Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Citizenship Week
October 18-24, 2010
Our citizenship
Canada’s Citizenship Week is intended to encourage all Canadians to reflect on the value of citizenship, what it means to be Canadian and the rights, privileges and responsibilities of citizenship.
Mini history
- In 1947, Canada became the first Commonwealth country to gain its own citizenship legislation. The 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act provided a framework for other members of the Commonwealth to develop their own citizenship legislation.
- Before 1947, Canadians were considered British subjects living in Canada.
- With the support of all members of the House, the Canadian government drafted a Canadian citizenship act and presented it to the House of Commons in 1946. The act received royal assent in July 1946, and came into effect on January 1, 1947.
- Prime Minister Mackenzie King became the first Canadian citizen by taking the oath at the first citizenship ceremony, which was held on January 3, 1947, at the Supreme Court, in Ottawa.
Fast facts
- Since the first citizenship act was enacted, more than 6.5 million people have been granted Canadian citizenship.
- According to the 2006 census, about 85% of eligible newcomers become Canadian citizens.
- In 2008, about 176,000 people became Canadian citizens—over 3,500 of them at citizenship ceremonies held in communities across Canada during citizenship week.
