My Day in Court

Continued

Each year when Canada Day celebrations begin, I always reflect on my journey to Canada. Unlike those that are born here, those that want to be Canadians need to apply, answer some basic questions, go to court and receive a short speech from a judge along with their citizenship papers.

My day in court – citizenship court in Ponoka – was an exciting one. A lot of rights were bestowed on me – rights I didn’t even know existed. Individual rights are valued far more in Canada than in most countries. I am grateful for that.

In citizenship court I also learned about what else it takes to be a citizen. In the past two years we’ve heard a lot about rights, but a free country can succeed only when rights are accompanied by responsibilities. Here is one of the responsibilities I learned about, as described by Canada’s department of citizenship and immigration. Let’s live this too!

Helping others in the community

“Millions of volunteers freely donate their time to help others without pay—helping people in need, assisting at your child’s school, volunteering at a food bank or other charity, or encouraging newcomers to integrate. Volunteering is an excellent way to gain useful skills and develop friends and contacts.”

Please read the eNews about the changes and successes ABW has experienced so far in 2022. My second-quarter report will update you on your generosity and how close we are getting to our annual and 2030 goals.”