DCHP-2

citizenship court Citizenship Court DCHP-2 (October 2016)

• n. — Law, Administration

  a federal court awarding Canadian citizenship.

  Type: 4. Culturally Significant — Citizenship courts grant Canadian citizenship to immigrants who meet the criteria and wish to become Canadians. Canadian citizenship was created by the Canadian Citizenship Act, which became effective on 1 Jan. 1947. Before that, Canadians--both by birth and by naturalization--were British subjects (see Canadian Encyclopedia reference). Before that date the citizenship category "Canadian" did not exist. On 3 Jan, 1947, the first citizenship ceremony was conducted, in which 26 individuals were granted Canadian citizenship (see Image 1). Then-prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, who received citizenship certificate 0001, is not depicted (see Canadian Museum of Immigration reference).
  The Oath of Allegiance to the Crown is a central part of the citizenship ceremony. Ceremonies can be conducted in citizenship court or in other locations (e.g. high schools, community centres, etc.).
  See also COD-2, s.v. "citizenship court", which is marked "Cdn".

  See also: New Canadian (meaning 2)  lost Canadian  

  • Citizenship ceremony is the by far more frequently used term when compared with citizenship court.