Walls—structures, usually solid, that define and sometimes protect an area—have been built since the beginning of time. The Aurelian Walls were built between 270 and 273 in Rome during the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelian. The 12.5-mile-long wall was intended to defend the city from barbarian attacks. The key word here is “attacks.”

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BCEand the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Again, the wall was built to protect the people from attacks.

Managers also have a protection mechanism that is commonly referred to as a “wall.” Some may say that these walls are longer, higher, and stronger than the walls we build from stone and steel. They also seem to be the most difficult to tear down. The garrison mentality is a common theme in Canadian literature and cinema, in both English Canada and French Canada. In texts with the garrison mentality, characters are always looking outward and building metaphorical walls against the outside world. This mentality is assumed to come from part of the Canadian identity that fears the emptiness of the Canadian landscape and fears the oppression of other nations.

 …