This analysis probes the evolution of Canadian multiculturalism within the national political constellation which in turn is influenced by global geopolitical trends. Rather than narrowly focusing on how and what is being taught under the rubric multiculturalism, falsely taking curricula or vacuous educational manifestos at face value, we describe the political background of Canadian multiculturalism. We contrast the pronouncements of the Canadian state with the sociological facts on the ground and we compare the Canadian situation with similar discourses and divergent developments in Europe, after locating each in their historical context. Canadian multiculturalism so far can be considered a largely unrecognized success story, not because of shrewd government intervention to integrate immigrants, but because the Canadian structural diversity made recognition of divergent identities the most feasible option to avoid conflict.