Oath Ceremony Calgary

[Duskyblue]

Hello! Hoping some of you might have some insights into the Ceremony in Calgary. I googled and searched this forum, but all comments I found were from 3-5 years ago.
I am wondering how many guests I can bring and how the system of letting them in works. I have 8 people who want to come (too many!) and 5 of those really, REALLY want to come (still too many I guess). However, 3 of them also can't stand for the ceremony (due to age or health issues) and I read that if there's too many people, some will have to stand in the back.

Has anyone attended a ceremony in Calgary recently and can tell me how many people they were able to bring? (Letter doesn't mention it). Did it feel like it was about the same amount of oath takers as did the test with you? I am wondering because my test group was rather small, but I guess they could pool different groups together for the ceremony.
I don't want to tell my family (who is so excited) that they can't come and then there would have been spare seats... but also don't want them to take the day off and show up only to be sent home. :/

Also... what sort of answer to you put in the 'what does it mean to get citizenship' question? I feel awkward.

 

[jc94]

Hello! Hoping some of you might have some insights into the Ceremony in Calgary. I googled and searched this forum, but all comments I found were from 3-5 years ago.
I am wondering how many guests I can bring and how the system of letting them in works. I have 8 people who want to come (too many!) and 5 of those really, REALLY want to come (still too many I guess). However, 3 of them also can't stand for the ceremony (due to age or health issues) and I read that if there's too many people, some will have to stand in the back.

Has anyone attended a ceremony in Calgary recently and can tell me how many people they were able to bring? (Letter doesn't mention it). Did it feel like it was about the same amount of oath takers as did the test with you? I am wondering because my test group was rather small, but I guess they could pool different groups together for the ceremony.
I don't want to tell my family (who is so excited) that they can't come and then there would have been spare seats... but also don't want them to take the day off and show up only to be sent home. :/

Also... what sort of answer to you put in the 'what does it mean to get citizenship' question? I feel awkward.

I've not been to Calgary recently, but have a few thoughts. Firstly where I went in Ontario, there are (at least) two locations within the same area (about 1km apart). And I know numbers there vary (300 vs 100 people) greatly. It's possible therefore that the location in Calgary matters, assuming there is more than one. Which location are you going to?

Now certainly from my ceremony and others I've read about, guests aren't counted. There's a line for people doing the oath and guests are called in. They don't get asked whom they are with and actually get seated well before people doing oath who have to get their paperwork checked and hand in their PR card(s). So one could take 8 people; but I'd say that would be really unfair to others as there are not enough space for that many guests.

Now at my ceremony in particular we had a load of people standing all around. Yet other reports I've read of that same location (recently) said standing wasn't allowed, so it's a bit of a guess as to that. Personally I had two guests (both got a seat) and many others also had two guests. A friend also went to another recent one and said there was tons of room yet we had standing room only. So I guess what I'm saying is try and just take two, or/and tell others they may (likely will) have to stand. Or take a camping style chair, no idea if that's allowed mind.

My test was about 50 people. Oath was 281. 281 of 1800 in the three days (6 ceremonies) they'd done that week.

What's this part about what does it mean to get citizenship question? Is this something specific to the location? I wasn't ever asked this, Judge and the Officer just asked me and others what do you do and where are you from originally.

 

[Duskyblue]

I've not been to Calgary recently, but have a few thoughts. Firstly where I went in Ontario, there are (at least) two locations within the same area (about 1km apart). And I know numbers there vary (300 vs 100 people) greatly. It's possible therefore that the location in Calgary matters, assuming there is more than one. Which location are you going to?

Now certainly from my ceremony and others I've read about, guests aren't counted. There's a line for people doing the oath and guests are called in. They don't get asked whom they are with and actually get seated well before people doing oath who have to get their paperwork checked and hand in their PR card(s). So one could take 8 people; but I'd say that would be really unfair to others as there are not enough space for that many guests.

Now at my ceremony in particular we had a load of people standing all around. Yet other reports I've read of that same location (recently) said standing wasn't allowed, so it's a bit of a guess as to that. Personally I had two guests (both got a seat) and many others also had two guests. A friend also went to another recent one and said there was tons of room yet we had standing room only. So I guess what I'm saying is try and just take two, or/and tell others they may (likely will) have to stand. Or take a camping style chair, no idea if that's allowed mind.

My test was about 50 people. Oath was 281. 281 of 1800 in the three days (6 ceremonies) they'd done that week.

What's this part about what does it mean to get citizenship question? Is this something specific to the location? I wasn't ever asked this, Judge and the Officer just asked me and others what do you do and where are you from originally.

Thank you for taking the time and reply!

Hmm, I believe Calgary only has one location. I am at the Harry Hayes building.

That's interesting. I read from other experiences that you sometimes can only bring one in, and the rest have to wait and see if there's room. But I guess it depends! I totally agree that 8 are too many and unfair. I definitely wouldn't bring all 8, but I am still considering 5 because it would mean a lot to them... However, I do feel that might also be too many. I think I will tell them I'd love for them to come, but they might have to leave if there's no spare room.

As for the question: We got a form to fill out that has the question "To me, becoming a Canadian citizen means…" with a few empty lines. It is unclear to me whether it's mandatory. It says you have to sign and bring it with you, and there's options to tick whether you want to read it out yourself or not, but there's no option to say you don't want it shared at all. I guess I'll bring it and see if it's mandatory, haha.

 

[jc94]

Thank you for taking the time and reply!

Hmm, I believe Calgary only has one location. I am at the Harry Hayes building.

That's interesting. I read from other experiences that you sometimes can only bring one in, and the rest have to wait and see if there's room. But I guess it depends! I totally agree that 8 are too many and unfair. I definitely wouldn't bring all 8, but I am still considering 5 because it would mean a lot to them... However, I do feel that might also be too many. I think I will tell them I'd love for them to come, but they might have to leave if there's no spare room.

Hmm, that does seem to be the only place cropping up for Calgary. I told the 3rd person who said "I'll come" that they may not be able to come in if it's full as already invited one person well before and the other said they'd come sooner. They said they were sure they'd be okay based on a relatives ceremony they had been to but it was in a different location (and then they couldn't make it anyway).

As for the question: We got a form to fill out that has the question "To me, becoming a Canadian citizen means…" with a few empty lines. It is unclear to me whether it's mandatory. It says you have to sign and bring it with you, and there's options to tick whether you want to read it out yourself or not, but there's no option to say you don't want it shared at all. I guess I'll bring it and see if it's mandatory, haha.

That's definitely not something I got. I got a delayed invite as Scarborough ON sent everything by post apparently. Possibly because half were blue and half were pink (due to numbers) and they probably correctly assumed most people were going to struggle to print it on coloured paper.

So - I say this because I also got a copy by email when I rang them saying it updated online but nothing by email (they said they sent an email then a week later it arrived via Canada Post). The email one said you need two forms about photos being taken (included with the blue letter I got) and another one about no prohibitions to becoming a citizen that I never got nor saw at the ceremony.

In fact, other than the invite letter including the you may take photos part, the only thing both I and others I observed and spoke with required was the PR card. No CoPR, no original documents, no other proof of ID. But I'd still suggest taking them all in a protective folder and be ready to keep them safely during the ceremony.

I'd guess this is specific to Calgary. I'm going to guess that if they do this and want to read some out you are going to have far fewer than 300 people doing the oath - which also explains the huge wait you have before Oath (but then, you only did Test recently on the plus side). Please do report back as sounds interesting and could help others in the future.

Best wishes for your Oath!