"Canada is a country built on differences."

This is what the judge at my friend’s citizenship ceremony said.  And with 81 new Canadians in one room representing 36 different countries, I can see what he means.

Seeing my friend become a Canadian citizen yesterday was a pretty awesome experience. Not only was I able to witness this once in a lifetime event, but the judge’s welcoming speech also struck a few chords.

Throughout the ceremony, the judge called on each new Canadian to participate in their communities, to find their place in the “national fabric”. Acknowledging their differences, he encouraged each person to bring their unique talents and passions and apply them to creating a Canada of which everyone can be proud.

Since beginning this Sociology of Diversity course, I’ve thought a lot about multiculturalism in Canada. I’ve learned that multiculturalism as a social policy isn’t as effective as anticipated and that new Canadians face many challenges in adapting to their new lives. However, in the afterglow of the ceremony, multiculturalism still seems like a great idea worthy of continued effort.

Photo credit: http://archive.gg.ca/media/pho/index_e.asp?GalleryID=338&Sequence=7