Iqaluit (Feb 17/03) - Canada now has a special place in the hearts of five people living in Iqaluit.

Four members of the Abushawashi family and Grace Modesto became Canadian citizens during a swearing-in ceremony at the Nunavut Court of Justice on Feb. 13.

"They have come to Canada from another country and have chosen to make this country their home," said Nunavut's Senior Judge Beverley Browne.

The ceremony was the second to occur in Nunavut this year. The last one was held in January in Rankin Inlet. Since 1999, about 40 people have been sworn-in as Canadian citizens in Nunavut.

Modesto is happy to be among them. She moved to Canada in 1996 from the Philippines. She's also lived in Vancouver, Toronto but now works as a nurse at the Baffin Regional Hospital.

"I've been waiting a long time for this. The climate here is the biggest difference from my home but it's easy to adjust. People are so warm and friendly," she explained.

The Abushawashi family from Libya felt the same way.

When their son Ayor, 9, was called to the front of the room to take the Oath of Citizenship, he told the judge he did not need any help. He was confident and proud to be taking part in the ceremony.

His sister Zaima, 6, was a little shyer. "It was my first time reading it (the oath). I was nervous," she said.

Their father, Salem, and mother, Mahbuba Ayad Dahan, said they couldn't be happier being part of Canada but they still try to stay in touch with family and friends they left behind.

"Sometimes we miss our family but it's the same for you if your family lived in Nova Scotia -- you'd miss them too," explained Salem.

Salem works for the government of Nunavut as a senior technical engineer and Mahbuba works at a local day care.