EDMONTON—Jedi, Sith, and even a stray Jawa were among the 50 or so attendants at a citizenship ceremony set at the Edmonton Expo Centre Friday morning — not to become citizens themselves, but to welcome the next wave of new Canadians.

Members of the 501st Legion, Star Wars cosplayers attending the Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo, added a little pop-culture pizzazz to what’s typically a solemn ceremony.

Under an arch of lightsabers, the crowd and the candidates proceeded to a conference room in Hall F to take their oath, the last legal requirement before citizenship.

Ceremony clerk Craig Nash, who assured the audience he was “as nerdy as they come,” kicked off the proceedings by greeting the crowd in both English and Klingon.

A self-admitted Trekkie, Nash had his phaser set to “citizenship,” dropping words of wisdom spoken by Capt. James T. Kirk, the lead character of the hit 1960s TV show Star Trek, and even quizzed the crowd on the diverse origins of the Starship Enterprise crew.

“I see the bridge of the Enterprise,” Nash said while looking at the audience. “I see people from different nations, different countries, different races, working alongside each other — not under the fictitious United Federation of Planets, where Star Trek is based in, but under the real flag of Canada.”

But that’s about as far as the fan references went, as the audience went on to pledge allegiance, not to the Federation or Princess Leia, but to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, whose portrait was propped up on stage.

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Among the candidates were two “astronauts” who dressed up — way up — for the occasion.

Daniel Straka, 41, and his spouse Ali Finley, 39, sported maple leaf patches on their spacesuits as they took not one small step, but a giant leap across the stage to receive a hug from ceremony official and Order of Canada inductee Elexis Schloss.

Overwhelmed by the occasion, Straka, originally from the Czech Republic, said it’s been his dream to become a Canadian ever since he learned about his new home in college.

In lieu of a Bible or holy book, he swore his oath on a copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“It was the most magical thing to have this in my own hand,” Straka said. “And this is going in a frame.”

Also in attendance were sisters Sravya and Mayookha Kalyanapu, who were dressed more formally, but still appreciated the fun twist on what’s normally a “strict ceremony.”

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“It’s amazing,” said Sravya, 22. “I like how they brought the fun into it.”

Sravya and her sister didn’t go so far as to call themselves Star Wars fans, but they admitted they recognized Darth Vader from light years away, and were itching for a picture with the iconic villain.

Although it took them a while to apply — the sisters said they came to Canada from India in 2008 — they added that since Day 1 in Canada, they’ve never felt out of place.

“We always felt a part of the country, but now it’s official,” said Mayookha, 19.

Following the oaths, the crowd sang the national anthem and watched as a bagpipe procession marked the end of the event.

The Imperial March was not played during the ceremony.

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