By Sarah Rae

New Canadians welcomed in ceremony at Fort Battleford

Jun 24, 2016 | 5:00 PM

People from all over the world were welcomed in an official ceremony just in time for Canada Day. Fort Battleford was host to 47 new citizens and their guests Friday, June 24.

Abdul Salawu and his family, who moved from Nigeria to Meadow Lake five years ago, got their certificates at the ceremony.

“(I feel) accomplished that we finally are Canadians now,” he said. “We can celebrate now. Canada Day has a new meaning for us and it just feels wonderful.”

Salawu said he and his family don’t have any specific plans for how to spend their first Canada Day as citizens, but they’ll definitely catch some fireworks.

The ceremony was hosted by the Institute of Canadian Citizenship and Parks Canada. The ICC hosts about 70 ceremonies per year with round table discussions beforehand, where new citizens and their guests can share their stories and discuss what being Canadian means to them.

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Irene Legatt of Parks Canada said having a citizenship ceremony at a national historic site like Fort Battleford is of special significance.

“It’s such an honour to see them become Canadian citizens and share and celebrate the history that is Canada and the heritage and the culture that is our country,” she said. “At Fort Battleford and our other sites we try to present that essence of Canada and so it is such an honour to be part of the ceremony.”

Ezroe Gomantong, 12, has spent most of his life in the country, but became an official Canadian Friday. He and his family immigrated from the Philippines eight years ago.

Gomantong said he was very excited to get his citizenship because he sees Canada as a fun place to be. He said he and his family will spend their first Canada Day as citizens at a park, having fun and watching the fireworks.

The ceremony included the oath-taking, singing of O Canada and giving out certificates. Dancer Jennifer Nicotine also performed a First Nations jingle dress dance to welcome the new citizens.

sarah.rae@jpbg.ca

@sarahjeanrae