More than 100 people who recently became Canadian citizens celebrated their first-ever Canada Day in Port Moody last Saturday (July 1).
For a second year in a row, Port Moody–Coquitlam MP Bonita Zarrillo hosted a special reception for families and friends of newly immigrated residents to the Tri-Cities who took the oath of national citizenship virtually this past year.
Several dozen nations were represented during the event at the Port Moody Legion branch #119.
This included some who came overseas as refugees fleeing violence from their home countries.
And some of the newcomers even showcased their own cultural background through musical and dance performances for dignitaries and local residents who attended.
@tricitynews First 🇨🇦 Day. 🎉 #tricitynews #portmoody #canadaday #citizenship #newcanadians ♬ Up in Canada
"Canada day is an opportunity to recognize new Canadians that embarked on the journey to become citizens," Zarrillo said in a statement provided to the Tri-City News.
"Canada is a nation of immigrants and days like Canada day remind us of the important contributions new Canadians continue to make to this country."
Zarrillo said the entertainment was the biggest highlights of this year's reception.
The line-up included the Port Moody Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Canada Vancouver Chung-ang Dance Society Company and Steve Seo, who sang his rendition of "O Canada" to start the event.
"Thank you as well to the many volunteers and staffers who made this a memorable moment for all," Zarrillo added in a social media post.
A Big Canada Day birthday cake was also created and distributed to the new Canadians to solidify their first official July 1 holiday.
Others in attendance included Coquitlam–Burke Mountain MLA Fin Donnelly and Port Moody–Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac.
The 100+ new citizens are adding to the nearly 12,000 self-identifying immigrants moved to Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra over the last five years.
According to the latest Census, more than 100,000 immigrants that have settled in the region, making up 40.6 per cent of the Tri-Cities population.
For more information on Canadian citizenship or how to become one, you can visit the Government of Canada's website.
Port Moody's immigrant population, as of 2021, is as follows:
- 1,185 between 2016 and 2021
- 2,605 since 2011
- 11,105 self-identified immigrants
- 1,245 Americas
- Brazil = 120
- Colombia = 30
- El Salvador = 40
- Guyana = 15
- Jamaica = 40
- Mexico = 200
- Peru = 55
- Trinidad and Tobago = 20
- USA = 530
- Other birthplaces in the Americas = 205
- 3,135 Europe
- Bosnia and Herzegovina = 65
- Croatia = 60
- France = 75
- Germany = 160
- Greece = 25
- Hungary = 55
- Italy = 125
- Netherlands = 80
- Poland = 275
- Portugal = 35
- Romania = 290
- Russia Federation = 285
- Serbia = 40
- Ukraine = 160
- UK = 935
- Other birthplaces in Europe = 465
- 540 Africa
- Democratic Republic of Congo = 10
- Egypt = 20
- Eritrea = 10
- Ethiopia = 15
- South Africa = 250
- Other birthplaces in Africa = 235
- 5,950 Asia
- Afghanistan = 110
- Iran = 990
- Iraq = 105
- Syria = 30
- Turkey = 50
- China = 1,145
- Hong Kong = 515
- South Korea = 1,160
- Taiwan = 235
- Philippines = 430
- Vietnam = 80
- Bangladesh = 25
- India = 235
- Pakistan = 60
- Sri Lanka = 15
- Other birthplaces in Asia = 760
- 235 Oceania and elsewhere
- 1,245 Americas
