Canada – Welcoming new citizens

With the hot sun pounding down on their beaming faces, 58 people were sworn in as Canadian citizens Tuesday at the Alberta legislature.

Among them was Nothando Aggrey, 38, who arrived in Canada from Zimbabwe in 2001.

“I feel great. I feel like shouting,” the shy woman professed, laughing. “I do feel like a Canadian, although deep inside I am a Zimbabwean.”

Aggrey moved to Canada with her husband to flee the violence in her home country.

“I came because of the political situation,” said Aggrey, describing it as “hell.”

“Canada is a country that has lots of freedom. That’s why I came here.”

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Citizenship Judge Sonia Bitar, who was herself an immigrant after fleeing her home country of Lebanon, conducted the ceremony.

“People from different cultures and backgrounds, they chose a different life in Canada,” she told the crowd. “To tell you the truth, we are living in the best country in the whole world.”

The group ceremony wrapped up with the singing of O Canada, followed by some tea served by Edmonton’s Ismaili community. For Aggrey, it was her first time singing the national anthem.

“It felt great,” she said with a giant grin. “It felt so liberating.”

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Edmonton Journal