The Scarborough Mirror

At a citizenship ceremony in Scarborough Tuesday afternoon to welcome new Canadians from around the globe, little Rory Adele Wai Lan Chan Rushton was the centre of attention.

The 13-month-old is Canada’s first adopted child to be granted Canadian citizenship in her birth country before setting foot on Canadian soil.

Thanks to new legislation, adoptive parents no longer have to wait to bring their children to Canada as permanent residents and wait for their citizenship to be approved later.

“It is exciting, not only for ourselves but for all parents adopting from China and other countries,” Adele Rory’s mother Angela Chan said as she waited for her daughter to be presented with her citizenship certificate from Immigration Minister Diane Finley.

Chan, who was born in Canada and is of Chinese ancestry, grew up in Scarborough but now lives downtown with her husband Mark Rushton.

They travelled to the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Valentine’s Day to pick up Rory Adele from the adoption centre.

The baby was sworn in as a Canadian citizen at the embassy in Beijing on Feb. 25.

After introducing Rory Adele to relatives in Hong Kong and Vancouver, the new family arrived in Toronto on March 3.

“It was exciting to come here as a family, as Canadians,” Chan said. “She is coming back to her new home.”

Rushton said he is thrilled his daughter is the first adoptive child to arrive here as a Canadian citizen. Now, he is looking forward to all the joys of fatherhood after recovering from the whirlwind trip to pick up Rory Adele.

“Immediately, when they put her in your arms, you know that’s the one. It’s a great feeling,” he said.

Judge Philip Gaynor, who presided over the ceremony, told the newcomers he also chose Canada as his new home, so he understands the emotion they feel becoming citizens.

“I join you in that sense of pride you feel,” he said.

“I know from personal experience it is not easy to leave the land of your birth...Whatever that reason (for leaving was), you are now in Canada, a country that believes in opening its doors to people around the world.”

Gaynor urged the newcomers to embrace both their rights and responsibilities to Canada.