Citizenship judge William Lindemere Day welcomed more than 80 new Canadians into the Canadian family during one of two swearing in ceremonies on Tuesday.
And unlike those born in this country, becoming Canadian was not a birthday but a wedding day.
"They say there are three important days in your life: the day you are born, the day you get married, and the day you die. For you here today there is a fourth: the day you become a Canadian citizen. It is very much like getting married to 35 million other people.
"In every country of the world, in every religion, marriage is the same. People make promises to one another in front of your family, and friends, and representatives of the government. If you do not keep your promises in this marriage, you will not be happy and Canada will be poorer for it. Canada is a small country, so every citizen counts."
Day said there were three primary promises. One was to be faithful to our head of state,
currently Queen Elizabeth II.
"It doesn't mean you have to obey her as a boss, but be faithful to the national values and structures she represents," he said.
The second promise was to obey the laws of Canada. They were designed, he said, by regular people, for regular people, and fairly applied to all.
"All over the world, Canada is respected as a good country not because we are big, not because we are powerful, but because we are respectful of our laws. Think about that. How many other countries like their police force? Not many. But we do. The Mounties are imperfect, they are human, but they are respected here and all over the world because they are the people's police force." He then led a round of applause for the lone Mountie, Const. James Piggott, standing on guard in red serge beside the flag.
The third promise, he said was simply "be a good citizen" which meant a dutiful paying of taxes to collectively invest in national needs like healthcare and education and transportation, but also a promise to volunteer. "Help other people. You will decide how."
He reminded all those present that Canada did not require anyone to promise belief in a particular religion, political view or way of living.
"This is a free country... That is the kind of country we are. We represent the whole world. We have tried to make it a place where everyone feels at home...You will continue this good work to make Canada better."
Day then led the room in reciting the national pledge of citizenship, starting with French. When finished he interrupted himself and said "you are now 50 per cent Canadian" to a round of laughter. "Feels good, doesn't it? Let's go for 100." At the end of the English translation of the pledge he dragged out the last sentence for dramatic effect, eliciting a round of applause, laughter and waving of flags when the last words came out.
Day added, "People will ask you, 'where are you from?' and what will you say? Canada. Some people will then ask you 'yes, but, where were you born?' It's OK, tell them, and be proud of that, but feel even more proud of where you are from: Canada. Welcome home."
POURING IN TO P.G.
This week, 171 people from 36 countries gathered in Prince George to officially become Canadian citizens. The group was so big it had to be split into morning and afternoon sessions.
The ceremonies were presided over by Citizenship and Immigration Canada official Louise Cote-Madill, with addresses by Mayor Shari Green and representatives of federal MP Bob Zimmer and provincial MLA Pat Bell, plus local Order of Canada recipient Dr. Charles Jago.
Every colour of the human rainbow was evident in the audience, with virtually every corner of the globe somehow represented among the new Canadians. Six from one family were inducted into Canadian citizenship at once, others were alone in their pledge.
Lakhvir Gill drove 900 kilometres to take part in the Prince George ceremonies. He lives in Fort Nelson, but had to come here to get the next available induction ceremony so his travel documents would be available in time for a trip back to his birth-country, India. He wanted to make the journey using a Canadian passport.
"I'm very happy to be a Canadian citizen because the laws here are perfect," he said. "Nobody can push you, nobody can ignore you. Life is more fair and your voice can be heard. I can't complain for anything."
"It feels good. I feel good," said Fiona Lamprecht. She and husband Gideon were sworn in as Canadians at the same time.
"Anywhere the blue passport won't take you, we don't want to go," said Gideon.
Both were South Africans, he a doctor and she in marketing, and now living in Vanderhoof.
"It's been a long process so it is wonderful to have it all behind us," she said. "Our kids were already Canadian so now we feel complete as a family. We are happy to be here, this is home."
Baljit Sethi knows their joy. The Prince George woman has won provincial and national accolades for her nearly 40 years of work easing the stress of
coming here from a different culture.
When she arrived from India in 1976 there was little to help her with integration into local society, so she founded the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society which today has 22 employees teaching language, computer, employment and other skills to newcomers. She was there for the morning session.
"It was really big," she said. "It was like olden times when we would hold the ceremonies at the old Civic Centre and have around 200 people at a time sworn in as Canadians."
Immigration to this area has shrunk considerably since then.
"This ceremony was larger than usual. In the last three years, ceremonies in Prince George have included an average of 40 to 45 new citizens," said Johanne Nadeau, spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
"There have been roughly five ceremonies per year in Prince George, two in Smithers for Bulkley Valley [only one this year], two in the Northwest [Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Terrace] and two in [the Cariboo]."
Sethi said the frequency of ceremonies was no different than years ago. A difference she sees, though, is the commitment from government that has evolved the support system in the area for those who do come here from diverse cultures. She said the provincial government was aggressively improving the situation for local newcomers, and the federal government less so but "I see that they are aware of the benefits of tapping into the potential immigrants represent."
If anything, she said, maximizing immigrants' potential was worth more in taxes. She agreed, however, that time must be taken to carefully assess those who apply for full citizenship.
"It is a very special gift and privilege, so it takes time. You have to prove you are a good immigrant for Canada, because Canada is a special country," she said.
"It is still humble, peaceful and it has the best social services for newcomers than any other country, and that is true even in northern B.C."
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED DURING THE CEREMONIES
Albania
Australia
Bahrain
Belgium
Bulgaria
Burundi
Chile
China
Costa Rica
Cote D'Ivoire
Cuba
England
Ethiopia
Germany
Hong Kong
India
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Macedonia
Moldova
Pakistan
Philippines
Romania
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
South Africa
South Korea
Switzerland
Taiwan
Uganda
U.S.A.
Yugoslavia
Zimbabwe
