One of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, Canada, opened its arms to 31 newcomers on Sunday (Aug 25). Representing 12 different countries, individuals sat in the Cochrane Alliance church to take the oath in the final step to become Canadian citizens.
Five Cochrane families were overjoyed as their names were called out during the citizenship ceremony.
It was a seven-year process for New Zealander, Ryan Peter O'Conner, to finally call himself Canadian, "It feels very good," stated O'Conner.
Jamine Souza immigrated to Cochrane from Brazil four years ago. Prior to coming to Canada, she was living in a small dutch community of around 10,000 people. She and her husband decided on Cochrane because they wanted the small town feeling they were accustomed to while keeping their faith close. When they first moved here they only had a house to call home but now Souza feels as though she can call Cochrane home and its community family.
"The town, wow, I found so many supportive people and they made sure to have our family settled, and we found a lot of friends, it was so easy and everybody welcomed us, it's really special. I love Cochrane," said Souza.
It can be difficult to leave the known and venture into the unknown.
Roba Farah came from Syria and while it's not easy to integrate into a new country, understand a new culture and learn a new language she credits the wonderful community in Cochrane for making the transition smooth.
"The gratitude to Cochrane, the acceptance and the love and the resources here, they were very helpful to us. Without them we couldn't continue, we couldn't. Without the love of these people, we couldn't continue. They were like family and many Canadian people now they say, do you have a family here and I say they became my family, this is a real family to me and they are now," said Farah. "We love Cochrane now, we can't move to any other place."
Other fellow Cochranites that became Canadian citizens include Jens Manfred Mehlhase, Anke Mehlhase, Joern Sven Mehlhase, Ramez Assaf, Butrus Assaf, Maressa Assaf, Sharbul Assaf, Daniel Proost de Souza martins Souza, Victoria Monteiro de Souza, Liz Monteiro de Souza, Melissa Monteiro de Souza.
See the next edition of the Cochrane Eagle for a heartfelt letter written by Farah about her experience as a refugee coming to Cochrane.
