Culture can be defined as the behaviors and beliefs characteristics of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. Each country has its own special lifestyle. Canada's in particular can be considered unique because Canada is a cultural mosaic, allowing elements of many cultures to be integrated into one. Canadian culture has many influences because the many people who immigrate here are encouraged to maintain their own culture. These immigrants also teach the people they meet when they move here their way of life. Canada has a culture made up of many because of all the immigration and openness to culture the country has. At different times throughout history, people have immigrated here and left their mark on Canada. One of the first times the culture is evident in Canada, the culture is mixed. Before Canada was even a country in its own right, it was starting to develop its own identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay There were many European colonies, English and French were dominant. Since the natives were already here, they taught the European settlers their traditions and how to survive in Canada. In exchange, the colonists shared their way of life with the natives. Each group learned from the other and passed down their blended cultures to new generations. In 1840, the Great Famine in Ireland left many without money or food. About 300,000 immigrants arrived, settling mostly along the East Coast. Irish culture is present, as you can hear it in the voices of many people who live there. Currently, the Asian population has increased. This is evident in the changes in the food we eat. Recently, ethnic food has become more popular as more and more immigrants arrive and share their cultures, more and more Canadians accept it. Politics has a great influence on Canadian culture. When Canada became a separate country with Canadian culture, the identity separated from the United Kingdom. Although the British colonies still existed, people were free to begin developing their own identities. The Canadian government's policy has been predominantly peacekeeping. In the 1960s the United States began to become more violent and Canada remained peaceful, people looked to Canada as a place to get away from violence (“Canada in the 19th”, 2009). Canada is known worldwide for being a peaceful country and is recognized for its peacekeeping efforts in war zones. “Canada is one of the few nations that the United Nations can turn to on a regular basis for expert peacekeeping advice and practitioners.” (“Canada & Peacekeeping,” 1999) The word peacekeeping was invented by Canada's fourteenth Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson during the 1956 Suez crisis, for which he was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Canada's geography greatly influences our culture. Canada is located north of the United States and occupies most of North America. It is the second largest country in the world. Canadians are proud of this fact. First and foremost, the climate affects what we wear. In most of northern Canada, thick coats and parkas are a necessity, along with gloves and thick hats, or toques, in Canadian slang in the warmer, southern parts of Canada we must prepare for both cold and warm weather. Additionally, Canada's physical geography allows for diverse industries to be part of our culture. In the Maritime provinces, the fishing industry has influenced society's way of life..