Canada’s Citizenship Week kicked off in Surrey with a special swearing-in ceremony for 40 new Canadians on Monday morning (May 13).
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, led the oath in a crowded room at DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society’s multicoloured building, on 76 Avenue in Newton.
The two-hour, bilingual ceremony saw certificates given to each of the new Canadian citizens, followed by cake and refreshments for everyone.
Watch 40 new Canadians take oath of citizenship in #SurreyBC with immigration minister @MarcMillerVM at @DIVERSEcityBC.
— Tom Zillich (@TomZillich) May 13, 2024
Special event kicked off #CitizenshipWeek.
STORY/PHOTOS HERE: https://t.co/osKKIdkxtA@CitImmCanada @SurreyNowLeader pic.twitter.com/7rkft7vcPg
“Today is a special day in your lives, and in 1987 I was also one of you that took the oath of the Canadian citizenship, in Calgary,” Surrey-Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal told the crowd.
“Taking the oath of the citizenship is a requirement to become a Canadian citizen, but the oath is much more than the words,” Dhaliwal added.
“Taking the oath demonstrates that a new Canadian embraces the value of social cohesion, openness and transparency in free, democratic and diverse Canada. When individuals take the oath of citizenship, they make a solemn promise to faithfully observe the laws of Canada and to fulfill their duties as Canadian citizens. I welcome you into the Canadian family and I wish you good health, success and all the wishes in your future endeavours.”
Miller said being a new Canadian means getting involved in the community.
“I encourage all Canadians to welcome new fellow citizens and help them further integrate into our communities,” Miller said. “You come here with a view, a vision, a dream, and I don’t think anyone expects you just to reproduced the status quo, but make Canada better. It’s great, and it’s people like you around this room that will make this place better than it already is, and there’s always room for improvement.”
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Earlier in the ceremony, the Montreal-raised Miller said it was fun to be at the event in Newton.
“As politicians this is one of the few moments we don’t get yelled at,” he said as people laughed. “You can yell at me after you’re a Canadian citizen, that’s the way to do it in Canada.”
Later Monday, Miller was scheduled to speak at a Surrey Board of Trade event focused on “the opportunities and challenges of immigration in today’s global landscape.”
Canada’s Citizenship Week runs from May 13 to 19.
“Every year, we take a week to celebrate the rights and responsibilities shared by all Canadian citizens,” says a post on the website canada.ca. “During Citizenship Week, Canadians across the country and around the world show their pride in their history, culture, achievements and shared citizenship.”
