How do I change the background (canvas) so it shows up with the traditional checkerboard pattern denoting the fact that it is transparent? It's quite confusing that the default canvas is displayed as white, when in fact it is transparent. Thanks for your help!

Unfortunately there's no setting to do that, even though it's been requested before. The default Inkscape background is transparent but it's shown as white.

You can work around it by creating the pattern yourself in the bottom layer, then lock it and work in layers above it. Hide the pattern layer when you need to export something.

That's a nice workaround! Thanks!