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The Institute for Canadian Citizenship had the honour of hosting an Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony at the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver in British Columbia on March 16, 2023. The spiritual building is an architectural icon for a large and consistently growing community in Canada. Alongside many other cultural institutions, the Ismaili Centre hopes to cultivate understanding and acceptance among all Canadians.

Presiding Official Dr. Ross Paul administered the oath of citizenship and celebrated 50 individuals from 21 countries as Canadian citizens.

ICC’s Citizenship Ceremony featured our signature roundtable discussions between new citizens and their guests. These discussions are inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles that traditionally create spaces of inclusiveness and equality. While discussing the importance of the day, new Canadians share excitement about the number of civic responsibilities they are now granted. This is especially important because it ensures the protection of democracy at all levels of government. As it is important to maintain this system, it is also important not to take any responsibility for granted. Following the ceremony, these duties come with a larger number of privileges, as well.

“We were speaking about what active citizenship means. One person at our table is specifically excited for jury duty. But overall, active citizenship means participating in your community and voting to ensure that Canada is the best place it can be for everyone.”

Active citizenship can apply to a variety of actions. The excitement is palpable when hearing from individuals who are now gaining more access to these rights. Overall, making the community a better and more inclusive space is the motivational force behind this excitement.

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.

Finally, thank you to the guests and performers that participated in this event. For more information, click on their profiles below.

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The ICC was fortunate to celebrate new Canadians during an Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony on March 14, 2023, in Montréal, Québec. At the Espace pour La Vie (Montreal’s Space for Life), guests are able to fully experience nature throughout the entire year. Since this connection with the natural surroundings is a priority within Canada, all guests in attendance were able to see the emphasis placed upon research, education and coexistence.

Citizenship Judge Rania Sfeir administered the oath of citizenship and welcomed 47 individuals from 21 countries as Canadian citizens.

ICC’s Citizenship Ceremony featured our signature roundtable discussions between new citizens and their guests. These roundtable discussions are inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles that traditionally create spaces of inclusiveness and equality. Canadians participating in this Citizenship Ceremony come from countries all over the world. Their choices for coming to Canada vary from person to person. However, the desire to be Canadian connects them all. Once recognized as a Canadian citizen, the benefits make the challenging process and emotional decision worthwhile. One guest shared with the group their joy by saying:

“Becoming Canadian is giving myself and my daughter gender equality and safety.”

Canada, as a nation, strives to provide all citizens with the comfort and security to live their life to the fullest. The privilege to live without constant fear based on the differences that define you is an aspect of society we should all try to foster and protect for the sake of our diverse community.

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.

Thank you to the guests and performers that participated in this event. For more information, click on their profiles below.

More than 200 Newcomers Attend Performance of James Kudelka’s Cinderella.

On March 14^th, the National Ballet of Canada, in partnership with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, hosted a magical evening for 200 newcomers to Canada. We would like to thank the National Ballet of Canada for this memorable night of beauty, culture and community building. Their commitment to enriching the lives of Canadians through the arts is inspiring.

James Kudelka’s Cinderella was breathtaking, set to Prokofiev’s vibrant score, with Art Deco-inspired designs by David Boechler and lighting by Christopher Dennis. But the night was about so much more than the performance.

The National Ballet is a valued Canoo partner, providing new Canadians and their families with access to exceptional cultural events. And thanks to their incredible generosity, last night marked the first time that 200 Canoo members gathered together under one roof. It provided a unique opportunity for newcomers to connect with members of the National Ballet, Canoo team members – and each other.

The night started with an exclusive Canoo pre-performance reception, held in the magnificent Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Just being in the same room as the stunning architecture, beautiful artwork and talented performers was enough to evoke a feeling of awe and electricity.

The evening’s events were introduced by Lisa Robinson, Senior Manager of Education & Community Engagement at the National Ballet of Canada, followed by remarks from Barry Hughson, Executive Director of the National Ballet and The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson & John Ralston Saul, Co-Founders, Institute for Canadian Citizenshipand First Soloist, Tanya Howard.

They all emphasized the National Ballet’s commitment to enriching the lives of Canadians and the power of the arts to foster belonging and inclusion. In attendance were ICC’s founders, the Rt. Hon Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul.

As newcomer Citizenship rates drop across the country, the National Ballet’s initiative, in partnership with the ICC, is a testament that Canada has the potential to reverse this trend and provide true welcoming moments for Canada’s newest peoples.

Thank you to all who attended this wonderful event! Please share your experience (and photos!) on our social channels @CanooPass, @forcitizenship.ca and in the comments.

Please click here to view all photos from The National Ballet and Canoo event.

According to Statistics Canada, over 7 million women living in Canada were born outside of the country, and in 2022, IRCC welcomed 242,884 female permanent residents, 52% of the total new permanent residents.

In our very own Canoo domain, women also make up 52% of the Canoo member base and in celebration of International Women’s Day, this Canoo Insights Report looks at the usage of Canoo by Canoo women members.

Main takeaways from this report:

• Since 2018, Canoo has served 94,950 women
• Since May 2022, women have saved $1,373,045

Recap: What is a Canoo Insights Report?

Canoo Insights Report is a quarterly series started by Ideas & Insights at the Institute for Canadian Citizenship that sheds light on our Canoo Access Pass program. Through these quarterly reports, we hope to:

1. Give readers a sense of the Canoo program
2. Reveal the impact of Canoo on its diverse members
3. Provide a glimpse into the moving parts of the Canoo program that make it the biggest welcome network in Canada

Here are some highlights about Canoo:

222,280 people have become Canoo members since Canoo transitioned from a paper pass into a mobile app in 2018. Since then, Canoo has served 94,950 women.

There are 65,690 currently active Canoo members participating in the program within their 12 months of access (a 25% increase from the previous Canoo Insight Report), and 33,226 of the currently active Canoo members are women.

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Gender Distribution of Active Canoo Members

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Visits by Canoo Women members

When a Canoo member visits a place or participates in an activity through the app, we refer to it as a “check-in“. Since May 2022, Canoo members have made 78,460 check-ins at places across the country. Women have made up slightly more than 50% of the check-ins.

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Top 5 Places Visited by Canoo Women Members

Through Canoo, women members have access to a variety of places across Canada. In every province and territory, women members can choose to visit museums, parks, events, and more. Here are some of the most popular places visited by Canoo women members in Canada.

Manitoba

Since May 2022, Canoo women members checked in 845 times to the top 5 places in Manitoba.

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Value saved from visits to the top 5 places:

$ 9,940

Nova Scotia

Since May 2022, Canoo women members checked in 599 times to the top 5 places in Nova Scotia.

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Value saved from visits to the top 5 places:

$ 5,944

Ontario

Since May 2022, Canoo women members checked in 14,066 times to the top 5 places in Ontario.

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Value saved from visits to the top 5 places in ON:

$ 362,414

Quebec

Since May 2022, Canoo women members checked in 2,053 times to the top 5 places in Quebec.

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Value saved from visits to the top 5 places:

$ 43,374

Saskatchewan

Since May 2022, Canoo women members checked in 107 times to the top 5 places in Saskatchewan.

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Value saved from visits to the top 5 places:

$ 855

Did you find this report Interesting? If you want to read more, check out some of the earlier issues of Canoo Insights Report that highlight Canoo partners and members:

• Canoo Insights Report: Part 1
• Canoo Insights Report: Part 2

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On March 2, 2023, ICC had the pleasure of hosting an in-person Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony at the Art Gallery of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. Using art and enriching exhibitions, the Gallery aims to create a welcoming space. Guests are, then, encouraged to challenge their understanding of the world and redefine the practice of equity.

Presiding Official Ellicia Vieira administered the oath of citizenship and welcomed 39 individuals from 18 countries as Canadian citizens.

ICC’s Citizenship Ceremony featured our signature roundtable discussions between new citizens and their guests. These discussions are inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles that traditionally create spaces of inclusiveness and equality.

A young roundtable participant stated during this session:

“We all shared the things we brought from back home to Canada and what connects us through this. Things like food…It’s interesting to see how everyone connects with this.”

Afterwards, they discussed the different meals from their home countries that they love most.

While moving to a new country results in so much change, it is important to remain connected to the past. Through food and family recipes, people can find comfort in their culture. This makes food more than just sustenance. It is a strong element that defines where we come from. Likewise, sharing the differences surrounding meal practices and preparations will only create a more beautifully diverse Canada.

We can embrace equity throughout Canada by embracing all cultures found within Canada. As a central aspect of culture, food undeniably remains in the hearts of all Canadians and newcomers, alike.

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.

Finally, thank you to the guests and performers that participated in this event. For more information, click on their profile below.

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On February 28, 2023, ICC hosted an in-person Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony at the Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary, Alberta. The museum creates an incredible environment because it draws inspiration from the bold and adventurous stories found within its community. Here, we celebrated the new Canadians on this occasion by remembering their courageous journeys.

Presiding Official Irene Pfeiffer administered the oath of citizenship and welcomed 27 individuals from 14 countries as Canadian citizens.

ICC’s Citizenship Ceremony featured our signature roundtable discussions between new citizens and their guests. These discussions are inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles that traditionally create spaces of inclusiveness and equality. Afterwards, there is an opportunity for individuals to share their story with everyone in attendance. This allowed some new citizens to relieve themselves of past burdens through open conversation. Every guest was then able to revel in the joy and acceptance that filled the room.

A roundtable participant shared the following during this event:

“I am so happy to be here with you and share our story. We just came from the Middle East – a country called Iraq. We had a tough time there because of the civil war. We’ve been to Jordan, spent approximately 3 years there, and applied for resettlement in a new country. Our dream was being here in Canada. I am so happy here because this dream is happening right now.”

It is important to recognize the sacrifices and hardships that have occurred in the process of pursuing a new citizenship. In overcoming this, the outcome provides people from all walks of life the same rights and privileges as those born in Canada.

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.

Thank you to the guests and performers that participated in this event. For more information, click on their profiles below.

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On February 15, 2023, we were honoured to host an in-person Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As the world’s first museum dedicated to human rights, the venue highlights respect and compassion while encouraging meaningful conversations.

Citizenship Judge Suzanne Carrière administered the oath of citizenship and welcomed 48 individuals from 9 countries as Canadian citizens.

The ICC’s enhanced ceremonies featured our signature roundtable discussion between new citizens and their guests. This is inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles that traditionally create spaces of inclusiveness and equality. The heartwarming event brought members together over shared experiences. Many families who were once separated from their loved ones are now able to be reunited in Canada. While planning for their future, families can stay connected to their roots and culture while not feeling the isolation that is often found in the process of creating a new home in a strange place.

“‪I would like to thank Canada for uniting our family together and letting us live a life as a family, which we couldn’t do in India since my dad was always travelling for work.”

With ICC’s Enhanced Citizenship Ceremonies, established Canadians have the ability to connect with new citizens building stronger community relationships.

To view photos of the Citizenship Ceremony, click here.

If you are interested in volunteering as a roundtable host at one of our ceremonies, please contact ceremonies@forcitizenship.ca.

The latest immigration data (December 2022) has been released by IRCC and the complete 2022 data updates can be found on our immigration dashboard. Data are released by IRCC on a two-month lag. The visualizations below are based on a 2018 baseline.

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You can learn more about the ICC here. Join the conversation and be part of building a more inclusive Canada.

Interested in following us? Please sign up here for more updates happening at the ICC and follow us to get upcoming content from Ideas & Insights at ICC.

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On February 10^th, 2023, we were honoured to host a citizenship ceremony at Toronto Pearson International Airport. We are grateful to have been provided with such a memorable ceremony venue to welcome new citizenship candidates, their friends, family, and community members.

Citizenship Judge Hardish Dhaliwal administered the Oath of Citizenship, the final step that the 39 people from 20 countries took to become Canadian citizens.   

The enhanced ceremony featured our signature roundtable discussion, inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles, which are traditionally spaces of inclusiveness and equality. Following the roundtable discussions, the share back portion of the day saw the soon-to-be new citizens speak of their journey to this moment. 

A new Canadian shared his thoughts on the important things those seated at his roundtable had in common. 

ICC Enhanced Citizenship Ceremonies provide a rare opportunity for established Canadians to connect with new Canadian citizens and hear about their journeys to citizenship. 

Photos of the citizenship ceremony can be found here.  

If you’d like to participate in this unique and unifying experience firsthand and volunteer as a roundtable host at one of our ceremonies, please contact ceremonies@forcitizenship.ca. 

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On January 31st, 2023, we were privileged to host our first in-person Enhanced Citizenship Ceremony of 2023 at the VIA Rail station in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A historic venue that served as one of the primary methods new immigrants used to migrate within Canada during the immigration boom of the early 20th century.

Citizenship Judge Joan Mahoney administered the oath of citizenship and welcomed 48 new citizens from 13 countries as Canadian citizens.

The enhanced ceremony featured our signature roundtable discussion, inspired by Indigenous Talking Circles – talking circles are traditionally spaces of inclusiveness and equality. Following the roundtable discussions, the share back portion of the day saw the soon-to-be new citizens speak of their journey to citizenship. Many reflected on the changes that had occurred during their journey, from growing their families to starting new businesses within Canada. The roundtable discussions truly encompassed the ceremony’s theme of Education and Learning Worlds of Differences.

During the shareback portion of the ceremony, a new citizen shared her first memories in Canada. She did not know much about Canada before immigrating to the country but quickly learned how welcoming the country was. She recalled feeling accepted everywhere she went due to strangers smiling at her, saying good morning on the street and welcoming her when she entered a building.

To view photos of the citizenship ceremony, click here.

If you are interested in volunteering as a roundtable host at one of our ceremonies, please contact ceremonies@forcitizenship.ca.

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