Melinda Miguel Caringal and Jazmin Ong

Canadian Citizenship: Ong, her husband Rizaldo Caringal and children Melinda and Miguel Caringal stood together, hands raised and, in the few minutes it took to say their oath, became citizens together, according to The Waterloo Record. Originally from the Philippines, it took four years for them to become Canadians. "It means we're part of the family of Canada," Ong said of the family citizenship. One of 52 citizenship ceremonies organized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada on the nation 148th birthday, the event made the oath just that much more special for the group of citizens in attendance. "We're so excited that it happened on Canada Day," said Jazmin Ong. Dyck, an Order of Canada recipient in 2001, presided over the ceremony. "Today citizenship ceremony is especially significant from a historic standpoint," he said. Prior to the enactment of the Canadian Citizenship act in 1947, all residents of the country were considered members of the British Commonwealth, Dyck said. Pointing out Woodside is the childhood home of former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, Dyck explained King was Canada first citizen. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.