Citizenship Week is held annually by IRCC to celebrate Canadian identity and welcome new citizens. The event will be marked by citizenship ceremonies across Canada where individuals will take the Oath of Citizenship and become Canadian citizens.
Citizenship Week is an annual event that celebrates Canadian identity and welcomes new citizens into the country. This year, the event will take place from May 22nd to May 28th, 2023, and will be marked by citizenship ceremonies across Canada. The honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced that he will attend ceremonies in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Vancouver, British Columbia to welcome thousands of new Canadians as citizens.
Citizenship ceremonies are significant events that mark the final step in obtaining Canadian citizenship. After completing the citizenship test and interview, individuals will be invited to attend a ceremony where they will take the Oath of Citizenship. This oath symbolizes an individual’s acceptance of the rights and responsibilities that come with being a Canadian citizen. Typically, the citizenship judge conducts this process.
As part of Citizenship Week, nearly 100 ceremonies are planned, aiming to welcome approximately 13,000 new Canadians. In the previous year, Canada surpassed its target for citizenship acquisition by receiving around 364,000 new citizens. As of the first quarter of 2023, Canada has already granted citizenship to about 85,000 individuals. Indians remain the largest group of newly added citizens, occupying around 19% of the total number. However, citizens from the Philippines, Nigeria, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, China, the US, and the UK constitute up to 54% of this figure.
To make the citizenship process more accessible, the IRCC has been implementing modernization measures such as online testing, virtual citizenship ceremonies, and online application trackers. These initiatives have enabled Canada to surpass pre-COVID-19 figures, with an average of nearly 30,000 individuals taking the Oath of Citizenship each month between April 1st, 2022 and March 31st, 2023.
Acquiring Canadian citizenship is highly beneficial since it relieves citizens of any residency obligations that come with being permanent residents. Furthermore, Canadian citizenship paves the way for obtaining Canadian passports and enables one to participate in municipal, provincial, and federal elections as a voter.
During Citizenship Week, everyone is encouraged to attend citizenship ceremonies taking place across Canada. In addition to physical attendance, Canadians may also join the livestream from Halifax on May 24th. This event provides an opportunity to celebrate Canadian identity and welcome new citizens into the country.
In conclusion, Citizenship Week is an important event that celebrates Canadian identity and welcomes new citizens into the country. The IRCC has been implementing modernization measures to make the citizenship process more accessible, resulting in a significant increase in citizenship acquisition in recent years. Acquiring Canadian citizenship is highly beneficial, providing relief from residency obligations and enabling participation in various elections. Everyone is encouraged to attend citizenship ceremonies taking place across Canada during this special week.