Canada Past and Present: A Citizenship Education Guide

ACTIVITY 19: ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP This activity uses the Active Citizenship Worksheet, available on the Education Portal. What are some ways that you can participate in Canada’s democracy? In Canada, civic engagement is more than just voting. There are many ways people living in Canada can take part in the democratic process. This is called being an active citizen and it is an important part of Canada’s democracy. It is important to know that people who are not citizens have some of the same responsibilities as citizens. For example, people living in Canada who are not citizens can take important steps to help protect Canada’s natural environment. 1. Some responsibilities of Canadian citizenship, such as paying taxes and filling out the census, are tasks that must be completed in a certain way. Others, like protecting the environment, can be done in many ways. What can you do to fulfill those responsibilities of citizenship? Use the Active Citizenship Worksheet to write down your ideas. You can consult the plain-language summary on Active Citizenship on The Canadian Encyclopedia for ideas. 2. If you are completing this activity in a classroom, discuss the meaning of active citizenship in a small group or class discussion. What does it mean to be an active citizen? What are some responsibilities of being a citizen in Canada? Next, work in pairs to complete th e Active Citizenship Worksheet . 3. You can become a more active citizen by having a positive impact on your community and Canada. Write a list of 5 to 10 things you can do to be more active in your community and in Canada. If you are completing this activity in a classroom, discuss as a class how someone can be a more active citizen. 10. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP Getting involved in elections Did you know that you don’t have to be a citizen to get involved in an election? Elections Canada hires more than 300,000 people to work at polling stations and election offices across Canada on election day. Permanent residents who are not yet citizens can work in many of these positions. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about Canada’s electoral system. You may also be able to work in provincial, territorial, or municipal elections. Canada’s democracy depends on citizen participation! To find out more, visit the Elections Canada website. Restorative Justice For over 40 years, restorative justice has been a part of Canada’s criminal justice system. Restorative justice can take many forms. For example, some Indigenous communities in Canada will hold a sentencing circle, where the court, victim, and offender, along with family and community, meet and discuss how to bring healing and understanding to all involved. Canadians file taxes every year (Dreamstime/ Osa855/113770462). Festival goers hold the rainbow pride flag during the Pride Parade in Toronto in 2014 (Dreamstime/Oceanfishing/42520050). Jury duty is a responsibility of Canadian citizenship (Dreamstime/ Photographerlondon/29662886). 16