2005-22

SUCCESSFUL CITIZENSHIP WEEK CONCLUDES

OTTAWA, October 24, 2005 — The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today announced the successful conclusion to this year’s Citizenship Week with nearly 1800 newcomers having taken the oath of citizenship at 43 special ceremonies in communities across the country. The week also featured almost 200 municipal proclamations of Citizenship Week and the presentation of 18 Citation for Citizenship awards.

“Every year, Citizenship Week draws more and more of us together to celebrate our membership in the Canadian family and reflect on the value of citizenship,” Minister Volpe said. “I’m immensely proud so many new Canadians were able to join in this year’s festivities by taking the oath of citizenship or by reaffirming their commitment to this great country.”

Minister Volpe helped officially launch this year’s Citizenship Week festivities by taking part in a citizenship ceremony to swear in 50 new Canadians at Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. The Minister presented a Citation for Citizenship award at the ceremony to Father Gratien Girod of Ottawa for his many years of work at the Intercultural Counseling program he established at Ottawa’s Catholic Immigration Centre as well as his work at the Herridge Community Health Centre.

Throughout the week, municipalities from British Columbia and the Territories to Nunavut and the Atlantic Provinces also took the opportunity to join in the celebrations by issuing a proclamation recognizing the week as an important opportunity to reflect on the value of citizenship, reflect on the rights and responsibilities that go with it, and reaffirm our commitment to Canada.

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For more information:

Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 954-1064

Greg Scott
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 941-7028