ODSS hosts Citizenship Day event for new Canadians

November 16, 2017

ORANGEVILLE, Ontario – On November 16, a group of people anxiously waiting to become Canadian citizens came together at Orangeville District Secondary School to take their final oath of citizenship.

Students and staff at Orangeville DSS along with Glenn Drinkwater, Member of the Order of Canada, David Tilson, MP Dufferin-Caledon, Dr. Martha Rogers, Director of Education for Upper Grand DSB and Pat Hamilton, Principal of ODSS, came together to welcome and witness, as 35 community members became Canadian citizens.

The event began with an amazing performance from the Orangeville DSS Band, students performed enthusiastically while guests filled the cafeteria waiting for the ceremony to begin.

To welcome everyone to the school, Orangeville DSS student, Honour, recited parts of the iconic Canadian poem “The Maple Leaf Forever.”

The Orangeville DSS Choir performed an acoustic rendition of The Tragically Hip’s, “Ahead by a Century.” After this performance, a video montage made by the ODSS Yearbook class was played, in the video students and staff were interviewed on what it means to be Canadian and what life is like in Canada.

The local Legion Division piped the Colour Guard and Dignitaries in. Drinkwater welcomed everyone and discussed the honour of being a Canadian citizen. He discussed the history around citizenship and mentioned that this is a special year to become a citizen as it is the 70^th anniversary since Prime Minister King introduced the Canadian Citizenship Act.

The 35 new Canadians stood with the rest of the room to take the Oath of Citizenship and were called to the stage as families to be presented with their Certificates of Citizenship.

David Tilson, MP and Martha Rogers were invited to address the audience and give our newest citizens their congratulations.

Glenn Drinkwater gave his closing remarks and invited ODSS student, Pommelien, to the stage to lead everyone in the singing of “O Canada.”

Orangeville DSS students and staff gave our newest citizens a welcome they will never forget, when they left the cafeteria to make their way to the reception, over 400 students and staff members had lined the halls to cheer them on and congratulate them on this accomplishment.

A reception was held at the school, which included a Canadian themed photo booth and Canadian themed foods.

Students and staff at Orangeville DSS did a wonderful job hosting this event and should be very proud.

Congratulations to our newest Canadian citizens!