“The sun is shining outside, and it will certainly be shining in this room, this day, for it is truly a memorable occasion.”
With those words, Judge Robert Somerville set in motion a day to remember for 13 people from across Northwestern Ontario who were sworn is as Canadian citizens at the Civic Centre here last Wednesday.
The 13 new Canadians arrived in this country from many places around the world. Ana Isabel Ferrera, for instance, originally came from the Azores while Tam Thi Minh Le was born in Vietnam.
Anne-Marie, Elisabeth, and Marguerite Husser all came to Canada from France while Daniel Mason and Kathryn and Marvin Smith hailed from the States.
Ida Urquhart (Northern Ireland), Geraldine Taylor (England), and Yan Ling Zhing and Wei and Teno Guo (all from China) rounded out the international mix.
Everyone had different reasons for coming to Canada but all agreed they loved the land they now call home.
Marguerite Husser, who has a farm in Barwick, came to Canada 15 years ago with her two daughters, Elisabeth and Anne-Marie. “We had a dairy farm in France but it was too small and we could not get any more land,” she explained.
Happy with her new home, Husser and her family have settled in just fine. “My daughter, Elisabeth, is a school teacher in Rainy River and Anne-Marie works for Fred Klug in Emo,” she related.
She and son, Marc, take care of their dairy farm. “It’s very nice here,” Husser stressed.
“I’m very happy here. I’ve waited so long to become Canadian,” revealed Tam Thi Minh Le, who had been living in Canada for four years prior to gaining her citizenship.
“I really love the summer here but I love the winter, too,” she continued, amazed at the great differences between seasons in this part of Canada.
Mason, on the other hand, liked Canada for other reasons.
“I’ve got hay fever when I’m down in the States but up here there’s nice clean air,” noted Mason, who came to Canada in 1971. He currently lives in Fort Frances.
“It’s nice to see more variety in the land, too. Of course, I used to live in Iowa where it’s all crops,” he laughed. “It’s also more laid back, there’s not so much of a hurry, and Canada doesn’t try to force any values upon anyone.”
Urquhart, now a resident of Kenora, also had good things to say about Canada.
“The most outstanding thing about Canada is the generosity of spirit,” said Urquhart, who has travelled extensively across the country since coming here five years ago.
“The country has always been there to help people, whether it’s a rescue mission or shipping medicine to other places,” noted Urquhart, who remembers working with Canadian forces during World War Two.
And how has her life changed with her new citizenship?
“Now that I’m a citizen, I’d really like to get involved with something. I’m not quite sure what yet but I’m sure there’s something for me to do,” she smiled.
Judge Somerville, who presided over the ceremony that was held for the first time at the Civic Centre instead of the courthouse, truly made the most of the occasion with a stirring speech and several anecdotes about what it means to be a Canadian.
After taking their oath of allegiance to Queen and country, the 13 new Canadians received their certificates of citizenship and then joined together for a joyous rendition of “O Canada.”
After the proceedings, most stayed to mix and mingle at a reception compliments of the Town of Fort Frances.
“It was very satisfying to see people change their citizenship to that of Canadian,” Citizenship and Immigration Canada officer Elmer Mainville said during the reception.
To apply for Canadian citizenship, a person must first be a resident here for at least three years. Then, after a background check, the applicant must undergo testing and make a presentation.
The process can take up to a year.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
