People in Transition: Reflections on Becoming Canadian

Carol A. Stos is an assistant professor of Spanish Studies at Laurentian
University.

People in Transition vibrates with the energy, experiences, and voices
of 29 extraordinary Canadians. All began their lives in another place,
in another culture, often speaking neither French nor English, some in
countries beset by war, political dissension, poverty, or apartheid,
others in comfortable and promising circumstances. Some deliberately
chose to immigrate to Canada, others arrived simply by chance or because
of friends or family. Each one has had to deal with the strangeness of
making a new life. For most, Canada has been a land of opportunity,
where they feel and know they are an integral part of their community.
For a few, the process has not been as smooth, the welcome not as
generous, or their sense of self and community has remained more
fragile.

The stories of these Canadians would be compelling for the subject
matter alone, but Trudy Mitic has written these essays in a way that
lets each participant’s own voice do much of the telling. She begins
each essay with a brief sketch of the participant’s current situation,
which is fleshed out in the biography that follows. The second part of
each essay begins with a quotation, taken from the transcript of the
interview or from another referenced source. In this section, each
participant speaks directly to the readers in his or her own voice. We
are treated to reflections on the immigrant experience as individualized
in the speakers’ own life stories and to their perceptions of Canada
and their fellow Canadians. These reflections are a revelation. We see
Canada from multiple and diverse perspectives, and realize that
multiculturalism is much more than an official policy: it is the result
of individual journeys that span continents and generations, and enrich
the essence of our Canadian society. People in Transition offers a
valuable and personal exploration of how we become Canadian.