Canadian society is a multicultural one. Approximately two-fifths of the Canadian population has an origin other than British, French or First Nations.
Since they are the dominant language groups, the official languages of Canada are French and English. Even so, there are many other languages spoken in Canada.
In recognizing multiculturalism, the federal government has developed multiculturalism policies, formalized in The Multiculturalism Act to, among other things “promote the understanding and creativity that arise from the interaction between individuals and communities of different origins.”
While Canada’s pro-active approach to multiculturalism is not without controversy, it has been cited by a United Nations agency as a model for other countries.