Witness to an Event ....

It was serious, and lighthearted, and moving, and quick!, and an eye-opener, and made me pause to reflect on my good fortune. Curious yet ?

I went to go watch a good friend from work take his Oath of Citizenship today at Canada Place.

John has been with HD since a week after it opened, and worked with me in Flooring, through the installs phase and when I went back. He was just promoted in Feb to DS of Hardware, and today he got his Canadian Citizenship. He was telling us about it last week at work, and its taken a long time to get here. He had to study, and take a test, and then he had to pay an application processing fee of $200. We were there for 9am and there was a huge lineup of people waiting to do the same thing.

I was fascinated by how different everyone was. There was families, and couples, and lots of friends to support them and take pictures and cry happy tears with them. The Judge said there was 75 people to take the Oath today, and they represented 32 different countries. One African lady wore her native dress; it was a beautiful yellow satin that went to her feet, and she had a headscarf with it as well. I couldn't stop sneaking peeks at her, and her smile was radiant.

It started with the Clerk of the Court outlining the procedure for the Ceremony, and then escorting the Judge in to begin. The Judge outlined in her speech, how she herself came to Canada 32 years ago to escape war in Lebanon, and she said everytime she presides over a Citizenship court, she reaffirms her own oath that she took so long ago. She read the Oath in French, and then English, and the participants could choose which version they wanted to swear to. Then the Judge pronounced everyone a citizen, and the Clerk proceeded to call out everyones names, and they came up and got their Citizenship certificates and Cards from the Judge.

When everyone started singing 'O Canada' afterwards, I'll admit it -- I got teary. These people had to go through a lot to get something I was lucky enough to be born with. We sometimes take for granted what we have, until we look through someone else's eyes and realize just how lucky we really are. I got a picture of John with the Judge, and as I shook her hand afterward, she thanked me for coming. She said it was important to know your neighbors and support them and if everyone knew everyone else, there would be less fear, and less of the violence that goes on in the world today.

After that they had a small reception with refreshments outside the court, but John and his daughter and I went down to the food court to sit and have coffee. I was so honored that he asked me to go, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

I took pictures but can't seem to find my card reader. Look for them later !!