Local News
New citizens share hopes
Updated: October 17, 2008 at 12:24 AM CDT

Red River College hosted a citizenship ceremony at its Princess Street campus Thursday, but this one came with a twist.Instead of the usual speech-making (although there was plenty of that later), this one started with 10 round-table forums that tossed new Canadians together with older Canadians, life-long Canadians and the odd journalist to swap stories about life in Canada.

After the expected jokes about the weather, what was most striking was the earnestness of this new batch of 38 Canadians as they shared what they liked -- and what they wanted -- of their new country.

Amatjeet Hirkewal, who led the discussion at her table, became a Canadian citizen when she left her native India several years ago.

But she said she has always been conscious of a barrier between "new Canadians and old citizens."

It is something that can be overcome, she said, "but we need more opportunities to come together and socialize."

The enhanced ceremony at RRC was a step in that direction, she said.

At Table Seven, Svitlana Matkiuska from Ukraine said people come to Canada looking for a better life for their kids. "But we soon realize, we have it better, too. We have peace and freedom. If you are not lazy, you can get everything you wish for."

Her son, Yuri, busy at the kids' table, appeared to be getting what he wished for.

"Canadians are well-mannered," he said "... and there are more electronics."

Matkiuska was there to see her husband Ihor and her sons Yuri and Ihor become Canadians. She was in Ukraine during the Orange Revolution and followed her family here later. She has to wait a few more months before she can join them as citizens.

Reuben Garang, his wife Rachel and their daughter Adior also became Canadians Thursday. The family fled Sudan as refugees four years ago. Their youngest daughter, Ayen, who was born here, is already a citizen.

"Some people come here with (no English)," Garang said. "We can't even help our children learn." He'd like to see more ESL classes offered so parents can help their children -- and keep up to them, once the kids start school themselves.

After about 45 minutes of discussion, a welcome by RRC elder-in-residence Jules Lavallee and speeches by RRC president Jeff Zabudsky and Citizenship Judge Harold Gilleshammer, the 38 candidates took the oath of citizenship, shook hands with John Ralston Saul, husband of Canada's former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson and voila, they were Canadians -- part of the tide of 11,000 that now come to Manitoba each year.