Sweeny Karande, an ER nurse in Hay River, already calls Canada home. On July 1, she took the oath of citizenship to make it official. 

Karande is originally from Naquelin village, in IndiaSA国际影视传媒檚 southwestern state Goa. She landed in Canada in 2011, completed her personal support worker courses at St. Lawrence College in Cornwall, Ont. and her nursing degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am so grateful to this country,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淲hen my family is thousands of miles away from me, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 feel alone. I feel like I belong here, and that is what Canada is about. It doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter where youSA国际影视传媒檙e from, it just welcomes you with open arms.SA国际影视传媒�

While NWTers typically have to fly down to Edmonton to take the oath in person, this Canada Day celebration of new citizens will be brought into the fold virtually as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event features remarks from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, amongst others.  

After waiting to become Canadian for so long, having the ceremony online may have been a disappointment for some. For Karande, however, it means that she gets to become an official citizen surrounded by friends in her home of NWT. 

Karande has known she wanted to be a nurse from a young age, but with prices for schooling in India, she couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 afford the fees even working a part-time job while she studied. Eventually, a teacher recommended she look into moving to Canada.

Her siblings pooled their money together to help with the costs.

SA国际影视传媒淚n Canada, I knew I had more opportunity to be a nurse and to be what I really wanted to be,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒渉ere I was able to get scholarships and apply for student loans and grants, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much opportunity to grow here. And that is why I love this country.SA国际影视传媒�

Karande moved to Hay River after completing her degree in 2019. 

While studying at Dalhousie University, she heard a speaker talk about northern nursing and sought out ways to learn more. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 based all of my nursing research on Inuit people and Aboriginal people, and I was just so intrigued,SA国际影视传媒� she says. SA国际影视传媒淎s soon as I graduated I moved up to Hay River as fast as possible and I love it.SA国际影视传媒�

Even though she initially found maple syrup to be too sweet, and the winters to be too long, Karande couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be more proud to be Canadian. She says that especially to go from knowing no one in Hay River, to having the ceremony surrounded by friends SA国际影视传媒渋s such a special moment.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t means so much. I have wanted to have the Canadian citizenship for so long and itSA国际影视传媒檚 finally happening. I will be able to vote, I will get a Canadian passport, I have already been calling this my home, and now I can officially say it and be proud of it. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a huge achievement for me.SA国际影视传媒�