2010 World Cup Archives | Research & Innovation

Professor Seth Feldman: World Cup flags show Canada's openness to multiculturalism

fmaquito — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:00:00 +0000

The walls of the Sat Gupta's flag store were once stocked with Canadian paraphernalia, but today, the Canadiana sits in boxes, reported . Instead, precedence is being given to the flags of 32 nations competing in the World Cup:

Spotting the unexpected countries is what Seth Feldman, director of 91��ɫ’s Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies and a film professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Fine Arts, loves most about the World Cup in Canada. “You don't expect to see as many Argentine flags as you do, or flags from the African countries, or Chilean flags, for that matter,” he said. “I always like that kind of mix that comes out of this.”

In Canada's large urban centres, Feldman said, there is more of an openness to accept multiculturalism than there is in other western nations, such as the United States. “You don't feel like you're betraying Canada by cheering for Italy or Argentina or Germany.”

There's also a simple reason for the lack of Canadian flags flapping around now, Feldman said. “It's just something about Canada not qualifying for the World Cup,” he said. “If Canada ever did, you'd see an awful lot of Canadian flags out.”

The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies promotes and supports interdisciplinary and discipline specific research pertinent to the study of Canada. Over the years the Centre has expanded to encompass a theme of "Canada in the World."

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Video: Professor Pablo Idahosa talks World Cup football on The Agenda

fmaquito — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Professor Pablo Idahosa, director of the African Studies Program at 91��ɫ, was a guest on June 11 to discuss the World Cup's global impact and importance beyond the stadium's walls.

The segment runs 28 minutes.

Pablo Idahosa is a social science professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

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Professor Pablo Idahosa: Canadian World Cup fans shift allegiances as tournament unfolds

fmaquito — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:00:00 +0000

The quadrennial World Cup that kicks off Friday may be the planet's biggest excuse for a party, and Canadians will be joining in with gusto, wrote The Canadian Press June 10 in a story picked up by the Guelph Mercury, TheSpec.com and the Times & Transcript (Moncton):

With its ethnic diversity and soccer-crazy immigrants, cities such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver become unique places to experience a month-long spectacle that dwarfs the Olympics.

“Canada is a wonderful place to watch the game, partly because people shift allegiances as they go along,” said Pablo Idahosa, a social science professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. “People, once their team is out there's that disappointment, but then they can go on to cheer for another team.”

The complete story is available on .

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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