What Canadian individuals can do to stop the Americanization of Canadian identity

Degrassi first aired in the ‘70s and was re-launched in the early 2000s. Since then, it has been on the air for over a decade and has brought forth all kinds of Canadian talent, most notably rapper and songwriter Drake. Unfortunately, the long-running teen drama wrapped up this summer, and we said goodbye to the series that attempted to encapsulate the plight of the modern Canadian teenager.

However, we don’t have to say goodbye for long — Netflix has since announced that it has decided to continue the show. One of the longest-running Canadian productions, one that has allowed many Canadian actors to make their mark, is becoming an American Netflix series.

At first, this may seem relatively insignificant — after all, it is just a teen drama, right? Well, it’s not quite that easy to write off. Degrassi’s transition is indicative of a larger cultural shift happening Canada: a slow Americanization of the Canadian identity and Canadian ‘things,’ like TV programming.

Netflix absorbing Degrassi is just one of the recent examples of how Canada is crumbling under the pressure of American culture. Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan said in 1967 that “Canada is the only country that knows how to live without an identity”; this simply isn’t true, as Canada does have an identity, an identity which is being threatened by creeping Americanization.

Canada is not America, and we should not aspire to be something that we aren’t.

Of course, there has always been an American presence in Canada, but our music, movies, and pop culture influences are increasingly coming from our southern neighbours. And if we don’t find preventative measures to counteract this kind of cultural shift, then Canada’s culture will continue to fade.

Besides an increase in government support for the CRTC and Heritage Canada, the best line of defence in protecting identity starts with us; we need to re-engage with Canadian culture. This could be as simple as the next time you’re picking a leisure read. Seek out a Canadian author, or alternatively, try out one of the new CBC television productions when fall TV programing kicks off. In reminding yourself of the importance of supporting Canadian singers, authors, actors, and artists, and by choosing to engage with them, you will help keep Canadian culture vibrant and alive.

Canada is not America, and we should not aspire to be something that we aren’t. American culture can, at times, be great. After all, it does offer up fantastic movies, music, and celebrity icons, but at the end of the day we are Canadian and it’s in our best interest to properly support and defend our own identity.

Thus, I encourage you all to try something new, be it a local French-Canadian poutinerie, a piece of Aboriginal literature, or a Canadian film. We have a cultural identity and we should do our best to preserve it.