For a select group of people in Richmond, July 1 marks not only Canada’s birthday and the annual Steveston Salmon Festival, it will be the first day they can finally call themselves, Canadian citizens.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will conduct a swearing-in ceremony for 30 randomly chosen people on the salmon festival’s main stage, at 8:30 a.m. This is the second year that a citizenship ceremony will take place at the festival, open to the public.
“Citizenship ceremonies are the end of a long process of immigration, settlement and integration for a newcomer to Canada,” said CIC spokesperson Lindsay Wemp, in an email. “Ceremonies, like the one on July 1 at the Steveston Salmon Festival, are a moving and emotional celebration as well as a necessary legal step to citizenship.”
Participating in the citizenship ceremony is actually a requirement for anyone aged 14 and older to become a Canadian citizen. At the ceremony, a citizenship judge or presiding official, administers the Oath of Citizenship to the soon-to-be Canadians and then presents each person with a citizenship certificate. The new Canadians then sing the national anthem to complete the ceremony.
“Symbolically, the ceremony marks a milestone for those completing the citizenship process,” Wemp added. “It is viewed as welcoming new Canadians to Canada as well as an occasion to reflect on the meaning of being Canadian.”
Salmon festival executive director Janice Froese said the ceremony can be an emotional experience for both new Canadians and those Canadian by birth.
“What better way to start July and open Canada Day by welcoming 30 new Canadians,” Froese said. “I had tears going down my face when I saw the ceremony for the first time.
The ceremony in Steveston is one of 44 Canada Day citizenship ceremonies taking place across Canada this July 1. According to CIC, one in five Canadians were born outside of Canada, and the country is made up more than 200 ethnic origins.
