01 Jul Happy Canada Day!
Today, we celebrate Canada’s 153rd birthday.
I immigrated to Canada 36 years ago and I have always felt that this is my home: I was blessed to marry and raise my two beautiful daughters right here in Halifax, NS.
Canada Day is a celebration of everything that makes our country one of the best in the world: free healthcare, a strong public education system, human rights… our country is rich in so many ways especially because of our diversity and multiculturalism.
Canada Day is a common day to hold citizenship ceremonies. Although no in-person ceremonies will be taking place this year, the first ever cross-country virtual citizenship ceremony will be held! Hosted by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada, and MaRS, it will showcase interviews with new citizens who are essential workers and serving on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will each make special appearances at the event. The celebration will be livestreamed on YouTube and will begin at 3PM ADT. The link to register is: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/celebration-of-citizenship-registration-110168567150?aff=ICCNewsletter
Canada Day is also a time to be thankful for the country we live in and an opportunity to reaffirm your Canadian citizenship. Hosted by Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, a virtual reaffirmation ceremony will be broadcast on Zoom at 10:30ADT. Tareq Hadhad, CEO and Founder of Peace by Chocolate, will speak at the event. The link to register is: https://forms.gle/D6Jo88JwwKnzCGjb7
Please join these virtual celebrations or go out and support our local businesses in a safe way!
I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, and healthy Canada Day! 🇨🇦