Canadian Citizenship Ceremony To Mark Black History Month 2024

Last Updated On 28 February 2024, 11:29 AM EST (Toronto Time)

To mark Black History Month, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, welcomed 19 new citizens in a special Canadian citizenship ceremony.

Citizenship Judge Rochelle Ivri was in charge of the event that was held at 10:30 a.m. EST (Toronto time) on February 28, 2024.

Below is the link to watch the Canadian citizenship ceremony live:

The citizenship ceremony was held at 131 Queen Street, Room 8-053 (8^th floor), Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 2B6.

Canada Welcomed Over 370,000 New Canadian Citizens

Significance of Black History history month in Canada

Every February, people across Canada take part in Black History Month events and festivities to commemorate the legacy of black people in Canada and their communities.

The theme for Black History Month in 2024 is “Black Excellence: A Heritage to Celebrate; A Future to Build.”

This subject honours the rich past and present contributions and accomplishments of black people in Canada while also seeking to embrace new chances for the future.

Historical Background

Black Canadians and their communities have had a role in defining Canada’s legacy and identity since the arrival of Mathieu Da Costa, a navigator and interpreter whose presence in Canada dates back to the early 1600s.

Black people and their communities have mostly been overlooked as a significant element of Canadian history.

There is little discussion of the fact that some of the Loyalists who migrated here after the American Revolution and lived in the Maritimes were of African heritage or that numerous troops of African descent made tremendous sacrifices in wartime dating back to the War of 1812.

Few people in Canada are aware that Africans were formerly slaves in the territory that is now known as Canada or that those who fought enslavement contributed to the building of Canada’s varied and inclusive society.

Black History Month is an opportunity to learn more about these Canadian stories, as well as the many other significant contributions that Black Canadians and their communities have made to the country’s history and ongoing growth.

What are the Canadian citizenship eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must be a permanent resident who has lived in Canada for at least three of the previous five years (1,095 days) and have filed your taxes.