Angelo Iacono
Angelo Iacono
Member of Parliament for Alfred-Pellan
Citizenship ceremony
July 10, 2018

NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release

On Canada Day, 1,950 people became Canadian citizens

At the Centre de la nature in Laval, 25 new Canadians participated in a citizenship ceremony on July 1

2018-07-10 – Laval – The MP for Alfred-Pellan, Angelo Iacono, on behalf of the Honorable Ahmed D. Hussen, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, introduced Rania Sfeir, a new Citizenship Judge, during the Canada Day celebrations in Laval. She presided over her first citizenship ceremony at a special event at the Centre de la nature in Laval, Quebec, where she welcomed 25 new Canadians.

Judge Marie Senécal-Tremblay also presided over a citizenship ceremony at the Mount Royal Town Hall in Montreal, welcoming 40 new Canadians.

Across Canada, 1,950 people became Canadian citizens at 46 special Canada Day citizenship ceremonies.

New Citizenship Judge Rania Sfeir is a communications and public relations professional with more than 20 years of experience working in operations and business development in the private sector and in journalism at CBC/Radio-Canada, Montreal’s CHOU Radio Moyen-Orient and at Future Television in Beirut, Lebanon. Judge Sfeir holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Lebanese University in Beirut.

Citizenship Judge Marie Senécal-Tremblay was previously a citizenship judge from 2013 to 2016. She has an extensive career in federal and administrative tribunal law, specializing in citizenship, labour and employment, immigration and disability. The ceremony on Canada Day was her first since 2016.

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions on some citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens. They also play important roles in promoting Canadian citizenship and civic values in their communities.

Citizenship judges are Governor-in-Council appointments. New judges are chosen from a list of qualified candidates who have gone through an open, transparent and merit-based selection process.

Quotes

“Being a citizenship judge is definitely a privilege, but also a huge responsibility. However, from my first days at work, all of my worries about undertaking my new position disappeared. Everybody was encouraging and reassuring. The IRCC offices are made up of a community representing diversity and inclusion that are integral to Canadian society and make it so rich.

“I look forward to presiding over my first Citizenship Ceremony and celebrating with people of different origins our adherence to common values that make Canada a good place to live.”

– Citizenship Judge Rania Sfeir

“On Canada Day we celebrate our freedom, democracy, inclusion and diversity. It is a time to celebrate what it means to be Canadian—the rights we enjoy, the responsibilities we share, and the diversity that makes us strong. I am looking forward to meeting some of our newest Canadians and celebrating with them.

“I also want to welcome new Citizenship Judge Rania Sfeir. She brings much skill and knowledge to her new role as a Citizenship Judge, and I am pleased she has taken on this important role.”

– Angelo Iacono, Member of Parliament for Alfred-Pellan

Quick Facts

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Information:

Office of Angelo Iacono
300-3131 de la Concorde East Blvd.
Laval, QC H7E 4W4
450-661-4117
[email protected]

Contacts for media only
Minister’s Office
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
613-952-1650
[email protected]

Main office - Laval
3131, Boul. de la Concorde East Suite 300
Laval, Quebec
H7E 4W4

Telephone:
450-661-4117

Fax:
450-661-5623
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Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Telephone:
613-992-0611

Fax:
613-992-8556
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