‘That’s what it means to be Canadian – people being generous, taking care of each other’

While living in the Philippines, Jay Sales worked on a cruise ship, where he’d spend 10 months out on the waters and only two months on land with his wife and family.

"The goal is to keep my family together," said Joan, Jay’s wife. "My husband used to work on the cruise ships and I was left alone in the Philippines with our daughter. He’d leave for 10 months, come home for two months, and then he’d be gone again.

"Basically, our kids don’t get to see their dad. They only seen him two months at a time every year. They didn’t know their dad. I thought we had to do something about this. He didn’t think he’d be able to support the family with a different job there."

Joan was determined to find a way for the couple to make a decent enough living wage in order to support their three children, while also being able to spend more time together.

"There were other countries I tried to go to, but then an opportunity here in Canada came when Zellers sponsored me to come here to be a pharmacist," Joan said. "At that point in 2006, they were short on pharmacists so they had some representatives go to the Philippines to recruit."

Joan was able to leave the Philippines for Toronto, where she completed her studies while living in Toronto. The family moved to Sudbury in 2010, and on Thursday at Science North, Joan, Jay, their children, 13-year-old Gaile, six-year-old Gabe, and three-year-old Giselle all became Canadian citizens during a community citizenship ceremony.

In total, 52 people from 24 countries became Canadian citizens.

"This means that are settled," Joan said. "This is us now. We’re Canadians now. Where we come from, we don’t forget. It’s still part of our life, but we do look forward to change. Our kids are Canadians. This is what they were born to see every day. It means being together. We can live in one place together and be able to see a better future for our kids. We don’t have to be apart to provide for our family."

The ceremony was led by Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen. New citizens spoke about how becoming a Canadian citizen meant living without fear and being part of a community.

Nathalie Chaloin, of France, whose log home on South Lane Road burned down three-and-a-half months ago, became a Canadian citizen on Thursday.

"We lost everything, and this community was amazing with us. We had a ton of donations, people arriving from out of nowhere trying to help. And to me that’s what it means to be Canadian – people being generous, taking care of each other. Becoming Canadian means I’m part of this big family, this community. I’m proud to be part of this."

The fire occurred a day after her baby was born.

"Everyone helped us and I feel lucky," Chaloin said. "People who I never met before tried to help out, giving diapers, helping me, and that meant a lot. It changed everything. If it didn’t, we’d be sad, but it gave us a feeling of being part of a bigger family, the community."

Twitter: @keith_dempsey