To find attractions in your area, head to Cultural Access Pass Directory and search your city.

Ali Sayedi first came to Canada from Iran for a seminar in 2003. After spending two weeks here, he quickly found Canada to be the “country of opportunities” and decided to stay to continue his career.

In February of this year, Ali became a Canadian citizen and picked up his Cultural Access Pass shortly afterwards. His interests include exploring different cultures, and also hiking. As a result, he mostly uses his CAP card to visit national parks and take in musical events. He also plans on using his one-time-use 50% off VIA Rail coupon over the summer to explore more of Canada.

“Canada is a beautiful country and has friendly people; I like it,” says Ali. Of CAP, he says that the pass it helps keep him informed about arts and culture events happening in his community. “I am getting familiar with new culture and places. [Cultural spaces] provide an environment for more communication and studying.”

When we asked what is the most important thing all Canadians should know about new Canadian citizens is, Aly said:  “They are Canadian but just came later!”

About CAP: For nearly 10 years, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) has delivered the Cultural Access Pass (CAP), an innovative, best-in-class program that gives new citizens access to Canadian culture. It’s time to shift CAP to the digital age. Support the ICC.

Be featured in our newsletter: Tag CAP and use the hashtag #CAPCanada in your social media posts for your chance to be the next CAP member or alumni featured, or send an email to cap@inclusion.ca

‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’ begins on July 6 with the start of the Calgary Stampede, and CAP members are once again invited to the annual 10-day celebration of culture, heritage, and community spirit.

For the seventh year in a row, the Calgary Stampede is partnering with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) to provide 500 free admission passes to members of the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program.

“We are proud to be a partner of the CAP program. As a community organization, the Stampede is always looking for ways to connect with new Calgarians and share our western hospitality and welcome them to The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!,” says Kathryn Jenkins, manager, organizational communications & community engagement at the Calgary Stampede.

New Canadian citizens who sign-up for CAP membership enjoy free admission to more than 1,400 arts and culture sites across the country. The only program of its kind in the world, CAP connects new Canadian citizens and their families to their communities, builds a heightened sense of inclusion and belonging, and encourages active participation in Canadian arts and culture.

“The Cultural Access Pass is a unique way for new Canadian citizens to become both active participants in and contributors to arts and culture in Canada,” says Yasmine Mohamed, Director, Cultural Access Pass. “By opening their gates to our country’s newest citizens, the Stampede is continuing a longstanding tradition of making everyone feel welcome, included, and involved.”

The 2018 Calgary Stampede is happening from July 6 – 15.

For more information about the Calgary Stampede, visit www.calgarystampede.com.

For more information about the Cultural Access Pass, visit culturalaccesspass.ca

To find attractions in your area, head to Cultural Access Pass Directory and search your city.

Yolanda Theophilus immigrated to Canada in 2012 from The Bahamas, and she became a Canadian citizen in September of 2017. Still in her first year of citizenship, Yolanda is actively using her Cultural Access Pass to visit cultural attractions and is taking advantage of CAP performing arts offers in the Toronto area.

“I chose Canada because I studied at Acadia University in 2005 and was impressed with what it had to offer, including its values and culture,” says Yolanda, “When I first arrived, my goals were to settle into Toronto, make this country my home, and eventually become a Canadian citizen. Professionally, I aspired to obtain a position in my accounting profession… My plans also included meeting a diverse set of people, integrating well into the Canadian culture, and becoming actively involved in the community.

“I have gained positive experiences since coming to Canada such as, obtaining professional experiences and meeting amazing people from around the world and all walks of life. I cherish the great memories of fun-filled activities and Canadian adventures. I now feel even more strongly a part of the community and now Canada is my home.”

Yolanda received in citizenship in 2017 and is still actively pursuing her professional and personal goals. “In my first few years as a Canadian citizen, my desire is to obtain a stable career, settle into a nice home, and travel to more Canadian provinces,” says Yolanda. “I look forward to a happy and healthy Canadian lifestyle. I’m also excited about having a family someday. One of my goals is to grow my business advisory practice, under my incorporated company, Ultimate Consulting Inc.”

She enjoys traveling, attending cultural events, and writing – she even wrote a book in 2017.

“I am enthusiastic about attending the arts, culture, festivities, and multicultural events,” says Yolanda, “My Cultural Access Pass has allowed me to attend an opera, a play, and an orchestra. I visited most tourist attractions in Toronto, hiked and went on a Rocky Mountain bus tour in Vancouver, visited Montreal and more.

“It is important for newcomers [and new citizens] to be a part of the cultural life that makes them share in the Canadian experience of the past and its origins. Overall, I feel that shared experiences, connecting with a diverse set of people, and exposure to interesting places has a profound positive impact on my openness and relationships with others.

“The journey to success is a recipe of a cup of efforts and resources, a spoonful of goals in a bowl of valuable experiences stirred with passion and baked over time. It’s important to feel connected and integrated into a new community and the Cultural Access Pass has given me some of these valuable experiences and further infused my passion and motivated me to pursue my goals.”

About CAP: For nearly 10 years, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) has delivered the Cultural Access Pass (CAP), an innovative, best-in-class program that gives new citizens access to Canadian culture. It’s time to shift CAP to the digital age. Support the ICC.

Be featured in our newsletter: Tag CAP and use the hashtag #CAPCanada in your social media posts for your chance to be the next CAP member or alumni featured, or send an email to cap@inclusion.ca

Parks Canada national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas help tell the stories of who we are as Canadians and constitute some of Canada’s most treasured cultural, historic, and natural places.

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) began working with Parks Canada in 2012 to offer new Canadian citizens free admission to all Parks Canada sites across the country through the Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program. The CAP program provides new Canadian citizens in their first year of citizenship free admission to more than 1400 cultural spaces across the country, including museums, art galleries, science centres, and parks. Since 2012, there have been more than 30 000 visits to Parks Canada places through CAP.

Today in Ottawa, the Hon. Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the renewal of the partnership between the ICC and Parks Canada, which will result in free admission for new Canadian citizens through the CAP program.

“In Canada, we are fortunate to have natural and cultural landscapes as diverse as the citizens that call it home. Following the largest-ever consultation on Parks Canada, one of my goals is to encourage more Canadians—particularly new Canadians—to experience the outdoors and learn about our environment and history,” said Minister McKenna at a special Canada Day citizenship ceremony at Rideau Canal National Historic Site’s Hartwells Lockstation. “That’s why I am proud that we are offering free admission for new Canadians to Parks Canada places as a way to celebrate and discover Canada’s history and natural wonder.”

Earlier this year, Parks Canada also introduced free admission for youth 17 and under.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Parks Canada to encourage new citizens to make lifelong connections to national parks and historic sites through our Cultural Access Pass,” said Charlie Foran, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. “Now, as Canadian citizens, these spectacular places across the country are both their right and their responsibility.”

Learn more about Parks Canada at parkscanada.ca. For more information on the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass, visit culturalaccesspass.ca.

To find attractions in your area, head to Cultural Access Pass Directory and search your city.

ICC launches partnership with TD Bank as Presenting Sponsor of the Cultural Access Pass

On April 23^rd, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) welcomed TD Bank as the Presenting Sponsor of its Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program with a celebratory roundtable conversation on arts, culture, and inclusion at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts in Toronto.

The ICC’s co-chairs, the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul, were joined at the event by Kelvin Tran, Senior Vice President and Chief Auditor at TD Bank, who made the announcement.

“TD wants to help open doors to an inclusive tomorrow where everyone feels connected to their community. This is exactly what the Cultural Access Pass does,” said Tran.

With TD’s sponsorship of $1.7 million over 3 years, the ICC will enhance and expand the CAP program over the coming year.

“Over the past decade, 265 000 Canadians have benefitted from the Cultural Access Pass in their first year of citizenship,” said Yasmine Mohamed, Director, Cultural Access Pass, who spoke at the event. “They’ve told us that the program has let them celebrate their Canadian citizenship; that it has helped them take ownership of and contribute to Canadian culture; and that it has made them feel more included in their communities and, as a result, inspired them to become more active citizens.”

“We couldn’t be happier to be partnering with TD Bank, which has a long track record of championing diversity and inclusion through the arts,” said Charlie Foran, the ICC’s CEO.

Guests at the event included key Cultural Access Pass partners, including representatives from the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the Canadian Opera Company; ICC partners and donors; and TD Bank and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship representatives. Many of the guests were also current and former members of the CAP program, including TD staff members Shabbir Patanwala, Ahmed Khan and Jonathan Almanza.

The event was hosted in partnership with the Canadian Opera Company (COC) at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The COC is a valued partner in the CAP program, and generously provides CAP members with free admission to dress rehearsal performances.

The only program of its kind in the world, the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass gives new Canadian citizens the chance to explore, travel, and discover Canada during their first year of citizenship. For more information, visit culturalaccesspass.ca.

To find attractions in your area, head to Cultural Access Pass Directory and search your city.