Pistes d'exploration

Discuss the term immigration. Examine the cover illustration. What do you notice about the children? What do you think this illustration represents?

Using markers or strings, trace the history of Canadian immigration on a world map from the departure point to the arrival. Label the map with dates of arrival and numbers of immigrants.

Make a list of questions about your own immigration history. Use your family members and the Internet as resources. Share your findings with the class.

Research current immigration trends in Canada. Choose a country of origin. Write a new page for the book based on what you find. Fictionalize an account of immigrating to Canada, synthesizing what you have learned.

As a group, brainstorm what you know about Canadian immigration. From the table of contents, deduce the sections where that information would be found. Discuss your own background.

Using markers or strings, trace the history of Canadian immigration on a world map from the departure point to the arrival. Label the map with dates of arrival and numbers of immigrants.

Look up the New Canadian study guide – Discover Canada – on the Government of Canada website. Could you pass a citizenship test? What might a newcomer need to know on arrival in Canada? On arrival at your school?

Throughout the book there are vignettes about Canadians of varying heritages. Describe a person of your choice using one of the vignettes as a model.

One Green Apple, Train to Somewhere, TheArrival, Grandfather's Journey, Island of Hope and Sorrow: The Story of Grosse Île, On a Canadian Day: Nine Story Voyages Through History

Mots-clés

Non-fiction , Canada , Canadian history , diversity , geography , immigration , multicultural heritage

Commentaire descriptif

This comprehensive resource on Canadian immigration celebrates multiculturalism and the history that makes our country a place where “people of more than 200 cultures live and work … in harmony.” In 24 chapters, this large-format reference book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through time. From Canada’s First Peoples through to the Loyalists; from the Underground Railway to Jewish War Orphans to refugees of the present. Soft realistic paintings depict scenes from history through portraits of individuals and their environments; maps and archival artifacts lend authenticity. The text distills big moments in history through accessible language and sometimes shocking details: “In 1847 alone, some 9,000 immigrants died during the Atlantic crossing.” Personal stories bring the facts to life. Simple, well-chosen aspects of history – the first Viking settlement in Newfoundland, or the Black Loyalists who came to Canada and encountered discrimination – keep the subject matter engaging. Students may well find their own family history here and will enjoy discovering how our country came to be what it is today.