More than 35 people from 11 different countries came together in the Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School gymnasium Thursday afternoon to become Canadian citizens.
With the high school civic classes in attendance holding Canadian flags along with the people who were sworn in as Canadian citizens, they sang the national anthem, signed certificates and celebrated with friends, family and local dignitaries.
Some were families who live in Guelph, and their children came to Canada at young ages, so most of what they can remember has been about Canada.
“When I first got here, the first thing I remember was I was clattering my teeth because I think it was minus-10,” said Jaazi Prince. He's 11 now and his family came here from India.
He said a woman told him he would get used to the cold, and he told her, he was never going to get used to it. On Thursday it felt like -10 C, so it came full circle. He got used to the Canadian cold.
The Prince family was told before they left India, Canada is cold but the people are warm. They came to Canada five years ago from India, they have moved to three different homes, started businesses and enrolled in school.
The family's father, Prince John, became a citizen the previous week, but he and his wife and two children under the age of 12 came to the ceremony on Thursday so they could celebrate as a family that they are now Canadian.
“As a family we decided that we would move. Leave all the comforts, leave the relatives and family to move to a new county. And then standing here after five years starting as babies, we feel we are five years old and we are in it together. We’ve gone through a lot so that’s amazing that we are here today,” he said.
“And when they say welcome home for a moment I was actually thinking it has always felt like home. Even though yes, we are officially taking the oath today. The moment we landed here the way Canada has been supporting us, welcoming us, it always felt like home,” said mom Priya.
“We love the fact that every culture is embraced here, so the feeling of unity,” she said.
The family previously lived in Windsor before moving to Guelph. They said smaller cities seemed better to be able to learn Canadian culture and the community ties are stronger in Guelph.
“This means a lot, being a citizen is great. When I grow up I could do elections stuff like that, run for mayor,” said the Prince’s eldest son.
“As the mayor of Guelph I wanted to welcome you to our city. If you are Guelph citizens, now Canadian citizens I just want to really encourage you to know that our city cares deeply about every single one of you,” said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie.
“Any citizen of Canada can run for office,” said Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield. “It’s not something you’re born into in Canada, it’s something that you actively choose to do.”
