The Town of Oakville, in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, welcomed 50 new Canadian citizens at a citizenship ceremony at Town Hall on November 17, 2011.
Oakville’s newest Canadians come from 21 different countries, including Bangladesh, China, Colombia, England, India, Iraq, Kenya, South Korea, Macedonia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Venezuela.
“As an immigrant myself, I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this day— to witness the joy and enthusiasm of people from around the world who will now proudly call themselves Canadian,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “On behalf of the town and residents of Oakville, I encourage our newest citizens to get involved in our community and experience all the great things Oakville has to offer.”
A representative for MP Terence Young, along with MPP Kevin Flynn, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, and Mayor Rob Burton welcomed the new citizens before Judge Kris Mohan presided over the official ceremony. This is the third citizenship ceremony hosted by the Town of Oakville.
“The town holds citizenship ceremonies at Town Hall and at the library to showcase our municipal government for new citizens,” Mayor Burton explained. “This Council is committed to making Oakville a more inclusive community – and to put us one step closer to our vision of becoming the most livable town in Canada.”
Mayor Burton during the Citizenship Ceremony
According to the 2006 census, almost one third of Oakville residents are immigrants to Canada, and almost one in five residents identifies themself as a visible minority. 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. The town is also in the midst of upgrading its website to improve access to information and services, and will include an online translation tool that will make town information available in the most commonly spoken languages in Oakville.
A number of town departments including the Oakville Public Library (OPL), Recreation and Culture, and Environmental Policy offer a variety of programs and participate in numerous outreach activities to help meet the needs of our diverse residents. These include recreational programs for residents with special needs, multicultural themed
family performances at Town Hall, library online resources to improve language skills, as well as workshops that assist children and teens with homework 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.
family performances at Town Hall, library online resources to improve language skills, as well as workshops that assist children and teens with homework 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 learn more about the diverse make up of our community, check out the If Oakville was a village of 100 people booklet available at Town Hall, town community centres, libraries, the Halton Multicultural Council, and the Newcomer Information Centre.
There are many initiatives underway that demonstrate the town’s commitment to diversity. For more information, read the Diversity Initiatives Update report that went to Council on November 7, 2011 on the town’s website at www.oakville.ca.
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