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.

Although Dana Cittadino first came to Canada from the United States back in 1988, she didn’t become a citizen until 2016. “Since coming to Canada my life has changed in wonderful ways,” says Dana. “I believe this is where I was meant to be, living in a culturally diverse country, where everyone is included!”

Now that Dana is a Canadian citizen, she very excited to vote in the Canadian elections. “I hope that by doing so I can make my voice heard and help to shape this wonderful country moving into the future,” Dana says.

Dana uses her Cultural Access Pass often, taking advantage of free entry at different museums and taking up offers for tickets to performing arts events. She also just booked a once-in-lifetime trip across Canada with VIA Rail using her CAP membership discount.

“Cultural places play a large role in building social inclusion by offering many different experiences for the whole population. By demonstrating all aspects of Canadian culture, people learn about and learn to love our differences,” says Dana. “Going to cultural places and spaces makes me feel very welcomed as a Canadian citizen due in part to the representation of all cultures that our museums and art galleries showcase.”

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.

In 2017-2018, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) continues its partnership with the Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program, offering new Canadian citizens the chance to experience the best of Canadian opera for free through their CAP membership. Canada’s largest opera company, the COC, has generously provided CAP with free tickets to select dress rehearsal performances during the 2017-2018 season, giving CAP members a unique opportunity to experience these world-class performances.

During this month alone, 80 tickets were delivered to CAP members for COC productions Arabella and Elixir of Love. More tickets will be delivered throughout the 2017-2018 season to dress rehearsal performances of The Abduction from the Seraglio, Rigoletto, The Nightingale and Other Short Fables, and Anna Bolena. If you are a CAP member, all you need to do is keep an eye on your inbox to hear about the next incredible offer from COC.

“By partnering with the CAP program, the COC welcomes Canada’s newest citizens, builds inclusion and belonging in Canada, and creates meaningful connections between new citizens and the performing arts,” says Yasmine Mohamed, Manager of the ICC’s CAP program. “We’re thrilled with this continued partnership, and the opportunities it offers to our program participants.”

“I am very proud of our partnership with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and how we’ve been able to use a program such as the Cultural Access Pass to make it easier for new Canadians to engage with the COC and experience first-hand the performing arts available to them in Toronto,” says COC General Director Alexander Neef. “Connecting with new voices and perspectives is essential to exploring what our art form can mean in the 21st century, and the Cultural Access Pass plays a vital role in engaging a new generation of opera-goers and showing them what the COC has to offer.”

The Canadian Opera Company is a proud supporter of CAP and a generous partner of the ICC. You can learn more about them on their website at coc.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.

Nayaelah came to Canada with her family at the young age of thirteen. She says that as she grew up in Canada and integrated into Canadian society, she came to appreciate the country more and more. Nayaelah received her citizenship in 2014, completing her process in truly becoming a Canadian.

Nayaelah used her CAP card to visit local museums, but because she was working and going to school, she was unable to use it to travel that year. However, she since has been able to travel and has visited several museums, national parks and galleries. “I enjoy visiting cultural places as the diversity makes me feel welcome,” says Nayaelah, “I love learning from people of different cultural backgrounds.” She also encourages current CAP members to get out and use their CAP card during their first year of citizenship. “It’s a great way for new Canadians to explore the beauty of Canada,” says Nayaelah. “Canada has so much to offer, [and] it has really interesting people to learn from. With the Cultural Access Pass, Canadians can access those spaces and learn more about the country they live in.”

For Nayaelah, being an active citizen means giving back through volunteering and being active in one’s community. She has volunteered extensively, including tutoring youth, coaching children’s badminton, helping at fundraisers for different causes and spending time with seniors at a long-term care centre.

Now, at the age of only twenty-two, her main focus is running the non-profit organization that she started herself. Her organization, Empowerem, is a safe space initiative focused on providing marginalized, often racialized, newcomer Muslim female youth with programming that promotes social wellbeing, mental and physical health, and overall empowerment

“I am active in my community and love to help everyone – including people from other cultures – who share different practices and values from me,” says Nayaelah, “I think the best way to be Canadian is to give back to Canada in whatever way is possible for you.”

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.

In Charlottetown, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and Parks Canada celebrated 39 new citizens, as they proudly joined the Canadian family at Ardgowan National Historic Site. ICC community citizenship ceremonies take place in the hearts of communities across the country, in welcoming public spaces, with a strong commitment to inclusion – such as national parks and historic sites.

Parks Canada is committed to connecting new citizens to Canada’s history and nature by co-hosting ICC community citizenship ceremonies from coast-to-coast and by partnering with the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass program to provide new citizens free access to participating Parks Canada sites. Karen Jans (Field Unit Superintendent for Prince Edward Island National Park) recognizes the importance of new citizens connecting with Canada’s culture, “Parks Canada was thrilled to host a citizenship ceremony at Ardgowan National Historic Site and recognizes the important contributions of new citizens to the ever evolving fabric of our country. We encourage all new Canadian citizens to connect with Canada’s history and nature by participating in the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Cultural Access Pass Program and visiting Parks Canada sites across the country.”

For 39 of Canada’s newest citizens, it was a day of excitement, smiles, and tears of joy. New citizens were encouraged to continue exploring cultural sites and register with the Cultural Access Pass. Yasmine Mohamed, Manager of the Cultural Access Pass programs strongly believes that new citizens embracing our shared heritage are able to build connections to Canada and fellow Canadians, “Canada’s national parks and historic sites are important, meaningful places for all Canadians. Through the ICC’s partnership with Parks Canada, every new Canadian citizen has the incredible opportunity to connect with history and nature through the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass (CAP), with free admission to all Parks Canada locations across the country. Through CAP, Parks Canada builds inclusion for new citizens, and connects them to Canada’s shared heritage and identity.”

Photos: ICC/Nancy Thomas
For more photos, please click here.

For more information on partnering with the ICC to host a community citizenship ceremony, email us: ceremonypartnerships@inclusion.ca

Lynn Lau is originally from Malaysia, although she spent ten years studying and working in the United States before coming to Canada in 2008. She says that when considering where she would like to live, she “placed high importance on personal freedoms, mutual respect, and social/civil rights.” She chose Canada, and Lynn became a Canadian citizen in January of this year.

“This past summer, to celebrate my becoming a citizen, a couple of friends and I embarked on a road trip along the East Coast leading up to Canada Day. We took advantage of Canada 150 to visit many of PEI and Nova Scotia’s popular attractions, historic sites, and national parks for free. Not only were places like the Green Gables Heritage Place and the Fortress of Louisbourg exceptional and memorable, but the people there were lovely as well. One place I [used] my Cultural Access Pass was at Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse in Nova Scotia. The historical Acadian village was beautiful, atmospheric, and a great step back in time.”

Lynn believes that choosing where one becomes a citizen is a serious decision: “Most people don’t make that choice lightly. It says a lot that they see something special in Canada that makes them want to create a new life here.” However, once becoming a Canadian citizen, Lynn doesn’t think that being an active citizen requires grand gestures. “It’s the simple things such as taking pride in what you do, and seeing each other as being a part of one big community, sharing something in common while still valuing the differences in our varied histories and heritages.”

View the CAP September Newsletter where this article appears.

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.

After living apart from her husband for more than five years, Bernadette Osabel-Alamer came from the Philippines to Canada on August 21^st, 2009. Her goal was to build a new life together with her husband in Canada.

As part of building that new life, Bernadette became a Canadian citizen on October 30^th, 2013. She said that although the process of becoming a citizen has its ups and down, it is an achievement that she is proud of. She truly believes that being a Canadian citizen is a privilege, and that each new citizen should take care of this privilege and “live a good life.”

After becoming a Canadian citizen, Bernadette got her CAP card and started exploring not only local communities in Mississauga and Brampton, but also the city of Toronto and more. One of her favourite things to do is “nature-tripping”; Bernadette and her husband enjoy visiting green spaces like parks in her area, national parks and Niagara Falls. Her and her husband also took advantage of her free admission to the Royal Ontario Museum and brought along guests who had traveled all the way from the Philippines.

Although her CAP card has now expired, Bernadette and her husband continue to explore Canada. They recently visited Ottawa to explore more parks and museums, and their goal is to travel to all the famous landmarks in Canada such as Banff National Park in Alberta and Granville Island in British Columbia, as well as the East Coast.

In regards to what being a Canadian citizen means to her personally, Bernadette said, “Being a Canadian [means] I am home.”

View the CAP August Newsletter where this article first appeared.

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.

This year, hundreds of new Canadian citizens will once again experience The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth! thanks to a generous gift from the Calgary Stampede. This year’s special offer gives 500 Cultural Access Pass (CAP) members a pair of free gate passes to the ten-day celebration of western heritage, culture, and community spirit.
CAP members and their guests will experience the thrilling action of the rodeo, the thunder of the GMC Rangeland Derby, exciting midway rides, nightly fireworks, and live music.

“Calgary Stampede is an important Canadian cultural event,” said Yasmine Mohamed, Manager of the ICC’s Cultural Access Pass. “We’re thrilled that the Stampede continues to welcome new Canadian citizens and create opportunities for them to celebrate with their friends and community.”

“We are pleased to continue to support the Cultural Access Pass program and welcome new Canadians to Stampede,” said Larry Lalonde, group manager, Community Engagement & Communications. “We want everyone to be able to participate in our community celebration.” Calgary Stampede runs from July 7-16, 2017. For more information visit www.calgarystampede.com.

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.