On August 20th, GlobalFest in Calgary, also known as the OneWorld Festival, welcomed 50 new Canadians from 20 different countries during a special citizenship ceremony. This marked the 10th anniversary of the annual event, which has been held at Calgary’s Elliston Park since 2014.
Air Canada, the official airline of GlobalFest, played a key role in the ceremony, demonstrating its commitment to celebrating Calgary’s vibrant ethno-cultural diversity and artistic excellence. The airline believes that fostering an inclusive and sustainable society is essential for everyone to reach their full potential.
“It is important for us at Air Canada to show our support for cultural diversity and inclusivity in everything we do,” said Eric Lauzon, Director, Community Relations & Partnerships at Air Canada. “Being the official airline of GlobalFest and seeing our Calgary-based employees engaged with the festival, it makes us all very proud.”
David Rheault, Vice President, Government and Community Relations at Air Canada, added, “For many people, Air Canada was part of their immigration experience, and we are delighted to celebrate people’s heritage and culture through our support of GlobalFest. In particular, the Citizenship Ceremony is a natural and fitting event for us to champion as it represents an important realization in people’s dreams through their immigration journey to our country.”
The ceremony, held on the Air Canada stage, was preceded by cultural performances and followed by a celebratory fireworks display. Three Air Canada flight attendants, representing the airline’s ambassador program, participated in the festivities. One of them, Emma Silvestri, shared, “I live in Calgary so it was important for me to be involved and represent the company at this important festival in the city.”
GlobalFest, in partnership with the Calgary Airport Authority (YYC), brings together over 25 cultures, showcasing the city’s diversity. Air Canada extends a warm welcome to the new Canadians and looks forward to continuing to connect them with their loved ones around the world, offering flights to six continents.
