Congrats !! how was your oath ceremony, can you please describe the process ?
Hi everyone! We became Canadian citizens after 7 years.
We attended our ceremony at the VIA station - it was pretty easy to find the room.
Once you get there, someone will direct any accompanying guests to the room and applicants to a line where we had our documents checked. They will take the PR cards, check you signed the forms that came with the oath invitation letter and make you sign an additional document.
You get a small package with brochures, Anthem and Oath cheat sheets and a magazine and is directed to your assigned seat.
The clerk comes in to announce the proceedings, say that you have to give it at least 2 business days to apply for a passport (our ceremony was on Tuesday, so Friday would be the earliest) and call the judge that will lead the ceremony.
The judge then comes in, makes a speech about Canada, values, people and so on. After that, we're called in to do the oath, collectively, which needs to be spoken in English and French.
After the oath is done, families are called one by one to receive their citizenship certificate, greet the judge, the RCMP officer and a Canadian Forces officer as well.
After that, there's a bit more of speech from the judge and whoever signed up to talk during the ceremony, we sing the anthem and the ceremony is done. The judge and the officers are available for pictures after the ceremony. Everything takes between 90 and 120 minutes. We had 85 people in this ceremony.
Anyway, that was it for me! I'm glad we're done and now I need to rush a passport to travel next weekend!