NEWS FOR NEWCOMERS

NEW CITIZENS ARE AS CANADIAN AS HOCKEY

The Ottawa Senators hosted a special citizenship ceremony recently, welcoming 186 new citizens from 39 countries into the Canadian family.

It was the largest Canadian citizenship ceremony ever hosted by an NHL team. Once sworn in, Canada’s new citizens walked the red carpet onto centre ice to sing O Canada to open the game. They then stayed and watched the game as guests of the Ottawa Senators. Ahmed Hussen, the minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, joined the new citizens in singing the national anthem.

 • Canada has one of the highest naturalization rates in the world. About 85 per cent of eligible landed immigrants become Canadian citizens.

• Over the last 10 years, Canada has welcomed nearly 1.7 million new Canadians.

“It is important that we recognize the many contributions immigrants bring to our country,” said Hussen.

 “If our partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada teaches us anything, it is that the new citizens we will be honouring are as Canadian as hockey itself,” said Nicolas Ruszkowski, COO, Senators Sports and Entertainment. “We could not be more proud to welcome them home.”