanding citizens. Official awards are called honours, consisting of orders, decorations, and medals. After using British honours for many years, Canada started its own honours system with the Order of Canada in 1967, the centennial of Confederation.

If you know of fellow citizens who you think are worthy of recognition, you are welcome to nominate them. Information on nominations for many of these honours can be found at www.gg.ca/honours/index_e.asp.

(Pictures)
From left to right:
Col. Alexander Roberts Dunn, V.C.
Able Seaman William Hall, V.C.
Brig. Paul Triquet, V.C.
Filip Konowal, V.C., was promoted Sergeant

From top to bottom:
Air Marshal William A. Bishop,better known as flyingace Billy Bishop, V.C.
Lieut. Robert Hampton Gray, V.C.

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (V.C.) is the highest honour available to Canadians and is awarded for the most conspicuous bravery, a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy. The V.C. has been awarded to 96 Canadians since 1854, including:

Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn, born in present-day Toronto, served in the British Army in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava (1854) in the Crimean War, and was the first Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Able Seaman William Hall of Horton, Nova Scotia, whose parents were American slaves, was the first black man to be awarded the V.C., for his role in the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Corporal Filip Konowal, born in Ukraine, showed exceptional courage in the Battle of Hill 70 in 1917, and became the first member of the Canadian Corps not born in the British Empire to be awarded the V.C.

Flying ace Captain Billy Bishop, born in Owen Sound, Ontario, earned the V.C. in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, and was later an honorary Air Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Captain Paul Triquet of Cabano, Quebec earned the V.C. leading his men and a handful of tanks in the attack on Casa Berardi in Italy in 1943, during the Second World War, and was later a Brigadier.

Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a navy pilot born in Trail, B.C., was killed while bombing and sinking a Japanese warship in August 1945, a few days before the end of the Second World War, and was the last Canadian to receive the V.C. to date.

National public holidays and other important dates

New Year’s Day — January 1
Sir John A. Macdonald Day — January 11
Good Friday — Friday immediately preceding Easter Sunday
Easter Monday — Monday immediately following Easter Sunday
Vimy Day — April 9
Victoria Day — Monday preceding May 25 (Sovereign’s Birthday)
Fête Nationale (Quebec) — June 24 (Feast of St. John the Baptist)
Canada Day — July 1
Labour Day — First Monday of September
Thanksgiving Day — Second Monday of October
Remembrance Day — November 11
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day — November 20
Christmas — December 25
Boxing Day — December 26

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/discover/section-11.asp

Quotes Of Canadian Minister Of Citizenship, Immigration And Multiculturalism Hon. Jason Kenney(2009):

1)When you become a citizen, you're not just getting a travel document into Hotel Canada.
2)I think it's scandalous that someone could become a Canadian not knowing what the poppy represents, or never having heard of Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Dieppe or Juno Beach.
3)We mention freedom of conscience and freedom of religion as important rights but we also make it very clear that our laws prohibit barbaric cultural practices, they will not be tolerated, whether or not someone claims that such practices are protected by reference to religion.
4)I think we need to reclaim a deeper sense of citizenship, a sense of shared obligations to one another, to our past, as well as to the future, a kind of civic nationalism where people understand the institutions, values and symbols that are rooted in our history.

Easy Nash