Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH), a new Canadian Heritage funding program
Community groups may be interested in a new funding program recently announced by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. The program, Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH), will provide support to local arts and heritage festivals that feature local artists and artisans or local heritage, as well as major historical anniversaries of local importance.
Funding Guides and Application forms
Funding Guides and application forms for both component I and II are now available on the Department of Canadian Heritage website.
CBC Radio's Marc Montgomery interviews Senior Citizenship Judge Michel C. Simard on citizenship and immigration, and asks, "What does a citizenship judge do?"
 (Runs 11:11)
CBC Television's Kevin Tiechroeb looks at a group of new Canadians during their swearing in ceremony.  (Runs 03:32)
One special six year-old from Halifax shares with her family and classmates what it means to be a Canadian.  (Runs 02:10) - Canada Now, Nova Scotia (June 15, 2006)
Why these new immigrants chose Canada
"I guess my mom wanted us to have a better future." - Maria Isabel Jaramillo, Columbia
"Because it is a peaceful place and it is nice. I don't have to tell. Everybody can see it."- Simcha Klempner, Israel
The Citizenship process
 "It was very nice. It was very exciting to be part of it all to see people from so many different countries coming together. It helps us feel more part of this great country." - Hamed Abdoulraman, Mauritius
The hardest part about becoming a Canadian citizen
"Learning to drive. Nothing else because I don't have any language problems or anything. Just the thing I learned over here was driving. It was hard for me because I never drove before!" - Sobia Kamal Bajwa, Pakistan
How it feels to be Canadian
 "I feel like now I can do anything I want. First of all, I have freedom of moving around on the planet. Wherever I choose to go, I could go now, and I'll be welcome because Canadians are well seen everywhere. So I'm very happy and very proud of myself." - Laura Aslan, Romania
 "I feel really good. Canada has a lot to offer, and Vancouver, in particular, is a beautiful place to live." - Deonie Gaye Seaton, Australia
"It gives us a sense of belonging. It's a great feeling" - Hamed Abdoulraman, Mauritius
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Making a Difference
By Thierry Harris
One of the great things about living in Canada is the opportunity to get involved in civic activities.
For many new Canadians however, especially those who previously lived under repressive regimes, volunteering is not commonplace.
"In some countries there isn't that instinct for getting involved. It's a very different culture," said Olga Scherbina, Project Coordinator of the Maple Bamboo Initiative.
The Maple Bamboo Initiative, a pilot project funded by the Canadian Heritage Department, was created to help immigrants participate in civic activities.
In May and June, seminars were given to 60 people from seven different ethnic communities with the goal of placing them in volunteer positions in the greater Vancouver area.
Participants develop a flyer for a neighbourhood watch program
(Photo: Maple Bamboo Initiative)
"It was designed to bring immigrants and organizations together to profit from their common experiences," said Scherbina.
Members from the Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Hispanic, African, Filipino, and Bangladeshi community took part.
The Initiative believes that getting minorities to participate in public activities involves cooperation from public and private organizations.
"I've seen too many boards of directors — for public and private organizations that serve immigrants — without a single ethnic minority on them," said Scherbina.
By sitting at board meetings and participating in volunteer activities, Scherbina believes immigrants will be able to provide a different perspective on how to do things.
According to Maple Bamboo's studies, immigrants often volunteer at a local level with churches and community groups, but find it more difficult to integrate themselves into societies at large.
"These small community groups are not a bad alternative," said Scherbina. "But when it becomes the only option, it doesn't help people embrace each other."
Claudia Gonzàlez, a Mexican who came to Canada 11 months ago, joined the program to learn how the Canadian government works.
"I'm positive that newcomers must get involved in their communities in order to fully become part of them," said Gonzàlez.
The Maple Bamboo initiative helped Gonzàlez do this by teaching her how to participate in public meetings. She also learned the structure of federal and local governments.
"I think it is not right to get all the advantages of living in this country and do nothing to make Canada an even better place to live," said Gonzàlez.
The seminars taught the universal rules of engagement in public organizations, such as respect for others, confidentiality and orderly meetings.Activities included how to create a block watch, how to write to the local Member of Parliament and how to volunteer in community civic groups.
Early on, participants found it challenging to learn alongside members from different ethnic groups.
"Initially, we thought about segregating the groups during the seminars," said Scherbina.
"But we quickly dismissed this idea, as we wanted to replicate 'real life' situations, where dealing with persons from different origins happens all the time."
The result was successful, and participants thrived in the diverse learning atmosphere.
"Next year we hope to have more ethnic communities to expand this learning process," said Scherbina.
The seminars are over and participants are now looking for volunteer work in their areas of interest.
Angela Ko, Planning Assistant in Vancouver's community Planning Division, used Maple Bamboo participants to promote the Mount Pleasant Community Planning Program.
"They were excited to be a part of improving their communities," said Ko.
The name Maple Bamboo comes from the fusion of two symbols in Asian and Canadian culture.
"The whole idea is when you put together the maple, which is symbolic to Canada, and the bamboo, which is symbolic specifically to immigrants, the fusion makes the tool stronger."
To find out more about the program visit: http://www.helpinghouse.org/bamboonetwork.html 
A great reason to celebrate Canada Day
By Thierry Harris
The Old Port of Montreal was the scene of the Canada Day citizenship ceremony
(photo: Thierry Harris)
For many Canadians, Canada's 140th birthday was about the arrival of summer or a chance to see some great fireworks.
For others, it was time to celebrate Canada as a country and how it's a great place to live.
For a special few, however, the Canada Day celebration was more personal: it was a day to celebrate their new Canadian citizenship.
Lieutenant Governor Pierre Duchesne stressed the importance of rights given to citizens
(Photo: Thierry Harris)
In total, 1,700 individuals became Canadian citizens at 34 swearing in ceremonies held across the country.
"For many individuals and families, the citizenship ceremony is the realization of a dream," said Stéphane Malepart, spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. "It is a formalized rite of passage that marks their entry into the Canadian family."
During the ceremony, with much pomp and circumstance, new Canadians are asked to take the Oath of Citizenship, pledging allegiance to Canada. They then receive a certificate from a Citizenship Judge that officially grants them Canadian citizenship.
''This is the end of the process, this is what they have been working towards, some for many years,'' said Barbara Seal, a Citizenship Judge presiding a ceremony in Montreal's Old port on Canada Day.
Twenty-five permanent residents from 9 different countries received their Canadian citizenship certificates, given to them by Judge Seal, Public Works Minister Michael Fortier and Quebec Lieutenant Governor Pierre Duchesne. The new citizens came from Argentina, Bolivia, China, the United States, France, Japan, Lebanon, Senegal and Sweden.
Former Olympic gold medallist Jean Luc Brassard opened the ceremony by welcoming the many dignitaries in attendance.
"The protocol itself is a little heavy," said Brassard. "But the faces of the new citizens means everything for me, it's the reason why I do it."
Justin Trudeau, son of former prime minister Pierre Eliot Trudeau was among the attendees in the audience.
"I've been coming here for over five years now, to remind myself what we take for granted as Canadian citizens. I repeat the Oath every year, because when you are born Canadian sometimes you don't realize the responsibilities that come with it. For me, this is probably the most important thing I'll do all Canada Day."
Trudeau represents a minority of Canadians, and Judge Seal believes that more needs to be done to educate Canadians on the legacy they carry with their Canadian citizenship.
"Citizens have the right to vote — until you become a citizen you cannot vote, you do not have a say in who is going to govern your country," said Seal.
"You also have the right as a citizen in Canada to be a candidate in an election. You have the right to work in any province in Canada and to receive a Canadian passport. It's really about a sense of belonging, to become part of Canada," she said.
Recipients were happy to receive their certificates. Here, a new Canadian shakes the hand of Citizenship Judge Barbara Seal.
(Photo: Thierry Harris)
Participants were emotional when receiving their certificates. Many looked them over and showed them to other family members.
"Yes I feel different," said Absa Mbenge, a young new citizen from Senegal. "I feel in liberty, I know now that I will be able to be like all my friends and not different than anybody."
Film producer Michael Sloan, an American living in Canada since 1987, was pleased he would not have to renew his permanent residency anymore.
"The immigration officials might smile at me when I arrive from the U.S.," he joked. "It does make travel easier. Because we live here now, being a Canadian citizen really does feel different, without being cliché it really does."
At the end of the ceremony, Judge Seal asked the new citizens to shake each other's hands.
'It's important for Canadians to get to know one another," she said.
The ceremony closed with a singing of the National Anthem. The 34th Canadian Brigade Group, accompanied by guns in the background, added to the drama of the event.
After it was all over, the new citizens shared 5,000 pieces of Canada Day cake, along with members of the large crowd on hand.
For more information about citizenship ceremonies visit: www.cic.gc.ca.
Army officers and RCMP officers from the RCMP Ceremonial troop "C" division inspected by Lieutenant Governor Pierre Duchesne.
(Photo: Thierry Harris)
Chinese Canadian Citizenship Week: Commemorating Our Heritage
l to r: Kenneth Tung, Chairman of S.U.C.C.E.S.S, Lieutenant commander King R. Wan, Howe Lee, founding President of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum, Peter Kwok, Vice Chair, Public Affairs.
(Photo: Thierry Harris)
Spring arrives in full force across the country throughout the month of May. May is also Asian Heritage month - a time to celebrate the many immigrants to our country who are increasingly from Asia.
(source: StatsCan, 2001 )
Celebrations take place nationwide, from Halifax to Victoria, to commemorate the contributions Asian cultures have made to Canada. This year, the province of British Columbia and the cities of Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby have proclaimed the week of May 14 Chinese Canadian Citizenship Week.
On Monday, May 14, Mayor Sam Sullivan hosted Chinese-Canadian veterans at Vancouver City Hall for the official launch of Chinese Canadian Citizenship Week.
"For Chinese-Canadians born in Canada we recognize we are Canadians first, but we also value our ancestral heritage and culture," said Howe Lee, the founding President of the Canadian Chinese Military Museum in Vancouver (CCMM). "It is important to work harmoniously with all these factors within our democratic society."
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923. Also commonly called the Exclusion Act, it prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering Canada. The repeal of the Act in 1947 permitted Chinese people living in Canada to apply for naturalization.
"Although the Chinese people have been in Canada for over 160 years, the benefits of citizenship, democracy and freedom only came 60 years ago, in 1947," said Mr. Lee.
Over 800 Chinese-Canadians contributed to the effort in the First and Second World Wars.
During this time, the veterans had to fight on two fronts; one overseas and one at home. These brave soldiers were denied basic rights given to Canadian nationals, yet they enrolled themselves to defend the honour and freedom of Canada. Some paid the ultimate sacrifice.
This year is the 60th anniversary of the creation of the only Chinese-Canadian veterans unit, Pacific Unit 280. Their Charter was given to them by The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans association in Canada. It is also the 50th anniversary of the election of Douglas Jung, the first Chinese-Canadian Member of Parliament.
The Chinese-Canadian Military Museum and producer Wesley Lowe will release two documentaries, I am the Canadian Delegate and Heroes Remember to commemorate the anniversaries.
"At our CCMM meetings, discussions came up to record the stories of the veterans because they were aging and we were losing them every year," said Mr. Lee. "These documentaries are important because they are now part of the legacy of our Chinese-Canadian veterans."
I am the Canadian Delegate, on the life of Mr. Jung, will be screened in Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. It includes clips of the Chinese-Canadian veteran parade held in Ottawa that was organized by the former Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn in 1994.
Heroes Remember is an oral history of 24 courageous men and women who speak candidly of their wartime efforts. It will be available for sale at www.ccmms.ca.
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
 CBC
Archives -
The first officially Canadian citizens
 Immigration
in Canada - Projecting into the future
 Becoming
Canadian -
From Immigrant to Citizen
 Languages
in Canada - The top languages spoken at home across
the country.
 Diversity
Map - Find out about the mix of people in Vancouver
and the Lower Mainland.
 Mapping
Diversity - A look at Winnipeg's diversity,
neighbourhood by neighbourhood.
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