Short Fiction in Theory & Practice ISSN 2043-0701 | online ISSN 2043-071X 2 issues per volume | First published 2011
Special issue: ‘Uniquely Canadian Cultural Narratives’, guest edited by Zsuzsanna Lénárt-Muszka (University of Debrecen)
In 1972, seventeen-year-old Heather Scott submitted a memorable entry – ‘As Canadian as possible under the circumstances’ – to radio host Peter Gzowski’s contest seeking the perfect Canadian aphorism. But even before this iconic phrase, the question of what it means to be Canadian had been debated for generations. From garrison mentality and biculturalism to multiculturalism, Canada has frequently relied on such notions to define its identity, while simultaneously attempting to erase First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and downplaying the contributions of various other minority groups. Today, amid increasing global migration, calls for reconciliation, bids to recognize and celebrate diverse communities, and official measures such as Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy (2024 2028), the question of what – if anything – constitutes ‘Canadianness’ is still open.
The international, peer-reviewed journal, Short Fiction in Theory and Practice (Intellect Books) is inviting original submissions for a special issue to be published in 2026 that seeks to explore how short fiction reflects on historical and contemporary notions of ‘Canadianness’. We invite proposals for scholarly papers.
