New citizens start lives in Canada as country seeks immigrants

Ethan Lou, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/overseas/06/23/thea-eustaquio.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Thea Eustaquio from Manila, Philippines, poses for a portrait during a Canadian citizenship ceremony in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, May 25, 2017. Eustaquio said: &quot;I want to come to Canada because of wider job opportunities, high quality education, health benefits, visa free travel for almost all countries across the globe and multiculturalism. What I like best about Canada are the raw natural landscapes, parks, diversity and of course the food; maple syrup and BeaverTails!&quot; <cite>Reuters</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>CALGARY, ALBERTA - At citizenship ceremonies across the country, new Canadians began a fresh chapter in their lives last month in a land they chose for what they saw as its diversity, safety and opportunity.</p><p>&quot;There’s lots of multiculturalism here,&quot; said Flor Mejid, originally from El Salvador, who attended a ceremony in Calgary, Alberta. &quot;My high school that I went to (in Canada)... there were students from the Middle East, Asia, Central America, and they all got along really well.&quot;</p><p>Mejid was one of 90 people at the ceremony, hailing from 23 countries, who became citizens weeks before Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary on July 1.</p><p>Sajedeh Ghassemi, originally from Iran, attended a ceremony in Mississauga, just west of Toronto. &quot;I want to have a better future because as a Middle Eastern woman in my country, I cannot do a lot of stuff,&quot; she said.</p><p>Even as the United States under President Donald Trump becomes more closed off - with a pending ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority countries and a crackdown on immigration violations - Canada&#x27;s arms remain open.</p><p>After Trump issued a travel ban order in January, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that his country welcomes all fleeing war and persecution.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/overseas/06/23/laarnice-batal.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Laarnice Batal from the island of Negros, Philippines poses for a portrait before her Canadian citizenship ceremony in Calgary, Alberta, Canada May 29, 2017. Batal said: &quot;My husband was working here, and I chose Canada for our future, for the future of my kids. This is a good place. It&#x27;s good.&quot; <cite>Reuters</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Since January, nearly 3,500 asylum seekers have entered Canada illegally from the United States. In June, Canada launched a fast-track visa for highly skilled workers, seeking to take advantage of the tougher U.S. immigration environment.</p><p>&quot;Canada will welcome a target of 300,000 new permanent residents in 2017,&quot; a spokesman for the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada federal department said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;Planned admissions for resettled refugees in 2017 is 25,000 ... Immigration continues to play a key role in contributing to Canada’s well-being, to our economic prosperity.&quot;</p><p>During Calgary&#x27;s ceremony, citizenship Judge Joe Woodward told the new Canadians of their responsibilities to contribute to society and &quot;to keep Canada alive.&quot;</p><p>&quot;When you become a part of Canada, Canada becomes a part of you,&quot; he said.</p><p>Yosra Boudhrioua, originally from Tunisia, did not speak fluent English when she came to Canada in 2012. But five years later, when she attended the Calgary ceremony, she was completing a degree to become a teacher.</p><p>&quot;It doesn&#x27;t put you down,&quot; she said of Canada&#x27;s immigration system, which offers free language classes. &quot;You&#x27;re always up if you have the passion.&quot;</p>

<p>CALGARY, ALBERTA - At citizenship ceremonies across the country, new Canadians began a fresh chapter in their lives last month in a land they chose for what they saw as its diversity, safety and opportunity.</p>

CALGARY, ALBERTA - At citizenship ceremonies across the country, new Canadians began a fresh chapter in their lives last month in a land they chose for what they saw as its diversity, safety and opportunity.

New citizens start lives in Canada as country seeks immigrants

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New citizens start lives in Canada as country seeks immigrants

Ethan Lou,

Reuters

Published Jun 23, 2017 10:11 AM PHT

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canada

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Calgary

Alberta

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