In what might at first appear to be an exercise in repetition there is yet another national identity competition underway across the country. This time it is the Globe and Mail asking the question "who is the greatest Canadian nation-builder" and while it is unlikely to generate the same degree of attention as CBC's "The Greatest Canadian" extravaganza it does provide an interesting point for reflection.

What does "nation-builder" even mean? Judging from some of the nominations already posted on-line it would seem that people are interpreting the term rather loosely. Hockey commentators, local volunteers and prime ministers are among those nominated to date. While such people are important members of our society perhaps it takes away from the significance of the concept of nation-builder to include anyone who has ever done a good deed or is merely well- recognized across the country.

As years of debate regarding the status of Quebec and the Quebecois people within Canada have shown us, the use of the term "nation" itself is fraught with political and emotional implications. Perhaps it is even hard to say that there is a Canadian nation, given that we are a country made up of so many different ethnic and language groups. (A point for a different discussion at a different time perhaps!). But leaving that debate aside, and following the first principle that we are a nation, where does that leave us? If, as the dictionaries claim, a nation is large body of people, associated with a particular territory, that is sufficiently conscious of its unity to seek or to possess a government peculiarly its own then a nation-builder must be someone who endorses and encourages the existence of that nation. Being a nation-builder is more than being a good citizen and more than being someone who draws attention to Canada on an international stage. It is about working to promote and protect the unity of Canada. It is about believing in and embodying the values of our country, and working to advance these on a daily basis.

So who are some of the nominees to date and are they worthy of this honour?

Don Cherry- he is certainly a well-recognized and much adored citizen of the country but does he or the work he does really make the country stronger?

Stephen Harper- hardly! Tearing apart Kyoto, protecting the rich, and promoting political foolishness with his constant calls for non-confidence votes. He appears to be vying for the title America's greatest nation builder.

The bystander who took the video footage of Robert Dziekanski as he lay dying from a Taser attack at Vancouver airport. There is no debate that this citizen was brave to push for the public release of a video that it seemed the RCMP was trying to bury. But did his actions help build up our country? Apart from a view into the last moments of the life of a new Canadian citizen, moments which should have been private, his actions did not help our country. The sounds and images of a man dying were broadcast on television and radio stations across the country: but has this made our nation stronger? Perhaps it made us more desensitized, perhaps more outraged at RCMP decisions, but definitely not stronger.

It is the regular, average Joe (or perhaps average Gord) Canadians who are the greatest nation-builders. Sounds corny but it's the truth. The Canadians who work every day, take care of others, and fight for the services that they feel are owed to all citizens. The new Canadians build up our nation literally, by swelling our ranks, working hard and paying taxes. Canada gains more strength from committed citizens working at the ground level on local projects, than from extravagant government projects or flashy public relation campaigns. Showing up every day, standing up for your country, believing that despite our problems and our differences we can work together to make this a better place. This is what nation-building is all about.