Citizenship Week is an annual celebration in Canada to honor new citizens and the essence of being Canadian.
During the recent week, Canada hosted 105 citizenship ceremonies and warmly welcomed over 13,500 new Canadians across all provinces and territories. This number is nearly twice the usual weekly average throughout the year.
Minister Sean Fraser, responsible for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, personally attended citizenship ceremonies in Halifax and Vancouver. In his presence, he welcomed the new citizens and emphasized Canada’s long-standing commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals and the responsibilities that come with Canadian citizenship.
Citizenship ceremonies hold deep emotional significance for those receiving their citizenship, their families, and all who participate in these momentous occasions.
The citizenship ceremony represents the final step in the journey to become a Canadian citizen. During the ceremony, individuals accept the rights and responsibilities of citizenship by taking the Oath of Citizenship, usually administered by a citizenship judge.
Canada’s history is enriched by the diverse contributions of Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. These communities play an integral role in shaping the past, present, and future of Canada. In recognition of this, the Oath of Citizenship was modified in June 2021 to acknowledge Aboriginal and treaty rights.
Canada takes pride in surpassing its citizenship goals in the past year, with nearly 364,000 new Canadian citizens warmly welcomed.
To enhance transparency and convenience, the Citizenship Application Tracker was introduced in May 2021. This tool enables applicants to stay informed about their citizenship application’s status and stay updated on any necessary next steps.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has also launched online application processes for specific citizenship services, including grants of citizenship, obtaining proof of citizenship, and accessing citizenship records.
Since the introduction of the new online testing platform on November 26, 2020, until March 31, 2023, nearly 546,000 individuals have taken their citizenship tests online. Every week, IRCC invites over 5,000 applicants to complete the test.
Between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, an average of nearly 30,000 people took the Oath of Citizenship each month, surpassing the pre-COVID-19 volumes, and highlighting the continued commitment of individuals to become Canadian citizens.
