Brandon welcomes 46 new citizens

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This article was published 27/10/2023 (1096 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In a heartwarming and celebratory ceremony held at Brandon’s iconic Dome Building on Thursday, 46 people hailing from 11 different countries officially became citizens of Canada.

The ceremony was a testament to the diversity and unity that defines the Canadian identity, as new citizens from various corners of the world came together.

It was the first in-person citizenship ceremony in Brandon since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. The return to in-person ceremonies signified a step toward normalcy and a joyful reunion with the community for Citizenship Judge Suzanne Carriere and all in attendance.

Carriere, who presided over the event, made it an unforgettable experience by sharing a brief history of her own heritage and engaging with each new citizen. She took the time to ask how long they had been in Canada, making the ceremony a more personal and meaningful moment for the participants.

“My husband (Neil) has been here for 11 years, and it has been so good,” Ana Basilisco, originally from the Philippines, told the Sun. “Being in Canada has been helping my family because we were able to buy our own house and my daughter (Rhyanne) has also started working and I am so excited and overwhelmed. This is a dream come true for us, as it’s another milestone for our family here.”

Bhautish Patel, who originally hails from India, reflected on his six-year journey in Canada, emphasizing that from the moment he arrived as a permanent resident, he felt like a Canadian.

“Becoming a Canadian citizen, I am so grateful to the Government of Canada and her people. I’ve been here for six years, and it has been a great place to live,” Patel said. “I never felt that I was not a citizen of this country from the first day I arrived. I have never been discriminated against as per my colour, religion or nationality.”

Mathew Osuagwu had been eagerly awaiting this day a long time.

“I have been looking forward to seeing this day three years and seven months ago when I arrived in Canada, which was the reason that I applied immediately after I came,” said Osuagwu, who’s originally from Nigeria. “My family’s journey here has been joyful and blissful because we have been progressful all year. It is a dream come true for my family.”

Even one of the young new citizens, Fatna Mohammed, 10, from Eritrea, had a voice in the ceremony.

“We’ve been here for five years, and it’s been a very good experience for my family,” Mohammed told the Sun. “I like it here because it’s fun, and I can explore a lot of stuff here. I feel very proud to be a Canadian citizen. I feel right to be here. I felt supported by my family. I’m excited to be here.”

Another new citizen, Bhadresh Patel from India, who has been in Canada for seven years, emphasized the richness of Canadian culture and how he now feels like a part of it.

“It’s been really good to see a lot of family, a lot of friends, see a lot of Canadian culture that I have never been a part of,” he said.

Carriere expressed the significance of the ceremony, especially as it offers the government officials to get in the community and see people face to face. She highlighted the unique journeys that new Canadians undertake to become part of the country, the intentional decision new citizens make to come to Canada, adapt to its culture and climate, and ultimately become part of the Canadian family.

“A lot of us that are born here in Canada don’t always think a whole lot about what it means to be Canadian,” Carriere told the Sun. “But for people who come here from other countries, it’s more intentional. It’s a huge journey. And to have a ceremony like this is a perfect way to really celebrate that sense of belonging now that these 46 people joined our Canadian family.”

Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba president Kathy Cleaver extended a warm welcome to the new citizens, inviting them to participate in various community events and activities and emphasizing the importance of their contributions to making Brandon a vibrant and sustainable place.

“It was fitting to hold the ceremony in person, as it symbolizes a return to normalcy after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba general manager Mark Humphries said. “From my personal experiences, Canada is the place of opportunities for those who work hard, adapt and immerse themselves in the culture.”

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