Tag: New Canadians

I am Canadian

As children, we are all the same. Then something happens when we become adults.  But on this day, Canada Day 2018, I’m reminded fondly of the conversations I have had with both children and adults at our round table at the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). As volunteer hosts, we facilitated conversations among soon-to-be Canadian citizens on behalf of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.

Institute for Canadian Citizenship 2018 Table Hosts

“Why have you decided to become a Canadian citizen?” Canada is safe. “What were your first impressions of Canada?” Snow! “What do you love most about Canada?” Freedom … and snow!

Round table discussions

I’ve been hosting since 2016 and I can guarantee:

  • When I hear “safe and freedom”, my heart literally swells with gratitude.
  • When I sing our national anthem “God keep our land, glorious and free, my voice quivers.
  • When I witness our new Canadian citizens raise their hands and swear their allegiance to Canada, my tears fall.

I am immediately reminded of the hard sacrifices our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents have made over 70 years ago.

As all immigrants, then and now, continue to work tirelessly so that next generations are safe and free, we must remember not only on Canada Day but every day that new Canadian citizens have given up their homes so that we can call “Canada” our home.

Sister is a new Canadian citizen.
Mom is a new Canadian citizen.
Grandmother is a new Canadian citizen!
  • Citizenship Ceremony July 1, 2018 at Royal Ontario Museum

O Canada, “Thank you” is not enough.

Abundance … and more

When working with groups as a speaker-facilitator, what’s important is making a meaningful and authentic connection with your audience.

Last week my audience was an exceptional and talented group of sixty internationally-educated professionals in Business and Technology at York University at the beautiful New Students Centre.   

As newcomers, our parents’ arrived in Canada 70 years ago. And yes, it’s a new world now but courage is courage. And at times, it must seem as if there just isn’t enough courage to go around. So my final remarks of the evening are a tribute to our parents:

“Like our parents who came to Canada in 1949 from China and Hong Kong, you have come a long way from home. Our parents came with very little and still managed somehow to put a roof over our heads, gave us a safe place to sleep, books to read, clothes that kept us nice and warm, and fed us well, always too well.

What our parents accomplished was truly remarkable. Our parents gave my siblings and me their entire lives.  We can’t come even close to giving back to them anything that resembles what they gave us – extreme selflessness. Holding them in high regard and respect are all we have for them.

You, too, have something unique to give to your children. And when you’re frustrated in your job search and you can’t find the right word to say, remember all that you have.

You have:

  • the ability to give more.
  • the agility to bend more.
  • the capability to build more.
  • the knowledge to create more
  • the experience to understand and see more.
  • the best of many worlds to dream more.
  • more than you know.

Your Bridging Program’s motto is “Make More.” You have abundance and I wish you success, health, and happiness.