B. People and Environments: Canada's Interactions with the Global Community · Canada's Interactions with the Global CommunityPeace, Human Rights and Refugees
B3.1 B3.2 B1.1 B3About 45 minutes
Learning goals- I can describe Canada's involvement in peacekeeping and in alliances.
- I can explain how Canada takes part in protecting human rights around the world.
- I can explain the difference between a refugee and an immigrant.
- I can describe how Canada and Canadians help refugees, and the impact of this help.
Words to know
peacekeeping
When soldiers, police and others from many countries, usually under the UN, help keep peace after a conflict, often by standing between the sides and watching that agreements are kept.
conflict
A serious disagreement or fight, sometimes a war.
human rights
Rights that every person has, just because they are human, such as life, safety, freedom and education.
refugee
A person forced to flee their own country because of war or because they would be harmed for who they are or what they believe.
immigrant
A person who chooses to move to a new country to live there permanently.
private sponsorship
A Canadian program in which groups of people, such as neighbours, faith groups or community groups, help a refugee family settle in Canada.
A new student in class
A new student joins your class in February. She has never seen snow before! She speaks Arabic and is learning English. Her family had to leave their home because of war. A group from a local church, mosque or community centre helped them find an apartment and winter coats.
This student and her family are refugees. Their story connects your classroom to the wider world.
Keeping the peace
In 1956, a crisis broke out around the Suez Canal in Egypt, and there was a danger of a wider war. Lester B. Pearson, then Canada's foreign minister (and later prime minister), proposed a United Nations Emergency Force: troops from different countries who would stand between the sides to keep the peace. For this idea, Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.
Since then, many thousands of Canadians have served in UN peacekeeping missions around the world. Canada honours them with:
- the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa, called Reconciliation, unveiled in 1992;
- National Peacekeepers' Day on August 9 each year.
Canada also belongs to NATO, a defence alliance, and its armed forces sometimes work with allies to protect member countries.
Standing up for human rights
Remember: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) lists rights every person has, and a Canadian, John Peters Humphrey, wrote its first draft. Canada also works for human rights by:
- signing accords such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- speaking up at the UN when people's rights are abused;
- using sanctions against governments that commit serious abuses;
- supporting groups that protect children, women and minorities.
Refugees and Canada
A refugee has to flee. An immigrant chooses to move. Both can become Canadian citizens.
At the end of 2023, the UN Refugee Agency counted more than 100 million people around the world who had been forced to leave their homes because of war, violence or persecution (UNHCR, 2024). Most of them stay in their own country or a neighbouring country. Only a small share are ever resettled in a faraway country like Canada.
Canada takes part in the UN's 1951 Refugee Convention, which says refugees must not be sent back to danger.
Private sponsorship. Since 1979, Canadians have been able to sponsor refugees: a group of people promises to help a refugee family for their first year with housing, money, school and getting settled. In 1979 and 1980, Canada resettled about 60,000 refugees from Southeast Asia, many through private sponsors. In 1986, the UN gave its Nansen Refugee Award to "the people of Canada" for helping refugees.
Impact goes both ways
Helping refugees saves lives and gives families a safe new start. Refugees also contribute to Canada as workers, business owners, students, neighbours and citizens. Many Canadian families have a refugee story in their history.
Worked exampleLet's decide: refugee or immigrant?
Decide for each person: (a) Aisha's family flees a war and cannot go home safely. (b) Marco moves from Italy to Toronto for a new job he wanted. (c) Tran's family escaped by boat after being threatened because of their beliefs.
- (a) Aisha's family was forced to flee because of war, so they are refugees.
- (b) Marco chose to move for a job, so he is an immigrant.
- (c) Tran's family fled because they would be harmed for their beliefs, so they are refugees.
(a) refugee, (b) immigrant, (c) refugee. The key question: Did they have to flee to be safe, or did they choose to move?
Hands-on activityWelcome kit for a newcomer
Imagine a refugee family your age is arriving in your community in January. With a grown-up, design a welcome kit on paper.
- List 5 items they might need for a Canadian winter (for example: warm coat, boots, mittens, toque, bus map).
- Make a simple picture dictionary of 8 useful words, such as hello, thank you, washroom, library, bus, snow, help, friend. Draw a small picture for each.
- List 3 places in your community that could help them (for example: the library, a newcomer settlement agency, the school).
- Write one welcome message.
What to look for: items fit the season, the dictionary uses pictures so it works in any language, and the places are real community services.
Your turn
When soldiers, police and others from many countries, usually under the UN, help keep peace after a conflict, for example by standing between the sides.
2Who proposed the first big UN peacekeeping force, and what did he win?
Lester B. Pearson, in 1956; he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.
3What is the difference between a refugee and an immigrant?
A refugee is forced to flee to be safe. An immigrant chooses to move.
4What is private sponsorship?
A Canadian program where groups of people help a refugee family settle in Canada, usually for their first year.
5What award did "the people of Canada" receive in 1986, and why?
The UN's Nansen Refugee Award, for helping refugees.
6Give two ways Canada works for human rights around the world.
Any two: signing human rights accords; speaking up at the UN; sanctions on governments that abuse rights; supporting groups that protect children, women and minorities.
More practice: warm-up
1When is National Peacekeepers' Day?
2Where is the Peacekeeping Monument?
It is a defence alliance: members promise to help defend each other.
4In what year was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?
5Can refugees become Canadian citizens?
More practice: on your own
1Why do you think most refugees stay in their own country or a neighbouring country?
It is closer, travel is hard and costly, they may hope to return home soon, and few faraway countries offer resettlement places.
2What does the 1951 Refugee Convention say countries must not do?
Countries must not send refugees back to a place where they would be in danger.
3How did private sponsorship help in 1979 and 1980?
Ordinary Canadian groups helped resettle many of the about 60,000 refugees from Southeast Asia that Canada took in, giving them housing, support and help getting settled.
4Describe one impact of Canada's refugee help on refugees and one on Canada.
On refugees: safety and a new start for families. On Canada: new workers, business owners, students and citizens who contribute to communities.
5Why might peacekeepers come from many different countries instead of just one?
So they are seen as fair (not taking sides), and so the cost and risk are shared.
Challenge
1Explain why Canada's peacekeeping history is considered an important part of how Canada interacts with the world.
It shows Canada working through the UN to prevent wider wars and protect people, which built Canada's reputation as a country that supports peace and cooperation. Pearson's Nobel Prize and the many Canadians who served are part of that story.
2A neighbour says, "Why should Canada help refugees from far away?" Give a respectful, informed answer with two reasons.
Any two, explained: refugees have human rights and need safety; Canada agreed to the 1951 Refugee Convention; refugees contribute to Canada; helping is part of being a responsible global citizen; most refugees are hosted by poorer neighbouring countries, so sharing the responsibility is fair. (Look for a calm, respectful tone.)
3How are peace, human rights and refugees connected?
When peace breaks down (war) or human rights are abused, people may have to flee, becoming refugees. Working for peace and human rights helps prevent people from being forced out of their homes, and helping refugees protects their rights once they have fled.
Quiz
1. Lester B. Pearson won the Nobel Peace Prize for...
2. A refugee is a person who...
3. What is private sponsorship?
4. In 1986, the UN's Nansen Refugee Award went to...
5. National Peacekeepers' Day is on...
6. Which is a way Canada works for human rights around the world?
Big idea: Canada interacts with the world through peacekeeping and alliances, by working for human rights, and by welcoming refugees, including through its private sponsorship program. These actions affect people in other regions and enrich Canada.
How to help at home:
- If your family or friends have an immigration or refugee story, share it if you are comfortable.
- Make the welcome kit together and, if possible, visit your library's newcomer resources.
- Some children in your child's class may be refugees. Encourage kindness and curiosity, and avoid asking classmates to share painful stories.
Common difficulties:
- Mixing up refugees and immigrants. The key is choice: refugees had to flee to be safe.
- Talk of war can be upsetting. Keep the focus on peace-builders and helpers, and reassure your child that they are safe.