On Saturday, August 5^th 2017, the William Hingston Center in Parc-Extension, one of Montreal’s most diverse neighborhoods, hosted a special Citizenship Oath Ceremony as part of Canada 150, a year commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation.

Organized by the National Bangladeshi-Canadian Council (NBCC) in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 150 citizenship candidates gathered in the center’s auditorium with their families and friends to begin a new life as citizens of Canada. The event was opened to the public and the local community of Parc-Extension attended the very first Citizenship Ceremony to be held in the multicultural neighborhood.

The ceremony was presided by M. Simon Durivage, Member of the Order of Canada and retired news anchor of Radio-Canada. The President of the Ceremony was accompanied by Mrs. Elena Romanko, Clerk of the Ceremony, Constable Christopher Murray, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Ms. Samiha Hossain, Master of Ceremony.

Special guests were invited to welcome and congratulate the new citizens. Speeches were given by M. David Lametti, Member of Parliament for Lasalle-Émard-Verdun riding, Representative of Honorable Ahmed D. Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; Mrs. Mary Deros, City Councillor of the District of Parc-Extension; Mrs. Mary McCutcheon, President of Parc-Extension Historical Society (SHPEHS); M. Monir Hossain, President of the National Bangladeshi-Canadian Council (NBCC).

Other special guests were M. John Marshall, War Veteran and Senior Citizen of Parc-Extension, M. Wissam El-Chayeb, Pharmacist-owner of Provigo Jean-Talon, and M. Paul Awasthi, Senior advisor of India-Canada Organization of Parc-Extension.

Citizenship candidates took the oath and guests reaffirmed their rights in French and English and the new Canadians received their certificates, gifts and congratulations from the dignitaries and special guests of the event. After speeches took place, the bilingual National Anthem was performed by Ms. Ocean Go with the presence of children on the stage.

The ceremony was concluded by a small reception held outside of the center’s auditorium. A cake with the emblem of Canada 150 was generously offered by Pharmacy Dimitra Alevetsovitis and Wissam El-Chayeb Inc. from Provigo Jean-Talon. Light snacks and refreshments were offered by PEYO and Tim Hortons Parc-Extension and pictures of citizens were taken with the dignitaries of the ceremony. Support was received by IRCC, Canadian Heritage, Government of Canada, Loisirs du Parc, and the Office of Ms. Mélanie Joly, MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Minister of Canadian Heritage, Borough Villeray-Saint Michel=Parc-Extension.