The big day
Twenty-one new citizens sworn in

Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 03/99) - Though Yellowknifer Jeannee Johnson has lived in this community for 24 years, she didn't feel fully at home until Dec. 1.

That is when she became a Canadian citizen.

"I was feeling kind of homeless," Johnson said after the citizenship ceremony.

"And I have my eight-year-old daughter Mercedes. There is no place like home. I just want to be fully a part of it."

Previously Johnson was an American citizen who is originally from the Philippines.

Along with the 20 other Yellowknifers who took oaths of citizenship, there were people from 13 different countries.

All had to pass a 20-question multiple choice test covering history, economics, law and government.

"I learned a whole lot about Canada that I didn't know," Johnson said.

"I was very excited all day with lots of nervous energy but now I feel relieved and comfortable."

Napoleon Abalayan similarly took the oath of citizenship.

He is from the Philippines and came to Yellowknife six years ago to join his wife who took a job here as a nanny.

"I'm proud of it. It feels good to be a Canadian."

Citizenship judge Gurcharan Singh Bhatia said that the glue that holds Canada together is the values of peace, freedom, caring and sharing.

"These are all the values that make our country great," he told those gathered at the foyer of St. Patrick high school.

"We call them Canadian values."

He stressed that Canada has been voted the No. 1 place in the world to live for the past six years. As such, it is the responsibility of new citizens to uphold that ranking and pass Canadian values on to their children and grandchildren.

Singh Bhatia came to Canada 35 years ago from India. When he landed in the plane he saw snow for the first time.

"I was having a ball," he said.

"There were differences such as having to learn to drive on the right side of the road. These are small things. These new Canadian citizens have overcome all the difficulties and want to become Canadian citizens."

Becoming a citizen not only provides a deeper bond with the community at large and helps some people find jobs, but there are also other practical benefits, especially during an election campaign.

"That's what I'm waiting for," said Abalayan. "The vote."