Cultural Access Pass is now Canoo
12.10.2016
Canoo (formerly known as the Cultural Access Pass program) is a mobile app that helps new Canadian citizens celebrate their citizenship by providing free admission to over 1400 museums, science […]
Venue
National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Theme
Celebrating Arts and Culture
On March 13, 2024, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship held an Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony at the stunning National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario themed around the celebration of arts and culture.
The National Gallery of Canada, nestled in our nation’s capital, is renowned for its vast collection of Canadian and international art. Its Scotiabank Great Hall provided an exquisite backdrop of Parliament Hill as we welcomed 40 new citizens from 13 different countries into the Canadian family.
40
Number of New Citizens
13
Number of Countries
A highlight of the ceremony was the moving performance by John Virag, who captivated our guests with his bagpipe melodies. His music served as a poignant reminder of the timeless ability of artistic expression to bridge tradition and modernity.
Among our special guests, Marc Forgette of Makatew Workshops opened the ceremony with a morning prayer and a few words emphasizing the importance of new citizens acquainting themselves with the Indigenous history of these lands. Following Marc’s insightful remarks, guest speaker Kathryn Lyons from the Gallery extended a heartfelt welcome to the new citizens before Samar El Faki led them in their inaugural rendition of O Canada.
Photos and More Information
To view photos of the Citizenship Ceremony, click here.
With ICC’s Enhanced Citizenship Ceremonies, established Canadians have the ability to connect with new citizens building stronger community relationships. If you are interested in volunteering as a roundtable host at one of our ceremonies, please contact ceremonies@forcitizenship.ca.