Minds on.

Oh Canada

Canadians are diverse. Each person has a unique story. Therefore, to understand Canadian people and their families, it is important to appreciate the history and nature of Canada itself. So much of who we are is influenced by our identity as a Canadian, as well by as our experiences in Canada.

Take a look at the following video clips that highlight events and experiences throughout Canadian history.

The following is a short video clip that is a trailer for a series, Canada: The Story of Us.

Below are four examples of Heritage Minutes videos from Historica Canada that describe the experiences of Canadians and show how these experiences have helped to shape life in Canada. You may also wish to search for additional Heritage Minutes videos online.

This is the discussion icon. Being Canadian

Consider the following questions.

  • What is significant about each of the video clips shown?
  • Why would we examine each of these clips when studying family life in Canada?
  • What does being Canadian mean to you?
  • Why do you need to understand what ‘being Canadian’ means to other people?
Action.

What Is A Family?

While most societies accept that families are important, “what a family is” does not have the same definition for everyone. Because we are so culturally diverse, there are many different meanings of family in Canada.

According to some Indigenous persons, a family is a social network of many related people, or what is referred to as a kinship group.

the state or quality of being related or kin.

This is the did you know icon. Did You Know?

The idea of kinship (family relationships) is defined differently across cultures.

Most family societies are based on patriarchy (the father/husband being the head of the family and having power), but the family society of the Navajo people is based on matriarchy (the mother being the head of the family and having power).

In western cultures, two people with the same father but with a different mother would be considered kin, but in other cultures they would not be considered relatives at all!

In conventional Canadian society, families generally refer to some formation and combination of a parent and/or children.

Types of Families

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Long Description

This is the quiz icon. Types of Families Quiz

Identify which type of family is shown in each of the questions. Your possible responses are:

    1. Nuclear family
    2. Childless family
    3. Lone parent family
    4. Extended family
    5. Blended family
    6. Common law family
  1. Latisha and Melinda have lived together for 3 years and have one daughter.
    Answer

    Common law family

  1. Caterina and Roberto are married with two children. Roberto’s younger brother and his parents also live in the house.
    Answer

    Extended family

  1. Larissa and Matt have been married for 2 years but do not have any children.
    Answer

    Childless family

  1. Ahmed is raising his 5 year old son on his own.
    Answer

    Lone parent family

  1. Homer and Marge have been married 15 years and have three children.
    Answer

    Nuclear family

  1. Piper has a son from her first marriage, and Alex has a daughter from his first marriage. Piper and Alex just got married to each other, and their children live with them part-time.
    Answer

    Blended family

Families: Census Data

What types of families were common in the past? Which ones are common today? One way to investigate family arrangements is to examine the Canadian census. If you want to view any links in this pdf, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page.

This is the ePortfolio icon. The Canadian Census

Consider the following questions:

  • What information is included in the census?
  • How often is the census completed?
  • How has the census evolved? Why?

Families: Then and Now

Take a look at the following articles to identify trends in Canadian census data over 50 years. If you want to view any links in these pdfs, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page.

Now visit the Canadian census website for the most current census data on families today.

This is the discussion icon. Families in the Census

Consider the following questions:

  • Who is considered a family according to Census Canada? Has this definition changed?
  • What patterns and trends are evident regarding family type and living arrangements in the most recent census data?
  • What is different about Canadian families today compared to those in the past?
  • Why is census data important or significant?
  • What are some limitations of census data?

The Evolution of Family: Social, Economic and Legislative Changes

There have been several social, economic and legislative changes throughout Canadian history that have impacted various aspects of everyday life, including family living. Children are also impacted by the changes that their families experience. Your next task is to research the significance of various changes, and speculate on the impact it will have on the lives and roles of future generations of children.

This is the dropbox icon. The Evolution of Family: Social, Economic and Legislative Changes

  1. Your task is to select one of the following topics from the chart below. You will research its significance in the lives of families and children, and speculate on the impact it will have on the lives and roles of future generations of children.
    Era Social Economic Legislative
    Industrial Revolution

    Urbanization

    Literacy

    Living conditions

    New Social Classes

    Women and Work

    Working Conditions

    Child Labour

    Indigenous Residential Schools
    World War I

    Women’s Roles

    Spanish Influenza

    Technology

    Inflation

    Conscription

    Migration

    Prohibition
    Depression

    Depression

    Suicide

    Poverty

    Class Separation

    Alienation

    Overcrowding

    Homelessness

    Tuberculosis

    Unemployment

    Bankruptcies

    Debt

    Wage Cuts

    Internal Migration

    		 Foreclosures
    World War II Women’s Roles War Industry Education
    Post WWII

    Birth Control

    Sexual Revolution

    Baby Boom

    Vaccines

    Teenagers

    60s Scoop

    Suburbs

    Mass Consumption and Production

    Television Advertising

    Gay Marriages

    Universal Health Care

    Immigration Policy Changes

  1. Summarize your responses to the following questions in a slideshow/presentation.

    • Describe what was happening regarding this topic during that era.
    • What impact does the topic have on the lives of family and children during this era?  You should discuss how this topic has influenced:
      • family forms/types;
      • family living arrangements;
      • life expectancy;
      • family roles; and
      • roles of children.
    • How will this topic affect the lives and roles of future generations of children?


    For this task, please use Canadian demographic data and statistics in your responses. Also be sure to cite your sources (including statistics and quotes) in proper APA style formatting.

Functions of a Family

In most societies, family is an important social institution. Like all social institutions, they impact the arrangement and behaviour of members in society.

Below is a list of the functions of a family that are common in Canadian families. See if you can match the function of the family with an activity that families can perform.

If you're working on a tablet, click here to open the following interactive in its own window instead of using the embedded version below.

Factors Impacting the Functioning of Families

Throughout history, there have been a number of factors that have influenced and continue to impact family circumstances, such as time together, living arrangements, family roles, family values, and family behaviour.

In this next section of the activity, you will research how various factors influence the functioning and lives of families in Canada.

This is the discussion icon. Factors Impacting The Functioning of Families

Using search engines and databases, research a current trend or issue that impacts family life.

Select one topic and summarize the results to the questions below. Provide a brief summary (no longer than one paragraph) that explains the impact of this trend/issue on the functioning of the family.

Trends and Issues:

  • Technology
  • Health Care
  • Aging Population
  • Social Media
  • Cultural or Religious Diversity

Once you have selected a topic, narrow it down to a particular aspect to research. Then describe the current trend related to this issue.  

  • For example, if you had selected the topic technology, you could discuss the trend towards tablet usage by young children.

Discuss how this current trend impacts the functioning and lives of family members. 

  • For example, you might considerthe impact of tablet usage by children on family time, family roles, family values, family behaviour, etc.

For this task, use Canadian statistics and data to support your findings. Cite all of your sources with proper APA style formatting.

When you are finished, consider the following: What did you find interesting? What might you like to learn more about?

Consolidation

You are the Face of Canadian Families

As you have seen in the introductory activity and in the lessons about the evolution of the Canadian family, Canada is diverse and is reinvented with each new generation. Each family and person is unique, and their experiences combine to weave the fabric of Canadian society.

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