Cadets Canada hosts citizenship ceremony to welcome 50 new Canadians

The 588 Eric Simms Squadron have hosted a heartwarming citizenship ceremony which has officially welcomed 50 new Canadians.

The Montreal ceremony, organized by the cadets and staff of the Squadron, marks a momentous occasion of unity, diversity, and national pride.

“Here everybody is equal, no matter where you’re from, no matter what ethnicity you are,” said Mark Pascal, Warrant Officer 2nd Class. “And just to see them all together, it’s really nice in my eyes.”

“It was a very nice feeling, It’s a very beautiful feeling, honestly, to be a Canadian citizen, said Muzafar Ahmed, who immigrated to Canada. “I’m from Sudan, so you can imagine what the feeling of becoming Canadian means for me.”

Ahmed, immigrated to Canada on September 7 2018, and after nearly seven years, he is now a Canadian citizen. He calls it a huge journey and a relief.

“Although it might seem long, it went really quick,” said Ahmed. “And plus I learned a new language. So learning French was a really nice adventure. So there’s a lot of positive things with it that came. And I truly appreciate it.”

The fourth annual event served as a testament to the deep connection between 588 Eric Simms Squadron and the Saint-Laurent community, highlighting the squadron’s role in fostering inclusivity and supporting new Canadians.

“We want the citizens to feel really warm,” said Prathika Sivathas, Warrant Officer 1st Class . “And you never know what might have happened, why they came to Canada. So we want to celebrate each and every unique journey that they made to Canada.”

Sivithas herself immigrated to Canada with her family years ago.

“I feel very proud to show leadership,” said Sivathas. “It’s a community service as well, right? We want to see and educate also the cadets that they are becoming a more responsible and engaged citizen.”

“It really does feel good because personally I am also an immigrant,” said Ahmed. “I immigrated to Canada a few years back and I was a little on the younger side, so I didn’t have the exact same experience as everybody here. But just to see it unfolding in front of you, being a part of it, it really does feel good.”

Ahmed says he now plans to get married and begin his life with his family in the coming months.

“Although the process is probably still going to be long,” said Ahmed. “But still everybody is excited, everybody’s dreams of becoming Canadian. At the end of the day, we’re all humans, we all got this kind of calm life within us, within each and every one of us.”

Pascal and Sivathas echo the importance of the cadets saying it teaches values, leadership, discipline and community services.

“From being here as a little child, seeing people on top of stages speak to you and holding a piece of paper saying that you’re a citizen, and then going to, you know, being that person in front of everybody else while they look at you, it’s a really, yeah, it is a full circle moment,” said Pascal.

“And I really do believe that it was meant to be.”