New Canadians welcomed at citizenship ceremony at Queen’s University

Nearly six dozen new Canadians were sworn at the Isabel Bader Centre in an enhanced citizenship ceremony co-hosted by Queen’s University and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020.

The ceremony, which took about an hour, saw 65 candidates from 24 countries affirm their oath of citizenship before Judge Marie Senécal-Tremblay and a room of gathered friends, family, and supporters.

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.”

– Oath of Citizenship of Canada

In addition to taking their oath of citizenship, the University and the ICC hosted a round-table discussion around the theme of Black History Month, which was also referenced in Judge Senécal-Tremblay’s remarks, who took time to call out the accomplishments of immigrants Jean Augustine and Robert Sutherland.

“I was deeply moved to go through the ceremony with you again,” said Dr. Patrick Deane, Principal of Queen’s University ,who came to Canada from South Africa in 1979.

“The exciting thing in becoming a citizen is to imagine the ways in which we can all contribute to the growth and development of this extraordinary country,” Deane added as words of advice and encouragement to the new Canadians.