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Toronto Newcomer Day is an annual event that celebrates the diverse communities in Toronto. Held each May since 2015, everyone is welcome to participate in the festivities that provide helpful information to newcomers, as well as, celebrating their contributions to the city. There is no better day to hold an Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony than alongside this event at Toronto City Hall. On May 25, 2023, ICC hosted this ceremony with cultural performers and special guest speakers to make this day extraordinary for the new citizens.

Citizenship Judge Hardish Dhaliwal administered the oath of citizenship and celebrated 37 individuals from 11 countries as Canadian citizens.

As many newcomers know, moving to a new place and adjusting to a new way of life is a very difficult process. While each journey is unique, ICC’s signature roundtable discussions hope to bring citizens and their guests together through conversation. This provides a platform to share their stories and continue to build a social network with other individuals who understand them. Toronto Newcomer Day shares this goal and, on the day, created an exciting environment for these discussions to take place inside Toronto City Hall. Afterwards, the citizenship ceremony moved into Nathan Phillips Square amidst the Toronto Newcomer Day festivities.

Toronto Newcomer Day is an excellent opportunity for everyone in Toronto to experience all the inclusivity found within the city. Whether you arrived in Canada yesterday or have spent your whole life here, this event has something for you. Community organizations, settlement agencies, and local businesses took part in the Newcomer Marketplace and information fair. Here, newcomers on every step of their journey can find support from kind and compassionate community members.

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.

To view photos of the Citizenship Ceremony, click here.

Thank you to the guests and performers that participated in this event. For more information, click on their profiles below.