News Release

Celebrating Canada’s Citizenship Week 2006

OTTAWA, October 16, 2006 — The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, today launched Canada’s Citizenship Week 2006 by taking part in a special citizenship ceremony to swear in 35 new Canadians.

Canada’s Citizenship Week is an annual event celebrating the value of citizenship through special events and citizenship ceremonies in communities across the country. During this year’s Citizenship Week, which runs from October 16 to 22, hundreds of people will become Canadian citizens, and thousands of Canadians will reaffirm their commitment to Canada at citizenship ceremonies.

“Citizenship Week is a time to celebrate our shared values as Canadians and recognize that as citizens, we have a responsibility to uphold these values,” said Minister Solberg. “I am honoured to launch this Citizenship Week by welcoming Canada's newest citizens. New Canadians make a significant social, economic and cultural contribution to the country, and they play a crucial role in building a better Canada.”

Citizenship Judge Suzanne Pinel presided over the ceremony, held at the Terry Fox Canadian Youth Centre, headquarters of Historica Encounters. Encounters is a one-week program of Canadian studies which brings together young Canadians from different backgrounds and regions to learn about one another and discover their country. The 110 young people participating in Historica Encounters attended this special ceremony.

For more information on Canada's Citizenship Week, including citizenship ceremonies open to the public and how you can get involved in promoting citizenship in your community, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca/english/about/citizenship/citweek.asp.

For more information (media inquiries), please contact:

Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Marina Wilson
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650