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Planned for the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia by the Toronto businessman Tony Trigiani, the 24-metre Mother Canada monument was intended to serve the dual purpose of honouring the country’s war dead and boosting the area’s largely seasonal fishing economy. However, its opponents saw it as a violation of protected public lands, a troubling appeal to ‘one-dimensional nationalism’, and an eyesore. Engaging and evenhanded, Craig Jackson’s short documentary shifts between the varying perspectives of the planned monument’s defenders and its detractors, capturing the vexing nature of public discourse. Beginning as a film about a local dispute, Mother Canada becomes a gripping tale of media sensationalism, contrasting notions of patriotism, jingoistic local politics and the purpose of public lands.
Director: Craig Jackson
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Art
‘If you’re creative, why can’t you create a solution?’ One artist’s imaginative activism
17 minutes
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The ancient world
An ancient Roman’s hilarious (and perhaps relatable) response to a social snub
2 minutes
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Ethics
For Iris Murdoch, selfishness is a fault that can be solved by reframing the world
6 minutes
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Death
A hunter’s lyrical reflection on the humbling business of being mortal
6 minutes
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Love and friendship
After his son’s terrorist attack, Azdyne seeks healing – and his granddaughter
25 minutes
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Art
More than breathtaking, ‘The Birth of Venus’ signalled an aesthetic revolution
19 minutes
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Values and beliefs
A Zen Buddhist priest voices the deep matters he usually ponders in silence
5 minutes
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Rituals and celebrations
Meet the entrepreneur whose business is crafting perfect peak experiences
12 minutes
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Human rights and justice
A reporter orphaned by night raids in Afghanistan investigates their cruel legacy
17 minutes