About Drawn To Canada
Image: Drawn to Canada collage, Lynne Rennie
“Canada is the only country in the world that knows how to live without an identity.”
When Marshall McLuhan said this in 1963 on the CBC radio show "Canada: A Borderline Case", he didn't mean it as an insult. He actually viewed Canada's lack of a single, fixed national identity as a strength. Rather than being defined by one origin story, one culture, or one way of seeing the world, Canada has been made stronger by cultural plurality, adaptability, and openness.
If Canadian identity is not contained in a single defining narrative, then I think it makes sense that it reveals itself through the cultural symbols and shared experiences that Canadians recognize from everyday life.
Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by the small details that make Canada feel like Canada: the way we speak, the foods we eat, the products we grew up with, the places we visit, the people we admire, and the stories we tell. Individually, they may seem ordinary. Together, they form a rich and evolving picture of who we are.
Drawn to Canada is a collection of my original illustrations and short essays inspired by the things Canadians recognize, remember, and share, each piece celebrating a small part of the whole Canadian experience. The project began in 2025 as 100-day creative challenge project during grad school at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. It has grown into an ongoing exploration of Canadian identity through art, writing, curiosity, and shared experience.
People are drawn to certain pieces because they're reminded of a childhood memory, a family tradition, a favourite place, or a uniquely Canadian moment. Because so many asked if they could purchase prints of my work, I created this website. Artwork is available as prints, greeting cards, button pins, apparel, bookmarks, and other pieces of Canadiana that people can wear, gift, collect, or display in their homes. Of course, you can always enjoy the entire catalog for free on Instagram or this website.
In June and July, I will be donating 100% of sales to The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland in Calgary Alberta to support the development of the residential school memorial which will be built in Calgary, Alberta.
My hope is that these illustrations spark recognition, conversation, and perhaps a renewed reconnection and appreciation for Canada and the many things we hold in common. Please send me a message if you have a memory to share or a idea to suggest!
To view the entire Drawn to Canada illustrated archive:
On Instagram: @DrawnToCanada
On this website: Drawn to Canada