Citizenship ceremony at The Forks welcomes 23 new Canadians on Canada Day

The sun peaked out of the clouds just before noon, shining down on The Forks just as the site’s Canada Day festivities were getting underway. The timing could not have been better: the sunbeams arrived just as Citizenship Court Judge Suzanne Carrière spoke from the CN Stage, and uttered the words that 23 people from 12 countries had waited years to hear.

“You are Canadian.”

In the seats facing the stage, Nathan Poole beamed. Originally from Saint Paul, Minn., he came to Winnipeg in 2000 to study music at the University of Manitoba. Manitoba soon became home, and he eventually met his husband, Brandon, here.

“I had to become Canadian, obviously,” he laughed. “You get married to a Canadian, you have to become a Canadian.”

As Poole was finalizing his citizenship application paperwork, he saw that July 1 was approaching and requested to take his oath on the holiday. It felt great to mark the moment on Canada Day, he said; after decades being active in the community as a permanent resident, he “can’t wait” to vote provincially and federally.

Of all 23 new Canadians to receive citizenship at the special Canada Day ceremony, Poole had the shortest geographical and cultural journey to Canada. The other newly-inducted citizens came here from countries including Nigeria, Bangladesh, Ivory Coast, Vietnam and Algeria. Some took their oaths solo, while others became citizens as a whole family.

For Poole, to look around and see so many stories woven together highlighted the meaning of becoming a citizen.

“Canada has such a diverse population, and it’s incredible to be able to be a part of that,” he said, chatting with media after swearing his oath to uphold the laws of Canada. “I’m honoured to share the stage and share this day with so many new Canadians.”

Before taking their oaths, the new Canadians were welcomed by Cree knowledge keeper Leslie Spillett, who gave a moving speech about building friendships between all peoples sharing this land. The oath itself also asked newcomers to commit to upholding Indigenous and treaty rights.

To Judge Carrière, who is Métis, the chance to see so many cultures joining together on Canada Day was special. In her words to the newcomers, she said it was “the best day of the year” to become a Canadian; it’s also one of the busiest for citizenship judges, she noted while chatting with media later.

“The citizenship ceremony is the end of a long, long journey,” she said. “To have it happen on Canada Day is always especially meaningful for people, so it’s really special for us … Canada’s strength is its diversity. We see it absolutely everywhere we go.”

That diversity was vibrantly on display across The Forks on Wednesday. Despite the morning rain — which returned with a vengeance later in the afternoon — thousands of people, many wearing their best red-and-white gear, turned out to enjoy the site’s festivities, which included live music, Indigenous dance performances, and interactive activities.

One of the most popular activities was the Love Notes tent near the Oodena Celebration Circle. Inside the tent, visitors were invited to create and receive “love notes” — or messages of affirmation. The campaign, now in its third year, aims to use art to foster discussion about mental health in a range of public spaces and events.

“Our goal is to transform the way we talk about mental health and reduce the stigma, and we can only do that by talking about mental health openly, and publicly, and in community together,” campaign founder Ralph Bryant said.

When the skies were drizzling, Bryant was initially worried that few would show up. But after the sun came out, the tent was packed with visitors of all ages drawing inspiring messages on small notes, posters and rocks. The posters will be distributed across the province for World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, while the rocks will be placed all over Winnipeg.

“Twenty minutes ago, we were like ‘oh my God, nobody’s going to be here, the sun’s not going to shine,’” Bryant said, with a laugh. “That process is a great mirror to the process of healing. It’s never straight. It’s often messy. Just as there was no-one here 20 minutes ago and we were worried, now there’s not space (in the tent). That is the power of resilience.”

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca