Thunder Bay, Ont., celebrates new Canadians in first in-person citizenship ceremony in 5 years
Friday's event saw 60 people from 18 different countries participate
Haban Beyene came to Thunder Bay, Ont., from Ethiopia as a refugee when he was 16 years old.
On Friday, he was one of 60 new Canadians to cross the stage in the northwestern Ontario city's first in-person citizenship ceremony in five years.
"It was amazing. It was very good," Beyene said as he reflected on Friday's event at the Italian Cultural Centre. "I'm so proud to be a Canadian."
In-person citizenship ceremonies were suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic. Up until last week, the ceremonies continued to be held virtually in Thunder Bay, even after physical distancing restrictions were lifted.
Earlier this year, Thunder Bay resident Julie Hutka started a petition in the hopes of bringing in-person ceremonies back.
Beyene said his father took his Canadian citizenship oath online, and it wasn't the same kind of experience.
"I feel like it's [more] fun in person rather than online," he said.
Friday's ceremony saw people from 18 different countries take their oath, some having lived in Thunder Bay for a few years and others having been in the community for decades, said Cathy Woodbeck, executive director of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Centre, which organized the event.
"Many of those who received citizenship last week were people that we met the day they arrived in Canada, the day that they got off the plane," Woodbeck said.
"It's really nice to celebrate that with them … to see the pride, to see the celebration, to see their families come and witness that to watch them all this time."
Virtual ceremonies 'just not the same'
The Thunder Bay Multicultural Centre helps immigrants, refugees and new Canadians with everything from translation and interpretation services to preparing for their citizenship tests.
"Helping them register their children in school, giving them some information on filing income tax for the first time, looking for a job," Woodbeck said.
"Some need more help, some need less. Some integrate perfectly well speaking English as their first language — it just depends on where they are in that journey."
Woodbeck said citizenship ceremonies are one of the highlights of her work, and the feedback she's heard from those who took their oath on Friday has been overwhelmingly positive.
"They really do appreciate the fact that it's in person," she said. "They get to participate a little more than when you're staring at a screen by yourself. You may have people with you but it's just not the same."
She encourages people to look into the services and support the Multicultural Association has to offer, particularly when it comes to getting ready for the citizenship test.
"It's really nice to get familiarized and just be ready for that and feel a little more confident when the test comes around," she said.
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With files from Mary-Jean Cormier and Rajpreet Sahota