ETEC 542
HOA 2: Data on diversity
Cochrane, Alberta: How diverse is it, really?
My investigation
Cochrane, Alberta, is located on Treaty 7 territory and is a short distance from the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It is often considered a suburb of Calgary and is home to around 37, 000 people (Town of Cochrane, 2024). It is “the fastest growing community in Alberta, and the 11th fastest in all of Canada,” (Town of Cochrane, 2024). As of 5 years ago, it also happens to be where I live and teach. I’ve always stereotyped Cochrane as predominantly Caucasian, given its rich history in farming and ranching. From my self-reflections throughout this course, I’ve realized just how often this stereotype has come up. This felt like the perfect opportunity to challenge my thinking and learn more about the community I live in and the students I teach.
The data sources
Having found most of the data through government websites (Town of Cochrane, Government of Alberta, Statistics Canada), the reliability of these sources is considered strong. These are government bodies that Canadians have selected and that many trust to give them accurate data. These bodies are held accountable by their citizens. Wikipedia (n.d.) shares that Statistics Canada “has regularly been considered the best statistical organization in the world.”
The majority of the data used for this assignment was collected in 2021. This is something to note, as likely the numbers have changed in the last four years. 2021 was also in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, where governments were being tested in trying to keep everyone safe. Having come out the other side of the pandemic now (for the most part), it would be very interesting to see how these numbers have changed.
The data used for this assignment were from the census surveys conducted by Statistics Canada. They gather their data through direct survey-taking methods that can include “collection by paper, by telephone, in person, as well as with online and crowdsourcing surveys” (Statistics Canada, 2024).
The data
Before digging into the data, I had decided to research three main areas of diversity: ethnicity, language, and immigration status. These areas were selected as, to me, they felt the most linked to culture as well as diverse needs that students might have in my classroom. Knowing the mother tongue of a student, whether or not they have immigrated from outside of Canada, and how they identify ethnically can help me to better understand them. In turn, this allows me to better support their unique needs.
Below are the findings of my research:
A few additional data points that I found relevant and interesting:
- The most frequently reported ethnic or cultural origins were English with 27.9%, Scottish with 22.4%, Irish with 20.8% and German with 18.3% (Statistics Canada, 2025). This indicates that though Cochrane might seem less diverse (when looking at visible minorities), there is actually a strong presence of other cultures.
- From 2016 to 2021, the immigrant population from the Philippines jumped from 7.1% to 13.7% (Statistics Canada, 2022). Of people who immigrated to Cochrane from outside of Canada, 34.9% of those individuals came from the Philippines (Statistics Canada, 2022). Finally, other than the official languages of Canada (French and English), Tagalog is the most commonly spoken at home in Cochrane (Statistics Canada, 2022). This indicates that our Filipino population is growing and to better support our students, it would be beneficial to learn more about Filipino culture and values.
The reflection
I found this assignment to be really interesting. Though my findings didn’t completely surprise me, they did force me to reflect even further on my concept of culture. It’s evident that Cochrane is made up of many different cultures, and just because those cultures are not always visibly apparent doesn’t mean they are not there. Parrish & Linder-VanBerschot (2010) share from Hofstede & Hofstede (2005) that “culture includes those ways of thinking and behaving that are taught by social groups, including family, friends, community, and work colleagues” (p. 4). From this, I can gather that it isn’t always necessary for members of a culture to come from the same part of the world, speak the same language, or have the same colour of skin.
To see how many folks identify with a cultural origin that isn’t Canadian (89.4%) was very surprising (Statistics Canada, 2025). Though these cultures come from predominantly caucasian countries, it doesn’t take away that they are their own unique cultures that have their own values, experiences, symbols, and signs. And amongst these larger cultures, there are likely a plethora of subcultures that exist amongst Cochrane residents, making it, in fact, a culturally diverse place. With this in mind, I need to move towards a more culturally competent teaching practice. One that includes more opportunities for self-reflection and self-awareness. Though I might visibly appear like many of my students, we likely don’t share the same culture.
Parrish & Linder-CanBerschot (2010) discuss that “ when we teach, we are teaching culture. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes are all manifestations of culture and are not somehow immune to it” (p. 5). As an educator, I am going to inadvertently bring my own culture into my classroom. The rules that I have, the way I go about teaching a lesson, the language I use, my tone of voice, how I dress, my concept of timelines and due dates, among many other things, are all culturally mediated. To move forward with more cultural competence is to move forward with more reflection, more openness and less stereotypes of the folks who live in Cochrane.
References
Government of Alberta (2023, February 28). Cochrane – % visible minority. Retrieved from: https://regionaldashboard.alberta.ca/region/cochrane/percent-visible-minority/#/
Statistics Canada. (2022, August 16). Mother tongue of person. Retrieved from: https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3Var.pl?Function=DEC&Id=34023
Statistics Canada. (2022, December 16). Focus on geography series, 2021 census of population, Cochrane, town. Retrieved from: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/page.cfm?topic=6&lang=E&dguid=2021A00054806019
Statistics Canada. (2024, October 10). Using new and existing data for official statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/our-data/where
Statistics Canada. (2025, April 2). Focus on geography series, 2021 census of population, Cochrane, town. Retrieved from: https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/page.cfm?topic=10&lang=E&dguid=2021A00054806019
Town of Cochrane. (2024, August 26). Cochrane census demonstrates continued strong growth. Retrieved from: https://www.cochrane.ca/news/cochrane-census-demonstrates-continued-strong-growth#:~:text=The%20last%20census%2C%20conducted%20in,fastest%20in%20all%20of%20Canada
Wikipedia. (n.d.) Statistics Canada. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistics_Canada
HOA 1: Culture mapping
The Edmonton Oilers fan club: A subculture like no other
My first experience as an Edmonton Oilers hockey fan occurred at the age of 10 when my brother-in-law took me to my first game. At the time, I knew very little about hockey but was taken with the atmosphere of being in the arena. The following year, the Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup finals but tragically lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in a close game 7. This exciting season was when I became part of the Oilers fan culture. From there, my love for the culture only grew, contributing to my membership and now deep love for this hockey team.
Here is what I’ve learnt to be expected behaviour when attending an Edmonton Oilers home game at Rogers Place:
Step 1: Begin preparations for the game by seeking an Edmonton Oilers jersey. If you are unable to find or purchase a jersey, make sure, at minimum, you’ve got something orange or blue (ideally both) to wear. If you are not wearing Oilers colours or an Oilers jersey, there is risk that others will not see you as a true fan, or, even worse, that you are cheering for the opposing team.
Step 2: Make sure you are early for the game, about 30 minutes before puck drop ideally. You’ve got a few things to get done before the game even starts. Once you’ve arrived at the arena, you’ll need to purchase two beers (one for each hand). Ensure this is done before finding your seats in the arena, as once you have found your seats, it is considered somewhat rude to continuously come and go. If you are not someone who drinks alcoholic beverages, you might want to consider hitting up the concession for either a hot dog or some nachos. Maybe even both. Though you can show up to your seats empty handed, it will make you seem like a noob. And that is not what we’re going for here.
Step 3: Now that you’ve found your seats and you’ve got your libations, you are ready to take in the opening to the game. This will involve cheering as loudly as you can when the Oilers skate onto the ice and booing as loudly as you can when the opposing team does. You will also need to sing your heart out when it comes time for the Canadian national anthem.
Step 4: After puck drop and during game play, you must be actively watching the game. You should contribute to the atmosphere by participating in the arena-wide chants that will happen frequently. It is considered rude to leave your seat unless there is a stop in play or it is the end of a period.
Step 5: When the Oilers score (and they will), you must stand up out of your seat and cheer loudly. It is appropriate at this time to high-five the people around you, even if they are complete strangers. If the people beside you are cheering for the opposing team, you must make them uncomfortable with how much cheering you are doing.
Step 6: If the referee of the game makes a poor call against the Oilers, you will participate in the “ref, you suck” chant. This is a non-negotiable. If you do not participate, other Oilers fans around you might sense you are not a really an Oilers fan.
Step 7: When the whistle buzzer goes at the end of each period, this is the appropriate time to visit the washroom or stock up on libations. Remember, if you have not returned to your seat by the time the next period has started, you need to wait for a stop in play to get back to your seat.
Step 8: You will need to stay in your seat until the final buzzer of the game. No matter what the score, a true fan stays until the end. If the game resulted in a win for the Oilers, you will hear La Bamba played by Los Lobos. Sing. Your. Heart. Out. When walking out, make sure to be extra friendly with your fellow Oilers fans. Perhaps additional high-fives and many smiles as you walk out of the arena. If the game resulted in a loss for the Oilers, make sure to sulk your way out of the arena. If you don’t, other Oilers fans might notice and assume that you did not take the game seriously.
Step 9: Get home safely. If you did decide to enjoy a few alcoholic beverages, it is imperative that you take an Uber or public transportation after the game. Oilers fans go hard, but they are also socially responsible.
The Edmonton Oilers club’s “Brand Book” shares those of loyalty, passion, and respect (Edmonton Oilers, n.d.) These values are evident when reviewing the steps of attending a home game. Oilers fans are described as “the most passionate, and knowledgeable in the sport,” (Edmonton Oilers, n.d., p. 6). Between 2004 and 2016, the Oilers only made the playoffs once (Champs or Chumps, 2025). This never deterred Oiler fan culture, however, displaying the loyalty that the culture is known for. The concept of a “we-identity” from Anthony D. Smith (1991), became more evident during this difficult time for the culture.
The ‘onion’ model of culture from Geert Hofstede (1991) can help to understand Oilers fan culture. The values have been described above, so let’s dive into the above three layers:
Figure 1. The ‘onion’ model of culture (Hofstede, 1991 and others)
- The rituals of Oilers fan culture are strong and can be identified when reviewing the steps of attending a home game. Examples include singing loudly to the national anthem, high-fiving fellow fans after a goal has been scored, and knowing when it is appropriate to come and go from your seat.
- The heroes of Oilers fan culture are most observably the players. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Ryan Smyth, and Connor McDavid are just a few. Oftentimes, the coaches and super-fans (for example, Superfan Magoo), are seen as heroes within the culture as well.
- The symbols of Oilers culture are plenty. Step 1 of attending an Oilers home game is to ensure you are outwardly expressing your membership to the culture through visible colours or a jersey. On top of that, the La Bamba victory song is iconic to present-day Oilers culture, being played after every home win since the 2021-22 season (Lampa & Ekelund, 2025).
- And lastly, the practices of Oilers culture span the above three sections in that they are all present when attending a home game at Rogers Place.
The culture of the Edmonton Oilers fans has brought me a lot of joy throughout the years. I hope everyone has the opportunity to be part of a culture with as much passion as this one.
References:
Champs or Chumps. (2025). Edmonton oilers playoff history. Retrieved from: https://champsorchumps.us/team/nhl/edmonton-oilers
Edmonton Oilers. (n.d.) Edmonton oilers brand book. Retrieved from: https://cloud.edmontonoilers.com/brand-hub/Edmonton-Oilers-Brand-Book.pdf
ETEC 542 Culture and Communication in Virtual Learning Environments. (n.d.) 1.1.5 Culture: Models and metaphors. Module 1 Unit 1: The notion of culture. Retrieved from: https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/164208/pages/1-dot-1-5-culture-models-and-metaphors?module_item_id=7964901