Canada Day is citizenship day for a number of northwest residents, the Coast Tsimshian and China work out a deal and within a few months the Daily News will publish no more, some of the items of note from the news files of Monday.
Daily News front page headline
I AM CANADIAN - CEREMONY WELCOMES NEW CITIZENS -- A look at the Canada Day ceremonies that brought this nation more thankful citizens and celebrated a gift of citizenship.
Details of an agreement between Coast Tsimshian Resources and a Chinese lumber company, which could create up to 150 jobs in Terrace and Prince Rupert.
Naikun Wind may soon be in other hands as company management investigate a number of possibilities for the North coast wind power company.
The Sports section features a look at the junior hockey path of Kory Movold
(Daily News Archives for Monday July 5, 2010)
I am Canadian — ceremony welcomes new citizens
Coast Tsimshian and China knock on wood
Cormark steps in to evaluate NaiKun
The shrimping industry shudders
The Northern View--
Black Press Chief Operating Officer comments on announced closure of Prince Rupert Daily News --
The Black Press update on their closure plans for the Prince Rupert Daily News, which Black Press purchased over the Canada Day weekend (see article here)
CFTK TV 7 News--
Sports Fishing -- Shahar Nassimdoost outlines the impact of the sport fisher on the north coast economy (see report here)
CBC News Northern BC
Daybreak North
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now.
The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here
Daily News, front page, headline story
I am Canadian — ceremony welcomes new citizens
By Monica Lamb-Yorski
Staff Writer
Prince Rupert Daily News
Monday, July 5, 2010
With the Prince Rupert harbour as the perfect back-drop, forty-one North Coast residents made it official on Thursday — they are now Canadian.
For the first time ever, Canada Day celebrations at Mariners Park in Prince Rupert included a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony. Forty-one people from communities between Haida Gwaii and Hazelton became citizens.
They’d come to Canada from Austria, the Azores, Finland, Germany, India, Ireland, South Africa, Netherlands, Portugal, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Vietnam and Wales.
Before the ceremony began, James Bryant, Speaker for the Hereditary Chiefs of the Nine Allied Tsimshian Tribes, welcomed the candidates for citizenship.
“It’s not very often that we have this ceremony, welcome to each and everyone one of you,” Bryant said.
Citizenship Judge Ann Dillon told the crowd it was fitting Bryant had welcomed them to traditional lands.
“It’s awe inspiring to reflect that the allied tribes first welcomed newcomers hundreds of years ago,” Dillon said.
The weatherman had threatened rain leading up to Canada Day, but the black clouds parted and the sun was shining as the ceremony began.
“Canada Day is a perfect day to become a citizen,” Dillon commented. “We often fail to see how wonderful confederation was.”
The French and English were at war, had different languages and religion and yet they came together to create a country, she said.
“It isn’t always perfect and our failure was recognizing our first founding people, but we’re a country that learns from our mistakes and we’re working towards reconciliation.”
Speaking directly to the candidates, Dillon told them they’ve come with many different stories and challenges.
“I salute your courage. Canada means opportunity and freedom and it offers you a future.”
With citizenship, she said, comes responsibility.
“It’s not just a passport in your back pocket, it needs to be nurtured by voting, by continuing to learn about Canada, contributing and volunteering in your community.”
In French and English, the candidates and people watching in the crowd, stood, raised their right hands, and took the Oath of Citizenship – pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II, promising to obey the laws of Canada and promising to be good citizens.
Tsimshian elder Leonard Alexcee assured the new citizens they’ve made Canada richer.
But on a side bar, he commented that it was 50 years ago on Canada Day that First Nations were given the vote.
“We were on this land for thousands of years, but weren’t allowed to vote until then,” he recalled.
New citizen Sharanjit Singh said he arrived in Prince Rupert almost 11 years ago.
“I came to for a one day visit to the Sikh temple. I had been in Surrey for eight months and before that in India,” Singh explained.
He worked as a priest at the temple for ten years, but now works as a bus driver, continuing to volunteer as a priest.
Singh filed for citizenship in March 2009, yet it was seven and half years before he was able to become a permanent resident.
Maria Fernandes of Prince Rupert waited 45 years before becoming a Canadian citizen. Her daughters who live in Prince Rupert were encouraging her for a long time, she said.
Prince Rupert couple Gertrude and Arnoldo Franco, also from Portugal, waited 34 years.
“I don’t think I’ve ever encountered so many people that have taken such a long time before coming citizens. You have some careful planners here, ” Dillon told the crowd.
In her closing remarks, Dillon encouraged the new citizens to add their strengths, talents and dreams to help shape the fabric of Canada to create something great.
“Some of you have been here for a very long time and have already contributed to the multiculturalism of Canada,” she added.
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