Chantel

Being able to participate in the Laurier International Cultural Conversations (LICC) with my group members this semester in the HR-261-BR - Multiculturalism course has been an amazing experience for me. It has always been an interest of mine to learn more about multiculturalism. It has also been an interest of mine to inquire more about how we as a multicultural society; specifically, Canadian society, respect and embrace the diversity of multiple cultures to establish an inviting space for everyone.

In my group, we had noticeable diversity amongst us and being able to share each other's experiences and outlooks on life was refreshing to say the least. Although each of us in the group come from diverse cultural upbringings, it was noticed that we had many similarities in our upbringings, personal values, and thoughts. Even when it was noted that some of our values and experiences were not similar, it was taken as a form of curiosity to ask more questions and learn more about what that person had to say and how they experienced or thought about certain situations. Having an experience like this can be a huge revelation for individuals who often relate diverse cultures to being completely different or ‘wrong’ compared to their own cultural beliefs and values. Additionally, coming to the realization that it is okay to have diverse opinions and different experiences throughout our lives can be liberating for many individuals including myself.

It was invigorating to share my experiences; both good and bad, growing up in Canada as a Jamaican Canadian female who identifies with both Canadian and Jamaican culture. Additionally, listening to some of the members from my group share their experiences as newcomers to Canada who also identify with a different culture, helped me to understand that although Canada is known for promoting and embracing diversity, that is not always the case with everyone. We spent a lot of time discussing each other’s experiences and sharing ideas and advice on how to mitigate the difficulties that may come with being new to the country, and even the difficulties faced when simply identifying with more than one culture while living here.

I have learned so much from my group members during our conversations, and I truly hope that by also sharing my thoughts and experiences, I was able to make a positive impact on their experiences as individuals who identify with more than one culture or as being new to experiencing the Canadian culture here in Canada.

Chantel Hendricks, HR 261, Criminology, Brantford