Canadian Citizenship Ceremony at Riverview
submitted by Allison Brown
On February 28th, 2024, Riverview Elementary School was extremely proud to host a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony.
Thanks to a connection made by a dedicated member of our Parents’ Participation Organization, students in grades five and six had the opportunity to witness the hour-long, bilingual ceremony that officially welcomed twenty-nine new citizens to our beautiful country.
Presided over by Citizenship Judge Rania Sfeir and court officiant Tete Wilson, the ceremony also included honoured guests: Provincial Deputy Alejandra Zaga Mendez, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Nina Segalowitz, and President of the West Island Black Community Association Joan Lee.
The ceremony, taking place during Black History Month, highlighted the importance of preserving, sharing, and celebrating culture. Students were able to participate in reciting the citizenship oath (if they wished to) and sang the National Anthem. The new citizens were presented with small gifts of flags, national and provincial pins, and certificates to mark the occasion. The ceremony was followed by a reception for families and we were grateful for the unique and meaningful opportunity!
