Rajendra Goorye and his family came to Canada in November of 2012. He was in search of not only a better life and a higher standard of living, but also the chance for his young family to access strong education. One of his first goals when settling into Canada was to find a good school for his three young children. He became a citizen in February of 2017.

Now that he is a Canadian citizen, Rajendra is looking forward to traveling. His Canadian passport has opened up doors for him, allowing him to visit the United States, and he soon wants to visit the East and West coasts of Canada. During his spare time, Rajendra likes to garden, watch movies and go for long drives just to discover new places.

Rajendra used his Cultural Access Pass often with his family; he visited museums, parks and more in both Ottawa and Toronto, including Algonquin Park. He says that he always brought along his children and they enjoyed all the activities. In particular, they love visiting the Ontario Science Centre. “[CAP is] very beneficial, helpful and worth it! I have a family of 5 and if I had to pay to visit all these places…” he says. “To be honest it would not always be possible, so thanks a lot [to the Cultural Access Pass].”

A key part of active citizenship, Rajendra believes, is embracing the culture of others and showing respect to every person, and cultural spaces play a key role in building that inclusion. “By going to cultural places I get to know Canada better, learn more about its history and feel part of the community. [Cultural places allow] people to learn more and increase their knowledge,” he says, “and then they are able to transfer this into their daily lives in their neighbourhood, at school or at work.  We get to meet and connect with other people. We are all part of the same community, we all work [here] and we should be happy to live in a multicultural country.”

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

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

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

*The AGG is offering a free AGG family membership to valid CAP members – please visit the gallery for more information.

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

Stoyan Nikolov came to Canada in November of 2012 with the goal of finding a better life. He wanted to find a good job and settle into Canadian life as quickly and smoothly as possible. Stoyan achieved his goals and became a Canadian citizen in June of 2017. “It feels good to be part of a great country,” he says.

Stoyan enjoys being involved in his community, including volunteering for City of Toronto special events. When he isn’t volunteering, Stoyan is outdoors enjoying hiking, biking or playing football in the green spaces of the city.

As a current Cultural Access Pass member, Stoyan is taking advantage of his CAP card and the opportunities it offers. He has attended multiple concerts through the CAP program, including a dress rehearsal performance of Rigoletto by the Canadian Opera Company. He enjoys going to cultural events like these because he can “share the Canadian culture with other people.” He also believes that cultural places play an important role in building inclusion as “they bring various facets of the society to new Canadians.”

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

Lorena Chinprahat become a Canadian citizen in July of 2017 after moving from the Philippines four years earlier with her family. “We have a young family, and we want to raise our children in one of the best places in the world. That is why we choose Canada,” explains Lorena. “When we first came here, our goals were to integrate and adapt to the Canadian culture, build a career, and explore this beautiful country. Coming to Canada is one of the best decisions we have ever made. This country freed us from cultural bondages and shown us vast opportunities to grow and develop personally and professionally. As a family, we became stronger and happier than ever.”

“With our Cultural Access Pass, we have visited almost all museums and national parks here in Alberta,” says Lorena. “Our daughters’ favorites are the dinosaur parks and discovery trail hikes. Going to cultural places […] made us feel welcomed as Canadian citizens. We were able to learn and discover how Canadian culture evolved and developed over time, and get to know the people who served as pillars of this beautiful country. Our experience in the Cultural Access Pass [program] validates what Helen Keller has said, that ‘life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.’ Cultural places present new Canadians the opportunity to know this country better and for them to easily adapt and integrate into the society.”

Although Lorena’s Cultural Access Pass has since expired, she plans to continue to explore Canada with her family. “In the next few years, we are looking forward to take on an exciting adventure to explore Canada more by visiting attractions in each and every province and territories,” says Lorena.

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.

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

Arts Commons is continuing its partnership with the Cultural Access Pass (CAP) to bring amazing music, theatre, dance and more to CAP members in Calgary for their 2017-2018 season.

Arts Commons engages and inspires community through the power of art in many forms, including musical performances, theatre, dance, art exhibits and more. Working with the CAP program since 2012, Arts Commons has been a vital partner in providing new Canadian citizens with access to amazing performing arts experiences.

The 2017-2018 line-up of offers for CAP members from Arts Commons will not disappoint —already more than 50 tickets have been delivered to CAP members to see Ramsey Lewis A Night of Chicago Jazz, featuring the legendary jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis as well as vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway. CAP members in Calgary can expect more offers for other performing arts events over the next few months, including tickets to see CHE MALAMBO, an all-male Argentinian dance company; Lila Downs, a Mexican-American musical performer; and Stacey Kent, a bossa nova jazz musician with a sound all her own.

”Arts Commons has been a visionary partner for the CAP program, offering our participants a range of diverse experience in the world of performing arts since 2012,” says Yasmine Mohamed, Director of the Cultural Access Pass program. “We’re thrilled to continue partnering with Arts Commons to welcome new citizens through arts and culture.”

”The Cultural Access Pass program is a significant and meaningful partnership for Arts Commons,” says Johann Zietsman, President and CEO of Arts Commons. “Anytime we have the opportunity to welcome guests into our home is special, and when we are welcoming new Canadians into Arts Commons, we hope we make them feel at home, like our Arts Commons is their Arts Commons, like our Calgary is their Calgary, and they belong here.”

Arts Commons is a proud supporter of CAP and a generous partner of the ICC. You can learn more about them on their website at artscommons.ca

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. The program depends entirely on a network of dedicated partners and supporters. For more information, visit culturalaccesspass.ca.

Photo: Will Young/Arts Commons

My name is Kristina Pandilovska and I came to Canada 9 years ago, in November of 2008. I came from Macedonia, a very small but beautiful country located in the Eastern Europe. My journey wasn’t always smooth and easy but I could certainly say that I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I was brought here along side my brother by my fathers initiative and effort, who was already living and working in Toronto. When I first arrived, I was 18 years old and my brother was 13. I remember being amazed by the size of the highways, buildings and shopping centers, but overall I disliked everything about this new place. I had left all my life in Macedonia, including my mother. I was feeling lost and it just didn’t feel like home to me yet. I was visiting back home [in Macedonia] every summer and I would stay there for up to 4-5 months, and when I came back, it was another beginning again.

I want to raise awareness for all the people and children that are going through the same thing [that I went through]. Growing up in a foreign country without one of your primary caregivers or family can be a very challenging experience, especially through such a tremendous transition.

So my process of becoming a citizen was prolonged every year.  It took me a long time actually. But, everyone grows at their own pace; we are all different and that is one of the things I started to cherish the most here [in Canada] – the diversity and unity of the people and cultures.

I finally earned the right to officially become a Canadian citizen in May, 2016. I can’t believe how lucky I am to live, study, work and grow in a fast developing country full of potential and opportunities. My goals and responsibilities have now changed and become bigger because I learned to dream big.

My brother, Filip, and I spent a great time bonding, using our Cultural Access Passes to visit places such as the Royal Ontario Museum. I can now say that I am in love with Toronto. I like to visit galleries, museums and take night-time strolls downtown and look at all the lights. I actually volunteered in a movie about the celebration of new Canadians [in Toronto].

I am a proud dual citizen of the world and I am happy Canada is my home now where I feel safe, supported, inspired and abundant in any way of my life. My advice to new Canadians is to never give up. It might feel overwhelming at the beginning, but don’t time yourself. Your dreams are worth the patience and the faith, and this country can provide you with the tools to go and get your life in your own hands.

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.

“Getting a Cultural Access Pass the day I became a Canadian citizen was truly amazing for me and my family. It provided us with an opportunity to explore sights and artifacts that are integral to Canadian culture. Going to museums was very enriching for us, as a family. We came from Haiti where we didn’t even have opportunities to go to museums, so we are deeply grateful to the Institute for Canadian Citizenship!” — Christef Desir; Actor at Soulpepper Theatre Company.

The Cultural Access Pass is a free program created by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship that provides new Canadian citizens with free admission to more than 1,400 of Canada’s premier cultural attractions. By partnering with hundreds of cultural organizations, the CAP program delivers amazing cultural experiences to new citizens during their first year of citizenship, giving new Canadians more knowledge about Canada and making them feel welcomed in their new home.

Christef Desir is one of more than the 238,000 past participants of this program. He is an actor originally from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, and is currently part of the Soulpepper Academy. He’s appeared in productions such as It’s a Wonderful Life (Soulpepper, 2016), Edmund (Storefront Theatres) and The Last Days of Judas Iscarot (Unit 102), as well as the film and television products Ransom (CBS) and Wasteland (Short). He currently resides in Toronto, ON.

About CAP: Learn more about 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.

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