New Canadians sworn in at Oakville citizenship ceremony

Thu, 06 Nov 2014

Twenty-eight new Canadian citizens were welcomed on November 6, 2014, at a citizenship ceremony hosted by the Town of Oakville in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Oakville’s newest Canadians come from 16 different countries.

“Becoming a Canadian citizen is a great privilege. We are proud that these individuals from across the world have made the decision to call Oakville home,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “On behalf of Council, I’d like to welcome these new Canadians to our town. I strongly encourage them to get involved in our community and contribute to our vision of making Oakville the most livable town in Canada.”

Judge Ted Salci presided over the official citizenship ceremony, which saw 28 candidates sworn in as citizens. The candidates were welcomed by Joan Gibb, representative for MP Terence Young, Alex Wellstead, representative for MPP Kevin Flynn, Mayor Rob Burton and veteran Andy Barber.

The town and the Oakville Public Library (OPL) offer a variety of programs and participate in numerous outreach activities to help meet the needs newcomers. These include recreational programs, library online resources to improve language skills, as well as workshops that assist children and teens with homework or a place to meet new friends or help newcomers build a career in Canada. The OPL also offers a growing number of print, audio, and DVD materials in languages other than English for both children and adults.

To assist residents who speak a language other than English, the town subscribes to Language Line, an over-the-phone interpretation service that provides interpreters in more than 150 languages. This service ensures that whether in person or by phone, residents will receive great customer service. In addition, the town’s website uses Google Translate, an online translation tool that allows residents and visitors to read the information provided in the language of their choice.