June 27, 2025, TORONTO — On the occasion of Canadian Multiculturalism Day, a time to honour the many cultural communities that help build a strong, vibrant Canadian society, the Zoryan Institute is excited to release a special episode of its podcast, Dispersion titled “Friendship as Citizenship: Redefining the Ethics of Canadian Multiculturalism.” This episode offers listeners a first glimpse into the upcoming fourth season of the podcast, which will explore the meaning, tensions, and lived realities of multiculturalism in Canada.
In anticipation of ZI’s forthcoming special issue of Diaspora: A Journal of Transnational Studies, the episode features a compelling conversation between Dispersion host Jen Haddow and Dr. Rajesh C. Shukla, guest editor of the journal issue and Associate Professor at the School of Ethics and Public Affairs at Saint Paul University.
Dr. Shukla, whose work lies at the intersection of migration, public ethics, and political philosophy, reflects on his journey from India to Canada and the evolving nature of belonging. Speaking from both personal and academic experience, he touches on how belonging for incoming migrants often involves navigating between multiple identities and cultural worlds.
A key theme that emerged during the conversation is the philosophical and social significance of friendship. Drawing from his scholarly work, Dr. Shukla asserts that friendship is not only central to civic life but also deeply embedded in diasporic experiences. Migrating to a new country often means forming new relationships, building community, and cultivating solidarity. In this discussion, he shares a future vision of Canadian multiculturalism that prioritizes the fostering of friendship and collective empathy within our broader society.
On defining multiculturalism in Canada moving forward:
“It will require a new thinking, a new way of approaching each other. And that approach is, again, for me at least, something that is infused with sympathy and kindness, not as sort of buzzwords, but more in the sense of the way of living one’s life.” (Prof. Shukla, Dispersion S4, Special Episode)
The conversation also offers early insight into the editorial direction of the upcoming Diaspora journal issue, which will feature interdisciplinary research on how immigrant diasporas are reshaping multiculturalism in Canada. Season 4 of Dispersion will continue in this thematic direction, unpacking the evolving meanings of identity, community, and multiculturalism through conversations with scholars and community leaders from across Canada.
Listen to the special episode now on all major streaming platforms (Acast, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music). Be sure to subscribe and share the podcast to join a wider conversation about who we are, where we come from, and what it means to belong.
