Is there diversity in the Canadian military? (cities, population)

[Fred Derf]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

And what, pray tell, does this have to do with the OP (diversity in the CAF)?

Only that if we establish that Canada (or at least Canadian cities) has as much or more diversity than the United States this will lead to an understanding of how diverse our armed forces are.

I already stated that one of the most obvious differences between the general population and the military is that there is roughly double the number of aboriginals that you would otherwise expect based on population alone.

Other examples of diversity would be women driving tanks and taking on full combat roles and the inclusion of homosexuals.

Remember, that Canadians are usually more quick to announce what we are not rather than what we are. We define our culture by how we are different from the United States. Call it an inferiority complex if you like.

[Cart24]

Originally Posted by Cornerguy1

And what, pray tell, does this have to do with the OP (diversity in the CAF)?

I agree with Fred and believe it is at least somewhat relevant to the discussion. The armed forces should be a reflection of the society that we live in, and there was a misconception that the CAF would be homogeneous because the population is not diverse.

Obviously we got a "little" off topic for a while there with the comparisons, but that was to simply clear up another misconception about the US as well.

Now back to the Topic.

[jungeon]

USA is far more diverse than Canada, it is a debate I have with several immigrants in toronto all the time. Since Toronto and the surrounding area is largely immigrant. However most of these immigrants come from a certain place. Like there are a bit of Jamaicans and Haitians in quebec, but few people from Cuba, Dominican, PR and so on. Sure there are some somalians, but USA would have more different groups. Canada has about 9 cities that have non white majorities mostly located around toronto and vancouver and mostly subruban. There is not 1 major city with a black, hispanic, arabic, or any kind of non white majority that is not indian or chinese. USA has cities that have lots of indians and chinese on the west coast. For this reason I consider USA diverse. Hispanics are practically the majority or soon will be as 50% of kids born are hispanic. 1/4 of america is practically hispanic majority in the south west where as the south east is basically black and the rest diverse except the west is stll largely white. Canada outside of 3 cities is virtuallly all white with specks of natives.

No city like Miami exist in Canada where whites are 12% of the population

[Cart24]

Originally Posted by jungeon

USA is far more diverse than Canada, it is a debate I have with several immigrants in toronto all the time. Since Toronto and the surrounding area is largely immigrant. However most of these immigrants come from a certain place. Like there are a bit of Jamaicans and Haitians in quebec, but few people from Cuba, Dominican, PR and so on. Sure there are some somalians, but USA would have more different groups. Canada has about 9 cities that have non white majorities mostly located around toronto and vancouver and mostly subruban. There is not 1 major city with a black, hispanic, arabic, or any kind of non white majority that is not indian or chinese. USA has cities that have lots of indians and chinese on the west coast. For this reason I consider USA diverse. Hispanics are practically the majority or soon will be as 50% of kids born are hispanic. 1/4 of america is practically hispanic majority in the south west where as the south east is basically black and the rest diverse except the west is stll largely white. Canada outside of 3 cities is virtuallly all white with specks of natives.

No city like Miami exist in Canada where whites are 12% of the population

Bang on! It is tough to get that through to most people from Toronto and I should know....I'm from there.

What alot of people in Canada do not understand as well is that Hispanic or Latin people come from many different countries as well and should not be labeled as one large group. That would be like grouping together Trini's and Jamaicans; Pakistani's and Indians; Cameroonians and Chadians, etc, etc.....It would be wrong.

P.S: I found it ironic that a certain poster mentioned Jamaicans as well, since I am Jamaican living in "The States" and the past two Secretaries of State before Clinton were of Jamaican decent as well. Talk about living under a rock.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by ThroatGuzzler

Indian, Pakistani, any Sub Saharan African group, Arab, Filipino, Vietnamese, Jamaican, Tamil.

I know people have responded but I still can't believe you wrote this.

Canada's self-righteous multiculturalism myth exposes itself in broad daylight.

To listen to some people, you'd think Canada is the only diverse country in the world.

[west_end_don]

Another Canadian platitude shattered by the dastardly Mattncind!

Can't we ban him from the Canada forum?
He just likes to come here to burst our bubble!

I think what we just witnessed a few post back was the stereotypical Canadian inferiority complex lashing out at the stereotypical ignorant American (post #3).

It then digressed into "we have more Tamils then you", followed by "we have more Left-Handed Scottish Lesbians then you (per capita)!". Wow!

The US and Canada are both ethnically and racial diverse countries. So are many other countries in the world.
Different groups might be represented in greater and lesser numbers on either side of the border. Big deal.

As for the Canadian armed forces, my perception is that it has a much lower profile within Canadian society than the various branches of the US armed forces. Many immigrants to Canada tend to over look it as a career path. I've never heard of people joining to gain citizenship as they do in the US either.

I don't know if the regimental system (i.e. drawing personnel from specific areas, as in Royal Winnipeg Rifles) affects the overall diversity. I did recently see pictures of a Toronto based reserve regiment on exercise and they showed a number of Asians serving.

Good on them and everybody else in uniform.

[Cart24]

Originally Posted by west_end_don

Another Canadian platitude shattered by the dastardly Mattncind!

Can't we ban him from the Canada forum?
He just likes to come here to burst our bubble!

I think what we just witnessed a few post back was the stereotypical Canadian inferiority complex lashing out at the stereotypical ignorant American (post #3).

It then digressed into "we have more Tamils then you", followed by "we have more Left-Handed Scottish Lesbians then you (per capita)!". Wow!

The US and Canada are both ethnically and racial diverse countries. So are many other countries in the world.
Different groups might be represented in greater and lesser numbers on either side of the border. Big deal.

As for the Canadian armed forces, my perception is that it has a much lower profile within Canadian society than the various branches of the US armed forces. Many immigrants to Canada tend to over look it as a career path. I've never heard of people joining to gain citizenship as they do in the US either.

I don't know if the regimental system (i.e. drawing personnel from specific areas, as in Royal Winnipeg Rifles) affects the overall diversity. I did recently see pictures of a Toronto based reserve regiment on exercise and they showed a number of Asians serving.

Good on them and everybody else in uniform.

Hey I am the stepbrother that comes back home, talks a little trash then leaves..but at the end of the day we are all still family right?

As usual though your post is on point and I agree with your comments about the military.

P.S: You cant ban me, my passport hasnt lapsed quite yet.

[west_end_don]

Originally Posted by mattncind

Hey I am the stepbrother that comes back home, talks a little trash then leaves..but at the end of the day we are all still family right?

As usual though your post is on point and I agree with your comments about the military.

P.S: You cant ban me, my passport hasnt lapsed quite yet.

You were the neglected stepbrother we kept locked in the basement!
Then you escaped and your life's mission is to expose all our dirty laundry!

In all seriousness, we like having you around Matt, otherwise we just harp on and on about how great we are to each other!

[SpartacusTheSpartan]

Originally Posted by jungeon

USA is far more diverse than Canada, it is a debate I have with several immigrants in toronto all the time. Since Toronto and the surrounding area is largely immigrant. However most of these immigrants come from a certain place. Like there are a bit of Jamaicans and Haitians in quebec, but few people from Cuba, Dominican, PR and so on. Sure there are some somalians, but USA would have more different groups. Canada has about 9 cities that have non white majorities mostly located around toronto and vancouver and mostly subruban. There is not 1 major city with a black, hispanic, arabic, or any kind of non white majority that is not indian or chinese. USA has cities that have lots of indians and chinese on the west coast. For this reason I consider USA diverse. Hispanics are practically the majority or soon will be as 50% of kids born are hispanic. 1/4 of america is practically hispanic majority in the south west where as the south east is basically black and the rest diverse except the west is stll largely white. Canada outside of 3 cities is virtuallly all white with specks of natives.

No city like Miami exist in Canada where whites are 12% of the population

Vancouver = 10% white.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SpartacusTheSpartan

Vancouver = 10% white.

WHAT?!?!?!?