Thursday, October 18, 2018
VOLUME 1 I ISSUE 16
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
SEE PAGES 24-28 FOR OUR FEATURE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK
New Canadians embraced in Lloyd GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. I am a Canadian. That’s what 129 people from Lloydminster and area can say following a special citizenship ceremony held at the Centennial Civic Centre on Friday. One of those is Vermilion resident Cyre Java, who proudly waved a Canadian flag with his citizenship certificate in hand along with his friend Evangeline Espera. “Oh I am really happy; I am really excited because I have been waiting for at least two years already,” said Java. “I would like to embrace all Canadians—Canadians are so nice. I want to be part of that citizenship.” Java immigrated to Canada from the Philippines a few years ago by himself then brought his family over two years ago. He now works at the Vermilion Health Centre and says he loves it here. “That’s why I chose to be a Canadian cit-
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Proud new Canadians, Dr. Agiela Abdullah, his son Jamal Khamis, daughter Yageen Khamis and his wife Samera Mosbah, became Canadian citizens Friday at the Centennial Civic Centre in a special citizenship ceremony involving 129 new comers. The family’s other daughter Lujine Khamis didn’t make it into the photo.
izen; I’ve seen a lot of nice characteristics in people, nice and respectful and stuff, so I want to be part of it and share also with my family that this life is really good,” said Java. The Lloydminster ceremony was held in celebration of National Citizenship Week Oct. 4-14 in partnership with Catholic Social Services and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
It included new Canadians living in Saskatchewan and Alberta. “We have the privilege and the great honour to welcome new Canadians here in Lloydminster,” said citizenship judge Claude Villeneuve who drove from Edmonton. “Its also Women’s History month as well so this is a great event to be here in Lloydminster.” Villeneuve noted Lloydminster was
selected to host the ceremony for practical reasons as well. He said winter is coming and it’s easier to move some officers and himself to Lloydminster than to have everyone go to Edmonton or Saskatoon for a ceremony. “It is always a great day for me, a great privilege to be here for the people,” he said, noting the best moment for him is the smiling faces on those
receiving a certificate. “I always tell them welcome home because this is their home now. That certificate is the key to their house and no one can take that key away from them,” said Villeneuve. Dr. Agiela Abdullah and his family got a photo taken with Villeneuve holding their citizenship certificates that means the world to him. “It’s a great feeling. Finally we feel like we
are settled now and we are really home,” he said. Abdullah came to Canada from Libya in 2002 and married his wife Samera Mosbah in 2006 and are raising a son and two daughters born in Canada. “We started our journey in Ottawa then Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg, then Lloydminster,” he said noting he is a lung specialist at the Lloydminster Hospital. “I got my training here and I started working here and got treated like I’m at home,” he said. Villeneuve noted prior to becoming a judge, he served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 38 years in the Royal Canadian Medical Service branch. He said he got to project Canadian values as a member of the Armed Forces and now he is welcoming people who are embracing Canadian values. “I am so happy to be here with all of those people to share that great moment,” he said.