Mariana Kelim, 9, shows off the commemorative 50-cent coin she received after becoming a Canadian citizen during a Citizenship Ceremony held at the Boys and Girls Club of Brantford on Saturday as part of the city’s Canada Day celebrations. VINCENT BALL/BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR Photo by Vincent Ball /Brantford Expositor
Anh Linh Trinh (clockwise from bottom left), Karleigh Csordas, Ken Burns and Sarbagya Rai, of the Canada Day Green Team, were on a mission to divert 75 per cent of the waste generated from this year’s event in Brantford away from the landfill. The team included 60 volunteers, who managed waste diversion stations throughout Lions Park Steve Brown Sports Complex, during the day of celebration. Photo by VINCENT BALL /Brantford Expositor
Donna and Douglas Summerhayes, of Brantford and members of the Order of Canada, were among the guests who participated in a Citizenship Court ceremony at the Boys and Girls Club of Brantford as part of the city’s Canada Day celebrations led by the presiding official Master Warrant Officer , Roba Talach. More than 30 people from 10 different countries were took the oath to become Canadian citizens at the ceremony. Photo by Vincent Ball /Brantford Expositor
Ben Howes and his mom Denise were among the large crowd of people to attend the Canada Day Breakfast put on by the St. George Lions Club and the St George Firefighters Association at the fire hall in St. George on Saturday. Photo by Vincent Ball /Brantford Expositor
Several people became Canadian citizens at a Citizenship Court ceremony held in Brantford on Canada Day 2023. Photo by VINCENT BALL /Brantford Expositor
More than 30 people took the oath of allegiance to become Canadian citizens at a citizenship ceremony held at the Boys and Girls Club of Brantford on Saturday as part of the city’s Canada celebration. Those who took the oath included (clockwise) Mriana Kelim, 9, her sister Serafima, 13, dad Mikhail and mom Vera. Maksim, the family’s young child, is three and was born in Canada. VINCENT BALL/BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR Photo by Vincent Ball /Brantford Expositor
Residents from St. George and the surrounding area lined up for the special Canada Day Breakfast put on by the St. George Lions Club and the St. George Firefighters Association at the fire hall in St. George on Saturday. Photo by Vincent Ball /Brantford Expositor
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Canada Day was a family day for the Kelim family of Kitchener-Waterloo.
Mikhail and Vera Kelim and their three children — Serafima, 13, Miriana, 9, and three-year-old Maksim — were among the more than 30 people to participate in a citizenship ceremony held at the Boys and Girls Club of Brantford.
The ceremony was part of the city’s Canada Day Celebration.
“It’s a great honor and a privilege to be here today and to be part of the ceremony,” Vera said following the ceremony. “It’s Canada Day and the day we became Canadian citizens.
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to be here.”
The family is from Russia and came to Canada four years ago. Maksim, the youngest in the family, was born in Canada and was the first to become a Canadian citizen.
Now the rest of the family has joined him, Vera said.
Vera thanked everyone involved in the ceremony for making the family’s Canada Day extra special.
The ceremony included short speeches by local leaders including Brantford-Brant MP Larry Brock, Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma and Mayor Kevin Davis. It was led by Chief Warrant Officer Rob Talach, a Canadian military reservist with the 4th Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment based in London.
“Today, Canadians from coast to coast come together to celebrate all that we have in common and all that it means to be Canadian,” Talach said. “Today, we celebrate the symbols, the events, the people and the institutions that define us as Canadians.
“This is a celebration of our rich diversity, of immigrants like you who have helped us grow and prosper.”
Canada’s diversity is among its greatest strengths, Talach said
Talach recalled how his father received a silver half dollar when he was sworn in as a Canadian citizen many years ago. Talach continued the tradition by giving a shiny half dollar to new citizens under age 18 at Saturday’s ceremony.
Family and friends of those who took the oath to become citizens were also joined by Doug and Donna Summerhayes, a Brantford couple, who are members of the Order of Canada, one of the highest honors for citizenship.
The citizenship ceremony was followed by a long list of activities in Lion’s Park Steve Brown Sports Complex next to the Boys and Girls Club to give everyone a chance to celebrate Canada’s 156th birthday.
People started to gather late Saturday morning and the crowd continued to build in the afternoon. Visitors had an opportunity to check out vendors, and enjoy a variety of food.
The Young Canadians Area opened at noon and featured, among other activities, Barry O’Kids Show, Paw Patrol Chase, and Deputy Brantford Police Chief Jason Saunders. The day also features a KidZone carnival and midway that continued to 11 pm
The day also featured Interleague Independent Pro Wrestling shows. As well, there was live entertainment on the OLG Stage throughout the day and the evening’s entertainment was scheduled to include festival favorites Kim Mitchell and Sass Jordan.
Jeff Heighington and Laura McCarrol were among the Brantford residents to show up early to enjoy the entire day of festivities.
After getting some fries and a cold drink, they found some shade, unloaded a couple of lawn chairs and sat down to enjoy their food.
“We’re here every year and it never disappoints,” Heighington said. “It’s always a good time.”
They were looking forward to the live music in the evening especially the performances by Jordan and Mitchell.
Meanwhile, residents in St. George and the surrounding area started their Canada Day celebration with a breakfast and ended it with a bang.
The St. George Lions Club and St. George Firefighters’ Association held a Canada Day breakfast at the St. George Fire Hall on Saturday morning.
On Saturday night, the firefighters’ association held a fireworks display.
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