By Ryan Pilon

Officially Canadians

Feb 24, 2011 | 11:07 AM

Fifty-seven people from 16 different countries took their final step in officially becoming a Canadian citizen.

The citizenship ceremony took place at Carlton Comprehensive High School in Prince Albert on Feb. 23.

After taking the oath of citizenship and receiving their citizenship certificate, they proudly sang “Oh Canada” for the first time as Canadian citizens.

One of the people who sang loudly and proudly was Bolis Bala Mulge. He and his family came to Canada from Sudan about nine years ago.

“Today I feel like I’ve just come to Canada because I can get my opportunity, my freedom, and as every Canadian, I can live everywhere, work everywhere. I’m happy to be a Canadian citizen,” Mulge said.

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Mulge said he chose to come to Canada because it’s a safe and democratic country.

“(In) Sudan we have (had) a civil war for a long, long time. So that’s a lot of people dying. Killed by war, and then by disease, no food and people are hungry. So that’s why I slipped from by country,” said Mulge.

“(Canada is) safe to live, there’s nothing to hurt you, there’s no war, you don’t have to worry about the war, there’s nothing to scare you. That’s why I’ve come to Canada.”

It was the perfect weather to welcome our newest Canadians, a typical -20 C prairie winter.

“It’s so cold, but it’s neat,” said Allan Dangel, from the Philippines. He chuckled.

“It’s really a baptism of fire for us newcomers to Canada and citizens of Canada.”

Dangel came to Canada in 2002 to work as a priest for the diocese of Prince Albert. He was ordained in 2005.

Along with the certificate, the new Canadians also received a commemorative document showing the date they became citizens.

rpilon@panow.com