Canadian American

A Canadian American is someone who was born or someone who grew up in Canada then moved to the United States. The term is particularly apt when applied or self-applied to people with strong ties to Canada, such as those who have lived a significant portion of their lives in, or were educated in, Canada, and then relocated to the United States. To others, especially for those living in New England or the Mid-Western States, a Canadian American is one whose ancestors came from Canada.

The term Canadian refers to some as nationality, and to others as ethnicity. English-speaking Canadian immigrants easily integrate and assimilate into American culture and society as a result of the cultural similarities and in the vocabulary and accent in spoken English.^[1] French-speaking Canadians, because of language, culture, and religion, tend to take longer to assimilate. However, by the 3rd generation, the assimilation is complete, and the Canadian identity is more or less folklore. This took place, even though half of the population of the Quebec province immigrated to the US between 1840 and 1930. ^[2] Many New England cities formed Little Canadas, but much of this has gradually disappeared. A revival of the Canadian identity has taken place in the mid-western states, where Canadian Americans are older than 7–8 generations. These states had been part of Canada up until 1763, and part of Quebec up until 1783. A return to their roots seems to be taking place, with a greater interest in all things that are Canadian. ^[3]

This cultural "invisibility" within the larger U.S. population is seen as creating stronger affinity amongst Canadians living in the U.S. than might otherwise exist. ^[4] According to Canadian estimates the number of Americans of Canadian origin may be between 20 to 30 million, about 9% of the total US population. ^[5]

The number of Americans migrating annually into Canada is 3.5 times smaller than vice versa, a sobering statistic considering the population of Canada is 10 times smaller than that of the U.S. Canadians who travel to the U.S. to escape their colder winter are known as "snowbirds". They sometimes have residences in the Southern half of the U.S. (e.g. Florida, the Carolinas, Southern Texas, Southern California, and Arizona).^[6]

Notable Americans of Canadian heritage

• Pierre Chouteau, Jr. Fur trader ^[7]
• Walt Disney Animator, director, and film producer ^[8]
• Will Durant Historian and philosopher ^[9]
• Rene Gagnon US marine heroe ^[10]
• Robert Goulet Singer and actor ^[11]
• Phil Hendrie Radio personality and comedian ^[12]
• Jack Kerouac Poet and writer ^[13]
• Grace Metalious Author ^[14]
• Paul LePage Governor of Maine ^[15]
• Rudy Vallée Saxophone player ^[16]
• Mark Wahlberg Actor ^[17]

Notable Canadians who obtained American citizenship

• Paul Anka Singer-songwriter and actor^[18]
• James Cameron Film director
• Jim Carrey Comedian and actor^[19]
• Marie Dressler Actress^[20]
• Michael J. Fox Actor, producer, activist ^[21]
• Frank Gehry Architect ^[22]
• Phil Hartman actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist ^[23]
• Louis B. Mayer Film producer ^[24]
• Alanis Morissette Singer-songwriter ^[25]
• Chris Irvine Professional Wrestler Known as Chris Jericho and Lead-Singer of Fozzy^[26]
• Santa J. Ono Medical researcher, university executive.
• Mary Pickford Actress and film executive ^[27]
• Charles Revson Cosmetics pioneer, founder of Revlon ^[28]
• Mack Sennett Film director ^[29]
• Joe Shuster Comic book artist, co-creator of Superman ^[30]
• Jack Warner Film executive ^[31]
• Mario Lemieux Retired National Hockey League(NHL)player
• Brett Hull Retired National Hockey League(NHL) player

American cities founded or named after Canadians

• Biloxi, founded by Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville
• Bourbonnais named after François Bourbonnais
• Dubuque, named after Julien Dubuque
• Juneau, named after Joe Juneau
• Milwaukee, founded by Solomon Juneau
• Mobile, founded by Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville
• New Orleans, founded by Lemoyne de Bienville
• Ontario, founded by George Chaffey
• Saint Louis, founded by René Auguste Chouteau
• Saint Paul, first settled by Pierre Parrant
• Vincennes founded by François-Marie Bissot

Aboriginal Canadian Americans

As a consequence of Article 3 of Jay Treaty of 1794, official First Nations status, or in the US Native American status, also confers the right to live and work on either side of the border.^[32] But many of Canada's First Nations people identify with Canadians more so than Americans. ^[33]

Study

There are some institutions in the United States that focus on Canadian-American studies such as the Canadian-American Center at the University of Maine ^[34], the Center for Canadian American studies at Western Washington University^[35], and the SUNY University at Buffalo Canadian-American Studies Committee ^[36]

See also

• Canadians of American origin American-Canadians
• Canada – United States relations
• Franco-Americans
• French Canadian
• Hyphenated American
• Little Canadas
• Quebec diaspora

References

Further reading

• Hamilton, Janice (2006). Canadians in America. Lerner. ISBN 0822526816. http://books.google.ca/books?id=riDNycgbK7wC&lpg=PA54&dq=Famous%20Canadians&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=true. 
• Jeffrey Simpson (2000) Star-Spangled Canadians: Canadians Living the American Dream. HarperCollins ISBN 0002557673

External links

• Connect2Canada.com