Arjun Narang recalls when he first arrived in Halifax in his late teens. Twelve years later, after a journey that moulded his identity, he says there is no better time to celebrate becoming a citizen of this country than on Canada Day.
Special Day for New Citizens
“It feels special, especially that it’s on an iconic day,” Narang said. Narang, who grew up in New Delhi, India, said he was coddled by his parents as a kid. “I didn’t know the value of money or making food, doing your errands,” said Narang, who now works as a financial planner in Calgary. “But after coming to Canada, you’ve got to do everything yourself, you’ve got to be independent, pay your bills, be on top of your studies. That process for me was something which has shaped the way I am, and now I think I can stay anywhere in the world.”
125 Sworn In at Central Library
Narang was among 125 people sworn in as citizens at the Central Library on Wednesday. The ceremony was held on Canada Day, July 1, 2026, at the Central Library in Calgary.
While Narang’s journey was sparked by an itch to carve a new identity, Oluwatoyin Onorumfemi came here for better financial opportunities. Onorumfemi arrived in Kamloops, B.C., in 2013 as an international student after growing up in Nigeria. After almost 13 years, he now calls himself not just Canadian, but a global citizen.
Opportunities and Safety
“It just unlocks a lot of opportunities for me, travelling, you know, probably doing business all around the world,” said Onorumfemi, who works as a technician at a telecommunications company. However, for Alisa Zavialova and the many newcomers she regularly interacts with, the decision to move to Canada is driven by the desire to find a safe place.
“If you ask anyone here in this room, I think the majority of people came to Canada not because they really loved being in a cold, harsh climate,” said Zavialova, who was born in Ukraine. “They came here because it was an opportunity for them to rebuild their lives or special lives for their kids.”
Personal Journeys
Zavialova pursued a master’s and then a PhD in applied linguistics at Carleton University. Then came the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She kept watching waves of Ukrainians find refuge in Canada. Even though an academic path seemed more lucrative and prestigious, she decided to apply her education to helping newcomers learn the country’s official languages.
“We have a lot of Ukrainians here who are still on a temporary status, so they need to prepare for official exams. I decided that was probably my mission,” she said. Canada Day also comes as some Albertans are questioning whether their province should remain in Canada. The question of whether to begin the process of a binding referendum will be posed to Albertans in a referendum this fall. It has become a point of tension for Zavialova and other newcomers.
