Everyone welcome to citizenship ceremony

PENTICTON – Penticton and area residents have an opportunity to welcome new arrivals to the area when the second annual Canadian Citizenship Ceremony takes place othis week.

South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services will host the event, which is also partnered by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and the City of Penticton.

Taking part in a citizenship ceremony is the final step in the process of a permanent resident acquiring Canadian citizenship status in Canada. The ceremony takes place after the permanent resident passes either a written test or an oral hearing, in addition to the other standard eligibility requirements.

On becoming a Canadian, these new citizens can apply for a passport or register to vote.

An estimated 60 residents will take the Oath of Citizenship on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the Cleland Community Theatre. The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories