“Thank you for choosing Canada. Thank you for building your lives and your futures amongst us, and as part of us.”
An excited audience of sixty-four new Canadian citizens along with friends, family, and well-wishers were treated to an unexpected visit from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kelowna’s Stuart Park Wednesday afternoon. The event was a Community Citizenship Ceremony co-hosted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada – one of 75 such special ceremonies held each year across the country. Trudeau greeted the new citizens by first acknowledging the millions of immigrants who came before them: “Immigrants and their descendants have made Canada what it is today.” “Diversity,” he told the audience, “is what makes us strong.”
Many of the day’s new citizens were able to shake hands with the Prime Minster as part of the ceremony. The ICC’s Building Citizenship Director Alykhan Haji had this to say about the Prime Minister’s appearance, “His words of welcome were not only inspiring to the new citizens but also a reminder to all Canadians of the importance of this very special day, one that every Canadian should experience! A citizenship ceremony is truly a special moment.”
ICC community citizenship ceremonies are unique in that they take place in the heart of communities across the country; in welcoming public spaces and places of celebration. Every ICC hosted community citizenship ceremony includes an engaging roundtable discussion where new citizens, friends, family and community members share their stories, and reflect on what it means to be a Canadian citizen. Several new citizens expressed that they felt Canadian and ‘at home’ in their communities long before taking the oath. This feeling of community was emphasized by Prime Minister Trudeau, who spoke about how Canadians value giving back. “We are not defined by our origins,” he said, “but by the values we share. We are defined by our willingness to help a stranger.”
Photos: ICC/ Kailey Barendregt
For more information on partnering with the ICC to host a community citizenship ceremony, email us: ceremonypartnerships@inclusion.ca
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.
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