Article content Clyde Graham and his family had no idea their visit to Vancouver would coincide with Canada Day, and were thrilled to take part in the celebration at Canada Place on Monday. “It’s such a beautiful city and this is like a cherry on top,” said Graham, from Wolverhampton in England. And he had a question: How come he and his wife have heard people say Canada is broken? “Broken?” he said.
“Come to the U.K., mate!” There might have been as many tourists as Canadians at the downtown celebration, which included 60 new citizens sworn in that morning in a Canada Place ballroom.
Leslie Benisz was at the citizenship ceremony. He hasn’t missed one since he moved to Vancouver in 1989, except the one held virtually because of COVID-19. Wearing a red hockey sweater from the 2009 World Police and Fire Games that was held in Vancouver (his sister was a participant), a Canadian blood donor button, a ribbon in honour of fallen police officers, and one for autism, he was carrying a big Maple Leaf flag.
Born in Canada, he spent the first 10 years of his life in Israel with his diplomat parents. “The highlight of my Canada Day is the citizenship ceremony,” Benisz said. “It’s very important to me to welcome them, people who have literally risked their lives or spent a huge amount of money to come here.
“It reminds me to not take our rights and way of life for granted. I’m proud that we’re compassionate, courageous and caring, and that people know when t.
