New citizens who took oath in Brandon ceremony proud to be Canadian

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This article was published 17/11/2016 (3591 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Derek Foster had his own cheering section in the Betty Gibson School gymnasium on Wednesday as he proudly became a Canadian citizen.

His partner, Tracey Strang, her two children, his daughter, plus four children from Strang’s daycare were seated front and centre to witness the momentous occasion.

“I’ve watched somebody go through a process that he’s very, very proud of doing … becoming a Canadian,” said Strang, who has been in a relationship with Foster for the past four and a half years.

“He feels like it actually, genuinely, is his home. He’s been respected and considered and found great friendships here in Canada.”

Strang said it was not only a happy moment for the children to be a part of, but also a great learning experience.

“It’s important that they get to recognize that people of all ages get to do something new for themselves, and their families as well,” she said.

Foster, who is of Irish and German descent, has been living in Brandon for nearly a decade. He went to a Canadian job fair in Germany and was recruited to the Wheat City to work at Atom Jet Industries.

In 2008, he went back to Germany to hire more people for the local company.

He is now with Canexus.

“I moved to Germany when I was five years old, and it never felt like home. But Canada does,” he said. “I think it’s the best country in the world.”

Foster said with Canada’s 150th birthday coming up, the timing was right to become a citizen.

“I’m 10 years in this country, and I thought it’s time that I can say I’m a Canadian,” he said.

Foster was one of 57 people, representing 14 countries, who became Canadian citizens yesterday.

It was an emotional moment for Vilma Campos, who along with her husband Ramil Campos and two sons, aged 14 and 9, officially became Canadian citizens.

Their third son, who is three years old, was born in Canada.

“It means a lot,” she said. “When we first came, I said, ‘It’s a point of no return.’”

Campos came to Brandon in 2011 from the Philippines, taking a leap of faith in hopes of creating new opportunities for her family.

“We just wanted a different way of life for my kids,” she said. “We’ve been blessed, and I’m so thankful.”

Humaira Tariq, originally from Pakistan, was seated in the front row wearing traditional clothing from her home country. She spoke about Canada’s freedoms — of religion, speech and culture.

“My children, they can fulfil their dreams,” she said.

Citizenship and Immigration officer Rachel d’Eschambault presided over the citizenship ceremony.

She recognized the individual journeys that brought each new citizen to this point, welcoming them to the “Canadian family.”

“Some of you have had to leave your family … some of you have had to leave successful professions, your friends, your homes, some of you had to even flee persecution and hardship,” d’Eschambault said.

“No matter the reason, when you came to Canada, you had to start your lives all over again.”

She welcomed them to our democratic country, where individual rights and freedoms are respected.

“In some countries, women are treated differently than men, but in Canada no one is above one another, man or woman,” d’Eschambault said. “In some countries, police presence is to be feared, and that’s certainly not the case here in Canada. The scarlet uniform of the RCMP, is recognized and respected around the world.”

She spoke about what it means to be a good Canadian citizen — respecting the law, taking care of family responsibilities, playing an active role in the community, protecting Canadian heritage and voting in elections.

“I’m sure you guys saw on the news with our neighbours in the U.S. It’s a really important day,” she said. “So please, please vote at election time.”

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