The letter telling Felix Adu-Boateng that he would be a Canadian citizen arrived in the mail in March. He still holds his breath when asked about that moment.
“I was just overwhelmed,” he said quietly.
Adu-Boateng was one of 80 landed immigrants from 32 countries who became Canadian on Friday during a citizenship ceremony at Muriel Martin Elementary School.
Welcomed by citizenship judge Laurie Mozeson and several dignitaries, they recited their oath, received their certificates of citizenship and sang the national anthem. Then they ate cake covered in icing resembling the Canadian flag.
“This history of Canada is also the story of men and women like you and your families, people who have come to make a better life for themselves and for their children,” said Mozeson during the ceremony.
“Your experiences, your culture, your traditions will now enrich Canada. Your commitment to Canada is now a shared commitment.”
Her own parents were immigrants who arrived at Halifax’s famous immigrant port Pier 21, she told a hall filled with students, new Canadians and their families and friends. They settled in Alberta and became proud Canadians who instilled a deep respect in their children for the rights and freedoms of this country, she said.
Mozeson urged the new citizens to vote in elections and promote Canadian values. Citizenship comes with responsibility, she said. But under the laws of Canada, it also entitles people to equality, and to share the same rights and freedoms.
“It does not matter what is your colour, your religious beliefs, how you think, with whom you associate,” she said. “What does matter, ladies and gentleman, is that you participate in the life and the betterment of our country.”
In 2014, Canada welcomed more than 260,000 new citizens. That’s more new Canadians than in any year before and double the number from the previous year.
In order to become a Canadian citizen, several steps are involved, including applications, interviews, tests and long periods of waiting. The final step is taking the oath of citizenship and getting a certificate.
For Marie-Christine Nguyen, it took 10 years before she was ready to take the oath. She immigrated to Canada from France in 2004, first to Quebec, then to Alberta. The stress of the exams and the paperwork, it was terrible, she laughs. Finally being Canadian is a relief, she said. She smiled through the whole ceremony.
“I just wanted to be part of the country and just to be proud, to be part of the community, to feel like I really belong,” she said.
Adu-Boateng was still feeling a little shaky after the ceremony, he admitted. He immigrated six years ago to be with his wife. Both are from Ghana, he said. Being Canadian is an opportunity to start a new life in a country that promotes freedom, democracy and equality, he said.
“I feel really good,” he said. “Canada, it’s a really good place to live. That fact that my wife is also here, now I can really settle down.”
