WATCH ABOVE: Twenty-nine new citizens celebrated a special Canada Day with their families at Global Calgary’s studios.
CALGARY – Twenty-nine new citizens celebrated a special Canada Day with their families at Global Calgary’s studios on Wednesday morning.
Presiding over the citizenship ceremony was Judge Joseph Woodard, who had a message for the new Canadians.
“You are becoming a new person, with new hopes, new rights, and new duties–something that Canada truly makes possible.”
RCMP Cst. David McLellan and guest speakers Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Progressive Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai were also in attendance. The ceremony was a partnership between Global Calgary, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
The new Canadians came from nine different countries, including Nigeria, the United States, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
“Canada is everything, it’s been my home for 37 years,” said new Canadian from the U.S. Patricia Steele through tears. “I love it.”
Originally from Pakistan, new Canadian Shahana Khalid said she was very excited for the “big change.”
“It feels like a new change in our life for our whole family,” she said.
From Korea, Brian Woo said his citizenship granted him hope for the future.
“Changing to becoming Canadian, I think there is way more opportunities to be Canadian, and I can move forward a bit in my life.”
The ceremony featured vocalist Jenn Beaupre singing O Canada, as well as a speech from Global’s own Tony Tighe.
QUIZ: How well do you know the nicknames for Canadian people, places?
With files from Gemma Stroobant
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