The Institute for Canadian Citizenship Organizes Roundtable Discussions at Community Citizenship Ceremony in Vancouver

Vancouver has been chosen by the Institute of Canadian Citizenship (ICC), a newly established organization founded by former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, as the location to launch its Community Citizenship Ceremony on Thursday, March 1, 2007. The event will mark the third of three ceremonies the ICC will host to generate greater discussion on citizenship and immigrant integration, as well as build a bridge between newly-arrived Canadians and engaged Canadians.

“We feel that Community Ceremonies will provide an impetus for new Canadians and offer something to active Canadians,” said the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson. “The Ceremonies are a metaphor for a process of dialogue, a starting gate for greater interaction and discussion about what it means to be Canadian.”

The event will begin at 1:00 pm with a roundtable discussion between Canadian citizens and citizenship candidates. It will be followed by a Citizenship Ceremony at 2:30 pm presided by Judge Sandra Wilking, the first foreign born Chinese-Canadian woman to be elected to public office in B.C. The event will be hosted by the ICC’s Vancouver Volunteer Committee, which is chaired by Larry Beasley C.M., the former Director of Planning of the City of Vancouver. It will take place at the Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street.

The media is invited to attend both events.

“We established the Institute for Canadian Citizenship to continue the work done by Adrienne and I in our time in Rideau Hall,” said John Ralston Saul. “It was our intention to build a deeper appreciation of the meaning of citizenship, and believe that this legacy will be first and foremost captured in culturally-enriched citizenship ceremonies such as the one we will be hosting in Vancouver.”

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship works to encourage a more involved citizenry, particularly among newly-established Canadians. With goals to provide support, as well as inform, engage and interact with Canadians, the ICC operates through grassroots programs, enhanced citizenship ceremonies, national non-partisan forums and research which are made accessible and meaningful to the public.

For more information contact: Jeannie Bates at 604.790.1143 or jeannie_bates@telus.net