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On October 16, 2024, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship hosted an enhanced citizenship ceremony at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology in the nation’s capital celebrating Latin Heritage Month and welcoming 44 new Canadian citizens from 27 different countries.

One of the standout features of an ICC ceremony is the storytelling circles (formerly known as roundtable discussions). This unique opportunity allows candidates to share their personal journeys, experiences, and the healing they’ve found as they navigate their new lives in Canada. One candidate humorously recounted how they underestimated the Canadian winter and ended up overdressed for the chilly weather—an experience many newcomers from warmer climates can certainly relate to. Despite the emotional, stressful, and often lengthy journey to citizenship, each participant expressed deep gratitude for the chance to call Canada home and eagerly anticipates becoming active contributors to their new communities.

As we celebrate Latin Heritage Month, the ceremony featured poignant addresses from Captain Rey Garcia-Salas and Giuseppe Marconi of the Latin American Soldier Committee. They not only highlighted their rich Latin heritage but also extended a warm welcome to the new citizens, emphasizing the beauty of Canada’s diverse cultural tapestry, which embraces a multitude of cultures, traditions, and religions. Lisa Leblanc, Director General of the Canada Science and Technology Museum, shared inspiring words:

“This community and this country are fortunate to have you. By utilizing your talents, skills, and determination, you are pursuing your dreams and building a secure and prosperous future for yourselves and your families. The common thread among all of you is your desire to excel and your passion for making a difference.”

The ceremony culminated in a lively performance by the talented mariachi band Ballet Folklorico Aztlan, bringing a festive spirit to the celebration. This vibrant conclusion served as a joyful reminder of the rich cultural contributions that new citizens bring to Canada, enhancing the country’s diverse identity.

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. 

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On October 9, 2024, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship hosted an enhanced citizenship ceremony at the Northern Arts & Cultural Centre (“NACC”) where 30 individuals from 16 countries proudly became Canadian citizens.

The ceremony commenced with Elder Besha Blondin offering prayers and well wishes to the candidates, emphasizing the need to acknowledge Canada’s history and the dignity and respect that Indigenous communities have often been denied.

The NACC is connected to École Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, and we were thrilled to welcome members of the public. Many attendees were there to support the new citizens, while others reflected on their own journeys to citizenship.

The celebration was beautifully enhanced by Miranda Currie, whose heartfelt and unique rendition of the national anthem left a lasting impression and perfectly captured the spirit of the occasion.

Tanya Snow from the Indigenous Arts Collective emphasized the importance of fostering connections with Indigenous communities. She encouraged the new citizens to embrace community engagement rather than separation.

The reception was a deeply emotional and joyous moment for the newly sworn-in Canadians, their families, friends, and community members. It was a celebration of new beginnings, unity, and the shared values that define us as Canadians.

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. 

Following today’s joint announcement from the Prime Minister of Canada and his Minister of Immigration, Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, made the following statement:

“This drastic reduction in immigration levels will create more problems than it solves.

A decrease of 105,000 permanent residents represents less than 0.25% of the population. This measure will not cool the housing market. Instead, Canadians will feel the absence of 105,000 fewer workers—workers who could build more housing, staff more daycare spaces, and reduce healthcare wait times. These needs will only grow as immigration declines.

It is misleading to say that we have too many immigrants for our housing and healthcare systems to handle. The truth is, we don’t have enough housing and healthcare capacity to support all the immigrants Canada needs to grow and prosper.

We cannot slow our way to success. We can only grow our way to success.

Immigration is not the cause of Canada’s challenges. While we understand the government’s desire to restore public confidence in the immigration system, we hope today’s announcement does not lead anyone to believe that the solution to slow growth is to grow more slowly.”

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Media Contact 

Alex Nanoff 
alex@liaisonstrategies.ca
media@forcitizenship.ca
+1 613 709 6318 

TELUS and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) are partnering together to make it easier for newcomers to stay connected as they begin their new journey in Canada.

Through this exciting partnership, TELUS is expanding its support for newcomers by providing exclusive deals on products and services across its family of brands through the ICC’s Canoo app, which helps newcomers experience the very best of Canada.Thanks to this partnership, newcomers using Canoo will enjoy exclusive access to exceptional discounts from TELUS, Koodo, Public Mobile, and Mobile Klinik, even without Canadian credit history.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Canoo program to help newcomers start their journey in Canada with confidence through reliable, accessible solutions at TELUS,” said Chris Datta, Vice-president, Consumer Mobility Marketing at TELUS. “Our focus is to alleviate the challenges faced by newcomers by making it easy and affordable to activate our services, keeping them connected and helping them thrive.”

The Canoo app provides newcomers with free and  discounted access to over 2,000 of Canada’s best culture, nature and sport experiences, plus deals from many of the country’s leading brands, including TELUS.

“Connectivity is an essential part of modern life, and by offering such generous and supportive discounts, TELUS will make a real difference in the lives of so many newcomers as they establish themselves and begin the journey of becoming Canadian,” says Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the ICC.”Through this partnership, TELUS is demonstrating its true commitment to welcoming newcomers and strengthening Canada. We’re grateful for their leadership and are proud to welcome TELUS to the Canoo family, alongside many other leading brands. ”

For more information, visit telus.com and canoo.ca

Media Contact

TELUS
Martin Nguyen
martin.nguyen@telus.com

The ICC
Arash Safavi
647.607.2971
media@forcitizenship.ca

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On October 3rd, 2024, the ROM in Toronto opened its doors to 30 new Canadian citizens, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward citizenship. This special day not only celebrated their achievements but also allowed them to create lasting memories within the museum’s rich tapestry of art and history, blending their own journeys with the cultural heritage housed in this iconic building.

The ceremony began with roundtable discussions where candidates shared their personal experiences. Despite their different backgrounds, they found common ground in their paths to becoming Canadian citizens. Each story highlighted resilience and hope.

Canadian rapper and broadcaster Shad K was a special guest, sharing his family’s immigration story.

“Like all newcomers, there were challenges,” Shad recalled, reflecting on his parents’ early days in Canada. “Finding stable work took time for my parents. But there were also caring people who helped us get on our feet. An older couple named Max and Vi Nicholson at St Michael’s And All Angels church, for example, used to drive my dad to his first job at a factory in St Thomas, Ontario—a 45-minute drive out of town—every day until they eventually just gave my dad their car—our first in Canada.”

He also shared his mother’s belief in the power of second chances:

“My mom used to always tell us that her favourite thing about Canadian society was how much you can fail here. Where and when she grew up, opportunities were scarce and there were almost no do-overs. But here, they let you do it again! As many times as you want. Re-apply, take a shot, take a risk, learn, get better, try again. I would encourage you all to keep that in mind.”

The ceremony also celebrated Caribbean Heritage Month with an exciting performance by Carnival Spice. The lively music got everyone moving and added to the joyful atmosphere. The day concluded with a collective singing of the National Anthem, led by Ankita Nandawat, bringing everyone together in unity.

This citizenship ceremony was more than just a formal event; it was a heartfelt celebration of diversity and community. As the new citizens left the museum, they carried with them pride in their new status and a sense of belonging.

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. 

New ICC-Deloitte Report and Playbook highlight winning ways for business leaders

NEWS RELEASE

October 8, 2024 – Companies across Canada are less competitive than they could be, and short-changing shareholders by leaving exceptional immigrant talent on the bench.

A new Employer Playbook for recruiting and retaining newcomers to Canada shows Canadian companies several ways they can boost their financial scores with the help of immigrants already in Canada and keen to get in the game. The Playbook is built on the results of a new report, “Talent to win”, which draws from an extensive series of confidential roundtables with employers, government and civil society leaders from across Canada, conducted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) in partnership with Deloitte.

“Imagine if the manager of the Toronto Raptors or Calgary Flames didn’t pick star players because they weren’t Canadian trained? They would be giving rival teams a significant competitive advantage.” said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of the ICC. “If you’re down two goals late in the game, successful coaches get their best players on the ice, no matter where in the world they learned how to play.”

According to a seasoned investor and executive interviewed for the new report, Canada’s business leaders “don’t grasp how so much of the world is beating us.”

About the Playbook for Canadian Business Leaders

The Playbook includes real examples from companies who have seen their bottom lines increase after capitalizing on the underutilized and overlooked immigrant talent pool.

• An Eastern Canadian construction firm got around English language requirements and gained an edge on competitors by putting together crews that all spoke the same foreign language (one crew spoke Ukrainian, another spoke Hindi). They proved to be safer and more productive than average crews, thanks to their ability to work and communicate in the language they speak most naturally and their optimism for being given a chance to contribute more significantly.
• A Western Canadian natural resources company changed a hiring policy that previously required heavy equipment operators to have winter driving experience and found that immigrants who were new to snow drove more carefully and had fewer accidents.

Click here to download the Playbook

About the Report: Talent to win – Employers’ perspectives on immigrant underemployment and the immense upside of solving it

“Talent to win” is a unique collaboration between the ICC and Deloitte, which brought together over 40 leaders from business, government, and civil society to understand the causes of immigrant underemployment and surface creative workarounds that leading employers have enacted to put this immensely underused talent pool to work.

Beyond the reality of systemic discrimination, the roundtable discussions revealed that employers face several challenges, including: lack of ambition in business culture, inadequate onboarding and mentoring practices, blind spots in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) frameworks that don’t take country of origin into account, and a lack of support to navigate Canada’s complex immigration system – especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

Click here to read the full Talent to Win report

About the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC)

Since 2005, ICC’s programs have worked to give every newcomer to Canada the chance to become fully involved in our history, our culture, and our politics. More than 750,000 newcomers have participated in ICC’s Canoo program to discover all that Canada has to offer. The generous support from our donors and partners has enabled this impact.

About Deloitte

Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights, and service to address clients’ most complex business challenges.

Media Contact:

Alan Findlay

alan@curiouspublic.ca

437.882.5997

By Adiba Hasan

The latest operational data from IRCC are now available in the ICC Immigration Dashboard, showing that permanent residence (PR) admissions have reached 63% of Canada’s 2024 target. During the same period in 2023 (January to July), PR admissions had already reached 65%, signalling a slightly slower admission rate in 2024.

In July 2024, 47,770 PRs were admitted, marking a 6.9% increase month-over-month, and a 17% increase year-over-year. In 2024, July had the highest number of PR admissions. Despite reaching this peak in July, overall PR admissions from January to July 2024 have seen a slight decrease of 0.16% (or 485 fewer admissions) compared to the same period in 2023.

Changing Dynamics Across Source Countries

The following chart compares Permanent Resident (PR) admissions from January to July 2024 with the same period in 2023, focusing on source countries with significant percentage increases.

There was a sharp rise in PR admissions from Ukraine, with a staggering 114.7% increase, likely due to the ongoing geopolitical conflict driving more individuals to seek permanent residence in Canada.

Countries with a large francophone population, such as Cameroon (+100.55%), Algeria (+63.79%), and Morocco (+23.88%), have shown increases in Permanent Resident (PR) admissions between January and July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This corresponds to the goal of increasing the Francophone community to support French-speaking communities across the country.

In addition to the notable upticks in PR admissions, it’s important to highlight the significant rise in admissions from the Philippines.

With a 23.14% increase, the Philippines remains one of Canada’s key source countries for new immigrants, seeing a growth from 16,765 in 2023 to 20,645 in 2024. 

PR Admissions by Source Country, % Increase

The ICC Immigration Dashboard data from January to July 2024 also reveal significant declines in permanent residence (PR) admissions from other source countries, when compared to the same period in 2023.

Source countries that saw significant declines are Iraq (-25.95%), Jamaica (-22.92%), and Brazil (-22.38%). The United States and the United Kingdom also saw substantial drops of 22.12% and 22.01%, respectively. Countries like Congo, DRC (-20.71%) and South Korea (-18.12%) also experienced double-digit decreases. Traditionally high-immigration source countries like China (-11.33%) and India (-9.65%) witnessed smaller but notable reductions, signalling the changing immigration dynamics, possibly linked to Canada’s evolving immigration policies.

This overall downward trend in PR admissions may reflect tighter immigration policies, global economic shifts, or other external factors affecting migration patterns.

PR Admissions by Source Country, % Decrease

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On September 13, 2024, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship welcomed 48 new citizens from 13 countries at a beautiful ceremony held at Norquest College. This event was not just about formalities; it was a heartfelt celebration of diverse journeys and new beginnings.

The ceremony began with storytelling circles, where candidates shared their emotions—gratitude, excitement, happiness. Many talked about the challenges they faced, the families they missed, and the sacrifices made along the way. Yet, there was overwhelming joy in starting fresh in Canada. Lance Scout, our Indigenous representative, shared important insights about Indigenous peoples in Canada, highlighting the need for understanding and reconciliation. His words reminded everyone of our shared responsibility to foster unity and respect.

Then, we moved to the citizenship ceremony where Carolyn Campbell, CEO of Norquest College, welcomed candidates and their guests with genuine enthusiasm. Her heartfelt congratulations celebrated their hard work and commitment to this significant milestone. The ceremony featured stunning performances, including bagpiper Jerry Hove and singer Karella Cummings, whose rendition of the National Anthem captivated the audience. Their music added a special touch to the day.

The enhanced citizenship ceremony was a memorable celebration of resilience and community. As these new citizens embark on their journey in Canada, we welcome them to a vibrant and inclusive society. Welcome to your new beginning!

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. 

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On September 5, 2024, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship hosted an enhanced citizenship ceremony at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity where 25 individuals from 12 countries became Canadian citizens with a picturesque background.

The storytelling circles at the beginning of the ceremony were filled with a range of emotions, including gratitude, excitement, and a hint of anxiety. One candidate expressed, “We are all so grateful to have moved here and received our citizenship. We’ve experienced the openness and diversity of the culture firsthand. Each of us has our own unique story, and we have felt the warmth of the people who embraced us. We’ve also seen how welcoming the Indigenous communities have been.”

Chris Lorway, the CEO and President of the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, extended a heartfelt welcome to candidates and their guests, inviting them into a vibrant space infused with inspiration. With genuine enthusiasm, he congratulated them on reaching this remarkable milestone, acknowledging the dedication and passion that brought them here.

The singer, Stephanie O’Dette, captivated the audience with her soulful voice and powerful stage presence, leaving a lasting impression as new citizens and their guests rejoiced in their new home country’s national anthem.

This enhanced ceremony unfolded against the stunning backdrop of Banff, where newly sworn-in Canadian citizens, joined by their family and friends, spent the rest of the day exploring the breathtaking surroundings. It was a truly wonderful introduction to their new home, 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. 

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On September 17, 2024, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship hosted a memorable enhanced citizenship ceremony at Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum where 47 individuals from 15 countries proudly became Canadian citizens.

Lauri Hoeg, Anishinaabe Kwe and a proud member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, set a profound tone at the storytelling circles, sharing insightful teachings about Indigenous Peoples in Canada that resonated deeply with attendees. Her engaging narratives illuminated the rich history and culture of Indigenous communities, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation among all present. To further enhance the experience, she captivated the audience with her beautiful singing during the ceremony, weaving together the threads of tradition and celebration in a truly memorable way.

“I can think of no better place to have a citizenship ceremony than right here in this building – built by The Children of Peace.  Today, you become Canadian citizens in a building symbolic of Canadian democracy. This architectural masterpiece was built between 1825 and 1831 and was used to collect alms as a way to support their charitable programs.”, said Ian Proudfoot, President of the Sharon Temple Museum Society.

Mayor Virginia Hackson, sixth mayor of East Gwillimbury since 1970, and the second woman to hold this position, warmly welcomed the new Canadians to their new town, making this ceremony even more special.

Sharon Temple’s historical significance remains a beacon of light in present-day East Gwillimbury, much like other museums, historical sites, and parks across Canada that newcomers can explore through the Canoo App. This platform offers an opportunity for newcomers to connect with Canada’s rich heritage and discover the stories that shape our nation.

The celebration culminated in a stunning performance by C’est Jazz, a talented choir of high school students from Huron Heights Secondary School, led by Arlene Charters. Their heartfelt and unique rendition of the national anthem left a lasting impression, perfectly capturing the spirit of the occasion.

The reception was a delightful celebration, with attendees savoring the lovely weather alongside wraps and cupcakes. Newly sworn-in Canadian citizens, accompanied by their family and friends, embraced the day by exploring the museum, creating lasting memories as they marked this significant milestone in their lives.

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.