The image of the "land" is an ongoing trope in conceptions of
Canada--from the national anthem and the flag to the symbols on
coins--the land and nature remain linked to the Canadian sense of
belonging and to the image of the nation abroad. Linguistic landscapes
reflect the multi-faceted identities and cultural richness of the
nations. Earlier portrayals of the land focused on unspoiled landscape,
depicted in the paintings of the Group of Seven, for example.
Contemporary notions of identity, belonging, and citizenship are
established, contested, and legitimized within sites and institutions of
public culture, heritage, and representation that reflect integration
with the land, transforming landscape into landmarks. The Highway of
Heroes originating at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario and Grosse
Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site in Québec are examples
of landmarks that transform landscape into a built environment that
endeavours to respect the land while using it as a site to commemorate,
celebrate, and promote Canadian identity. Similarly in literature and
the arts, the creation of the built environment and the interaction
among those who share it is a recurrent theme.
This collection includes essays by Canadian and international scholars
whose engagement with the theme stems from their disciplinary
perspectives as well as from their personal and professional
experience--rooted, at least partially, in their own sense of national
identity and in their relationship to Canada.
