This is Citizenship Week in Canada, which is being marked by events across our great nation. This week gives us all a chance to “reflect on the value of citizenship, what it means to be Canadian, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship” according to the federal government’s website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/celebrate/citweek.asp).

The idea of citizenship – what it means, who it includes, what the responsibilities and rights of citizens are and how we express our citizenship – is a major theme at this year’s Roadmap: 2030 event (www.roadmap2030.com). In fact, the question of citizenship is the underlying question of the entire initiative. What does it mean to be Canadian? What does active citizenship mean and demand of us? How can we ensure that all Canadians are included and involved and able to express their citizenship?

Our first panel session of the event is called, appropriately, “Diversity, Citizenship & Canada” and features Uzma Shakir (City of Toronto), Hamlin Grange (DiversiPro), John Monahan (Mosaic Institute), Karen Campbell (Assembly of First Nations), Phil Triadafilopoulos (U of T) and Gillian Hewitt Smith (Institute for Canadian Citizenship). Together, they will dive into how we define (redefine?) citizenship for a diverse Canada.

I’m really looking forward to this session, because it will get us to think about things we don’t often consider: why citizenship is important and how we can broaden our definition to include diverse communities and perspectives. These are questions that we must consider, especially in light of the changes we face in our population. If we don’t know what citizenship means and how it is evolving, how can we ensure that present and future Canadians act as active citizens, in ways that build cohesion in our society and enable us to meet the changing needs and priorities  of our population?

Canada faces some big challenges. Only committed, active citizens will meet and overcome them.

Note: “Diversity, Citizenship & Canada” takes place at 9:40am on October 25th at Roadmap: 2030. www.roadmap2030.com