[溫哥華本地新聞] New Canadians brave chilly weather to attend citizenship ceremony weather, weekend, journey, stripe

tiffiant

New Canadians brave chilly weather to attend citizenship ceremony

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Canadians+brave+chilly+weather+attend+citizenship+ceremony/6870528/story.html#ixzz1zTa7sER7
New Canadians of every hue and stripe took the oath of citizenship this weekend, braving the chilly Canada Day weather to mark a milestone in their journey toward full national identity.

“It’s very important for us. We feel now 100 per cent with the country,” said Adrian Pernalete, a civil engineer who fled political repression in Venezuela five years ago with his daughter, son and wife -- also an engineer.

“You can go into the streets without any problems. We feel very comfortable that our children are living here in Canada,” he said above the strains of the five-piece navy brass band on stage.

“I like the parks, the schools, the friends,” said Adrian, Jr., 13. “I like everything about it, really.”

A spectrum of solemn and smiling faces, framed by red and white hats and fluttering miniature flags, filled the Canada Place plaza Sunday morning. Bagpipes blared and cannons boomed, punctuating the ceremonial goings-on with echoes of the country’s military past.

Marion Booth, a 65-year-old former nurse, came to Vancouver from Auckland, New Zealand, over 10 years ago.

“I love the people,” she said, citizenship certificate in hand. “Very friendly, very warm, kind-hearted....And I think that’s very special about Canada.”

Highlighting New Zealand’s geographic and cultural resemblance to Canada, Booth also noted something unique to the northern nation.
“There would not be a place without hockey here, that’s very dear to my heart,” she said. “Go, Canucks, Go!”

As scores of friends and family members looked on, Citizenship Judge Anne-Marie Kains read out the oath, repeated by Vancouver’s 60 newest Canadian citizens:

“I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

Kains emphasized the importance of unity in diversity, as well as the responsibilities that accompany the rights and freedoms granted by citizenship.

“We need to work together,” she said. “It’s not good enough to just plug in....What we all benefit from comes as a result of great sacrifice and service, hard work and diligence. And it’s something that we all get to share, but it’s not free.”

The oath takers join 170,000 other immigrants who will, or already have, become Canadian citizens this year.

Their achievement stands in relief to the number of citizenship test failures, which has tripled since 2009, according to a recent Globe and Mail article.
Overhauled by the Conservative government in 2010, the test now requires a higher score to pass, stresses a need to speak English or French and poses more challenging questions about Canadian history, values and identity.

The higher bar didn’t stop native Fijian Ablesh Singh, 35, or his wife, Sanjana, from reaching their new national status.
“I’m proud. I can take part in everything now,” Ablesh said. “It’s an open door for us.”

The Home Depot employee and part-time BCIT student underscored what citizenship means for his three-year-old daughter, Anya.

tiffiant

“For her it’s very important....Good education and more opportunities.”


“Happy Canada Day,” Anya exclaimed.


The Conservative government’s emphasis on Canadian military history and ties to the monarchy was on display Sunday. Transport Minister Steven Fletcher oversaw the awarding of Diamond Jubilee medals to four British Columbians and pointed to British, French Canadian and First Nations allegiance in the War of 1812 as evidence of national unity.


The mix of tents and food trucks across from the Canada Place plaza mirrored the diversity of new citizens lining up on stage to shake hands with platform party members.


G’s Donairs and a crepe stand with Mediterranean offerings stood alongside more traditional Canadian fare, like Dunn’s Montreal smoked meat and La Poutinerie. A bubble tea wagon selling wheat germ tea exemplified the blend of cultural influences at the downtown Canada Day festivities.


The swearing-in ceremony kicked off a day of celebration at Canada Place, with musical acts, a parade and late-night fireworks following the initial oath of citizenship, all under an increasingly cloud-free sky.


As the Olympic cauldron ignited behind him, Staff-Sgt. Major Bob Underhill reflected on the event.


“It’s an awesome ceremony,” said the Mountie. “It’s the feeling of bringing new people into a family, that’s what really hits you.”


He noted the use of his ceremonial sabre to cut the welcome cake.


“People sort look on it as kind of strange, but I think that’s the best use of a sword in the world.”


[email protected]


The Pernalete family, Adrian and Virginia and their children, Adrian jr. and Andrea celebrate, July 1st, after becoming Canadian citizens during the ceremony at Vancouver's Jack Poole plaza

Rula Shunnar and her daughter, Jana Mahdi, July 1st, during the citizenship ceremony at Vancouver's Jack Poole plaza. Their family became Canadian citizens during the ceremony.