I am Canadian:  I take the oath at Canadian Citizenship court.

"O Canada, I stand on guard for thee...."

It was my first time at Canadian citizenship court.  As a 5th Generation Canadian, I really never had a reason to go.  My parents were born in Canada, my grandmother was born in Canada.  My great-grandmother came to Canada as a baby in 1899. My great-great-grandfather came to Canada in 1896.

Eighty people stood in the room, some holding Canadian flags, some wearing Canadian lapel pins.  Citizen court judge Sandra Wilking presided, and give an inspirational speech about what it means to be a Canadian.  She talked about the responsibilities about becoming a Canadian, and giving back to this new country.  She acknowledged that some people came from countries that were ravaged by war, while others came from countries at peace - but all have come to Canada for a better life.

At the end of her address, each row stood up in turn stating their name and raising their right arm.  Then we all stood up together and took an oath to serve Canada.  We next sang O Canada.

Then, Judge Wilking introduced me to the people about to be sworn in as citizens, as a member from the Canadian Club.  She also introduced me as a 5th Generation Canadian who works tirelessly in community service, and as an arts advocate.  Then she did something she almost never ever does.  She gave me a plug for Gung Haggis Fat Choy!  Judge Wilking just thinks my multicultural Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner is a most Canadian event, and that every Canadian should attend.  You could see the smiles on people's faces, and the stifled laughters at her description of haggis won-ton, and the blending of Scottish and Chinese cultures into something uniquely Canadian.

I introduced myself as a director of the Canadian Club founded in 1906 to emphasize Canadian culture and identity when Canada was still very "British" in nature and manners.  But through the years, the Canadian Club has honoured Canada's best and brightest, it has nurtured its cultural evolution, as new waves of immigration have added to our cultural mosaic.  We have addressed the hurts of Quebec separatism, American imperialism, and First Nations issues.

I invited everybody to become active participants as Canadians.  Next, I thanked Judge Wilking for her inspirational address and shared with everybody in the room, that Judge Wilking had been an immigrant from South Africa, and she spoke true about committment to our communities, because she had been the first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve as a Vancouver City Councillor.  I hoped that everybody could be as inspired by Judge Wilking as I have been.

It was a wonderful day.  It was great to be part of helping people become Canadian citizens.

I AM CANADIAN!