Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Feb 11/02) - Six Iqaluit residents officially became Canadians during a ceremony last Wednesday at the courthouse in Iqaluit.

Brenda Mowbray flips through the Canadian Immigration booklet the night before the citizenship ceremony. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

Brenda Mowbray, Helen Webster, Mitchell Taylor Janet Troje and Sol Modesto and her son, A.J. Modesto, took the oath of citizenship before a packed courtroom.

Justice Bev Browne introduced them first, noting their contributions to the community.

Sol Modesto moved to Canada from the Philippines in 1997. Her seven-year-old son, A.J., also became a citizen. Modesto plans to bring her other two children to Canada as soon as possible.

"We've had some problems with red tape," she said.

Brenda Mowbray moved to Canada with her husband in 1976 from Whitley Bay, a small seaside town in England. She spent a year in Manitoba, then moved to Iqaluit because her husband, a physician, wanted a more challenging place to practice medicine.

"It was my idea to move here. I knew it wouldn't just be writing prescriptions," she said.

The mother of three started thinking about becoming Canadian 10 years ago.

"It means I'm making a commitment to the country and I'm giving up my British citizenship, which meant a lot to me. I'm quite excited about it actually. It means this is my permanent home."