CBC’s Marivel Taruc, host of Our Toronto, attended a community citizenship hosted by The Institute for Canadian Citizenship in partnership with the Luminato Festival in Toronto. This special partnership brings together community and culture to celebrate new Canadian citizens. Marivel spoke during the ceremony, and shared her own personal story of immigrating to Canada from the Philippines 37 years ago. Overall, it was a joyous day of celebrating all that we most value as Canadians, with incredible performances, moving speeches, and a strong sense of community. Steve Paikin (from TVO’s The Agenda) who presided over the ceremony, and put it simply, “We have 29 new Canadian citizens now. Brilliant!”

Click here to read more about the ICC and Luminato’s community citizenship ceremony.

The Institute for Canadian’s Citizenship’s Alykhan Haji (Director, Building Citizenship) sat down with the hosts of CTV’s The Social to discuss the importance of celebrating new Canadian citizens and highlighting some of the beautiful moments witnessed at ICC community citizenship ceremonies across the country. The Social’s Digital Correspondent Jessica Allen also joined the ICC at Nathan Phillips Square to take part in the Newcomer Day celebrations in Toronto.