Understanding different views is an essential skill for personal growth, creative innovation, fostering empathy, critical thinking and building community. It also promotes diversity, inclusion and tolerance, which are vital to creating a more harmonious society. This activity aims to help you reflect on your personal journey and understand why people have different views within your community and across the country. By the end of this activity, you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate empathy and understanding towards people who hold different views
  • Understand the impact of diverse views on communities
  • Analyze the relationship between your community and the larger society

Your community, in this case, can be your town, city or region.

Part One: Your Community

Goals:

  • Identify the community you live in and describe how it’s unique from other parts of the country
  • Research the history and geography of your community and analyze how that’s shaped your community’s economics
  • Interview family members, friends and people from your community about their views on the future of work

Answer the following:

  1. What community do you live in? How is your community unique from other parts of the country?
  2. How does your community inform your views on work? What are the major industries and businesses in your community? What factors have helped build and grow your economy in your community?
  3. Interview several of your family members and/or community members. What do they do for a living? Why did they choose that career? Would they choose a different career if they could? What are their thoughts on the economy and the future of work?
  4. Look at a map of Canada and find communities that share the same economic base and outlook as your own. What makes them similar? Find a community with a completely different economic outlook and economic base. Where are these communities located? Why are they different?
  5. Look at polls from across the country and again find communities that are similar to yours (culturally, economically, geographically, etc). Why do you think they share similar view on politics and economics? Now find communities that are different. Why do they view economic and political issues differently?
  6. What traditional territory do you call home? What is the historical relationship between Canada and the Indigenous nations that first resided here? Is there a treaty? What is your local land acknowledgement?
  7. Look at a map of your community. What ecozone are you in? What species exist in your area? How much original natural land remains? What species are at risk in your area? Do you have any parks near your community? How does your community connect to nature? Is nature relevant in your community?

Part Two: Your Views

  1. Gather with your classmates and discuss the similarities and differences in the career paths you are considering. Why are they similar? Why are they different?
  2. Research the popular career choices in different parts of the country. How are they similar? How are they different?
  3. As a class, discuss your findings and why it’s important to understand and respect different career paths. Should you be more open-minded to career opportunities in different parts of the country?