Our neighbors to the north, Canada, have managed to stay in one piece, but just barely. Quebecers voted Monday on whether their province should secede from the rest of the nation. The results were extremely close, 50.6 percent against succession, 49.6 percent for it.

The turnout, following a passionate campaign from both sides, was exceptionally large — 92 percent of nearly 5 million registered voters.

Regardless of the vote’s outcome, Canada remains a nation in peril. “Success,” in any context, remains an awkward term when used to describe the referendum.

Quebec is without a doubt, very distinct from the rest of the country. But the province feels that its cultural diversity isn’t being properly recognized by Canadian government. This is a sentiment that simply won’t go away with the storage of ballot boxes.

The fact that a non-francophone speaking minority helped upend the desires of a Quebecois majority serves a reminder that politico-cultural strife definitely exists. For that matter, also shows it will persist unless the problems of cultural recognition are seriously addressed.

Canada may only be stretching its social fabric, but it may burst its seams yet. Some mending is required even now.

The United States would be wise to note the effects of ignoring cultural heritage, especially in terms of what to a large extent divides Canada — the designation of an official language.