This week is Citizenship Week in Canada, and once every year during Citizenship Week the Canada Citizenship Award is given out in a citizenship ceremony. The award was formerly called the Citation for Citizenship.
The award is given out to recognize the contribution of those who help newcomers while promoting the rights and responsibilities that are a part of Canadian Citizenship and in helping newcomers integrate into Canadian society and culture.
One of the recipients is an immigrant to Canada who have been active in his community while teaching English to senior and other newcomers who were housebound in Vancouver’s troubled downtown Eastside. Another immigrated to Canada in 1950 and since then has volunteered at citizenship ceremonies and the Canadian Red Cross. One of the other recipients helped newcomer families find homes and legal counsel as well as implemented several programs for youth-at-risk within her community.
“I am very proud to present Canada’s Citizenship Award to these twelve Canadians,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney in an announcement of the award recipients. “These extraordinary Canadians have helped newcomers find their way, encouraged young people to dream and challenged others to live up to their responsibilities. This award recognizes their contributions to Canada.”
A full list of Citizenship Award recipients is available at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website here.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
