YMCA Newcomer Connections will host a Citizenship Reaffirmation Ceremony

Saint John, NB — On Thursday, May 25, during Citizenship Week, the YMCA of Greater Saint John’s Newcomer Connections is hosting a Citizenship Reaffirmation Ceremony to celebrate all newcomers who completed a huge milestone in their settlement journey by becoming a Canadian Citizen.

“We are thrilled to celebrate all newcomers in our community who have become Canadian Citizens and are now supporting others in their settlement journey,” said Shilo Boucher, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Saint John. “Many newcomers strive to become members of the Canadian family because they see Canada as a welcoming society that embraces diversity. For many, citizenship is the realization of a dream and can mark the beginning of a new life.

As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most YMCA Newcomer Connections clients receiving their Canadian citizenship attended an online citizenship ceremony swearing the Oath of Citizenship via a video conference call since it was not possible to hold in-person citizenship ceremonies.

At the in-person reaffirmation ceremony, all participants will repeat the oath of citizenship to express their commitment to Canada and re-live this glorious moment. More than 100 people have expressed their interest in participating in the citizenship reaffirmation ceremony. Every Canadian Citizen can participate in the citizenship reaffirmation ceremony, irrespective of when they became a Citizen.

All participants who register to participate in the citizenship reaffirmation ceremony by Sunday, May 21, will also receive a printed citizenship reaffirmation certificate.

“We are grateful to all our funders, donors, employers, volunteers, and community partners who have supported our Newcomer Connections Team for the past 30 years and helped us create a sense of belonging for the newcomers in our community,” added Boucher. “Our YMCA continues to be an advocate for creating a more diverse, inclusive, caring, and welcoming community for all newcomers and is dedicated to supporting newcomers from all walks of life to settle in the Greater Saint John region.”

The citizenship reaffirmation ceremony program is organized as a part of a public event where the YMCA of Greater Saint John will recognize 30 years of supporting newcomers. The 30th anniversary celebration of Newcomer Connections will celebrate diversity in Saint John through stories of multiple newcomers who have grown and succeeded in the region. Everyone is invited to come and witness this exciting moment.

The program starts at 6 PM on Thursday, May 25, at the Irving Oil Field House. All donations received during this event will go toward the Newcomer Assistance Fund.

To learn more about the event and to register for the ceremony, visit swnb.ymca.ca

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About YMCA Newcomer Connections

For 30 years, YMCA Newcomer Connections has supported newcomers from all walks of life, assisting with their settlement needs, facilitating their integration and participation in the community, and helping them ignite their potential. We do this by offering a diverse range of programs and services, such as English language classes, employment readiness programs, Canadian cultural orientation, immigrant settlement and refugee resettlement assistance, pre-employment services, school readiness programs, and one-on-one support for all newcomers looking for their first jobs and building community connections in Saint John.

With a multilingual team of more than 80 staff representing over 30 countries, we make every effort to provide services in a client-centric manner that is inclusive and respectful of the rights, dignity, and diversity of all newcomers to Canada.