By Connie Tabbert
Editor
On June 11, 2014, well-known Cobden business woman Trish Dupuis became a Canadian citizen during a special ceremony in Ottawa.
As editor of WhitewaterNews.ca, when I found out she was becoming a Canadian citizen, I wanted to interview her, because it was a wonderful moment in her life I thought she would enjoy sharing with the readers. A busy woman operating two businesses with her husband Clem – The Candlewick Gift Shop and The Store Next Door – as well as preparing to attend a niece’s wedding in San Diego, California, a one-on-one interview with me was not possible due to scheduling conflicts. So, we agreed I would send her some questions and she would respond.
I came from San Diego, California and have been a Permanent Resident of Canada for the past 42 years. My 91-year-old father, 92-year-old step-mother and brothers still live in San Diego. I visit as often as possible.
When I first came to Canada, dual citizenship was not allowed. However, over time the rules have changed and dual citizenship is possible.
It took three years and two months to get my Canadian Citizenship. There is plenty of time consuming paper work. I studied for the test, which I found out afterwards I didn’t have to take. If you are over the age of 55, you are exempt from taking the test. I had to go for an interview in Ottawa at the Citizenship and Immigration building on Catherine Street.
I guess because I have lived here for more than four decades, and came from the United States, they didn’t have many questions to ask me. The interview was only three questions: What do you do for living? How long have you been doing it? Have you ever been arrested? I was in and out of there in no time!
I received a letter in the mail telling me the date I was to become a Canadian citizen. Receiving this letter was a very happy day for me. My husband Clem and two of our daughters attended the ceremony — Lisa and Shara. Our daughter Michelle, unfortunately, was unable to attend.
At the ceremony, the Citizenship Judge stated that 79 people will receive their Canadian Citizenship that day. He started with a speech about what it is like to have Canadian Citizenship. He stated that women and men have equal rights in Canada, that you are able to marry whomever you love and to be proud of the country “you” came from, to only tell positive stories about the country they came from. There were many children who received their Citizenship this day. There were also people from many different countries who were becoming Canadian citizens. They were from South Africa, Congo, Cuba, Mexico, Egypt, Asia, just to name a few.
After the Judge’s speech, we were all sworn in together in both official languages. I was the very first one to be called up to receive my Certificate of Canadian Citizenship. I was in the front row and as the Judge handed out the Certificates to each of the participants I was surprised to hear the many languages he could speak. He said “congratulations” in the many languages he knew, some were full-on conversations. Amazingly enough, this process only took one hour.
We sang O’Canada as Canadian Citizens for the very first time. I was very choked up as tears ran down my cheeks, it was very emotional for me.
Prior to owning the two shops in Cobden, I worked at Scotiabank for many years.
You must be a Canadian in order to have the right to vote. For 42 years, that was the only right I didn’t have. The day after I was sworn in was election day in Ontario. I cast my vote for the first time. It was a proud day for me.
