Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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Reaffirmation ceremony
A reaffirmation ceremony is a formal event where participants repeat the oath of citizenship to express their commitment to Canada. If you are already a Canadian citizen, you can participate in a reaffirmation ceremony.
Organizing a reaffirmation ceremony
You can organize a reaffirmation ceremony in your community, your place of work or your school. The following steps will help you organize it.
The files below are available to you in Portable Document Format (PDF). This is a universal file format that allows you to read, print or download an online document while maintaining the fonts, graphics and general layout of that document. To view a PDF document, you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet.
- Decide who will be involved in the ceremony.
Choose a master of ceremonies, a guest speaker and someone to lead the group in the oath of citizenship and in singing our national anthem, “O Canada.” Consider a guest speaker who will speak from the heart about citizenship and its rights, responsibilities and benefits. This could be a school principal, a group leader or someone from the community. If there is a recipient of the Order of Canada or a citizenship judge in your community, consider inviting him or her. - Estimate how many people will participate.
Determine how many people will participate and order reaffirmation certificates and “O Canada” bookmarks for them. To order these materials, please write or fax us:
Distribution Centre, Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Fax: 613-954-2221
Participants can complete and print their own reaffirmation certificates [Adobe Acrobat format, 117 KB] by going to the CIC website at cic.gc.ca. - Plan the set-up of the room.
Arrange to have the person leading the oath of citizenship in clear view of all the participants. Position a large Canadian flag where everyone can see it. You may wish to print and distribute copies of the program, including the oath, to all participants. - The ceremony
When repeating the oath of citizenship, ask everyone to stand, raise their right hand and repeat the oath, line by line, as it is read to them. Ask the group to repeat the oath in either official language, or in both languages, as they choose.
Sample program
- Words of welcome and opening remarks from the presiding officer, the school principal or the group leader
- Oath of citizenship
- Presentation of reaffirmation certificates
- Speeches (optional)
- National anthem
- Closing of the ceremony
- Reception (optional)
Oath of Citizenship
I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.
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Je jure (ou j’affirme solennellement) que je serai fidèle et que je porterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada, à ses héritiers et successeurs, que j’observerai fidèlement les lois du Canada et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen Canadien.
Download or order reaffirmation certificates
If you are having a reaffirmation ceremony, a reaffirmation certificate will serve as a special souvenir of the occasion. Make sure that you have enough for your whole group.
Download and print a Reaffirmation Certificate in Adobe Acrobat format [size: 117 KB], or contact us to have certificates mailed to you:
Distribution Services
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Fax: 613-954-2221
A sample reaffirmation ceremony program is available in Adobe Acrobat format only [size: 83 KB].
