Thirty-eight new Canadians who were sworn in during a citizenship ceremony held Monday at Riverside Park are the latest of hundreds to be introduced over the last 11 years in similar Canada Day festivities hosted by Rotary Club of Guelph.
The Canada Day tradition of holding a citizenship ceremony at Riverside Park is a favourite of Carolyn Weatherson, 2019-20 Rotary Club of Guelph president.
“For all of the years I have been coming with my own family and as a Rotarian, I have always loved the citizenship ceremony — I have never missed it because it just really fills my heart,” said Weatherson.
The Rotary Club of Guelph has been hosting Canada Day celebrations in Guelph for the last 27 years, but the citizenship ceremony was only incorporated about 11 years ago when it was suggested at the time by Rotarian Marva Wisdom.
“Marva and her team started this 11 years ago and Marva is still the one who makes this happen,” said Weatherson. “Her dedication to the community is really unshakable.”
Wisdom, who immigrated from Jamaica as a child, had been a part of citizenship ceremonies through her work in the office of the member of parliament at the time and through her local work with the Institute of Canadian Citizenship.
“Instead of having citizenship ceremonies just in judges’ chambers and council chambers, they would happen out in the community,” said Wisdom of the Institute of Canadian Citizenship initiative. “I thought Guelph needed to see the importance of what people from other countries bring to Canada.”
She brought the idea of bringing the ceremonies to the Canada Day festivities and the first such event was held in 2008.
“I proposed to Rotary that we need to be more diverse and reflect our growing community and reflect Canada,” said Wisdom. ”Rotary has embraced this in a very big way and it has become a very important part of our Canada Day celebrations.”
Wisdom is not sure the total amount of new Canadians who have been introduced in the Canada Day celebrations over the years, but it is likely in the hundreds.
The 38 new Canadians sworn in at Riverside Park on Monday came from 15 countries all across the globe — Somalia, Iraq and India, to name a few.
Two of the new Canadians were sworn in on their birthday.
Abby Kathuria, who moved to Canada from India, said there was no better birthday gift than to become a Canadian citizen.
“I think there are so many opportunities here, equality and a good future for my kids,” said Kathuria. “There are so many opportunities, but it is safe — that’s the main thing.”
Ibtihal Baqer also celebrated her birthday Monday by becoming a Canadian citizen, along with her husband and three sons. They came to Canada from Iraq.
Having the ceremony on stage during Canada Day celebrations also offers other Canadians a chance to reaffirm their own oath of citizenship in public, said Weatherson.
“It’s like renewing your wedding vows in a way,” said Weatherson. “When you’re born into it you take it for granted, but when you see new citizens who are choosing to come here, it makes you appreciate what we have.”
The following is the current Oath of Citizenship:
“I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.”
