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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, December 16, 2011 · 8 Canada richer as new citizens are sworn in By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF "Canada is now richer by 49 people." These were the words of Judge Kris Mohan after he presided over a recent ceremony in Town Hall's South Atrium, which saw 49 people from 21 different countries receive their Canadian citizenship. Flanked by RCMP Constable Terry Russel, who was clad full dress uniform, Mohan acknowledged the day marked a very important milestone for those present, a day they had worked very hard to reach. Some in the audience, he said, had escaped war-torn countries while others had to leave their families behind. The citizenship ceremony, he said, marked the confirmation that the candidates' long journeys were finally over. Mohan said living in Canada is a privilege and with that privilege come rights, but also responsibilities. "In my opinion, being a Canadian is not just walking around with Canadian documents like a passport, citizenship certificate etc. It is shared values that make you a Canadian. What are some of our Canadian shared values? One of them is to volunteer. Sixty-seven per cent of Canadians volunteer. In practical terms that means more than two out of three people in Canada volunteer," said Mohan. "Everything that you have comes from our society. Your kids go to schools supported by society, your aged parents and family health is looked after by the public health system and so forth. Whether you know it, or not, you owe society something. Please volunteer like Canadians now that you are a Canadian." The candidates, who hailed from such countries as Afghanistan, England, Korea, Iraq, France, Columbia, Cuba, India, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Russia, Sudan, Sri Lanka and America, listened intently throughout Mohan's speech. Some sat with their families who were receiving their citizenship with them. Some had relatives who had already received their citizenship who could be seen snapping photos throughout the ceremony. Following Mohan's speech, each person raised their right hand and took the Oath of Citizenship. Then each candidate was summoned to the front of the room where they received their citizenship and posed for photos with Mohan, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, Halton Region Chair Gary Carr, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and Joan Gibb (representing Oakville MP Terence Young who was in Ottawa). Each of these dignitaries addressed the See Canada page 9 ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER SHARING CANADIAN VALUES: Celebrating their new citizenship at Oakville Town Hall were, from left, Wesam, Sawsan, Emi, Adele and Rachel Younis. CREATE YOUR DREAM KITCHEN TODAY · Winners of the Consumers' Choice Award for Business Excellence in kitchens and bathrooms for twelve consecutive years (1999 - 2011) · Winners of HomeStars.ca Award for kitchens and bathrooms for 2008, 2009 and 2010 Oakville Showroom 609 Ford Dr. (at Cornwall) 905-337-2229 Mississauga Showroom 1911 Dundas St. E., Mississauga 905-602-1911 AT Y O U R S E R V I C E w w w.kdplus.ca info@kdplus.ca