Yesterday, I became a Canadian citizen. The ceremony was very well done. While the paperwork was checked and seat assignments were being given, we watched an interesting slide show on the history of citizenship in Canada. Once everyone was seated we were warmly welcomed and told how the ceremony would proceed.

The judge then spoke to us about citizenship, what it meant to him to become a Canadian and then become a Judge. He talked about Canada's values and how other countries view Canada. How pleased Canada was to have us become citizens, about the rights and freedoms Canadian's have, how they will not be taken away, and how Canada welcomes being a multi-culturism society. We were also told that there were 96 of us in the room to take the citizenship oath, and that the number of countries we were immigrating from totalled 40. 96 new citizens from 40 different countries - multi-culturism at it's best.

We then repeated the oath of citizenship in French and then English. After that we each went up and received our official documents and the judge shook hands, welcomed and congratulated each individually. We then returned to our seats and a few more words were spoken and then we stood and sang the Canadian Anthem "O Canada", (thankfully in English). After that there was a celebration with coffee and cake and the chance to take pictures. Very moving experience to go through.

Tomorrow, July 1st, I will celebrate my first Canada Day as a Canadian Citizen. I have celebrated Canada Day since the 80's as a landed immigrant. Tomorrow will be special. We are having dinner with my former boss and his wife - two very good people.

Cheers!

Dickons