The five family members were among 93 people from all corners of the world who took the oath of Canadian citizenship in an emotional and joyful Canada Day ceremony in the council chambers at Mississauga’s City Hall.
“I am a Canadian now,” said the 16-year-old Essa Al-Badri, who was born in Iraq and came to Canada with his family four years ago. “Our dream has come true. It means a lot of hope for our future. It is really exciting.”
Al-Badri, his brothers Yousif, 14, and Amro, 11, his father, Majid Hashim, and mother, Armic Nishan, were fortunate not to have endured the current hardship of the current war in Iraq since his parents moved to Yemen in 1998, where they taught.
In 2004, the family moved to Canada. Essa admits he wasn’t able to speak English. Nevertheless, the family had friends in Canada.
“Learning English was different,” said Essa, a student at Streetsville Secondary School. “We had to learn about different cultures, religion and people. But today is exciting.”
The 93 people who received their citizenship papers from Mr. Justice Saleem Akhtar, a citizenship court judge in Mississauga, came from 36 countries.
“There is no difference between you and other Canadians anymore,” Mr. Justice Akhtar, a native of Pakistan who came to Canada in the early 1990s, said after administering the oath in both official languages. “You are all equal now. You are Canadians.
“This is not just another piece of paper,” continued the judge, surrounded by politicians from all levels of government and in front of an audience that occupied every available seat in the council chambers.
“It is a commitment and a dedication but it also comes with responsibilities. Let us resolve to do what it takes as this great country moves forward. That is our responsibility. As long as people stay the course, the sky is the limit in Canada.”
The hour-long ceremony wound up with everyone singing O, Canada!
Later, in a speech to thousands of people gathered on the lawn in front of the Civic Centre for the annual Canada Day party, Mayor Hazel McCallion referred to the citizenship ceremony.
“That is the most valuable piece of paper (the citizenship paper) in the world,” said McCallion, “because Canada is so well respected around the world.”
