“Welcome to Canada. Welcome home,” is what Canada’s newest citizens heard from GlobalFest’s Chief of Operations, Ken Goosen, in Calgary’s Elliston Park last Tuesday. The ceremony has been held every year at the festival since 2014, marking its 10th anniversary this year.  

Air Canada proudly supported GlobalFest’s citizenship ceremony in Calgary as the official airline of the event. Also known as the OneWorld Festival, it welcomes tens of thousands people over the course of five days, every year. Since 2017, Air Canada’s partnership with the festival, in particular the citizenship ceremony, is a testament of the airline’s deep commitment to celebrate and promote Calgary’s ethno-cultural diversity and artistic excellence with an objective of bringing the community together and build a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous society.  

“It is important for us at Air Canada to show our support for cultural diversity and inclusivity in everything we do, as we believe this is what allows everyone to reach their highest potential. Being the official airline of GlobalFest and seeing our Calgary-based employees engaged with the festival, it makes us all very proud,” said Eric Lauzon, Director, Community Relations & Partnerships at Air Canada. 

The citizenship ceremony, which took place on the Air Canada stage on August 20, welcomed a group of 50 newcomers from 20 different countries to Canada and Calgary. 

 “For many people, Air Canada was part of their immigration experience, and we are delighted to celebrate people’s heritage and culture through our support of Global Fest. In particular, the Citizenship Ceremony is a natural and fitting event for us to champion as it represents an important realization in peoples’ dreams through their immigration journey to our country,” said David Rheault, Vice President, Government and Community Relations at Air Canada. 

This event, in partnership with the Calgary Airport Authority (YYC), brings together over 25 cultures. The ceremony was preceded by cultural performances and followed by a celebratory fireworks show. Through Air Canada’s ambassadors' program, three flight attendants took part in the celebration representing the airline. Emma Silvestri, one of the flight attendant ambassadors said, “I live in Calgary so it was important for me to be involved and represent the company at this important festival in the city.”  

On behalf of everyone at Air Canada, welcome home!  We also look forward to welcoming you onboard our aircraft when visiting friends and family wherever they may be on the six continents to where we fly.