Fifteen people became Canadian citizens today at the RCMP's Musical Ride Visitor Centre in Ottawa, a location that holds great historic significance. People from all over the world come to the Musical Ride Visitor Centre to see an iconic Canadian symbol: proud Mounties in red serge riding beautiful black horses. After the ceremony, the new Canadians and their guests toured the Musical Ride stables and chatted with the riders. Today's event was a partnership between the RCMP and the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Quote
"For me, being a Canadian means taking care of each other. It means that no matter what differences exist between us, where you're from or what you believe, we all share a responsibility to lead with kindness and respect."
Quick facts
- The Musical Ride has hosted several citizenship reaffirmation ceremonies in the past: June 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
- Today's citizenship ceremony was one of the events marking the RCMP's 150th anniversary.
- The first recorded public display of the Musical Ride was in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1901.
- The Musical Ride made up of a troop of police officers, their horses and the officer in charge. It consists of the execution of a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drills choreographed to music.
- The Musical Ride tours every province on a rotational basis to ensure that Canadians across the country have an opportunity to see them perform.