Meet CAP Member Bilal El Houri
30.03.2018
CAP member Bilal received his citizenship only a few weeks ago. We reached out to Bilal after he received hundreds of comments on his Reddit post about the Cultural Access […]
Venue
Toronto City Hall, Toronto, Ontario
Theme
Luminato Festival and National Indigenous History Month
In collaboration with the Luminato Festival, ICC hosted an Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony on June 7, 2023. Luminato Festival is an annual celebration of the arts across all mediums in city spaces.
“We believe that the arts are essential in building stronger, more connected communities and that creativity can inspire and change the world.” – Luminato Festival
This commitment to community matches ICC’s goals in building inclusivity across Canada. With citizenship ceremonies being open to the public, new Canadians can then feel the celebration and support from the community that surrounds them!
Citizenship Judge Hardish Dhaliwal administered the oath of citizenship and celebrated 40 individuals from 18 countries as Canadian citizens during the ceremony.
40
Number of New Citizens
18
Number of Countries
The special guest speaker at this ceremony was ICC’s co-founder, John Ralston Saul. While congratulating the Canadians on their citizenship, he encouraged involvement in community activities. When specifically encouraging involvement in the arts, he said:
“The culture of a country is the basis of the country. Therefore, being interested in the arts in a country is one of the most important ways you can be a part of what Canada is and what it has built itself to be.”
Following the ceremony, we joined Little Amal in Nathan Phillips Square. Little Amal is a 12-foot-tall figure inspired by the story of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. At this time, she is on a tour around the world as a symbol for human rights. Accompanied by musicians and dancers, this celebration of Little Amal also included a speech by the Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson as an honorary grandmother to Little Amal. Alongside so many other influential women from Toronto and abroad who join her in this title, Madame Clarkson shared her advice to younger children.
This is an example of how art can tell stories that bring people together on local, national, and international levels. By participating in similar activities, Canadians from all walks of life will have the opportunity to make their mark.
Photos and More Information
To view photos of the Citizenship Ceremony, click here.
With ICC’s Enhanced Citizenship Ceremonies, established Canadians have the ability to connect with new citizens building stronger community relationships. If you are interested in volunteering as a roundtable host at one of our ceremonies, please contact ceremonies@inclusion.ca.
Thank you to the guests and performers that participated in this event. For more information, click on their profiles below.
Dr. Gerard Roberts & Peta-Gay Roberts
Speakers and Wampum Carriers
Gerard and Peta-Gay are international speakers, ordained with Indigenous Messengers International, and as a family the Roberts are ‘Wampum Carriers’ of the Grand River Six Nations.
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Zophia Patricia Brobio
Policy Analyst
She/Her
Zophia is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines who started calling Toronto her home 12 years ago.
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