Worldly Citizens

What lovelier venue could there be for welcoming new citizens into Canada than the University of Toronto? On Jan. 30, Trinity College hosted a Citizenship Ceremony, the first of what is to become a regular occurrence. This ceremonies are a joint-initiative of Trinity and Massey colleges, which will take turns hosting them on an annual basis.

Organized in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the ceremonies are part of the Community Citizenship Ceremonies Initiative developed by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship. The inaugural ceremony was coordinated by members of the Trinity College/Massey College Community volunteer committee including Andy Orchard, Brenda Duchesne, Melissa Williams, John Fraser and Danylo Dzwonyk.

Community Citizenship Ceremonies are distinct because of the role local citizens play, and because they feature an extended program that includes a round-table discussion preceding the ceremony and a reception following the oath. Round table hosts included the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, Chancellor Bill Graham and his wife Cathy, Peter and Jocelyn Allen and Trinity students Evelyn Wong, Gabe DeRoche, Jesse Chisholm Beatson, Jennah Khaled and Ian Wylie.

For the inaugural event, three honoured guest speakers addressed the citizens and their families and friends: the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General and co-founder of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship; Andy Orchard, Provost of Trinity College and co-chair of the Trinity College/Massey College Citizenship Committee; and George Springate, a senior citizenship judge.

The Hon. Patricia Phenix presided over the ceremony, swearing in 24 people who were born in 13 different countries as they took their oaths of citizenship. And to close the ceremony, the Trinity College Choir led the guests in the singing of O Canada.

Links
Trinity College homepage: www.trinity.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto homepage: www.utoronto.ca 


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This newsletter was prepared by the Office of Alumni Affairs, 
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