Yellowknife (July 02/03) - When Jennifer Jones was on vacation in Yellowknife nine years ago, she was amazed by the rugged beauty of the land.

"It was truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen," said Jones, a native Jamaican.

She was so taken by the city that a year later she decided make it her home.

Yesterday the transition became official as Jones and 30 other Yellowknifers were sworn in as Canadian citizens.

"It was such a great ceremony and I'm happy to be a Canadian," said Jones, who was sworn in with her daughter Kimesha Lue and son Patrick Miller.

The ceremony took place at City Hall and was hosted by local Order of Canada recipient Barbara Bromley.

"You are Canadians today," she said. "Along with that comes a host of rights and responsibilities ... and the opportunity to become anything you want."

Most of the new citizens had been living in Yellowknife for several years, but were happy to become official Canadians.

"We've always felt part of the city, but ... it's nice to be a citizen now," said Theresa Olayvar who emigrated from the Phillipines with her husband Fred and son Rogine four years ago.

Other citizens were grateful for the chance to live in a relatively peaceful country like Canada.

"There was a lot of fighting where I came from," said Mehmet Gok, who was born in Turkey. "This is a great place to live."

Others came to Canada to be close to relatives. "My sister lives here so that played a role in my decision to come," said Louise Berry, who was sworn in with her husband Stuart.

Louise, who immigrated in 1997, prefers winters in Yellowknife to those in her native Scotland.

"I don't find the winter here to be all that bad," she said. "It's actually easier to adapt to than the cold, damp winters in Scotland."

Jones, who gave up the Blue Mountains of Jamaica to come to Yellowknife, said cold weather and mosquitoes are part of the city's charm.

"It's such a different place, I love it," she said.

After the ceremony, several new citizens rode on the Rotary Club float in the Canada Day parade.