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Meet Yk's newest citizens
92 year old among those honoured

Lyndsay Herman
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, Sept 19, 2012

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Faces were glowing and hearts swelled with pride at the Greenstone Building on Friday as 32 people took their oath of citizenship and became Canadian citizens.

NNSL photo/graphic

Pawan Chugh, left, attended the citizenship ceremony to support his mother, Prakash Chugh. Prakash, 92, has lived in Canada for more than 25 years. - Lyndsay Herman/NNSL photo

"I'm really excited," said Nenad Eric, shortly before the ceremony began. "It's something I've been thinking about for a long time.

Eric has been waiting three years for his citizenship since coming to Canada.

"It's not like winning something or the achievement of completing school, but it's definitely powerful." His voice quivering with emotion, Eric said the arrival of dignitaries to oversee the ceremony was particularly moving.

In preparation for the ceremony, the new citizens had to submit an application and then be tested for language and Canadian knowledge levels. Depending on the individual, the process can take years to complete.

George Tuccaro, commissioner of the NWT, presided over the occasion.

"This is the very first one for me and I'm very excited about it," he said. "I'm excited for the people as well. I think a lot of people are putting their heart and soul into making this their new home and I think we're one of the few countries ... to really go all out to welcome immigrants to this country."

Yellowknife has also become home to Icenta Mcleod, who moved to the NWT capital from Jamaica five years ago. Mcleod said she looks forward to buying a house and continuing to build her life here, even though family and friends from the south tease her for loving the Northern cold weather.

Nineteen countries were represented by the 32 new Canadians.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said this marked the 12th citizenship ceremony that he's attended and it was still special.

"The things that amaze me are the number of people and the number of different places they come from and the number of people who have actually chosen to be (in Yellowknife)."

For Pawan Chugh, the choice has been a rewarding one. He was at the ceremony to support his mother, Prakash Chugh, as she swore her oath of citizenship. Prakash, 92, has lived in Canada for more than 25 years.

"If you work hard, you can really rise up," said Pawan, who is chief executive officer of the GNWT's Business Development and Investment Corporation. "That's the great thing about this country, work hard and you can get anywhere."

Dennis Bevington, member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, said Canada benefits from the contributions of new Canadians.

"There's so much to do in Canada," Bevington said. "People coming to this country is absolutely essential. We won't progress as a country with the birth rates that we have unless we bring more people in ... So these are very important moments and they're moments that have great meaning for the whole country."

After the oaths were completed, Sir John Franklin High School student Abygael Parent sang the national anthem in both official languages with the gathered crowd. The voices of dozens of new Canadians joined her in song.

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