Peter Mansbridge

My family carries histories of movement, immigration from World War II with deep gratitude for Canada, and a Quebecois family moving from language, place, and belonging.

I grew up in southern Ontario, but living in Guatemala made my Canadian-ness visible and precious to me.

Living in northern BC has deepened my understanding that I belong to Canada while also being a visitor on indigenous lands.

That tension feels very Canadian to me.

Marco Alexandre in Montreal.

I've always identified first and foremost as Portuguese and rarely look beyond that.

In Canada, most people readily see me that way.

Curiously, my friends and family back in Portugal insist I am Canadian.

Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I am what I am.

Lise Morton in Southampton, Ontario.

If traveling abroad, I always proudly identify myself as Canadian, sometimes further adding French-Canadian.

Within Canada, I will say that I was raised in northern Ontario and currently live in southwestern Ontario.

And I might further explain that I am Franco-Ontarian.

But as I wrote this, it struck me that I would never first answer, I'm an Ontarian.

It'll be interesting to hear whether others in Ontario say that.

Jason McGraw in Fredericton.

How I think of myself first is Canadian, second is Acadian, and last is New Brunswicker.

Why Canadian first?

I'd be more lost if Canada wouldn't exist than if Acadia was no longer a concept.