Citizenship ceremonies too important to drop – Winnipeg Free Press

Yet another reminder of the importance of citizenship ceremonies:

“I Swear ….”

For the past few months, there have been rumblings that the federal government would like to do away with Canadian citizenship ceremonies.

This is very disappointing.

Just over a week ago there was an article on this possibility in the Free Press.

As someone who has presided over hundreds of ceremonies, in-person and virtually, and sworn in over 50,000 new citizens, I would like to weigh in on this topic by adding my voice to those across Canada who are quietly screaming that to do away with Canadian citizenship ceremonies might prove to be an irreversible tragedy.

Virtual ceremonies were introduced as a result of the pandemic. However, now that life is regaining more normalcy, the federal government is exploring how to take that cost-saving measure one step further and eliminate all citizenship ceremonies.

To draw a simple parallel, imagine students in Grade 12 who are graduating only to be told that there will be no celebration, no ceremony, no anything… because they will simply receive their graduation certificate at some point, down the road, in the mail.

Becoming a citizen in one of the freest, wealthiest, most beautiful nations that has ever existed in the history of the world is a big deal. The in-person ceremony is an occasion, an unforgettable event, that the new citizens have hoped for, worked for, studied for and dreamed of for years. One has only to attend a ceremony anywhere in this country, and you will instantly recognize that everyone who has had the good fortune to gain citizenship to this nation views it as one of the greatest moments in their life.

I often tell those about to take their oaths that this day is a milestone. They will never have, or experience, another day like this, ever! The simple truth is that most people who participate in an in-person ceremony remember the event and the date for the rest of their lives.

Many people attend these ceremonies in their native dress, some dress in red and white, while others come in their Sunday best. The sheer delight and joy one sees in the adults and children as they receive their citizenship certificate, along with a small Canada flag and pin, is almost palpable.

When a ceremony ends, everyone sings O Canada. In almost every in-person ceremony you will see some people literally weeping with joy as they sing ‘their’ national anthem.

I’ve had the honour of presiding over ceremonies in the VIA train station, the provincial exhibition fairgrounds in Brandon, CFB Shilo, RCMP “D” Division, the new Winnipeg Police Station, Grace Hospital, Winnipeg City Hall, the Manitoba Legislative Building, the Western Canada Aviation Museum, Government House, Investors Group Field, Lower Fort Garry, on the beach at Clear Lake, the Manitoba Museum, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and dozens of school gymnasiums, cultural centres and community clubs throughout the province. I’ve presided over a ceremony by someone’s bedside in a hospital and also done a ceremony in a downtown citizenship office for someone who lived in Churchill and was on his way to Antarctica.

Regardless of where the ceremony takes place or how big or small an event it is, I have never, not once, seen anyone receive their citizenship who was not overjoyed beyond belief at their good fortune to become a Canadian.

Rather than eliminate all ceremonies, or all in-person ceremonies in favour of doing most ceremonies virtually — hold more in-person ceremonies. Yes, there will be occasions when a virtual ceremony has to be performed because of remoteness to accommodate those becoming new citizens. However, those ceremonies should reinforce the importance of in-person ceremonies wherever and whenever possible.

I also often tell new citizens to remember that the freedoms they will receive as Canadians were paid for with lives and bravery. Canadians played a major role in both world wars, the Korean War, the Afghanistan War and many peacekeeping initiatives over the past several decades.

Citizenship in this nation is a great honour for all Canadians — those born here and those who chose to live here. Let’s never, ever lose sight of how lucky we all are to call this wonderful land our home.

One member of Parliament, attending a ceremony several years ago, commented on the size of the lottery jackpots saying “Don’t worry about winning the lottery. You’ve already won the biggest prize of all. You have won the ‘lottery of life’ by becoming a Canadian.”

Canada is too strong, too beautiful and too respected as a nation to have its citizenship watered down, diminished and devalued.

To become a citizen of this magnificent nation is a ceremony we should embrace, honour and treasure.

Always.

Dwight MacAulay is the former chief of protocol for the government of Manitoba and has been a presiding official for Canadian citizenship ceremonies for 12 years.

Source: Citizenship ceremonies too important to drop – Winnipeg Free Press