50 people become citizens at Canada Day ceremony in Thunder Bay
Newly-minted Canadians say becoming a citizen was worth the wait and effort
This Canada Day was a special one for 50 people in Thunder Bay who took their citizenship oaths on the country's 158th birthday.
Individuals and families from 15 different countries became Canadian citizens at a ceremony in the Spirit Garden in Thunder Bay on Tuesday.
They are now able to vote, run for political office, serve on a jury and obtain a Canadian passport.
"I feel like the sense of belonging, like you finally feel like this country is actually your home now," said Tia Phan, who was one of the newly minted Canadians at the ceremony.
Phan, who works as a pharmacy technician at St. Joseph's Hospital, said she came to Canada as an international student almost 10 years ago. She moved to Thunder Bay from Toronto for a better job opportunity, she said.
"Thunder Bay, I love the the nature, and I don't like the weather much, but other than that, I love everything else... everyone's really nice," she said. "I would never go back to Toronto."
Finding a job and adjusting to a new culture was difficult, said Phan.
"There are times when I didn't want to stay because of how hard the process to become a citizen was... I'm glad that I did try my best to to stay."
Kristine Manlosa and her daughter Eliza Manlosa were two more to take their citizenship oaths Tuesday. Kristine, who works as a nurse, said she has lived all over Canada since coming here as a student in 2013.
"It's a little bit of a long journey to get the citizenship, but it's all worth it," she said. Kristine is originally from the Phillipines.
She said she was motivated to become a citizen because she wanted her children to have a better life.
"They have a bright future here in Canada. And I think also because of health [care]. As we all know, we have the very best health [care] in the world," she said.
Kristine said she's lived in Thunder Bay for four years and is happy here.
"I love it here because it's more [quiet] and I can just go to work five minutes away from our home... here in Thunder Bay you can just find different lakes and lots of camping sites, and a waterfall."
Brothers Abdallah Khamis and Hassan Khamis also became citizens Tuesday. They attended the ceremony with their mother, Fadne Hamid, who said she was very proud to see her sons take their citizenship oaths.
"It's like you feel like we belong here and you can feel like safe and happy and you don't have to be afraid," said Abdallah.
The brothers said it took over five years after arriving in Canada to become citizens.
Hassan said that he looks forward to getting a Canadian passport and driver's license. "I'll try to travel around more because I like traveling a lot," he said.