May 29, 2015
Sixty people became citizens of Canada at a citizenship ceremony at City Hall today as part of the first annual Newcomer Day, which was hosted by the City of Toronto in partnership with the Toronto Newcomer Leadership Table. The leadership table is made up of representatives from Canada’s three orders of government, community agencies, school boards, health and other sectors.
On hand to help celebrate newcomers and their contribution to Canada were Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18 Davenport), the City's Housing Advocate; Bernard Trottier, Member of Parliament/MP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for La Francophonie; and Member of Provincial Parliament/MPP Cristina Martins, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade. Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board and Member of Parliament/MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka (Ontario), participated in the citizenship ceremony to help welcome Canada's newest citizens.
"Having immigrated to Canada myself when I was a teenager, I know how important an event like this is to someone who is settling into a new city," said Councillor Bailão. "This event signifies Toronto's commitment to helping to break down barriers that make it hard for newcomers to find adequate employment, affordable housing and to gain access to services."
"Our government is committed to ensuring that newcomers to Canada integrate into their new communities and make lasting contributions to the Canadian labour market and economy as quickly as possible. Through our tremendous settlement programs, whether it be official language training or skill development, we are ensuring that newcomers have access to services that help them reach the highest levels of success,” said Trottier.
“Toronto is home to the world and we celebrate our diversity every day. Newcomers are bridges to the world, and contribute immensely to Toronto’s and Ontario’s success. Immigrant integration is a priority for the Government of Ontario. We want to unleash the talent and potential of our newcomers because when they succeed, we all succeed. Toronto Newcomer Day is a wonderful opportunity to recognize their contributions to our city and our province,” said Martins.
"Toronto has always been a place of welcome for immigrants and refugees. Immigrants and refugees have enriched the social, cultural, political and economic well-being of the city and Newcomer Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the role that immigrants and refugees play," said Debbie Douglas, Executive Director of Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, co-chair of the Newcomer Leadership Table and MC at the event.
In honour of the event, Mayor John Tory proclaimed May 29 Newcomer Day. Over 25 community agencies and City divisions took over Nathan Phillips Square at an information fair to share information and resources available to help newcomers settle in Toronto.
There were also a number of activities, such as self-guided tours of City Hall, activities in the Diversity Garden, a mural display courtesy of Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) and a Newcomer Speakers' Corner, where participants could share their feelings about Toronto. Also on hand was special guest Teresa Toten, author of "Piece by Piece: Stories about Fitting into Canada."
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit
http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
Vera Dodic, Toronto Newcomer Office, 416-392-5679, 647-465-1757 (cell), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Debbie Douglas, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, 416-729-9805 (cell), This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
