A special citizenship ceremony was held on Sunday as part of Canada Day celebrations at Queen's Park.
The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration hosted the ceremony, where thirty new Canadians from eighteen countries took the oath of citizenship.
Judge Agnes Potts swore the inductees in 60 years after the first Canadian citizenships were issued.
"This Canada Day is a milestone in the citizenship journey for these new Canadians, and for all of Canada," Jason Kenney, the secretary of state for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, said.
The new citizens were also each given a seed to plant in Canadian soil.
The Queen's Park ceremony was one of six across the GTA -- 400 people in total were sworn in, including 100-year-old Norman Mason.
Mason, who came over from England 60 years ago, said he was honoured to be one of the 39 people in the ceremony in Whitby
"I feel great," Mason said.
At Harbourfront Centre, some who were granted citizenship were really excited - others were emotional.
Mary Pat said her Canadian citizenship means the start a better life for her family.
"(My children) have opportunities that me and my husband never had when we were there age," Pat said.
"We're just so blessed -- we're so proud of Canada."
Approximately 159,000 Canadians granted citizenship last year lived in Ontario.
At Yonge and Dundas square, people celebrated their pride and their ethnicities in a festival of cultures.
Irene Washchuck, who was celebrating the 44th anniversary of her inauguration as a Canadian citizen, still remembered how thrilled she was to arrive.
"I was so pleased, I was so happy to be in Canada, to walk on the soil," Washchuck said.
"I would say this is a heaven for all the nation(alities) who live in Canada."
Celebrations in Ottawa
Canada Day celebrations kicked off in the nation's capital with a 21-gun salute to Governor General Michaelle Jean.
Jean was joined by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his family, and Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda.
"We can all take pride in the peace and freedom and citizenship we share as Canadians. Today is our day to celebrate our great history and the promise that is Canada's future," Jean said.
The traditional red and white blanketed a sea of people on Parliament Hill, but there was also more blue than usual.
Police uniforms peppered the crowd as security was stepped up for Canada Day celebrations.
Canadian soldiers celebrate
Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan retired their camouflage fatigues and sported some red and white in celebration of Canada Day.
Troops gathered around the boardwalk in Kandahar to raise a mug of Tim Horton's coffee and eat a few donuts.
"It's like finally getting a little taste of home, being surrounded by all this,'' Cpl. James Nickerson, 34, of Canso, N.S., said as he walked the Kandahar boardwalk that was decorated with strings of Canadian flags.
"Now if it could only just snow.''
After an afternoon of sports events and contests, soldiers were scheduled to gather for a barbecue and the coveted prize of the day -- two cold beers.
Sgt. Steven Gardiner said Canada Day in Afghanistan was partly about remembering the soldiers who lost their lives.
"This is to celebrate what they gave up,'' Gardiner, a reservist from Hamilton, said.
"The freedom they're giving the Afghan people.''
With a report from CTV's Mairianna Bachynsky
